U.S. Milk Production Declines by 0.6% for the Fifth Consecutive Month
Source: The DairyNews
Milk output on American farms continues to fall, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline, particularly evident in the West and Southwest regions.
Preliminary data for November reveals a 0.6% drop in output compared to the same period in 2022, totaling an estimated 18.1 billion pounds. The top 24-state total, standing at 17.3 billion pounds, reflects a 0.5% decrease.
The revised October 50-state total, down 35 million pounds from the initial estimate, indicates a 0.7% decline from 2022, a deviation from the initially reported 0.1%.
Cow numbers reached 9.360 million, reflecting a decrease of 10,000 from October. This figure, down 44,000 head or 0.5% from a year ago, represents the smallest herd since June 2020.
StoneX notes that the cow loss exceeds expectations, considering the weak dairy cow slaughter. Despite the unexpected decline in milk output, the robust increase in fat and protein content results in a component-adjusted production rise of 0.8%, accelerating from October's 0.3%.
Output per cow in the 50 states averaged 1,932 pounds, down 61 pounds from October and 2 pounds or 0.1% below November 2022. October output, revised down by 4 pounds in the 50 states, contributes to this adjustment.
California's milk production totaled 3.27 billion pounds, down 55 million or 1.7% from a year ago, with cow numbers down 11,000 and output per cow down by 20 pounds.
Wisconsin's milk production reached 2.6 billion pounds, up 4 million or 0.2% from a year ago, attributed to a 5-pound gain per cow offsetting the loss of 1,000 cows.
Idaho experienced a 0.3% increase, thanks to an additional 2,000 cows, while output per cow remained unchanged.
Michigan saw a 1.9% increase, Minnesota declined by 0.7%, and New Mexico posted the most significant loss, down 10.1%, on 27,000 fewer cows and 10 pounds less per cow.
New York recorded a 0.5% increase. Oregon declined by 2.4%, with 4,000 fewer cows, though output per cow increased by 10 pounds.
Pennsylvania experienced a 1.4% decline, while South Dakota observed the most substantial gain, up 7.0%, with 13,000 more cows, and output per cow remained unchanged.
Texas declined by 2.2%, despite a 10-pound gain per cow, with the state's herd down by 18,000 from a year ago.
Washington state decreased by 0.8%, with a 20-pound drop per cow and 1,000 fewer cows than a year ago.
The revised October 50-state total, down 35 million pounds from the initial estimate, indicates a 0.7% decline from 2022, a deviation from the initially reported 0.1%.
Cow numbers reached 9.360 million, reflecting a decrease of 10,000 from October. This figure, down 44,000 head or 0.5% from a year ago, represents the smallest herd since June 2020.
StoneX notes that the cow loss exceeds expectations, considering the weak dairy cow slaughter. Despite the unexpected decline in milk output, the robust increase in fat and protein content results in a component-adjusted production rise of 0.8%, accelerating from October's 0.3%.
Output per cow in the 50 states averaged 1,932 pounds, down 61 pounds from October and 2 pounds or 0.1% below November 2022. October output, revised down by 4 pounds in the 50 states, contributes to this adjustment.
California's milk production totaled 3.27 billion pounds, down 55 million or 1.7% from a year ago, with cow numbers down 11,000 and output per cow down by 20 pounds.
Wisconsin's milk production reached 2.6 billion pounds, up 4 million or 0.2% from a year ago, attributed to a 5-pound gain per cow offsetting the loss of 1,000 cows.
Idaho experienced a 0.3% increase, thanks to an additional 2,000 cows, while output per cow remained unchanged.
Michigan saw a 1.9% increase, Minnesota declined by 0.7%, and New Mexico posted the most significant loss, down 10.1%, on 27,000 fewer cows and 10 pounds less per cow.
New York recorded a 0.5% increase. Oregon declined by 2.4%, with 4,000 fewer cows, though output per cow increased by 10 pounds.
Pennsylvania experienced a 1.4% decline, while South Dakota observed the most substantial gain, up 7.0%, with 13,000 more cows, and output per cow remained unchanged.
Texas declined by 2.2%, despite a 10-pound gain per cow, with the state's herd down by 18,000 from a year ago.
Washington state decreased by 0.8%, with a 20-pound drop per cow and 1,000 fewer cows than a year ago.
