Discover why the USDA reports a significant drop in March 2024 milk production across top dairy states. What’s causing this decline? Find out more.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently shed light on a notable decline in milk production across the major dairy states for the month of March in 2024. Data gathered by the USDA indicates that production in the 24 major dairy states landed at just about 18.8 billion pounds last month, drawing a drop of about nine-tenths of a percent compared to the same period in March 2023.
In March, the average production per cow hit the scales at approximately 2,115 pounds, which was down by nearly three pounds from the same period in the preceding year. Additionally, the number of cattle in these states saw a decrease of about 71,000 head, when compared to the previous year, settling at roughly 8.88 million head. This statistic also signifies a decrease of 7,000 cattle from the preceding month of February.
For the first quarter of 2024, milk production saw a marginal increase of one-tenth of a percent from 2023, reaching a total of 56.9 billion pounds. During this period, the US total milking herd stood at 9.33 million head, reflecting a decrease of 16,000 cattle from the fourth quarter of 2023 and 85,000 fewer cattle compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Despite the overall decrease, California maintained its position as the standout producer, with its 1.7 million head of cattle generating an impressive 3.6 billion pounds of milk. This was closely followed by Wisconsin with its 1.2 million head yielding 2.7 billion pounds. Michigan continued to lead the pack in terms of milk production per cow, with an average yield of 2,350 pounds.
Summary: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a significant decline in milk production across major dairy states in March 2024. The average production per cow was around 2,115 pounds, down by nearly three pounds from the previous year. The number of cattle in these states also decreased by 71,000 head from 8.88 million head to 8.88 million head. In the first quarter of 2024, milk production increased by one-tenth of a percent from 2023, reaching 56.9 billion pounds. However, the US total milking herd decreased by 16,000 cattle from the fourth quarter of 2023 and 85,000 fewer cattle compared to the first quarter of 2023. California remained the top producer, with 1.7 million head of cattle generating 3.6 billion pounds of milk. Wisconsin followed closely with 1.2 million head yielding 2.7 billion pounds. Michigan continued to lead the pack in terms of milk production per cow, with an average yield of 2,350 pounds.
