January 5, 2015

Driven by shifts in domestic demand and near-record high exports, U.S. milk production is up 4% year on year and the total number of dairy cows across the 23 major U.S. dairy producing states is up by 93,000 head year on year according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The total U.S. dairy herd stands at 8.59 million head, and milk production per cow in November 2014 was 1,806 pounds per cow – 41 pounds per cow higher than November 2013, and the highest rate of production per cow since NASS began tracking such information in 2003. The increase in production per cow is being attributed in part to improved dairy cow genetics and more widespread use of computerized feeding systems. Wisconsin is one of the country’s most important dairy producing states after California, with dairy production accounting for half of the state’s agricultural economy, contributing $43.4 billion in sales annually. The November report indicates that Wisconsin’s total milk production was 2.254 billion pounds – a year on year increase of 2.8%.

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