October 19, 2007

US September milk output up 3.1 percent

Milk production in the US is on the upward trend as the US Department of Agriculture reports milk output in the top 23 states was up 3.1 percent in September. August (revised) production was up 3.6 percent.

Cow numbers continue to grow as well -- up 91,000 head over September of last year, and up 12,000 head over August.

Third quarter US production, July through September, was up 3.1 percent over last year with average number of cows on US dairies during this period was 9.16 million, up 44,000 head.

States that made phenomenal jumps over last year were: Arizona, up 9.9 percent in milk production; Michigan, up 8 percent; Colorado and Texas, 6.5 percent, Idaho, up 6 percent. Idaho also came with 4 million pounds (lb), surpassing New York for the third spot in the nation.

Both California and Wisconsin were up 3.3 percent. Given their huge milk production bases, that means California was up 105 million lb. over last September and Wisconsin was up 62 million lb. California cow numbers were up 49,000 head; Wisconsin, up 4,000 heads.

Other big gainers were Idaho, up by 24,000 cows; Michigan, with 20,000 more cows; Minnesota, up 13,000, and Texas,  up 10,000. The biggest losers: New Mexico, -24,000; Kentucky, down 8,000, Missouri, down 6,000; and Kansas and New York both decreased by 5,000 heads.