Wisconsin Ag Connection - State & National Milk Output Were Up in April

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State & National Milk Output Were Up in April
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/21/2021

Total milk production in America's Dairyland rose during the month of April when compared to the same time last year. According to the USDA's monthly milk production report, Wisconsin farmers produced 2.64 billion pounds during the month, up 4.6 percent from last April, but lower than the 2.72 billion made in March 2021 (which had an extra day on the calendar).

Nationally, 18.4 billion pounds of milk was produced in the 24 major dairy states for the month. That was a 3.5 percent increase from 2020, but less than the previous month's 18.8 billion.

California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.64 billion pounds. South Dakota had the greatest percent-increase in output as that state produced 280 million pounds of milk--about 13.4 percent more from the same period last year. Sixteen of the top 24 states had higher year-to-year production last month.

Meanwhile, the number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major states was was 8.98 million head, 121,000 head more than April 2020, and 15,000 head more than March 2021. The average number of milk cows on Wisconsin farms for the month was 1.27 million head--about 7,000 head more than last month and 14,000 over last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,070 pounds, which was 70 pounds per cow more than last year's figures.

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