Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Milk Output Rises 18 Months in a Row

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Wisconsin Milk Output Rises 18 Months in a Row
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/20/2015

The streak continues for Wisconsin's dairy farmers. According to the USDA's monthly milk production report, the Dairy State produced 2.44 billion pounds of milk last month, up 4.5 percent from October 2014, and higher than September's 2.36 billion pounds. This marks the 18th consecutive month that total output has exceed previous year figures in Wisconsin; and was the highest October production level in state history.

Nationally, 16 billion pounds of milk was produced in the 23 major dairy states, which was up one percent higher than in 2014, and more than the previous month's 15.5 billion.

California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.24 billion pounds, but was one of 11 states with lower yearly production for the month. South Dakota had the greatest increase in year-to-year output as that state produced 204 million pounds of milk in October, up 13.3 percent from the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the number of milk cows in the major dairy states totaled 8.63 million head, 38,000 head more than October 2014, but 1,000 head less than September 2015. The average number of milk cows on Wisconsin farms for the month was a record 1.28 million head. Production per cow averaged 1,910 pounds, up 70 pounds from a year ago.

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