Wisconsin Dairy Business Association

Wisconsin milk production continued climbing in June, with total production of 2.0 billion pounds, up 44 million pounds or 2.2% from the same month a year ago. During the first half of the year, Wisconsin produced 12.0 billion pounds of milk, up 2.3% or 272 million pounds from the same period last year.

Milk production per cow was the primary driver behind the growth in total milk production for the state, and averaged 1,620 pounds in June, 30 pounds or 1.9% higher than a year ago.

Cow numbers held steady this month, at 1.247 million cows in the state. Over the last 12 months, the state herd has grown by 4,000 head (0.3%).

As of July 1^st 2007, there were 14,094 milk cow herds in the state. This reflects a decrease of 30 herds during the month of June, and a decrease of 503 herds during the past 12 months.

Looking at the 23State total, milk production for June came in at 14.2 billion pounds, up 1.2% (165 million pounds) vs. last June. For the first six months of the year, production totaled 85.7 billion pounds, up 1.3% (1.1 billion pounds) from the same period last year. Milk production growth rates for the top 10 states and the 23State total are shown in the charts below.

With the exception of Texas, where production was even with a year ago, half of the reporting states saw positive growth and the other half saw declines in June. Michigan reported the highest growth rate among the top 10 states, at 4.2%, which resulted in an extra 25 million pounds of milk. In terms of pound increase, however, Michigan was surpassed by California (up 131 million pounds), Wisconsin (up 44 million pounds), and Idaho (up 32 million pounds). New Mexico posted another significant decline, with milk production totaling 608 million pounds—down by -9.9% or -67 million pounds compared to last June.

Looking at total milk production for the first half of the year, Idaho and Michigan top the list in terms of growth rate, with production in both states up by over 5% compared to the same period last year. California continues to lead in terms of pounds, though, with production up by 722 million pounds so far this year. Idaho comes in second (up 295 million pounds), followed by Wisconsin (272 million pounds), and Michigan (180 million pounds). On the other end of the scale, production in New Mexico has fallen by -296 million pounds this year.

Milk production per cow for the 23 states averaged 1,713 pounds in June, 16 pounds or 0.9% higher than a year ago. Lower production per cow continues to hamper total milk production in both New Mexico and Texas (down -60 pounds and -80 pounds, respectively), while California and Wisconsin were both helped by increased production per cow per month (up 55 pounds and 30 pounds, respectively).

The number of cows in the 23 states increased by just 2,000 head in June, to 8.288 million. (May's total was revised upward by 3,000 head to 8.286 million.) This puts the total just 19,000 head (0.2%) higher than a year ago. Eight states added cows this month, while seven states lost cows. California had the largest gain (up 4,000 head), while New Mexico had the largest loss (down -6,000 head). Over the past year, the largest herd size increases have been in California (185,000 head), Idaho (up 17,000 head) and Texas (15,000 head), while the largest declines have been in New Mexico (down 25,000 head) and New York (-14,000 head).