Wisconsin Ag Connection - State Milk Production Continues to Climb

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State Milk Production Continues to Climb
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 10/22/2012

For the second consecutive month, U.S. milk production totals for the 23 major dairy states fell in September, while Wisconsin's output went up. The latest numbers from the USDA show that 14.7 billion pounds of milk was produced--down 0.5 percent below September 2011; and lower than the 15.3 billion pounds produced in August 2012.

Wisconsin's output totalled 2.18 billion pounds of milk in September--up 2.9 percent above last year, but less than August's 2.31 billion pounds (mainly because September has less days on the calendar).

California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.18 billion pounds, though that state's production was down from last year. Colorado had the highest percent-increase for the month as that state put out 5.2 percent more milk than last year at 244 million pounds.

Meanwhile, the number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major states was 8.47 million head, 5,000 head more than September 2011, but 25,000 head less than August 2012. Wisconsin was milking about 1.27 million head of dairy cattle during the month, with total production averaging 1,720 pounds per cow for the month, which was about 40 pounds more than last year's average for September. The national per-cow average was down by 10 pound at 1,732 pounds per animal.

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