U.S. milk production fell about 1% compared to the same month last year, according to the USDA’s preliminary June Milk Production report, released July 23.
June 2023-24 dairy recap at a glance
Reviewing the USDA preliminary estimates for June 2024 compared to June 2023:
- U.S. milk production: 18.767 billion pounds, down 1%
- U.S. cow numbers: 9.335 million, down 62,000 head
- U.S. average milk per cow: 2,010 pounds, down 6 pounds
- 24-state milk production: 18 billion pounds, down 0.8%
- 24-state cow numbers: 8.888 million, down 37,000 head
- 24-state average milk per cow: 2,025 pounds, down 8 pounds
Source: USDA Milk Production report, July 23, 2024
Cow numbers lower
June 2024 U.S. cow numbers were estimated at 9.335 million head, down 62,000 from a year earlier. However, preliminary estimates indicate the herd has continued to ebb and flow, up 2,000 from May and returning to a three-month high.
The trend is similar in the 24 major dairy states, where June 2024 cow numbers were estimated at 8.888 million, down 37,000 from June 2023 but up 2,000 from the revised estimate for May 2024 (Table 1).
Compared to a year earlier, six states had more cows than June one year ago; 15 states had fewer cows. South Dakota and Texas led all states in year-over-year growth, up a combined 30,000 head in June. That was more than offset by a 37,000-head reduction in New Mexico alone.
Milk output per cow lower
With one less production day compared to May, the national average in monthly milk output per cow declined in June 2024 and was also down from June 2023. Among major states, the average year-to-year change was down 8 pounds from the same month a year earlier.
Affected by regional weather factors, variations in feed costs, and income margins, the difference in output per cow among those states was wide (Table 2).
New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin showed per-cow output increased 15-20 pounds per month compared to the same month a year ago, while monthly production in Pennsylvania, California, New York and Illinois declined by 25-35 pounds.
Milk production lower
The preliminary estimate of overall June 2024 milk production was lower than the same month a year earlier.
Six states boosted production a combined 120 million pounds; 17 states reduced production a combined 279 million pounds. Year-over-year growth leaders were Texas (up 41 million pounds), South Dakota (up 31 million pounds) and Wisconsin (up 25 million pounds).
The states posting the largest volume declines were New Mexico (down 69 million pounds), California (down 61 million pounds), Minnesota (down 27 million pounds) and Pennsylvania (down 18 million pounds).
South Dakota was the milk percentage growth leader for June 2024, up 8.27% from June 2023, with Florida following at 4.94%. June 2024 production was down 12.55% from a year earlier in New Mexico, 8.14% in Georgia and 4.27% in Virginia.
The USDA revised the May 2024 milk production estimate slightly lower. With the revisions, U.S. production was down about 1% from May 2023, with major-state output down 0.8%.
