USDA Reports September Milk Production Up 2.1%

The United States Department of Agriculture reported this afternoon that September milk production shot up 2.1%. U.S. cow numbers dipped 3,000 head from August, but are still up 21,000 head compared to a year ago. In August, cow numbers were up 26,000 head versus the previous year.California again saw milk production decline for the 22nd consecutive month. Production was off just 0.1%. Cow numbers in the Golden State are down 11,000 head versus a year ago but down just 1,000 cows from August.Wisconsin, the #2 dairy state, was up 3.3% in milk though cow numbers dipped 2,000 head from a year ago. Milk per cow in Wisconsin shot up 65 lb. in October versus the previous year.The highest gain in milk production came from Kansas, with output up 6.3%. Cow numbers there were up 3,000 head, and milk per cow was up 75 lb./cow.Michigan grew milk production 5.8%, with cow numbers up 12,000 head. Texas was up 5.3%, with cow numbers up 26,000 head. And South Dakota was up 5.1%, with cow numbers there up 7,000.