The dairy industry has witnessed a remarkable surge in milk production this year, as highlighted in recent statistics. November’s milk production in the 24 major states reached a total of 18.1 billion pounds, reflecting a 4.7% increase from the previous year. This upsurge follows October’s revised production of 18.7 billion pounds, which itself was a 3.8% increase compared to last year. Such numbers demonstrate a robust and growing industry that is setting new benchmarks.
Production Insights
November’s production per cow in the 24 major states averaged 1,979 pounds, which is 43 pounds higher than the previous year. The number of dairy cows on these farms has also risen, indicating the industry is not only producing more milk but is also expanding its livestock. With 9.13 million head of cattle, that’s 214,000 more than November of the previous year and even a slight increase from the previous month.
On a broader scale, total milk production in the United States during November amounted to 18.8 billion pounds, up 4.5% compared to the previous year. The production per cow averaged 1,963 pounds, 41 pounds more than last November, with the United States housing a total of 9.57 million dairy cows.
Industry Perspectives
According to Phil Plourd, president of Ever.Ag Insights, we’re keeping score against a period last year that featured a lot of HPAI cases in California.
“Most expected a splashy number,” he says, referring to the high growth in milk production from this report. “But as is almost always the case, I look at the cow numbers first, and here we see +211,000 year-over-year. That says it will be a while before we see dramatic slowdowns.”
States like Kansas and South Dakota are leading this growth, with Kansas seeing a remarkable 26.4% increase and South Dakota seeing a 10.8% increase year-over-year. A notable contributor to this growth is the Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., which celebrated a new cheese and whey processing facility in Kansas earlier this year. In South Dakota, Bel Brands is doubling its production capacity with a 100,000-sq.-ft. addition at its plant.
Looking to the Future
Michael Dykes, CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, emphasizes the industry’s forward-looking mindset at the Dairy Forum in San Antonio earlier this year. His advocacy for growth resonates throughout the industry, stressing the importance of innovation and expansion to prevent being surpassed by global competitors.
“Our farmers want to grow and so do our processors. If we aren’t growing, if we aren’t looking toward the future, we’re going to get surpassed by others,” Dykes says.
Robin Schmahl of AgMarket.net says: “We’ve got over 200,000 more cows, and those cows are producing around 20 pounds of milk more than last year. We have a lot of milk.”
November’s significant surge in milk production, driven by both increased output per cow and an expanding national dairy herd, underscores the U.S. dairy industry’s robust capacity and commitment to growth. However, with market conditions not yet reflecting this increased supply, producers face the imperative to navigate a landscape of abundant milk. As the dairy industry enters the new year, strategic internal growth and a proactive focus on efficiency and innovation will be crucial for dairy farmers to adapt and thrive amidst evolving economic realities
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