USDA Reports April Milk Production Climbs 2%

The United States Department of Agriculture reported this afternoon that April milk production climbed 2% over a year ago, with cow numbers up 69,000 head as well. Cow numbers were up 8,000 head over March.The biggest gains came in Texas, up 12.8%, New Mexico, up 7.5%, and Colorado, up 7.2%.  Cow numbers in Texas are up 45,000 head over a year ago, or just shy of 10%. Cow numbers were up 17,000 head in New Mexico, +5.5%, and up 10,000 head in Colorado, +6.7%. In the case of both Texas and New Mexico, the increases are still likely due to recovery from a major blizzard that hit the two states last winter. But Colorado is seeing dairy expansions to fill growing plant capacity.The West Coast, on the other hand, took a hit in April. California was again down 1.1%, with cow numbers down 11,000 head. Washington was down 2.5%, Oregon was down 4.1% and Idaho was down 0.7% even though cow numbers were up 5,000.Other major states held their own: Wisconsin was up 0.6%, New York, +3.9%, Pennsylvania, 2.5%.