South Dakota Seeing Rapid Growth in Dairy Industry

South Dakota saw the largest milk production percentage increase compared to 22 other major dairy states.
By: Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist

In the latest report from USDA, NASS (National Agricultural Statistic Service) as of July, 2015 there was a reported increase in total cows in the state from June, 2014 to June, 2015 of 9,000 head of milking and dry cows. This brings the total number of cows in the state to be an estimated 106,000 head (USDA, July, 2015) versus 97,000 reported in June, 2014. Simultaneously, the average production per cow also increased from 1,805 pounds/cow to 1,850 pounds/cow impacting the overall total production in the state from June, 2014 to June 2015. This also impacted the total production of 175 million pounds shown in June, 2014 versus June, 2015 which is estimated having a total production of 196 million pounds indicating a 12.0% increase in pounds of milk produced per cow. Nationally, in the 23 major Dairy states it was reported that during June, 2015 total Milk production increased 0.7 percent from June, 2014 and totaled 16.4 billion pounds. However, nationally there was no change in average production per cow for June, 2015 compared to June, 2014 which stayed steady at 1,895 pounds of milk/cow. However, there was an increase in 56,000 head of milk cows in the 23 major states from June, 2014 to June, 2015, but there was 2,000 less milk cows from May, 2015 to June, 2015. To view each of the 23 major states and the changes reported please reference the chart below or access the USDA Milk Production report.