Friday’s USDA Milk Production report showed just a modest 1 percent gain in milk production over 2013, although the 23 major states grew 2.0 percent over June 2013. The major 23 states totaled 16.2 billion pounds of milk for June 2014, while all states totaled 17.3 billion pounds of milk.
The nation’s milk herd grew to 9,266,000 head, up from 9,255,000 in May 2014 (due to a lapse in funding, no USDA survey results exist for March through June 2013).
The biggest gains by state for 2014 over 2013 were:
Largest 1-year gains, June to June, major 23 states
- Colorado 9.7%
- Texas 8.3%
- Kansas 7.4%
- South Dakota 5.4%
- Virginia 4.2%
- Utah 4.0%
- Washington 3.9%
- Michigan 3.2%
- Illinois 2.6%
- Florida 2.5%
Of the top 23 states, only Ohio went backwards, losing 1.5%. For the top two production states, California gained 1.7% and Wisconsin gained 0.6%.
This month’s report also showed Texas gaining on Pennsylvania’s slight lead as the #5 milk producing state.
State June 2014 Milk Production (pounds)
- California 3,549,000,000
- Wisconsin 2,316,000,000
- Idaho 1,180,000,000
- New York 1,150,000,000
- Pennsylvania 882,000,000
- Texas 886,000,000
- Michigan 795,000,000
- Minnesota 761,000,000
- New Mexico 688,000,000
- Washington 562,000,000