The September Milk Production report underscored positive year-over-year growth that unfolded in terms of milk production and cow numbers. The latest USDA report outlines U.S. milk production was up a modest 1.5% over September 2021. The report included 9.411 million cows, an increase of 6,000 from a year ago. August’s production was revised, up by 13 million lbs., which translated to an increase of 1.7% over 2021 instead of the previously reported 1.6%.
Year-over-year growth in cow numbers was led by South Dakota, who continued its impressive growth trend. It added 46 million lbs. of milk, a positive reflection of 14.9%, as well as 25,000 additional cows.
The top six states are:
| State | Production | Volume Change | % Change | Cow Change |
| CA | 3.291 billion | +16 million | +0.5 | +4,000 |
| WI | 2.618 billion | +24 million | +0.9 | -7,000 |
| ID | 1.380 billion | +32 million | +2.4 | +6,000 |
| TX | 1.346 billion | +105 million | +8.5 | +30,000 |
| NY | 1.256 billion | +28 million | +2.2 | -3,000 |
| MI | 954 million | -7 million | -0.7 | -11,000 |
The Livestock Slaughter Report showed 260,500 dairy cows were culled in the month of September, 4,100 less than last year and 5,600 fewer than last month. Year-to-date culling is down 59,800 head.
Phil Plourd, head of market intelligence at Ever.Ag, said the magnitude of growth was surprising.
“We expected cow numbers to drop month-to-month, so productivity gains definitely topped expectations,” he says. “Up 1.5% overall puts this one squarely in the bearish column.”
