U.S. Milk Production Update – Nov ’16
U.S. Milk Production Update – Nov ’16
Executive Summary
U.S. milk production figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Oct ’16. Highlights from the updated report include:
U.S. milk production remained significantly higher on a YOY basis throughout the final months of 2014, however production growth decelerated over the majority of 2015. The growth rate in U.S. milk production has once again accelerated over recent months, however, as the Oct ’16 YOY growth rate of 2.5% finished at a 22 month high.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Texas (+8.2%), followed by Kansas (+7.7%) and Michigan (+4.9%). California milk production increased on a YOY basis for the first time in 22 months, finishing up 1.8%, however production remained lower on a YOY basis throughout Utah, Florida and Virginia.
Each of the 19 largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Oct ’16, increasing by a weighted average of 2.7% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 90% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
Overall, the U.S. milk cow herd declined by 2,000 head during Oct ’16, finishing lower for the second consecutive month. Despite the decline, the U.S. milk cow herd remained at the third highest figure experienced throughout the past 18 years. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.34 million head, which is 15,000 head more than October of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 12th consecutive month, finishing 2.3% higher than the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past 22 months on a percentage basis. Milk per cow yields continued to remain higher on a YOY basis within the Midwest while yields also increased throughout the Western United States for the fifth consecutive month. Milk per cow yields increased by an average of 2.0% YOY within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and 1.8% YOY on average within California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Gains in milk per cow productivity have continued to account for the majority of the milk production growth experienced throughout Oct ’16. 93% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Oct ’16 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for just 7% of the Oct ’16 milk production growth.
MOM declines in the milk cow herd were experienced throughout Pennsylvania (-1,000 head), Ohio (-1,000 head), Vermont (-1,000 head), Utah (-1,000 head) and Virginia (-1,000 head) during Oct ’16, more than offsetting a 3,000 head MOM increase in the milk cow herd experienced throughout New Mexico.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+26,000 head), followed by Idaho (+12,000 head) and Michigan (+12,000 head). California (-11,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.
- U.S. milk production remained higher on a YOY basis for the 34th consecutive month during Oct ’16, finishing up 2.5%. The YOY growth rate was the largest experienced in 22 months on a percentage basis.
- The U.S. dairy cow herd declined by 2,000 head during Oct ’16 but remained at the third highest figure experienced throughout the past 18 years. The total U.S. dairy cow herd currently stands at 9.34 million head, which is 15,000 head more than October of last year.
- U.S. milk per cow yields increased on a YOY basis for the 12th consecutive month during Oct ’16 as growth in Midwestern yields continued to remain strong while Western yields increased on a YOY basis for the fifth consecutive month. Gains in milk per cow yields continued to account for the majority of the milk production growth experienced throughout Oct ’16.
U.S. milk production remained significantly higher on a YOY basis throughout the final months of 2014, however production growth decelerated over the majority of 2015. The growth rate in U.S. milk production has once again accelerated over recent months, however, as the Oct ’16 YOY growth rate of 2.5% finished at a 22 month high.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Texas (+8.2%), followed by Kansas (+7.7%) and Michigan (+4.9%). California milk production increased on a YOY basis for the first time in 22 months, finishing up 1.8%, however production remained lower on a YOY basis throughout Utah, Florida and Virginia.
Each of the 19 largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Oct ’16, increasing by a weighted average of 2.7% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 90% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
Overall, the U.S. milk cow herd declined by 2,000 head during Oct ’16, finishing lower for the second consecutive month. Despite the decline, the U.S. milk cow herd remained at the third highest figure experienced throughout the past 18 years. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.34 million head, which is 15,000 head more than October of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 12th consecutive month, finishing 2.3% higher than the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the largest experienced throughout the past 22 months on a percentage basis. Milk per cow yields continued to remain higher on a YOY basis within the Midwest while yields also increased throughout the Western United States for the fifth consecutive month. Milk per cow yields increased by an average of 2.0% YOY within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and 1.8% YOY on average within California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Gains in milk per cow productivity have continued to account for the majority of the milk production growth experienced throughout Oct ’16. 93% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Oct ’16 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for just 7% of the Oct ’16 milk production growth.
MOM declines in the milk cow herd were experienced throughout Pennsylvania (-1,000 head), Ohio (-1,000 head), Vermont (-1,000 head), Utah (-1,000 head) and Virginia (-1,000 head) during Oct ’16, more than offsetting a 3,000 head MOM increase in the milk cow herd experienced throughout New Mexico.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+26,000 head), followed by Idaho (+12,000 head) and Michigan (+12,000 head). California (-11,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.