U.S. milk production fell 1% compared to the same month last year, according to the USDA’s March Milk Production report, released April 22.
March 2023-24 dairy recap at a glance
Reviewing the USDA preliminary estimates for March 2024 compared to March 2023:
- U.S. milk production: 19.603 billion pounds, down 1%
- U.S. cow numbers: 9.335 million, down 98,000 head
- U.S. average milk per cow: 2,100 pounds, unchanged
- 24-state milk production: 18.787 billion pounds, down 0.9%
- 24-state cow numbers: 8.881 million, down 71,000 head
- 24-state average milk per cow: 2,115 pounds, down 3 pounds
Source: USDA Milk Production report, April 22, 2024
Cow numbers lower
Based on preliminary March 2024 cow estimates, the U.S. dairy herd is now the smallest dating back to January 2024. March 2024 U.S. cow numbers were estimated at 9.335 million head, down 98,000 from a year earlier.
The latest USDA report adjusted U.S. cow numbers by lowering estimates in both January and February. Compared to last month’s preliminary estimate, February cow numbers were reduced 7,000 head to 9.342 million head.
Among the 24 major dairy states, March 2024 cow numbers were estimated at 8.881 million, down 71,000 from March 2023 and down 7,000 from the revised estimate for February 2024 (Table 1).
Seven states had more cows than the year before; 13 states had fewer cows. South Dakota and Florida led all states in year-over-year growth, up a combined 26,000 head in March. That was more than offset by a 59,000-head reduction in New Mexico and Texas.
Milk output per cow higher
The national average in monthly milk output per cow decreased in March 2024 and was unchanged from March 2023. Among major states, the average change was down 3 pounds.
Affected by regional weather factors, high feed costs and tight income margins, variation among those states was wide (Table 2).
California, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Utah showed per-cow output increased 10-20 pounds per month compared to the same month a year ago, while monthly production in Texas, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan and Florida declined by 30-55 pounds.
Milk production lower
The preliminary estimate of overall March 2024 milk production was lower than the same month a year earlier.
Seven states boosted production a combined 111 million pounds; 17 states reduced production a combined 280 million pounds. Year-over-year growth leaders were South Dakota (up 41 million pounds), Wisconsin (up 27 million pounds), California (up 26 million pounds) and Iowa (up 9 million pounds).
The states posting largest volume declines were New Mexico (down 96 million pounds), Texas (down 77 million pounds), Oregon (down 21 million pounds), Idaho (down 19 million pounds) and Georgia (down 14 million pounds).
South Dakota was the milk percentage growth leader for March 2024, up 11.17% from March 2023 with Florida following at 3.43%. March 2024 production was down 15.38% from a year earlier in New Mexico, 9.17% in Oregon and 7.45% in Georgia.
The USDA revised the February 2024 milk production estimate slightly lower. With the revisions, both U.S. and major state U.S. production were down about 0.1% from USDA’s preliminary estimates a month earlier.
