News

Milk production down slightly in March

Milk production in the U.S. in March totaled 17.66 billion pounds down 0.3 percent from March of last year. Due to sequestration cuts, cow numbers and production per cow will not be reported through the end of September.

The 23 major dairy states saw production down 0.1 percent at 16.4 billion pounds, 14 of the 23 states saw an increase in production compared to a year ago, one was unchanged and 8 saw a decrease.

California milk production in March totaled 3.68 billion pounds down 3.3 percent from a year ago. Wisconsin milk production increased 3 percent to 2.4 billion pounds. New York has 1.159 billion pounds of milk up 1.8 percent, Idaho increased 0.5 percent to 1.133 billion and Pennsylvania increased 0.3 percent to 926 million pounds.

The revised February milk production numbers put output at 14.7 billion pounds which, after adjusting for Leap Day was 0.2 percent above a year ago.

For the first three months of the year, U.S. milk production totaled 50.5 billion pounds down 1.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012. California production is down 5.1 percent for the quarter while Wisconsin is up 2.9 percent compared to a year ago.

Read the full NASS report here:

A mixed close to a mixed week in the dairy markets on Friday. Cash cheese barrels gained a penny, blocks declined a half-cent while butter and nonfat dry milk were unchanged.

For the week, cash cheese barrels gained 1.5 cents, blocks increased 4.25 cents, butter is 4.75 cents higher, Grade A nonfat dry milk up a half-cent while Extra Grade increased 2 cents per pound. Class III futures for June, July and August increased an average 15 cents per hundredweight.