Posted: 01.20.2010

Everywhere else but the Midwest - milk production slipped again.  But Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa apparently have a keen eye on higher milk production.

Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 14.6 billion pounds, down 0.8 percent from December 2008. November revised production at 14.0 billion pounds, was down 0.8 percent from November 2008. The November revision represented an increase of 24 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. 

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,758 pounds for December, 29 pounds above December 2008. 

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.31 million head, 206,000 head less than December 2008, and unchanged from November 2009. 

California was down 4.6 percent, due to 76,000 less cows and a 10 pound drop per cow from a year ago. Wisconsin was up 4.3 percent, thanks to a 65 pound gain per cow and 4,000 more cows. New York was down 0.3 percent. Cow numbers were off 15,000 but output was up 35 pounds per cow. Idaho was up 0.4 percent, with a decrease of 4,000 cows, but output was up 20 pounds per cow. Pennsylvania output was up 0.7 percent from a year ago, on a 40 pound gain per cow but 10,000 less cows, and Minnesota was up 3.2 percent on a 45 gain per cow and 2,000 more cows.
 
The biggest increase was Wisconsin, up 4.3 percent. Iowa was next, up 3.6 percent, followed by Minnesota up 3.2 percent. The biggest decline occurred in Colorado, down 11.1 percent due to a 14,000 decline in cow numbers. Arizona was next, down 10.9 percent with 22,000 fewer cows. Missouri followed with a 8 percent loss. 

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