May’s milk production in the 23 major dairy states rose 0.2 percent over year-earlier levels to reach 15.5 billion pounds, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said today.
California, the nation’s largest milk-producing state, continued its eighth consecutive month of production declines, dropping 1.9 percent from May 2008 to 3.514 billion pounds.
Arizona tallied the largest percentage decrease, reducing its milk output by 6.2 percent to 378 million pounds. Dr. Robert Collier, a University of Arizona animal sciences professor, attributed the production drop to the financial pressures of dairy producers.
Kansas continued to increase its milk production, rising 6.8 percent over last May to reach 220 million pounds. Milk output in Texas climbed 6.3 percent to reach 789 million pounds.
Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,828 pounds for May, 9 pounds above May 2008.
The number of milk cows on U.S. farms fell to 8.47 million head, 25,000 head fewer than in May 2008, and 10,000 head fewer than April 2009.
USDA also revised its April 2009 production number to 14.9 billion pounds, up 0.1 percent from April 2008.
Find the full report at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1103.
Catherine Merlo is Western editor for Dairy Today. You can reach her at cmerlo@farmjournal.com.
