U.S. Milk Production Update – Jun ’14
According to USDA, May ’14 U.S. milk production was up 1.4% YOY, at 18,055 million pounds. Midwestern production continues to rebound from adverse weather conditions and poor feed quality with several Midwestern states including Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois posting their first YOY monthly gains in over half a year. Western YOY milk production gains fell for the third straight month, with aggregate milk production in California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon up only 1.1% YOY. Western milk production was up 3.9% YOY through the first quarter of the 2014 calendar year. California milk production growth was tempered particularly, with May ’14 YOY growth of 1.0% being a six month low.
May ’14 milk production was up slightly MOM as the U.S. dairy herd continues to expand. The number of milk cows on farms increased by 10,000 head in May ’14, to 9,252,000 total head, the highest figure since May ’12. The U.S. dairy herd increased for the sixth straight month in May ’14, increasing a combined 54,000 head over the period. May ’14 milk per cow yield was flat with last month on a daily average basis but was the largest May per cow yield on record. The number of milk cows on farms and milk per cow yield numbers were not available from Mar ’13 – Jun ’13 due to government sequestration so no YOY analysis is available. Production gains were led by Texas, which posted a 10.1% YOY gain. Texas accounted for half of the U.S. herd expansion, increasing 5,000 head MOM. ‘13-’14 YTD milk production is up 0.8% YOY through the first eight months of the production season, which is substantially less than Europe and New Zealand production gains.
May ’14 milk production was up slightly MOM as the U.S. dairy herd continues to expand. The number of milk cows on farms increased by 10,000 head in May ’14, to 9,252,000 total head, the highest figure since May ’12. The U.S. dairy herd increased for the sixth straight month in May ’14, increasing a combined 54,000 head over the period. May ’14 milk per cow yield was flat with last month on a daily average basis but was the largest May per cow yield on record. The number of milk cows on farms and milk per cow yield numbers were not available from Mar ’13 – Jun ’13 due to government sequestration so no YOY analysis is available. Production gains were led by Texas, which posted a 10.1% YOY gain. Texas accounted for half of the U.S. herd expansion, increasing 5,000 head MOM. ‘13-’14 YTD milk production is up 0.8% YOY through the first eight months of the production season, which is substantially less than Europe and New Zealand production gains.