USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - March 21, 2025
Milk Production
ISSN: 1949-1557
Released March 21, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
February Milk Production down 2.6 Percent
Milk production in the 24 major States during February totaled 17.0 billion
pounds, down 2.6 percent from February 2024. However, production was 0.9
percent above last year after adjusting for the leap year. January revised
production, at 18.4 billion pounds, was up 0.6 percent from January 2024. The
January revision represented an increase of 72 million pounds or 0.4 percent
from last month's preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 1,895 pounds for February,
66 pounds below February 2024.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.96 million
head, 75,000 head more than February 2024, and 13,000 head more than January
2025.
February Milk Production in the United States down 2.5 Percent
Milk production in the United States during February totaled 17.7 billion
pounds, down 2.5 percent from February 2024.
Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,885 pounds for February,
61 pounds below February 2024.
The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.41 million head,
62,000 head more than February 2024, and 15,000 head more than January 2025.
Milk Cows and Production by Quarter - United States: 2024-2025
[May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not
yet begun]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/
:---------------------------------------------------------------------
Quarter : : : : : : : Change
: 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from
: : : : : : : 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head --- pounds -- million pounds percent
:
January-March ...: 9,338 6,098 56,943
April-June ......: 9,330 6,145 57,333
July-September ..: 9,341 6,004 56,085
October-December : 9,360 5,930 55,507
:
Annual ..........: 9,342 24,178 225,868
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Milk Cows and Production by Month - 24 Selected States: 2024-2025
[May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/
:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : : : : Change
Month : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from
: : : : : : : 2024
:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent
:
January .......: 8,871 8,950 2,062 2,056 18,293 18,401 0.6
February ......: 8,888 8,963 1,961 1,895 17,432 16,985 -2.6
March .........: 8,892 2,121 18,861
April .........: 8,890 2,059 18,305
May ...........: 8,886 2,118 18,821
June ..........: 8,878 2,012 17,861
July ..........: 8,886 2,045 18,175
August ........: 8,903 2,040 18,164
September .....: 8,911 1,969 17,544
October .......: 8,927 2,019 18,025
November ......: 8,919 1,936 17,270
December ......: 8,916 2,018 17,996
:
Annual ........: 8,897 24,362 216,747
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Estimated Milk Cows and Production by Month - United States: 2024-2025
[May not add due to rounding. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/
:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : : : : Change
Month : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from
: : : : : : : 2024
:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent
:
January .......: 9,324 9,390 2,047 2,042 19,083 19,170 0.5
February ......: 9,343 9,405 1,946 1,885 18,185 17,725 -2.5
March .........: 9,347 2,105 19,675
April .........: 9,336 2,044 19,082
May ...........: 9,331 2,103 19,624
June ..........: 9,323 1,998 18,627
July ..........: 9,326 2,029 18,918
August ........: 9,344 2,023 18,906
September .....: 9,353 1,952 18,261
October .......: 9,367 2,004 18,775
November ......: 9,359 1,922 17,988
December ......: 9,355 2,004 18,744
:
Annual ........: 9,342 24,178 225,868
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: February 2024 and 2025
[May not add due to rounding]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/
State :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : : : : Change
: 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from
: : : : : : : 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent
:
Arizona .........: 193 192 2,070 2,005 400 385 -3.8
California ......: 1,709 1,710 1,970 1,830 3,367 3,129 -7.1
Colorado ........: 201 207 2,070 2,000 416 414 -0.5
Florida .........: 98 95 1,750 1,780 172 169 -1.7
Georgia .........: 86 85 1,850 1,910 159 162 1.9
Idaho ...........: 665 705 1,970 1,945 1,310 1,371 4.7
Illinois ........: 79 77 1,785 1,710 141 132 -6.4
Indiana .........: 190 191 1,870 1,830 355 350 -1.4
Iowa ............: 242 245 2,000 1,915 484 469 -3.1
Kansas ..........: 174 181 1,935 1,875 337 339 0.6
:
Michigan ........: 439 444 2,200 2,140 966 950 -1.7
Minnesota .......: 448 440 1,860 1,820 833 801 -3.8
New Mexico ......: 243 240 2,030 1,975 493 474 -3.9
New York ........: 630 630 2,010 1,970 1,266 1,241 -2.0
Ohio ............: 254 252 1,785 1,760 453 444 -2.0
Oregon ..........: 116 116 1,655 1,610 192 187 -2.6
Pennsylvania ....: 465 464 1,710 1,670 795 775 -2.5
South Dakota ....: 210 219 1,825 1,790 383 392 2.3
Texas ...........: 645 683 2,110 2,040 1,361 1,393 2.4
Utah ............: 90 91 1,820 1,770 164 161 -1.8
:
Vermont .........: 116 113 1,725 1,700 200 192 -4.0
Virginia ........: 67 66 1,710 1,650 115 109 -5.2
Washington ......: 258 252 1,930 1,855 498 467 -6.2
Wisconsin .......: 1,270 1,265 2,025 1,960 2,572 2,479 -3.6
:
24-State Total ..: 8,888 8,963 1,961 1,895 17,432 16,985 -2.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Milk Cows and Production - 24 Selected States: January 2024 and 2025
[May not add due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Milk cows 1/ : Milk per cow 2/ : Milk production 2/
State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : : : : Change
: 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : from
: : : : : : : 2024
:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:1,000 head 1,000 head pounds pounds million pounds million pounds percent
:
Arizona .......: 196 192 2,125 2,145 417 412 -1.2
California ....: 1,709 1,710 2,070 1,960 3,538 3,352 -5.3
Colorado ......: 198 206 2,205 2,205 437 454 3.9
Florida .......: 98 95 1,835 1,885 180 179 -0.6
Georgia .......: 87 85 1,925 2,050 167 174 4.2
Idaho .........: 663 700 2,085 2,130 1,382 1,491 7.9
Illinois ......: 79 77 1,855 1,870 147 144 -2.0
Indiana .......: 190 191 2,000 2,030 380 388 2.1
Iowa ..........: 240 245 2,110 2,080 506 510 0.8
Kansas ........: 174 181 2,020 2,035 351 368 4.8
:
Michigan ......: 439 443 2,320 2,310 1,018 1,023 0.5
Minnesota .....: 449 440 1,955 2,000 878 880 0.2
New Mexico ....: 240 238 2,130 2,125 511 506 -1.0
New York ......: 630 630 2,115 2,160 1,332 1,361 2.2
Ohio ..........: 255 251 1,885 1,925 481 483 0.4
Oregon ........: 115 117 1,730 1,760 199 206 3.5
Pennsylvania ..: 465 465 1,795 1,810 835 842 0.8
South Dakota ..: 210 218 1,905 1,975 400 431 7.8
Texas .........: 635 678 2,195 2,190 1,394 1,485 6.5
Utah ..........: 89 91 1,950 1,950 174 177 1.7
:
Vermont .......: 116 113 1,820 1,865 211 211 -
Virginia ......: 67 66 1,800 1,800 121 119 -1.7
Washington ....: 257 253 2,035 2,020 523 511 -2.3
Wisconsin .....: 1,270 1,265 2,135 2,130 2,711 2,694 -0.6
:
24-State Total : 8,871 8,950 2,062 2,056 18,293 18,401 0.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
1/ Includes dry cows. Excludes heifers not yet fresh.
2/ Excludes milk sucked by calves.
Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Primary data used to determine these estimates were
obtained from a sample of producers. Individual States maintain a list of all
known milk producers and information on the size of their herd. States use
all known sources of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as
possible. Generally, all large producers and a sample of small producers are
included in the survey. Questionnaires are mailed to producers near the end
of the month to obtain data for the first day of the month. Additional
reports are obtained by telephone, as needed, to supplement the mail
response. Where feasible, States utilize state and federal administrative
data to estimate milk production. This eliminates duplication of data
gathering by different government agencies such as Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) Dairy Market News. Indications of milk cow inventory are also
obtained in the January Cattle Survey.
Estimation Procedures: Regional Field Offices prepare these estimates by
using a combination of survey indications, historic trends, and any available
administrative data. Individual State estimates are reviewed by the
Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness.
Revision Policy: Milk production, milk per cow, and number of milk cows are
subject to revision the following month after initial publication for monthly
States or the following quarter for the quarterly States. Normally,
administrative data from Federal Market Orders, State Departments of
Agriculture, or other sources are the main basis for revisions. However,
administrative data for all States may not be available in time for these
revisions. Estimates are again subject to revisions in February each year
based on additional administrative data. In the event that additional changes
are necessary, a third revision is possible in February the following year.
Estimates are again reviewed after data from the five-year Census of
Agriculture are available. No revisions are made after that date.
Reliability: Since all operations with dairy animals are not included in the
sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results
are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and
mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The effects of
these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through rigid
quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review
of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.
To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this
report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table
below. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past
performance and is computed using the differences between first and final
estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for the 24 State milk production
estimates over the past 24 months is 0.3 percent. This means that chances are
2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current
estimate of 17.0 billion pounds by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out
of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.6 percent.
Reliability of Monthly Milk Production Estimates
[Based on data for the past 24 months]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate
: square error : confidence : : : : :
: : level :-------------------------------------------------------------
Item : : : : : : Months
: : : : : :-------------------------------
: : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: percent percent -------- 1,000 -------- ----- number -----
:
:
Milk production ..............: 0.3 0.6 50 0 139 12 11
:
All Milk cows ................: 0.1 0.2 9 0 25 10 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock
Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be
sent to nass@usda.gov.
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ...... (202) 692-0069
Vacant, Head, Livestock Section
Vacant - Dairy Products
Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ... (202) 690-8632
Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ....... (202) 720-3040
Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows.. (202) 720-3278
Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ............ (202) 720-3106
Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ........ (202) 720-4448
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