HDR1012000160030415961500Milk Production                                        
                                                                                
Released April 15, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service        
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Milk Production" call Kevin Hintzman at (202) 720-4448, office  
hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural      
statistics, information about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS  
Information Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail:  NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                March Milk Production Down Slightly                             
                                                                                
Milk production in the 22 major States during March totaled 11.7 billion        
pounds, slightly below production in these same States in March 1995. February  
revised production, at 10.7 billion pounds was 3 percent more than February     
1995. On a daily basis, milk production declined during February 1996 versus a  
year earlier.                                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Production per cow in the 22 major States averaged 1,460 pounds for March,      
7 pounds above March 1995.                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
The number of cows on farms in the 22 major States was 8.00 million head,       
57,000 head less than March 1995 and 6,000 head less than February 1996.        
                                                                                
                                                                                
During the January-March period, the 22 major States produced 33.7 billion      
pounds of milk, 86.1 percent of the U.S. production.  If the remaining 28       
States not surveyed monthly followed the same pattern as the 22 States, the     
U.S. production would be 13.1 billion pounds for January 1996, 12.4 billions    
pounds for February 1996, and 13.6 billion pounds for March 1996.               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            January-March Milk Production Up 1 Percent                          
                                                                                
The quarterly production of milk for the U.S. was 39.1 billion pounds, 1        
percent above the January-March period last year.  The increase is due to       
February 1996 having an extra day because it was leap year.  On a daily basis,  
milk production declined during the first quarter. The average number of milk   
cows in the U.S. during the January-March quarter was 9.40 million head,        
68,000 head less than the same period last year.                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 Grain and Other Concentrates Fed                               
                                                                                
Grain and other concentrates fed to milk cows on April 1, 1996 averaged         
18.6 pounds per cow, unchanged from April 1, 1995, but down 0.2 pounds per day  
from January.                                                                   
                                                                                
               Value of Grain and Other Concentrates                            
                                                                                
The value of grain and other concentrates fed to cows on April 1 averaged       
$9.15 per hundredweight, $1.58 more than the price on April 1, 1995.            
                                                                                
                                                                                
Da 1-1 (4-96)                                                                   
                                                                                
         Milk Cows and Production:  By Quarter, United States,  1995-96         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  1/   :  Milk per Cow  2/ :     Milk Production 2/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Quarter :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1996 as  
        :   1995   :  1996   :  1995   :  1996   :  1995   :  1996   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1995   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----        Pounds         Million Pounds      Percent  
        :                                                                       
Jan-Mar :    9,470     9,402     4,112     4,163    38,941    39,140       101  
Apr-Jun :    9,477               4,276              40,520                      
Jul-Sep :    9,465               4,049              38,325                      
Oct-Dec :    9,432               4,014              37,857                      
        :                                                                       
Annual  :    9,461              16,451             155,644                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
        Milk Cows and Production:  By Month, 22 Selected States, 1995-96        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  1/   :  Milk per Cow  2/ :     Milk Production 2/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Month  :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1996 as  
        :   1995   :  1996   :  1995   :  1996   :   1995  :  1996   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1995   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----         Pounds          Million Pounds    Percent  
        :                                                                       
Jan     :    8,046     8,026     1,404     1,406    11,296    11,285       100  
Feb     :    8,050     8,010     1,295     1,338    10,423    10,719       103  
Mar     :    8,061     8,004     1,453     1,460    11,709    11,686       100  
Apr     :    8,058               1,427              11,501                      
May     :    8,056               1,484              11,959                      
Jun     :    8,066               1,421              11,465                      
Jul     :    8,062               1,414              11,397                      
Aug     :    8,062               1,375              11,086                      
Sep     :    8,061               1,331              10,729                      
Oct     :    8,050               1,364              10,978                      
Nov     :    8,043               1,320              10,616                      
Dec     :    8,034               1,380              11,088                      
        :                                                                       
Annual  :    8,054              16,668             134,247                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Milk Cows and Production:  By State,  March 1995-96               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  1/   :  Milk per Cow  2/ :     Milk Production 2/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 State  :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1996 as  
        :   1995   :  1996   :  1995   :  1996   :  1995   :  1996   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1995   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----          Pounds         Million Pounds    Percent  
        :                                                                       
CA      :    1,251     1,261     1,725     1,730     2,158     2,182       101  
FL      :      166       156     1,435     1,450       238       226        95  
ID      :      223       247     1,510     1,510       337       373       111  
IL      :      163       160     1,380     1,380       225       221        98  
IN      :      145       140     1,340     1,380       194       193        99  
IA      :      251       249     1,380     1,300       346       324        94  
KY      :      163       156     1,105     1,070       180       167        93  
MD      :       93        87     1,310     1,380       122       120        98  
MI      :      326       326     1,490     1,480       486       482        99  
MN      :      600       600     1,395     1,410       837       846       101  
MO      :      194       183     1,295     1,270       251       232        92  
NM      :      185       193     1,705     1,700       315       328       104  
NY      :      707       700     1,420     1,470     1,004     1,029       102  
NC      :       88        85     1,510     1,490       133       127        95  
OH      :      289       285     1,395     1,385       403       395        98  
PA      :      641       645     1,440     1,465       923       945       102  
TN      :      130       119     1,250     1,270       163       151        93  
TX      :      400       400     1,450     1,445       580       578       100  
VT      :      156       157     1,400     1,405       218       221       101  
VA      :      129       127     1,355     1,280       175       163        93  
WA      :      263       262     1,715     1,685       451       441        98  
WI      :    1,498     1,466     1,315     1,325     1,970     1,942        99  
        :                                                                       
22 State:                                                                       
 Total  :    8,061     8,004     1,453     1,460    11,709    11,686       100  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
           Milk Cows and Production:  By State,  February 1995-96 1/            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  2/   :  Milk per Cow  3/ :     Milk Production 3/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 State  :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1996 as  
        :   1995   :   1996  :  1995   :  1996   :  1995   :  1996   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1995   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----          Pounds         Million Pounds    Percent  
        :                                                                       
CA      :    1,251     1,260     1,545     1,585     1,933     1,997       103  
FL      :      166       155     1,290     1,350       214       209        98  
ID      :      221       246     1,360     1,370       301       337       112  
IL      :      163       160     1,260     1,310       205       210       102  
IN      :      145       140     1,200     1,260       174       176       101  
IA      :      251       250     1,245     1,180       312       295        95  
KY      :      163       156       965       985       157       154        98  
MD      :       92        89     1,185     1,235       109       110       101  
MI      :      326       327     1,315     1,365       429       446       104  
MN      :      600       600     1,245     1,305       747       783       105  
MO      :      193       183     1,115     1,200       215       220       102  
NM      :      179       193     1,555     1,520       278       293       105  
NY      :      707       700     1,250     1,340       884       938       106  
NC      :       89        85     1,340     1,370       119       116        97  
OH      :      289       285     1,260     1,245       364       355        98  
PA      :      641       645     1,280     1,345       820       868       106  
TN      :      130       119     1,100     1,130       143       134        94  
TX      :      399       400     1,300     1,345       519       538       104  
VT      :      156       157     1,250     1,305       195       205       105  
VA      :      129       127     1,215     1,160       157       147        94  
WA      :      262       263     1,540     1,530       403       402       100  
WI      :    1,498     1,470     1,165     1,215     1,745     1,786       102  
        :                                                                       
22 State:                                                                       
 Total  :    8,050     8,010     1,295     1,338    10,423    10,719       103  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  1996 revised.  2/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.        
3/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
       Milk Cows and Production:  By State and United States                    
                Revised October-December  1994-1995                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :     Oct-Dec Milk Cows 1/     :  Oct-Dec Milk Production 2/ :  1995    
 State  :------------------------------------------------------------: as % of  
        :      1994     :     1995     :     1994     :     1995     :  1994    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :     ------ 1,000 -------          -- Million Pounds --       Percent  
        :                                                                       
AL      :        37             32            122            112          92    
AK      :       0.7            0.7           2.85           3.07         108    
AZ      :       114            113            536            555         104    
AR      :        61             59            177            174          98    
CA      :     1,245          1,258          6,382          6,252          98    
CO      :        82             82            389            389         100    
CT      :        32             31            128            129         101    
DE      :        10             10           35.4           36.2         102    
FL      :       172            156            603            547          91    
GA      :       102             98            389            363          93    
HI      :      10.5           10.3           32.8           31.3          95    
ID      :       217            242            981          1,089         111    
IL      :       163            162            619            617         100    
IN      :       145            142            552            539          98    
IA      :       252            250          1,000            990          99    
KS      :        81             83            295            295         100    
KY      :       165            159            504            477          95    
LA      :        79             79            220            210          95    
ME      :        39             39            155            156         101    
MD      :        91             91            336            329          98    
MA      :        28             27            111            110          99    
MI      :       326            326          1,364          1,349          99    
MN      :       603            600          2,229          2,277         102    
MS      :        57             53            174            161          93    
MO      :       196            186            678            628          93    
MT      :        21             20             79             77          97    
NE      :        75             72            276            273          99    
NV      :        23             23            106          103.2          97    
NH      :        19             20             76             82         108    
NJ      :        24             23             80             76          95    
NM      :       171            195            851            883         104    
NY      :       712            702          2,762          2,864         104    
NC      :        89             86            360            335          93    
ND      :        66             63            208            198          95    
OH      :       289            287          1,125          1,113          99    
OK      :        98             97            300            320         107    
OR      :       100             96            417            400          96    
PA      :       640            647          2,559          2,624         103    
RI      :       2.1            2.1            7.6            7.9         104    
SC      :        28             26            103             94          91    
SD      :       120            116            384            371          97    
TN      :       133            122            435            414          95    
TX      :       401            400          1,496          1,485          99    
UT      :        88             88            359            363         101    
VT      :       157            158            607            626         103    
VA      :       129            128            493            473          96    
WA      :       263            265          1,291          1,280          99    
WV      :        22             21             69             64          93    
WI      :     1,498          1,480          5,453          5,491         101    
WY      :       6.8            5.9           23.5           21.5          91    
        :                                                                       
US   3/ :     9,484          9,432         37,935         37,857         100    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
3/  Milk cows will not add due to rounding.                                     
                                                                                
             Milk Cows and Production:  By State and United States              
                      Preliminary January-March  1995-96                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :     Jan-Mar Milk Cows 1/     :  Jan-Mar Milk Production 2/ :  1996    
 State  :------------------------------------------------------------: as % of  
        :      1995     :     1996     :     1995     :     1996     :  1995    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :            ---- 1,000 ----            -- Million Pounds --   Percent  
        :                                                                       
AL      :            35             32            138            126        91  
AK      :           0.7            0.8            2.8           3.10       111  
AZ      :           113            118            590            639       108  
AR      :            61             59            189            186        98  
CA      :         1,251          1,260          6,197          6,283       101  
CO      :            83             82            386            396       103  
CT      :            32             31            137            133        97  
DE      :            10            9.7           39.2           36.5        93  
FL      :           167            155            683            653        96  
GA      :           102             97            433            413        95  
HI      :          10.4             10           36.7           33.3        91  
ID      :           221            246            968          1,075       111  
IL      :           163            160            637            647       102  
IN      :           145            140            554            550        99  
IA      :           251            250          1,001            934        93  
KS      :            81             85            305            310       102  
KY      :           163            156            512            485        95  
LA      :            80             78            258            235        91  
ME      :            39             40            157            162       103  
MD      :            92             89            349            345        99  
MA      :            28             27            112            111        99  
MI      :           326            327          1,383          1,394       101  
MN      :           600            600          2,391          2,451       103  
MS      :            56             53            201            181        90  
MO      :           194            184            702            670        95  
MT      :            21             20             77             75        97  
NE      :            74             69            272            268        99  
NV      :            24             23          105.6          101.2        96  
NH      :            19             20             79             87       110  
NJ      :            23             23             84             83        99  
NM      :           179            193            888            924       104  
NY      :           707            700          2,851          2,951       104  
NC      :            89             85            380            363        96  
ND      :            65             64            207            208       100  
OH      :           289            285          1,159          1,128        97  
OK      :            98             97            333            325        98  
OR      :            98             94            417            396        95  
PA      :           640            646          2,631          2,723       103  
RI      :           2.2              2            8.2            7.8        95  
SC      :            27             26            108            104        96  
SD      :           120            113            394            375        95  
TN      :           130            119            462            428        93  
TX      :           399            400          1,646          1,668       101  
UT      :            87             88            353            366       104  
VT      :           156            157            621            641       103  
VA      :           129            127            506            469        93  
WA      :           261            263          1,294          1,277        99  
WV      :            22             21             70             68        97  
WI      :         1,499          1,470          5,613          5,631       100  
WY      :             6              6           20.7           21.3       103  
        :                                                                       
U S  3/ :         9,470          9,402         38,941         39,140       101  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
3/  Milk cows will not add due to rounding.                                     
                                                                                
          Grain and Other Concentrates:  Quantity Fed Daily and Value           
                 By State and United States, April 1, 1995-96                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            :Grain and Other Concentrates : Value per 100 Pounds of Concentrate 
   State    :  Fed Daily per Milk Cow     :   Ration Fed to Milk Cows           
            :------------------------------------------------------------------ 
            :    1995      :     1996     :       1995       :        1996      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            :    ------ Pounds ------            -------- Dollars ---------     
            :                                                                   
    AL      :    19.0            20.1              8.10                9.80     
    AK      :    19.5            19.5             13.80               13.80     
    AZ      :    23.9            19.3              7.70                8.75     
    AR      :    18.0            19.0             10.90                9.75     
    CA      :    20.0            19.0              7.60                9.10     
    CO      :    22.5            23.0              7.00                8.90     
    CT      :    18.0            17.5              8.40               10.60     
    DE      :    15.1            13.9              9.00                9.80     
    FL      :    25.0            22.0              7.20                8.00     
    GA      :    23.4            24.0              7.50                9.20     
    ID      :    22.5            23.0              6.80                8.10     
    IL      :    16.9            16.9              8.20                9.60     
    IN      :    17.2            17.7              7.80                8.30     
    IA      :    17.6            15.1              6.80                7.90     
    KS      :    19.3            19.0              7.00                8.80     
    KY      :    16.7            16.8              8.60               10.30     
    LA      :    18.1            19.0              8.00                9.85     
    ME      :    16.0            16.5              9.00               10.70     
    MD      :    15.0            15.4              9.20               10.30     
    MA      :    16.5            16.0              8.55               10.20     
    MI      :    17.0            19.0              7.20                8.10     
    MN      :    18.0            17.8              7.00                8.90     
    MS      :    17.1            18.7              7.95                9.40     
    MO      :    19.0            18.0              7.60                8.80     
    MT      :    17.1            17.1              7.30                8.80     
    NE      :    17.2            17.1              7.10                8.10     
    NV      :    20.0            20.0              8.10                8.90     
    NH      :    17.0            16.5              8.85               10.55     
    NJ      :    15.4            15.6              8.40               11.45     
    NM      :    26.0            26.0              6.20                8.20     
    NY      :    15.6            15.2              9.10               10.80     
    NC      :    18.9            18.6              8.75               10.50     
    ND      :    16.2            16.6              5.60                7.40     
    OH      :    17.5            17.5              8.00                9.20     
    OK      :    19.8            20.0              7.80                9.70     
    OR      :    19.5            19.5              8.75                9.50     
    PA      :    16.0            18.0              8.80               10.30     
    RI      :    16.0            15.0              8.25               10.10     
    SC      :    19.5            19.0              7.65                9.30     
    SD      :    17.4            16.3              6.35                8.00     
    TN      :    18.0            17.0              8.90               10.70     
    TX      :    19.5            23.0              6.30                9.40     
    UT      :    19.5            17.1              7.00                9.20     
    VT      :    16.0            15.5              8.65               10.80     
    VA      :    15.0            15.8              8.60                9.90     
    WA      :    21.0            19.0              7.90                9.30     
    WV      :    15.6            14.5              8.90               10.00     
    WI      :    18.0            18.7              6.70                8.40     
    WY      :    12.5            13.0              6.70                8.05     
            :                                                                   
    US      :    18.6            18.6              7.57                9.15     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                      Reliability Statement                                     
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  Primary data used to determine these estimates were         
                    obtained from a sample of producers. Individual States      
maintain a list of all known milk producers and information on the size of      
their herd.  States use all known sources of producers to ensure that their     
lists are as complete as possible.   Generally, all large producers and a       
sample of small producers are included in the survey.  Questionnaires are mailed
to producers near the end of the month to obtain data for the first             
day of the month.  Additional reports are obtained by telephone, as needed,     
to supplement the mail response.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Estimation Procedures:   State offices prepare these estimates using survey     
                         indications, historic trends, and any available        
administrative data.  Individual State estimates are reviewed by the            
Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  Milk production, rate per cow, and number of cows are         
                  subject to revision the following month for monthly States or 
the following quarter for the quarterly States.  Normally, Federal Market Order 
sales are the main basis for revisions. However, data for all orders are not    
available in time for this revision.  Estimates are again subject to revisions  
in February each year based on additional administrative data.  In the event    
that additional changes are necessary, a third revision is possible in February 
the following year.  Estimates are again reviewed after data from the five-year 
Census of Agriculture, conducted by the Department of Commerce, are available.  
No revisions are made after that date.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Reliability:  Since all operations with dairy animals are not included in       
              the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. 
Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions,       
duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The
effects of these errors cannot be measured directly.  They are minimized through
rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful     
review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.                 
                                                                                
To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this report,  
the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table below.    
The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance 
and is computed using the differences between first and final estimates.        
The "Root Mean Square Error" for milk cow inventory estimates over the past     
10 quarters is 1.1 percent.  This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the    
final January-March estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 
9.40 million head by more than 1.1 percent, or about 103,000 head.  Chances are 
9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 2.1 percent, or about           
197,000 head (the 90 percent confidence level).                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
               Reliability of January-March Milk Estimates 1/                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
             :        :              :    Difference Between    :               
             :        :              :      First and Final     :    Number of  
             :  Root  :     90%      :         Estimates  1/    :    Quarters   
    Item     :  Mean  :  Confidence  :------------------------------------------
             : Square :    Level     :        :         :       : First : First 
             :  Error :              : Average: Smallest:Largest: Above : Below 
             :        :              :        :         :       : Final : Final 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :   - Percent -     ---------- Mil Lbs. ----------     - Number -  
             :                                                                  
Milk         :    0.6    1.0     391       180       30      315     8       2  
  Production :                                                                  
             :                  --------- 1,000 Head ----------                 
                                                                                
             :                                                                  
All Milk     :    1.1    2.1     197        99        5      187    10       0  
  Cows       :                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on records for the past 10 January-March quarters.                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Milk Production" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on              
May 15, 1996.                                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
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