August Milk Production Up a Little
The United States Department of Agriculture reported this afternoon that U.S. milk production grew 0.8% in August over a year ago. But cow numbers, at 9.321 million head, remain unchanged for the third month in a row.
In terms of percentage increase, South Dakota was up a whopping 13.3% in milk production in August. There are now 10,000 more cows in South Dakota this year compared to last, and good feed and good weather saw South Dakota cows pumping 50 lb. more milk per cow for the month as well.
Wisconsin was up 4.8% in milk production, with 9,000 more cows filling Badger State dairy barns. Michigan was up 4.1%, with cow numbers up 15,000 head.
California, down 3.4%, New Mexico, down 4.3%, and Oregon, down 2.8%, were the main milk losers. California was down just 1,000 cows from a year ago, but milk per cow was down 65 lb., or 2 lb. day. New Mexico cow numbers were unchanged, but milk per cow was down 90 lb. Oregon was down 2,000 cows, and those remaining produced 1 lb. per cow per day less.
Read the full August milk production report here.
