According to USDA statistics, there were 133 dairy cooperatives in the U.S. in 2012. These 133 cooperatives had 45,100 members. Based on this number, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of the nation’s dairy farmers market their milk through a cooperative.

U.S. dairy farmers produced about 200 billion pounds of milk in 2012.

New Zealand is a fascinating country. It has about 4.6 million dairy cows, which is more cows than people. New Zealand annual milk production of about 42 billion lbs is only 20 percent of the U.S. milk production, but the 42 billion lbs is produced in a country that is about the same size as the state of Colorado.

Fluid milk sales continue to decline. Recently released USDA numbers show 2011 fluid milk sales at 53.2 billion lbs. Back in 1990, the number was around 54.8 billion lbs., nearly a 3 percent decline. Yet, during this period of time the U.S. added 20 percent more potential milk drinkers. Per-capita consumption of fluid milk has dropped from 220 lbs. in 1990 to less than 178 lbs. today, and the numbers continue to worsen. Through the first five months of 2012, the USDA reports fluid sales are down 2.5 percent.