Western states show biggest drop in milk output.
Milk production in the 23 major states continued its four-month decline, totaling 14.7 billion pounds during September, down 0.5% from September 2011, USDA said today.
The largest year-over-year percentage declines were seen in the Western states of Arizona (down 5.4%), California (down 3.9%) and New Mexico (down 4.5%) as well as Texas (down 4.7%).
Colorado led with the largest percentage increase in production, up 5.2% over year-earlier levels.
Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,732 pounds for September, 10 pounds below September 2011.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major states was 8.47 million head, 5,000 head more than September 2011, but 25,000 head less than August 2012.
Analysts with the FC Stone Group called the report “slightly bearish.”
August production was revised to 15.3 billion pounds, was down slightly from August 2011. The August revision represented an increase of 26 million pounds or 0.2% from last month’s preliminary production estimate.
