Executive Summary

U.S. milk production figures provided by the USDA have been updated. Highlights from the updated report include:

• U.S. milk production volumes remained below previous year levels for the sixth consecutive month, finishing down 1.0%. New Mexico, Michigan, and Washington led the declines in production. Texas and South Dakota milk production volumes finished most significantly above previous year levels.
• The U.S. milk cowherd figure was estimated 4,000 head above prior month estimates. The U.S. milk cowherd currently stands at 9.402 million head down 105,000 head below the 26-year high level experienced in May ’21.
• U.S. milk per cow yields was essentially unchanged YOY ending a streak of gains over the last six months.

Additional Report Details

According to the USDA, U.S. milk production volumes increased seasonally but remained 1.0% below previous year figures. The month-over-month increase in production volumes of 0.4% was well the ten year average increase of 1.0% when excluding the 2020 pandemic related declines.

YOY declines in production on a percentage basis were led by Florida (-10.7%), followed by New Mexico (-9.4%) and Washington (-3.8%), while production volumes finished most significantly higher YOY on a percentage basis within South Dakota (+20.7%), Georgia (+12.3%) and Texas (+6.7%). Overall, 18 of the 24 states milk production figures provided experienced YOY declines in production throughout the month.

California milk production volumes decreased 0.6% on a YOY basis finishing below previous year levels for the fourth time in the past five months. California accounted for 18.9% of total U.S. milk production volumes throughout the month, leading all states.

Seven of the top ten largest milk producing states accounting for three quarters of total U.S. production experienced YOY declines. Production volumes outside of the top ten largest milk producing states declined as well. Declines in milk production on an absolute basis were led by New Mexico, followed by Michigan and Michigan, while YOY increases in production on an absolute basis were most significant throughout Texas, followed by South Dakota.

U.S. milk cow herd figure were revised up 4,000 head above levels previous stated. The U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.402 million head but remaining 105,000 head below the 26 year high experienced in May ’21 and finishing 98,000 head below the previous year. New Mexico, Michigan, and Washington have realized the largest milk cow declines, while the South Dakota, Texas and Georgia milk have increased the most significantly.

U.S. milk per cow yields was essentially unchanged YOY ending a streak of gains over the last six months. Yields experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon finished 0.1% below previous year levels while yields experienced throughout the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois finished up 0.3%.