Milk production rose again in October. USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service says the twenty-four major milk producing states saw production climb 3.9 percent over October of 2024 to 18.7 billion pounds. Production was also up for September, which was revised to show a four percent increase. Nationwide, production was up 3.7 percent.
The total milking herd grew by 211,000 cows since last October but was down 7,000 head from September of this year.
Production per cow is thirty pounds more than it was a year ago, with a U.S. average of 2,049 pounds per cow. Milk production per cow was about sixty pounds lower than last year in the first quarter of 2025, but about sixty pounds more per cow in the second quarter and about ninety-five pounds more than last year in the third quarter of 2025.
Michigan continues to have the highest average for milk-per-cow with 2,325 pounds in October. Texas is second with 2,205 pounds. Colorado is third with 2,180 pounds per cow. New York, Wisconsin, Idaho and Iowa round out the top seven.
Source: Brownfield Ag News
