News

August milk production up on year

The USDA says August milk production in the top 23 states was up 2.1% on the year at 17.011 billion pounds. That is the sixth month in a row with a year over year increase in production and the fifth time this year production in the 23 leading states has topped 17 billion pounds. June’s total was very close, but just short.

Production per cow averaged 1,948 pounds per cow, 26 more than a year ago and the highest for the month since the series of reports started in 2003, with the herd up 66,000 on the year at 8.732 million head.

California was the top producing state with the largest herd, at 3.265 billion pounds and 1.746 million head, followed by Wisconsin in both categories, and Colorado had the highest yield at 2,250 pounds per cow, followed closely by Michigan.

The USDA raised its 2017 milk production estimate earlier this month because of strong per cow production expectations.

August 2017 milk production, yield, and herd in Brownfield states:

Illinois: 156 million pounds, up 2.6% from August 2016; per cow yield of 1,675 pounds, up 60 from a year ago; herd of 93,000 head, down 1,000 from last year

Indiana: 350 million pounds, up 1.7% from August 2016; per cow yield of 1,870 pounds, unchanged from a year ago; herd of 187,000 head, down 3,000 from last year

Iowa: 434 million pounds, up 2.8% from August 2016; per cow yield of 2,000 pounds, up 30 from a year ago; herd of 217,000 head, up 3,000 from last year

Michigan: 948 million pounds, up 3.0% from August 2016; per cow yield of 2,220 pounds, up 40 from a year ago; herd of 427,000 head, up 5,000 from last year

Minnesota: 838 million pounds, up 4.0% from August 2016; per cow yield of 1,830 pounds, up 85 from a year ago; herd of 458,000 head, down 4,000 from last year

Ohio: 468 million pounds, up 2.4% from August 2016; per cow yield of 1,785 pounds, up 55 from a year ago; herd of 262,000 head, down 2,000 from last year

South Dakota: 225 million pounds, up 4.2% from August 2016; per cow yield of 1,905 pounds, up 25 from a year ago; herd of 118,000 head, up 3,000 from last year

Wisconsin: 2.588 billion pounds, up 1.8% from August 2016; per cow yield of 2,025 pounds, up 35 from a year ago; herd of 1.278 million head, unchanged from last year