News

Milk production down in January, 5% of dairies closed in 2024

U.S. milk production was up fractionally in January as dairy farmers worked to grow their herds.

Production in the U.S. totaled more than 19 billion pounds with production per cow down seven pounds from last year.

USDA says farmers increased the dairy herd size by 40,000 head from last year and 10,000 from the prior month. 

Top states increasing milk production during January include South Dakota and Texas (both +6.5%). The largest milk production declines were reported in California and Arizona.

Michigan dairy cows had the highest output at 2,320 pounds per cow, nearly 270 pounds above the national average.

The USDA’s February report also includes the annual number of licensed dairy farms for 2024 which was down more than 1,400 from the prior year or five percent. 

Wisconsin lost the most dairy farms in the U.S. for the year, down 400, followed by Minnesota which lost 165 farms.