Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Milk Production Drops Again During December

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Wisconsin Milk Production Drops Again During December
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 01/24/2020

Total milk output in America's Dairyland fell slightly during the month of December when compared to the same time last year. According to the USDA's monthly milk production report, production totaled 2.54 billion pounds during the month, down 1.1 percent from December 2018, but higher than November 's 2.41 billion pounds. This marks the seventh month of lower output this year when compared to year-to-year figures.

Nationally, 17.4 billion pounds of milk was produced in the 24 major dairy states for the month. That was 0.9 percent increase over 2018, but less than the previous month's 16.7 billion.

California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.42 billion pounds. Texas had the greatest increase in output as that state produced 1.17 billion pounds of milk--about 8.6 percent more from the same period last year. However, 11 of the top 24 states had lower year-to-year production last month.

Meanwhile, the number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major states was 8.81 million head, 16,000 head more than December 2018, but unchanged from November 2019. The average number of milk cows on Wisconsin farms for the month was 1.26 million head, which was 2,000 head less than last month, and 8,000 fewer than last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,015 pounds, which was 10 pounds per cow less than last year's figures.

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