U.S. Milk Production Update – Feb ’18
Executive Summary
U.S. milk production figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Jan ’18. 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 while the Jan ’18 YOY growth rate of 1.8% was the largest experienced throughout the past five months on a percentage basis.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Colorado (+10.4%), followed by Utah (+8.0%) and Texas (+5.8%). In addition, California milk production volumes increased on a YOY basis for the first time in the past 13 months, finishing up 2.2%. Production finished lower on a YOY basis throughout New York, Vermont and Florida.
Nine of the top ten largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Jan ’18, as milk production within the top ten milk producing states finished higher by a weighted average of 1.6% 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 California, followed by Texas and Colorado. The aforementioned states accounted for over half 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 Jan ’18 U.S. milk cow herd increased 5,000 head from the Dec ’17 revised figure, finishing at a 22 year high. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.405 million head, which is 46,000 head more than January of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 27th consecutive month, finishing 1.3% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past nine months. Yields experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon increased on a YOY basis for the first time in the past 13 months, finishing up 1.3%, while yields experienced throughout the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois finished 1.5% higher on a YOY basis throughout the month.
Growth in milk per cow productivity gains outweighed gains in herd expansion for the second consecutive month during Jan ’18. 73% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Jan ’18 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for 27% percent of the Jan ’18 milk production growth.
2,000 head MOM increases in the Idaho and New Mexico milk cow herds, coupled with 1,000 head MOM increases in the Washington, Arizona, Colorado and South Dakota milk cow herds, more than offset a 2,000 head MOM decline in the California milk cow herd and 1,000 head MOM declines in the Wisconsin and Minnesota milk cow herds experienced throughout Jan ’18. Overall, the total U.S. milk cow herd increased by 5,000 head on a MOM basis throughout the month.
YOY increases in milk cow herds continue to be led by Texas (+21,000 head), followed by Colorado (+12,000 head) and New Mexico (+9,000 head). California (-16,000 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 49th consecutive month during Jan ’18, finishing up 1.8% to a new record seasonal high for the month of January. The Jan ’18 YOY growth rate was the largest experienced throughout the past five months on a percentage basis.
- The Jan ’18 U.S. dairy cow herd increased 5,000 head from the Dec ’17 revised figure, finishing at a 22 year high. The total U.S. dairy cow herd currently stands at 9.405 million head, which is 46,000 head more than January of last year.
- U.S. milk per cow yields increased on a YOY basis for the 27th consecutive month during Jan ’18, finishing up 1.3%. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past nine months on a percentage basis.
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 while the Jan ’18 YOY growth rate of 1.8% was the largest experienced throughout the past five months on a percentage basis.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Colorado (+10.4%), followed by Utah (+8.0%) and Texas (+5.8%). In addition, California milk production volumes increased on a YOY basis for the first time in the past 13 months, finishing up 2.2%. Production finished lower on a YOY basis throughout New York, Vermont and Florida.
Nine of the top ten largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Jan ’18, as milk production within the top ten milk producing states finished higher by a weighted average of 1.6% 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 California, followed by Texas and Colorado. The aforementioned states accounted for over half 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 Jan ’18 U.S. milk cow herd increased 5,000 head from the Dec ’17 revised figure, finishing at a 22 year high. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.405 million head, which is 46,000 head more than January of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 27th consecutive month, finishing 1.3% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past nine months. Yields experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon increased on a YOY basis for the first time in the past 13 months, finishing up 1.3%, while yields experienced throughout the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois finished 1.5% higher on a YOY basis throughout the month.
Growth in milk per cow productivity gains outweighed gains in herd expansion for the second consecutive month during Jan ’18. 73% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Jan ’18 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for 27% percent of the Jan ’18 milk production growth.
2,000 head MOM increases in the Idaho and New Mexico milk cow herds, coupled with 1,000 head MOM increases in the Washington, Arizona, Colorado and South Dakota milk cow herds, more than offset a 2,000 head MOM decline in the California milk cow herd and 1,000 head MOM declines in the Wisconsin and Minnesota milk cow herds experienced throughout Jan ’18. Overall, the total U.S. milk cow herd increased by 5,000 head on a MOM basis throughout the month.
YOY increases in milk cow herds continue to be led by Texas (+21,000 head), followed by Colorado (+12,000 head) and New Mexico (+9,000 head). California (-16,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.