Dairy Week In Review

US total milk production was down 0.1 percent to 18.825 billion pounds in December, with 67,000 fewer head in the nation’s dairy herd from a year ago, down 7,000 head from last month. Milk  production per cow across the nation was actually up 11 pounds or 0.7 percent for the month, according to the latest USDA Milk Production Report. Milk production in the top eight milk  producing states was mixed. California, Wisconsin, Idaho, Texas, and Minnesota all posted gains, up 2.4, 1.8, 1.7, 3.4, and 1.7 percent, respectively. New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania posted  losses, falling 1.7, 1.2 and 2.6 percent, respectively. Pennsylvania lost 8,000 head since a year ago, falling 2,000 head from last month. The Commonwealth also saw a 15-pound loss in milk  production per cow for the month, down 0.9 percent from a year ago. Read More