U.S. Milk Production Update – Mar ’18
Executive Summary
U.S. milk production figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Feb ’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 Feb ’18 YOY growth rate of 1.8% was the largest experienced throughout the past six months on a percentage basis.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Colorado (+7.7%), followed by Utah (+6.9%) and Texas (+5.5%). Production finished lower on a YOY basis throughout Florida, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio and Minnesota.
California milk production volumes increased on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month during Feb ’18, finishing up 3.5%. California milk production had declined on a YOY basis over 12 consecutive months prior to the two most recent YOY gains.
Eight of the top ten largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Feb ’18, as milk production within the top ten milk producing states finished higher by a weighted average of 2.0% 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 Idaho and Texas. 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 Feb ’18 U.S. milk cow herd increased 5,000 head from the originally stated Jan ’18 figure and 1,000 head from the Jan ’18 revised figure, finishing at a 22 year high. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.410 million head, which is 45,000 head more than February of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 28th consecutive month, finishing 1.3% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past ten months. Yields experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon increased on a YOY basis for just the second time in the past 14 months, finishing up 3.0%, while yields experienced throughout the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois finished 2.4% higher on a YOY basis throughout the month.
Growth in milk per cow productivity gains outweighed gains in herd expansion for the third consecutive month during Feb ’18. 73% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Feb ’18 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for 27% percent of the Feb ’18 milk production growth.
1,000 head MOM increases in the Arizona and Kansas milk cow herds more than offset a 1,000 head decline in South Dakota milk cow herd experienced during Feb ’18. In addition, milk cow herd figures were revised higher for Idaho, Arizona, Colorado and Washington.
YOY increases in milk cow herds continue to be led by Texas (+16,000 head), followed by Colorado (+12,000 head), New Mexico (+9,000 head) and Idaho (+9,000 head). California (-17,000 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 50th consecutive month during Feb ’18, finishing up 1.8% to a new record seasonal high for the month of February. The Feb ’18 YOY growth rate was the largest experienced throughout the past six months on a percentage basis.
- The Feb ’18 U.S. dairy cow herd increased 5,000 head from the originally stated Jan ’18 figure and 1,000 head from the Jan ’18 revised figure, finishing at a 22 year high. The total U.S. dairy cow herd currently stands at 9.410 million head, which is 45,000 head more than February of last year.
- U.S. milk per cow yields increased on a YOY basis for the 28th consecutive month during Feb ’18, finishing up 1.3%. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past ten 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 Feb ’18 YOY growth rate of 1.8% was the largest experienced throughout the past six months on a percentage basis.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Colorado (+7.7%), followed by Utah (+6.9%) and Texas (+5.5%). Production finished lower on a YOY basis throughout Florida, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio and Minnesota.
California milk production volumes increased on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month during Feb ’18, finishing up 3.5%. California milk production had declined on a YOY basis over 12 consecutive months prior to the two most recent YOY gains.
Eight of the top ten largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Feb ’18, as milk production within the top ten milk producing states finished higher by a weighted average of 2.0% 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 Idaho and Texas. 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 Feb ’18 U.S. milk cow herd increased 5,000 head from the originally stated Jan ’18 figure and 1,000 head from the Jan ’18 revised figure, finishing at a 22 year high. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.410 million head, which is 45,000 head more than February of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 28th consecutive month, finishing 1.3% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past ten months. Yields experienced throughout the Western states of California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon increased on a YOY basis for just the second time in the past 14 months, finishing up 3.0%, while yields experienced throughout the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois finished 2.4% higher on a YOY basis throughout the month.
Growth in milk per cow productivity gains outweighed gains in herd expansion for the third consecutive month during Feb ’18. 73% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Feb ’18 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for 27% percent of the Feb ’18 milk production growth.
1,000 head MOM increases in the Arizona and Kansas milk cow herds more than offset a 1,000 head decline in South Dakota milk cow herd experienced during Feb ’18. In addition, milk cow herd figures were revised higher for Idaho, Arizona, Colorado and Washington.
YOY increases in milk cow herds continue to be led by Texas (+16,000 head), followed by Colorado (+12,000 head), New Mexico (+9,000 head) and Idaho (+9,000 head). California (-17,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.