U.S. milk production fell 0.4% compared to the same month last year, according to the USDA’s April Milk Production report, released May 20.
April 2023-24 dairy recap at a glance
Reviewing the USDA preliminary estimates for April 2024 compared to April 2023:
- U.S. milk production: 19.135 billion pounds, down 0.4%
- U.S. cow numbers: 9.34 million, down 74,000 head
- U.S. average milk per cow: 2,049 pounds, up 9 pounds
- 24-state milk production: 18.341 billion pounds, down 0.2%
- 24-state cow numbers: 8.886 million, down 55,000 head
- 24-state average milk per cow: 2,064 pounds, up 8 pounds
Source: USDA Milk Production report, May 20, 2024
Cow numbers lower
Based on preliminary April 2024 cow estimates, the U.S. dairy herd is now the smallest dating back to January 2024. April 2024 U.S. cow numbers were estimated at 9.34 million head, down 74,000 from a year earlier.
The latest USDA report adjusted U.S. cow numbers by raising estimates for March. Compared to last month’s preliminary estimate, March U.S. cow numbers increased 13,000 head to 9.348 million head; 24-state cow numbers increased 11,000 to 8.892 million head.
Among the 24 major dairy states, April 2024 cow numbers were estimated at 8.886 million, down 55,000 from April 2023 and down 6,000 from the revised estimate for March 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 31,000 head in April. That was more than offset by a 47,000-head reduction in New Mexico alone.
Milk output per cow higher
With one less production day compared to March, the national average in monthly milk output per cow decreased in April 2024 but increased from April 2023. Among major states, the average year-to-year change was up 8 pounds.
Affected by regional weather factors, high feed costs and tight income margins, variation among those states was wide (Table 2).
Wisconsin, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota and Virginia showed per-cow output increased 30 to 45 pounds per month compared to the same month a year ago, while monthly production in Texas, Vermont, New Mexico and Kansas declined by 10 to 55 pounds.
Milk production lower
The preliminary estimate of overall April 2024 milk production was lower than the same month a year earlier.
Eleven states boosted production a combined 173 million pounds; 12 states reduced production a combined 218 million pounds. Year-over-year growth leaders were Wisconsin (up 66 million pounds), South Dakota (up 44 million pounds), Florida (up 19 million pounds) and Iowa (up 18 million pounds).
The states posting largest volume declines were New Mexico (down 104 million pounds), Texas (down 47 million pounds), Oregon (down 14 million pounds), Kansas (down 14 million pounds) and Georgia (down 13 million pounds).
South Dakota was the milk percentage growth leader for April 2024, up 12.29% from April 2023 with Florida following at 11.45%. April 2024 production was down 17.28% from a year earlier in New Mexico, 7.22% in Georgia and 6.33% in Oregon.
The USDA revised the March 2024 milk production estimate slightly higher. With the revisions, both U.S. and major state U.S. production were up about 0.4% from the USDA’s preliminary estimates a month earlier.
