U.S. milk production fell about 0.4% compared to the same month last year, according to the USDA’s preliminary July Milk Production report, released Aug. 21.

July 2023-24 dairy recap at a glance

Reviewing the USDA preliminary estimates for July 2024 compared to July 2023:

• U.S. milk production: 18.915 billion pounds, down 0.4%
• U.S. cow numbers: 9.325 million, down 43,000 head
• U.S. average milk per cow: 2,028 pounds, up 1 pound
• 24-state milk production: 18.171 billion pounds, down 0.2%
• 24-state cow numbers: 8.878 million, down 31,000 head
• 24-state average milk per cow: 2,047 pounds, up 2 pounds

Source: USDA Milk Production report, Aug. 21, 2024

Cow numbers lower

July 2024 U.S. cow numbers were estimated at 9.325 million head, down 43,000 from a year earlier. However, preliminary estimates indicate the herd has continued to ebb and flow, up 5,000 from June and is similar to January’s total.

The trend is similar in the 24 major dairy states, where July 2024 cow numbers were estimated at 8.878 million, down 31,000 from July 2023 but up 3,000 from the revised estimate for June 2024 (Table 1).

Compared to a year earlier, eight states had more cows than July one year ago; 15 states had fewer cows. Texas and South Dakota led all states in year-over-year growth, up a combined 33,000 head in July. That was offset by a 31,000-head reduction in New Mexico alone.

Milk output per cow higher

With one more production day compared to June, the national average in monthly milk output per cow increased in July 2024 and was also up from July 2023 – but only slightly. Among major states, the average year-to-year change was up 2 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).

Georgia, Texas, New Mexico and Ohio showed per-cow output increased 20-85 pounds per month compared to the same month a year ago, while monthly production in Colorado, Minnesota, Idaho and Vermont declined by 20-49 pounds.

Milk production lower

The preliminary estimate of overall July 2024 milk production was lower than the same month a year earlier.

Six states boosted production a combined 131 million pounds; 17 states reduced production a combined 176 million pounds. Year-over-year growth leaders were Texas (up 80 million pounds), South Dakota (up 29 million pounds) and Kansas (up 10 million pounds).

The states posting largest volume declines were New Mexico (down 48 million pounds), Minnesota (down 36 million pounds), Arizona (down 18 million pounds) and Idaho (down 15 million pounds).

South Dakota was the milk percentage growth leader for July 2024, up 7.42% from July 2023 with Texas following at 5.97%. July 2024 production was down 8.91% from a year earlier in New Mexico, 4.76% in Arizona and 3.99% in Minnesota.

The USDA revised the June 2024 milk production estimate slightly lower. With the revisions, U.S. production was down about 1.5% from June 2023, with major-state output down 1.5%.

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