News

Incremental gains for February milk production

Milk production during February increased slightly less than one percent because of a larger, more productive herd.

USDA says production in the U.S. totaled nearly 18 billion pounds with production per cow up seven pounds from last year.

The herd size increased by 37,000 head on the year and 12,000 from the previous month. South Dakota and Iowa producers alone added 32,000 dairy cows in the last year.

South Dakota again had the largest increase in overall milk production during February, up nine percent, followed by Iowa, up nearly seven percent. Florida reported the largest decrease, down more than 14 percent. Michigan remains the leader in per cow output at 2,285 pounds per cow, more than 200 pounds above average.