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Milk production increases slightly in September

Milk production in the U.S. totaled 16.5 billion pounds in September up 0.4 percent from September of last year and the smallest year-over-year increase of the year. The dairy herd was at 9.3 million cows up 36,000 from a year ago and production per cow increased 1 pound to average 1,782 pounds.

In the 23 major dairy states, milk production totaled 15.6 billion pounds also up 0.4 percent. The dairy herd increased 41,000 head to 8.6 million in those states but production per cow was down a pound at 1,805. Of the 23 major dairy states; 15 had production above a year ago, 2 were unchanged and 6 were below a year ago. California had the biggest decrease, down 3.6 percent. South Dakota had the biggest increase up 12.6 percent.

California produced 3.2 billion pounds of milk in September down 3.6 percent from a year ago. The Golden State dairy herd declined 1,000 to 1.78 million cows and production per cow dropped 65 pounds to average 1,785.

Wisconsin milk production totaled 2.3 billion pounds in September up 3.1 percent from a year ago.  The Badger State added 8,000 cows to make the herd 1.28 million head and production per cow increased 45 pounds to 1,845.

For the July-through-September quarter, milk production totaled 51.6 billion pounds up 0.9 percent from the same period in 2014. Compared to a year ago, milk production was 1.4 percent higher in the second quarter and 1.8 percent higher in the first quarter of 2015. At 9.31 million cows, the nation’s dairy herd has declined 13,000 head since it peaked in May.  California production was down 3.3 percent for the quarter, Wisconsin was up 4.5 percent.

Read the full NASS report here: