U.S. Milk Production Update – Jan ’17
Executive Summary
U.S. milk production figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Dec ’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 Dec ’16 YOY growth rate of 2.2% was the third largest experienced throughout the past 24 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 and Nov ’16 growth rates. Overall, U.S. milk production is up 2.4% throughout the first quarter of the ’16-’17 production season.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Texas (+11.7%), followed by Kansas (+9.5%) and Colorado (+7.3%). California milk production increased on a YOY basis for the third consecutive month, finishing up 0.5%, however production finished lower on a YOY basis throughout Oregon, Virginia, Utah and Illinois.
Each of the nine largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Dec ’16, increasing by a weighted average of 2.8% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 70% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
YOY production gains on an absolute basis were led by Texas, followed by New Mexico, New York and Wisconsin. The aforementioned states combined to account for nearly 60% of the total YOY gain in U.S. milk production.
Overall, the U.S. milk cow herd increased by 11,000 head during Dec ’16, finishing at the highest figure experienced throughout the past 20 years. The MOM increase in the U.S. milk cow herdwas in addition to an 8,000 head upward revision to the Nov ’16 figure. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.36 million head, which is 38,000 head more than December of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 14th consecutive month, finishing 1.8% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the lowest experienced throughout the past four months on a percentage basis, however.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 seventh consecutive month. Milk per cow yields increased by an average of 1.0% YOY within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and 0.3% 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 Dec ’16. 80% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Dec ’16 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for just 20% percent of the Dec ’16 milk production growth.
MOM increases in the milk cow herd were led by Michigan (+2,000 head) and New Mexico (+2,000 head) while Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas and Florida each experienced 1,000 head MOM increases in their milk cow herds throughout the month.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+29,000 head), followed by Idaho (+13,000 head) and Michigan (+13,000 head). California (-10,000 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 36th consecutive month during Dec ’16, finishing up 2.2% to a new record high seasonal level. U.S. milk production has increased 2.4% YOY throughout the first quarter of the ’16-’17 production season.
- The U.S. dairy cow herd increased by 11,000 head during Dec ’16, finishing at the highest figure experienced throughout the past 20 years. The total U.S. dairy cow herd currently stands at 9.36 million head, which is 38,000 head more than December of last year.
- U.S. milk per cow yields increased on a YOY basis for the 14th consecutive month during Dec ’16 as growth in Midwestern yields continued to finish higher while Western yields increased on a YOY basis for the seventh consecutive month. Gains in milk per cow yields continued to account for the vast majority of the milk production growth experienced throughout Dec ’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 Dec ’16 YOY growth rate of 2.2% was the third largest experienced throughout the past 24 months on a percentage basis, trailing only the Oct ’16 and Nov ’16 growth rates. Overall, U.S. milk production is up 2.4% throughout the first quarter of the ’16-’17 production season.
YOY production gains on a percentage basis were led by Texas (+11.7%), followed by Kansas (+9.5%) and Colorado (+7.3%). California milk production increased on a YOY basis for the third consecutive month, finishing up 0.5%, however production finished lower on a YOY basis throughout Oregon, Virginia, Utah and Illinois.
Each of the nine largest milk producing states experienced YOY gains in production throughout Dec ’16, increasing by a weighted average of 2.8% throughout the month. The aforementioned states accounted for over 70% of the total U.S. milk production experienced throughout the month.
YOY production gains on an absolute basis were led by Texas, followed by New Mexico, New York and Wisconsin. The aforementioned states combined to account for nearly 60% of the total YOY gain in U.S. milk production.
Overall, the U.S. milk cow herd increased by 11,000 head during Dec ’16, finishing at the highest figure experienced throughout the past 20 years. The MOM increase in the U.S. milk cow herdwas in addition to an 8,000 head upward revision to the Nov ’16 figure. The total U.S. milk cow herd currently stands at 9.36 million head, which is 38,000 head more than December of last year.
The U.S. milk per cow yield increased YOY for the 14th consecutive month, finishing 1.8% above the previous year. The YOY increase in milk per cow yields was the lowest experienced throughout the past four months on a percentage basis, however.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 seventh consecutive month. Milk per cow yields increased by an average of 1.0% YOY within Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois and 0.3% 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 Dec ’16. 80% of the increase in milk production was the result of higher productivity per cow during Dec ’16 while growth attributed to herd expansion accounted for just 20% percent of the Dec ’16 milk production growth.
MOM increases in the milk cow herd were led by Michigan (+2,000 head) and New Mexico (+2,000 head) while Wisconsin, Idaho, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas and Florida each experienced 1,000 head MOM increases in their milk cow herds throughout the month.
YOY increases in milk cow herds were led by Texas (+29,000 head), followed by Idaho (+13,000 head) and Michigan (+13,000 head). California (-10,000 head) experienced the largest YOY reduction in their milk cow herd throughout the month.