U.S. Milk Production Update – Jan ’18
Executive Summary
U.S. milk production figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Dec ’17. Highlights from the updated report include:
U.S. milk production remained significantly higher on a YOY basis throughout the final months of 2014, however production growth decelerated over the majority of 2015. The growth rate in U.S. milk production once again strengthened over the ’16-’17 production season however the Dec ’17 YOY growth rate of 1.1% remained below long-term average growth rates for the fourth consecutive month.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Colorado (+9.2%), followed by Texas (+8.1%) and Utah (+6.2%). California milk production declined on a YOY basis for the 12th consecutive month, finishing down 0.3%, while production also finished lower on a YOY basis throughout Florida, New York, Washington, Vermont and Idaho.
Just six of the top ten largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Dec ’17, as milk production within the top ten milk producing states finished higher by a weighted average of 0.9% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 70% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
YOY production gains on an absolute basis were led by Texas, followed by Colorado and Wisconsin. The aforementioned states accounted for over two thirds of the total YOY gain in U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month. Declines in production were most significant throughout New York.
Overall, the Dec ’17 U.S. milk cow herd increased 3,000 head from the Nov ’17 figure, finishing at a four month high. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.401 million head, which is just 3,000 head below peak levels reached during Aug ’17 and 47,000 head more than December of last year. The YOY increase in the U.S. milk cow herd was the smallest experienced throughout the past 12 months, however.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 26th consecutive month, finishing 0.6% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past four months but remained below long-term average levels. A 1.9% YOY increase in yields experienced through the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois more than offset a 0.1% YOY decline experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Growth in milk per cow productivity gains outweighed gains in herd expansion for the first time in the past four months during Dec ’17. 54% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Dec ’17 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for 46% percent of the Dec ’17 milk production growth.
2,000 head MOM increases in the Colorado and New Mexico milk cow herds, coupled with 1,000 head MOM increases in the Iowa and South Dakota milk cow herds, more than offset 1,000 head declines in the California, Wisconsin and Arizona milk cow herds throughout Dec ’17, resulting in the total U.S. milk cow herd increasing by 3,000 head throughout the month.
YOY increases in milk cow herds continue to be led by Texas (+25,000 head), followed by Colorado (+11,000 head), New Mexico (+7,000 head) and Arizona (+7,000 head). California (-14,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.
- U.S. milk production remained higher on a YOY basis for the 48th consecutive month during Dec ’17, finishing up 1.1% to a new record seasonal high for the month of December. Growth in milk production volumes remained below long-term average growth rates for the fourth consecutive month, however.
- The Dec ’17 U.S. dairy cow herd increased 3,000 head from the Nov ’17 figure, finishing at a four month high. The total U.S. dairy cow herd currently stands at 9.401 million head, which is just 3,000 head below the peak levels reached during Aug ‘17 and 47,000 head more than December of last year.
- U.S. milk per cow yields increased on a YOY basis for the 26th consecutive month during Dec ’17, finishing up 0.6%, as growth in Midwestern yields outweighed declining Western yields. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past four months but remained below long-term average levels.
U.S. milk production remained significantly higher on a YOY basis throughout the final months of 2014, however production growth decelerated over the majority of 2015. The growth rate in U.S. milk production once again strengthened over the ’16-’17 production season however the Dec ’17 YOY growth rate of 1.1% remained below long-term average growth rates for the fourth consecutive month.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Colorado (+9.2%), followed by Texas (+8.1%) and Utah (+6.2%). California milk production declined on a YOY basis for the 12th consecutive month, finishing down 0.3%, while production also finished lower on a YOY basis throughout Florida, New York, Washington, Vermont and Idaho.
Just six of the top ten largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Dec ’17, as milk production within the top ten milk producing states finished higher by a weighted average of 0.9% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 70% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
YOY production gains on an absolute basis were led by Texas, followed by Colorado and Wisconsin. The aforementioned states accounted for over two thirds of the total YOY gain in U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month. Declines in production were most significant throughout New York.
Overall, the Dec ’17 U.S. milk cow herd increased 3,000 head from the Nov ’17 figure, finishing at a four month high. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.401 million head, which is just 3,000 head below peak levels reached during Aug ’17 and 47,000 head more than December of last year. The YOY increase in the U.S. milk cow herd was the smallest experienced throughout the past 12 months, however.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 26th consecutive month, finishing 0.6% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past four months but remained below long-term average levels. A 1.9% YOY increase in yields experienced through the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois more than offset a 0.1% YOY decline experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Growth in milk per cow productivity gains outweighed gains in herd expansion for the first time in the past four months during Dec ’17. 54% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Dec ’17 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for 46% percent of the Dec ’17 milk production growth.
2,000 head MOM increases in the Colorado and New Mexico milk cow herds, coupled with 1,000 head MOM increases in the Iowa and South Dakota milk cow herds, more than offset 1,000 head declines in the California, Wisconsin and Arizona milk cow herds throughout Dec ’17, resulting in the total U.S. milk cow herd increasing by 3,000 head throughout the month.
YOY increases in milk cow herds continue to be led by Texas (+25,000 head), followed by Colorado (+11,000 head), New Mexico (+7,000 head) and Arizona (+7,000 head). California (-14,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.