January Milk Production Surges
The United States Department of Agriculture reported this afternoon that January milk production was up 3.4% over year earlier, with cow numbers up 76,000 head over a year ago and up 13,000 head over December 2011. Milk per cow was up 2.5% over a year ago.
The only state reporting reduced milk output of the 23 major dairy states was Vermont, with cow number there down 2,000 head. All other states were up--some significantly.
For example, Utah was up 8.6%, Colorado, +7.8%, Arizona, +7% and California, +6.6%. California was up 225 million pounds over last year, with cow numbers in the Golden State up 29,000 head (1.6%).
To get a sense of California’s increased output, it is more than the total monthly output of states such as Iowa, Vermont, Oregon, Utah or Virginia.
Wisconsin was up 3.7%, Idaho, +4.7%, New York, +0.3% and Pennsylvania, 0.6%.
The full report can be read here.
