As of September 6,2019, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship noted that Iowa has 1,010 licensed milk producers, down from 1,076 in January. The loss of 66 dairies represents a 6.1 percent reduction. This includes both grade A and B producers. In addition, there are 217 goat milk producers and one sheep milk producer.
Combining that with the most recent USDA information, the top nine counties in NW total 103 herds with 71,100 cows for an average of 690 cows per herd.
Across the state there are currently 216,000 cows with Sioux County totaling 35,500 dairy cows compared to the second high, Dubuque County with 22,000 cows.
NW Iowa’s Top nine Dairy Counties
County Herds(Sept) Cows(Sept) Herds(Jan)
Sioux 51 35,500 52
Lyon 20 10,300 20
Osceola 8 5.600 9
O’Brien 7 8,600 7
Plymouth 3 7,000 2
Pocahontas 3 2,100 3
Sac 3 400 3
Palo Alto 3 200 3
Ida 2 1,400 2