U.S. Milk Production Update – Dec ’16
Executive Summary
U.S. milk production figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Nov ’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 Nov ’16 YOY growth rate of 2.4% was the second largest experienced throughout the past 23 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 growth rate of 2.5%.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Kansas (+11.6%), followed by Texas (+11.4%) and Colorado (+5.9%). California milk production increased on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month, finishing up 0.2%, however production remained lower on a YOY basis throughout Utah, Florida, Virginia, Oregon and Washington.
Each of the nine largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Nov ’16, increasing by a weighted average of 3.0% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 70% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
Overall, the U.S. milk cow herd increased by 4,000 head during Nov ’16, finishing at the second highest figure experienced throughout the past 18 years. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.34 million head, which is 17,000 head more than November of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 13th consecutive month, finishing 2.2% higher than the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the second largest experienced throughout the past 23 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 growth rate of 2.3%. 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 sixth consecutive month. Milk per cow yields increased by an average of 1.9% YOY within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and 0.9% 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 Nov ’16. 92% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Nov ’16 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for just eight percent of the Nov ’16 milk production growth.
MOM increases in the milk cow herd were led by New Mexico (+2,000 head), followed by Michigan (+1,000 head), Colorado (+1,000 head), Kansas (+1,000 head) and Illinois (+1,000 head) while Pennsylvania and Ohio each experienced MOM declines of 1,000 head during Nov ’16.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+28,000 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 35th consecutive month during Nov ’16, finishing up 2.4%. The YOY growth rate was the second largest experienced throughout the past 23 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 growth rate of 2.5%.
- The U.S. dairy cow herd increased by 4,000 head during Nov ’16, finishing at the second highest figure experienced throughout the past 18 years. The total U.S. dairy cow herd currently stands at 9.34 million head, which is 17,000 head more than November of last year.
- U.S. milk per cow yields increased on a YOY basis for the 13th consecutive month during Nov ’16 as growth in Midwestern yields continued to remain strong while Western yields increased on a YOY basis for the sixth consecutive month. Gains in milk per cow yields continued to account for the vast majority of the milk production growth experienced throughout Nov ’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 Nov ’16 YOY growth rate of 2.4% was the second largest experienced throughout the past 23 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 growth rate of 2.5%.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Kansas (+11.6%), followed by Texas (+11.4%) and Colorado (+5.9%). California milk production increased on a YOY basis for the second consecutive month, finishing up 0.2%, however production remained lower on a YOY basis throughout Utah, Florida, Virginia, Oregon and Washington.
Each of the nine largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Nov ’16, increasing by a weighted average of 3.0% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 70% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
Overall, the U.S. milk cow herd increased by 4,000 head during Nov ’16, finishing at the second highest figure experienced throughout the past 18 years. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.34 million head, which is 17,000 head more than November of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 13th consecutive month, finishing 2.2% higher than the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the second largest experienced throughout the past 23 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 growth rate of 2.3%. 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 sixth consecutive month. Milk per cow yields increased by an average of 1.9% YOY within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and 0.9% 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 Nov ’16. 92% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Nov ’16 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for just eight percent of the Nov ’16 milk production growth.
MOM increases in the milk cow herd were led by New Mexico (+2,000 head), followed by Michigan (+1,000 head), Colorado (+1,000 head), Kansas (+1,000 head) and Illinois (+1,000 head) while Pennsylvania and Ohio each experienced MOM declines of 1,000 head during Nov ’16.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+28,000 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.