Wisconsin's total milk production was up in September compared to the same period a year earlier. According to the USDA's latest milk production report, Wisconsin farmers produced 2.61 billion pounds during the month, which was 0.9 percent higher than last September, but less than the 2.69 billion made in August 2022 (which had more days on the calendar).
Nationally, 17.5 billion pounds of milk were produced in the 24 major dairy states for the month. That was up 1.6 percent from 2021, but lower than the previous month's production of 18.2 billion pounds.
California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.29 billion pounds. South Dakota had the greatest percent-increase in output as that state produced 355 million pounds of milk--about 14.9 percent more than the same period last year. Only 12 of the top 24 states had higher year-to-year production last month.
Meanwhile, the number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major states was 8.93 million head, 19,000 head more than September 2021, but 2,000 head less than August 2022. The average number of milk cows on Wisconsin farms for the month was 1.27 million head--about 1,000 head less than last month and down 7,000 from 2021. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,060 pounds, which up 30 pounds from last year's figures.
Categories: Wisconsin, Livestock, Dairy Cattle