Milk production in Iowa during January 2019 totaled 457 million pounds, up 2 percent from the previous January according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during January, at 220,000 head, was unchanged from last month and last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,075 pounds, up 40 pounds from last January.
Milk production in the 23 major States during January totaled 17.5 billion pounds, up 1.3 percent from January 2018. December revised production, at 17.1 billion pounds, was up 0.8 percent from December 2017. The December revision represented an increase of 2 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month’s preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 2,011 pounds for January, 38 pounds above January 2018. This is the highest production per cow for the month of January since the 23 State series began in 2003.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.72 million head, 52,000 head less than January 2018, but 2,000 head more than December 2018.
The annual production of milk for the United States during 2018 was 218 billion pounds, 1.0 percent above 2017. Revisions to 2017 production increased the annual total 61 million pounds. Revised 2018 production was up 99 million pounds from last month’s publication. Annual total milk production has increased 15.0 percent from 2009.
Production per cow in the United States averaged 23,149 pounds for 2018, 235 pounds above 2017. The average annual rate of milk production per cow has increased 12.6 percent from 2009.
The average number of milk cows on farms in the United States during 2018 was 9.40 million head, down 0.1 percent from 2017. The average number of milk cows was revised up 14,000 head for 2018. The average annual number of milk cows has increased 2.1 percent from 2009.