In it’s June 21, 2024, milk production report, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says the 24 major dairy-producing states produced 18.9 billion pounds during May 2024, down 0.7 percent from May 2023.
April’s revised production reached 18.3 billion pounds. Production per cow averaged 2,122 pounds for May, three pounds below May 2023.
The number of milk cows on farms reached 8.89 million head, 52,000 less than in May 2023, but 5,000 more than April 2024.
Total United States May milk production reached 19.7 billion pounds, down 0.9 percent from May 2023.
In South Dakota, USDA NASS’s report shows milk production during May 2024 totaled 420 million pounds, up 10% from May 2023.
The average number of milk cows was 212,000 head, 19,000 head more than May 2023. Production per cow averaged 1,980 pounds.