HDR1012000160030116961500Milk Production                                        
HDR2012000160030116961500Milk Production Nar. & Tables                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released January 16, 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@AG.GOV.                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                     December Milk Production Up Slightly                       
                                                                                
Milk production in the 22 major States during December totaled 11.1 billion     
pounds, slightly above production in these same States in December 1994.        
November revised production, at 10.6 billion pounds was slightly more than      
November 1994.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Production per cow in the 22 major States averaged 1,373 pounds for December,   
3 pounds above December 1994.                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
The number of cows on farms in the 22 major States was 8.08 million head,       
12,000 head less than December 1994 and 6,000 head less than November 1995.     
                                                                                
                                                                                
During the October-December period, the 22 major States produced 32.7 billion   
pounds of milk, 86.3 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 12.8 billion pounds for October, 12.3 billion pounds for    
November, and 12.8 billion pounds for December 1995.                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
          October-December Milk Production Down Slightly                        
                                                                                
The quarterly production of milk for the U.S. was 37.9 billion pounds, slightly 
below the October-December period in 1994.  The average number of milk cows in  
the U.S. during the October-December quarter was 9.49 million head 37,000 less  
than the same period a year earlier.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 Grain and Other Concentrates Fed                               
                                                                                
Grain and other concentrates fed to milk cows on January 1, 1996, averaged      
18.8 pounds per cow, 0.1 pound less than January 1, 1995.                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Value of Grain and Other Concentrates                             
                                                                                
The value of grain and other concentrates fed to cows on January 1, averaged    
$8.51 per hundredweight, $0.85 more than January 1, 1995.                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Da 1-1 (01-96)                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Milk Cows and Production:  By Quarter, United States,  1994-95         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  1/   :  Milk per Cow  2/ :     Milk Production 2/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Quarter :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1995 as  
        :   1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1994   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----         Pounds         Million Pounds     Percent  
        :                                                                       
Jan-Mar :    9,506     9,517     3,951     4,093    37,560    38,950       104  
Apr-Jun :    9,530     9,516     4,188     4,254    39,916    40,484       101  
Jul-Sep :    9,539     9,516     4,007     4,040    38,217    38,442       101  
Oct-Dec :    9,524     9,487     3,983     3,998    37,933    37,927       100  
        :                                                                       
Annual  :    9,525     9,509    16,129    16,385   153,626   155,803       101  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
        Milk Cows and Production:  By Month, 22 Selected States, 1994-95        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  1/   :  Milk per Cow  2/ :     Milk Production 2/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Month  :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1995 as  
        :   1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1994   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----         Pounds         Million Pounds     Percent  
        :                                                                       
Jan     :    8,092     8,090     1,343     1,394    10,870    11,280       104  
Feb     :    8,082     8,088     1,236     1,291     9,990    10,441       105  
Mar     :    8,074     8,103     1,401     1,444    11,315    11,698       103  
Apr     :    8,080     8,097     1,396     1,417    11,282    11,477       102  
May     :    8,097     8,093     1,457     1,475    11,799    11,936       101  
Jun     :    8,107     8,104     1,388     1,414    11,249    11,461       102  
Jul     :    8,104     8,106     1,389     1,408    11,260    11,412       101  
Aug     :    8,108     8,109     1,369     1,372    11,102    11,128       100  
Sep     :    8,109     8,109     1,318     1,328    10,689    10,766       101  
Oct     :    8,104     8,098     1,354     1,360    10,970    11,014       100  
Nov     :    8,098     8,088     1,312     1,315    10,624    10,634       100  
Dec     :    8,094     8,082     1,370     1,373    11,090    11,094       100  
        :                                                                       
Annual  :    8,096     8,097    16,334    16,591   132,240   134,341       102  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Milk Cows and Production:  By State,  December 1994-95             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  1/   :  Milk per Cow  2/ :     Milk Production 2/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 State  :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1995 as  
        :   1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1994   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----          Pounds         Million Pounds    Percent  
        :                                                                       
CA      :    1,248     1,259     1,700     1,660     2,122     2,090        98  
FL      :      170       155     1,285     1,300       218       202        93  
ID      :      219       244     1,500     1,500       329       366       111  
IL      :      163       162     1,300     1,300       207       211       102  
IN      :      145       143     1,300     1,280       189       183        97  
IA      :      265       260     1,280     1,265       339       329        97  
KY      :      165       158     1,040     1,020       172       161        94  
MD      :       91        91     1,200     1,245       109       113       104  
MI      :      326       326     1,415     1,405       461       458        99  
MN      :      600       600     1,280     1,315       768       789       103  
MO      :      196       187     1,185     1,100       232       206        89  
NM      :      171       196     1,700     1,515       289       297       103  
NY      :      711       702     1,330     1,390       946       976       103  
NC      :       89        86     1,410     1,380       125       119        95  
OH      :      288       287     1,320     1,300       380       373        98  
PA      :      639       647     1,360     1,370       869       886       102  
TN      :      160       152     1,060     1,060       170       161        95  
TX      :      400       400     1,305     1,295       522       518        99  
VT      :      157       157     1,305     1,345       205       211       103  
VA      :      129       128     1,310     1,250       169       160        95  
WA      :      263       264     1,645     1,630       433       430        99  
WI      :    1,499     1,478     1,225     1,255     1,836     1,855       101  
        :                                                                       
22 State:                                                                       
 Total  :    8,094     8,082     1,370     1,373    11,090    11,094       100  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh.                          
2/  Excludes milk sucked by calves.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Milk Cows and Production:  By State,  November 1994-95 1/            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    Milk Cows  2/   :  Milk per Cow  3/ :     Milk Production 3/       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 State  :          :         :         :         :         :         : 1995 as  
        :   1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :  1994   :  1995   :   % of   
        :          :         :         :         :         :         :   1994   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :    ---- 1,000 ----          Pounds         Million Pounds    Percent  
        :                                                                       
CA      :    1,245     1,258     1,655     1,615     2,060     2,032        99  
FL      :      173       155     1,140     1,160       197       180        91  
ID      :      217       242     1,470     1,470       319       356       112  
IL      :      163       162     1,250     1,250       204       203       100  
IN      :      145       143     1,240     1,240       180       177        98  
IA      :      265       262     1,245     1,250       330       328        99  
KY      :      165       159       995       960       164       153        93  
MD      :       91        91     1,200     1,185       109       108        99  
MI      :      326       326     1,355     1,350       442       440       100  
MN      :      605       600     1,185     1,220       717       732       102  
MO      :      196       189     1,115     1,070       219       202        92  
NM      :      171       196     1,620     1,460       277       286       103  
NY      :      712       702     1,255     1,320       894       927       104  
NC      :       89        86     1,330     1,290       118       111        94  
OH      :      289       287     1,290     1,265       373       363        97  
PA      :      641       647     1,310     1,310       840       848       101  
TN      :      160       153     1,020     1,045       163       160        98  
TX      :      401       400     1,210     1,200       485       480        99  
VT      :      157       158     1,240     1,280       195       202       104  
VA      :      129       128     1,250     1,205       161       154        96  
WA      :      261       264     1,600     1,575       418       416       100  
WI      :    1,497     1,480     1,175     1,200     1,759     1,776       101  
        :                                                                       
22 State:                                                                       
 Total  :    8,098     8,088     1,312     1,315    10,624    10,634       100  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  1995 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 July-September  1994-1995                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :     Jul-Sep Milk Cows 1/     :  Jul-Sep Milk Production 2/ :  1995    
 State  :------------------------------------------------------------: as % of  
        :     1994      :     1995     :    1994      :     1995     :  1994    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :            ---- 1,000 ----            -- Million Pounds --   Percent  
        :                                                                       
AL      :            36             33            102            101        99  
AK      :           0.7            0.7           3.29           3.05        93  
AZ      :           118            114            472            484       103  
AR      :            61             61            183            183       100  
CA      :         1,239          1,255          6,393          6,381       100  
CO      :            82             82            405            391        97  
CT      :            33             31            129            126        98  
DE      :            10           10.5           32.6           32.6       100  
FL      :           176            162            569            517        91  
GA      :           102             99            348            327        94  
HI      :          10.5           10.2           33.3           35.1       105  
ID      :           213            237          1,006          1,103       110  
IL      :           164            162            636            625        98  
IN      :           145            143            568            552        97  
IA      :           265            262            999          1,007       101  
KS      :            79             82            275            275       100  
KY      :           167            162            493            492       100  
LA      :            79             79            197            192        97  
ME      :            40             40            161            163       101  
MD      :            91             94            314            319       102  
MA      :            28             29            109            114       105  
MI      :           327            326          1,410          1,409       100  
MN      :           605            600          2,269          2,289       101  
MS      :            57             55            156            158       101  
MO      :           197            188            657            631        96  
MT      :            21             21             79             82       104  
NE      :            76             77            281            279        99  
NV      :            23             23            106            106       100  
NH      :            19             20             74             81       109  
NJ      :            24             23             81             80        99  
NM      :           171            198            848            911       107  
NY      :           715            701          2,837          2,908       103  
NC      :            90             86            343            326        95  
ND      :            68             63            222            209        94  
OH      :           293            288          1,116          1,103        99  
OK      :            98             96            309            326       106  
OR      :           100             98            440            427        97  
PA      :           641            643          2,499          2,604       104  
RI      :           2.1            2.1            7.7            7.9       103  
SC      :            28             26             90             86        96  
SD      :           119            118            403            404       100  
TN      :           157            154            480            483       101  
TX      :           402            402          1,426          1,365        96  
UT      :            88             88            377            376       100  
VT      :           157            158            608            640       105  
VA      :           129            129            464            465       100  
WA      :           262            269          1,336          1,364       102  
WV      :            22             21             67             66        99  
WI      :         1,499          1,490          5,780          5,812       101  
WY      :           7.2            5.9           23.2             21        91  
        :                                                                       
US   3/ :         9,539          9,516         38,217         38,442       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.                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Milk Cows and Production:  By State and United States              
                     Preliminary October-December  1994-95                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :     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            111        91  
AK      :           0.7            0.7           2.85           3.06       107  
AZ      :           114            113            536            547       102  
AR      :            61             60            177            174        98  
CA      :         1,245          1,258          6,326          6,246        99  
CO      :            82             82            391            391       100  
CT      :            32             32            128            130       102  
DE      :            10           10.5           34.1           37.3       109  
FL      :           172            156            603            547        91  
GA      :           102             98            389            366        94  
HI      :          10.5           10.4           32.8           32.3        98  
ID      :           217            242            981          1,089       111  
IL      :           163            162            619            617       100  
IN      :           145            143            552            543        98  
IA      :           265            261          1,005            991        99  
KS      :            81             85            290            285        98  
KY      :           165            159            504            475        94  
LA      :            79             79            220            213        97  
ME      :            39             39            155            156       101  
MD      :            91             91            328            331       101  
MA      :            28             28            108            111       103  
MI      :           326            326          1,364          1,358       100  
MN      :           603            600          2,229          2,277       102  
MS      :            57             54            174            163        94  
MO      :           196            188            674            618        92  
MT      :            21             20             79             79       100  
NE      :            75             74            276            276       100  
NV      :            23             23            106          101.2        95  
NH      :            19             20             76             83       109  
NJ      :            24             23             84             81        96  
NM      :           171            196            851            879       103  
NY      :           712            702          2,767          2,858       103  
NC      :            89             86            360            342        95  
ND      :            66             62            208            198        95  
OH      :           289            287          1,131          1,106        98  
OK      :            98             97            300            320       107  
OR      :           100             97            417            405        97  
PA      :           640            647          2,559          2,624       103  
RI      :           2.1            2.1            7.6            7.8       103  
SC      :            28             26            103             94        91  
SD      :           120            116            384            374        97  
TN      :           160            153            495            480        97  
TX      :           401            400          1,496          1,479        99  
UT      :            88             87            359            357        99  
VT      :           157            158            603            625       104  
VA      :           129            128            493            475        96  
WA      :           263            265          1,291          1,287       100  
WV      :            22             21             69             68        99  
WI      :         1,498          1,481          5,453          5,495       101  
WY      :           6.8            5.8           20.8           21.3       102  
        :                                                                       
U S  3/ :         9,524          9,487         37,933         37,927       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.                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Grain and Other Concentrates:  Quantity Fed Daily and Value           
                By State and United States, January 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      :       18.7            18.9              8.40                9.60  
    AK      :       19.5            19.5             13.80               13.80  
    AZ      :       23.5            22.0              7.35                8.75  
    AR      :       18.4            17.9              7.90                9.05  
    CA      :       21.2            20.0              8.00                8.70  
    CO      :       22.5            22.0              6.70                8.20  
    CT      :       17.0            17.5              8.45               10.20  
    DE      :       16.1            16.3              9.00                8.80  
    FL      :       24.0            23.0              7.10                8.30  
    GA      :       24.0            23.3              7.60                9.10  
    ID      :       21.0            24.0              6.70                7.80  
    IL      :       17.8            17.6              7.70                8.45  
    IN      :       18.5            16.9              7.50                8.15  
    IA      :       17.2            17.3              7.10                7.70  
    KS      :       19.3            20.0              7.70                8.50  
    KY      :       15.9            16.3              8.40                9.35  
    LA      :       17.0            20.0              8.15                9.15  
    ME      :       16.0            16.0              8.85               10.20  
    MD      :       15.8            16.2              8.40                8.80  
    MA      :       16.0            16.0              8.75               10.20  
    MI      :       17.5            18.5              6.95                7.80  
    MN      :       17.7            17.4              7.20                8.20  
    MS      :       17.1            17.1              8.35                8.80  
    MO      :       18.8            19.0              7.35                8.80  
    MT      :       18.0            18.0              7.05                7.80  
    NE      :       17.1            16.9              7.20                7.90  
    NV      :       21.0            20.0              8.00                8.80  
    NH      :       17.0            16.5              8.65               10.00  
    NJ      :       14.1            14.2              8.40                9.15  
    NM      :       26.0            26.0              6.40                7.60  
    NY      :       15.3            15.4              9.10                9.90  
    NC      :       19.0            18.3              8.90                9.90  
    ND      :       15.8            16.2              6.10                7.05  
    OH      :       18.0            16.8              8.30                8.80  
    OK      :       20.0            20.0              8.10                8.50  
    OR      :       19.0            20.0              8.90                9.40  
    PA      :       16.5            16.8              8.90                9.90  
    RI      :       15.0            15.0              8.75               10.50  
    SC      :       18.5            19.0              7.70                8.95  
    SD      :       16.7            16.0              6.35                7.40  
    TN      :       17.0            16.0              8.80               10.00  
    TX      :       24.1            23.1              7.50                8.60  
    UT      :       17.9            17.7              7.30                8.40  
    VT      :       16.0            16.0              8.70               10.20  
    VA      :       16.5            16.7              8.85                9.60  
    WA      :       22.5            19.5              8.20                8.90  
    WV      :       15.4            14.0              9.00                9.70  
    WI      :       17.7            17.9              6.50                7.60  
    WY      :       12.8            14.1              6.25                7.70  
            :                                                                   
    US      :       18.9            18.8              7.66                8.51  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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 1.3 percent.  This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the    
final October-December estimate will not be above or below the current estimate 
of 9.49 million head by more than 1.3 percent, or about 123,000 head.  Chances  
are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 2.4 percent, or about       
228,000 head (the 90 percent confidence level).                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Reliability of October-December 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         :    0.8    1.5     569       236       22      565    10       0  
  Production :                                                                  
             :                  --------- 1,000 Head ----------                 
                                                                                
             :                                                                  
All Milk     :    1.3    2.4     228       118       42      195    10       0  
  Cows       :                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on records for the past 10 October-December quarters.                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Milk Production" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on              
February 16, 1996.                                                              
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
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