State & National Milk Production Fell in May

Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin milk production was slightly lower during the month of May when compared to the same time last year. According to the USDA's monthly milk production report, state output totaled 2.65 billion pounds during the month, down a slight 0.4 percent from May 2018, but higher than April's 2.54 billion pounds (which had less days on the calendar).

Nationally, 18.1 billion pounds of milk was produced in the 24 major dairy states for the month, which now includes Georgia for the first time. That was a fractional 0.1 percent lower than 2018, but more than the previous month's 17.4 billion.

California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.57 billion pounds. Texas had the greatest increase in year-to-year output as that state produced 1.19 billion pounds of milk in May, up 5.4 percent from the same period last year. However, 12 of the top 24 states had lower year-to-year production last month.

Meanwhile, the number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major states was 8.79 million head, 55,000 head less than May 2018, but 5,000 head more than April 2019. The average number of milk cows on Wisconsin farms for the month was 1.27 million head, unchanged from last month, but down 5,000 head less than last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,090 pounds, which was the same as last year's figures.

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