Wisconsin Bucks National Trend in USDA Milk Report

Sunday, February 25th, 2024 -- 11:31 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -While national milk production dipped slightly in January compared to the previous year, Wisconsin bucked the trend with a 1% increase.

According to the latest USDA report, the state produced 2.72 billion pounds of milk last month, driven by higher production per cow. Wisconsin's 1.27 million dairy cows maintained their population from December and January 2023, but each cow averaged 20 pounds more milk, reaching 2,145 pounds per month. This individual cow performance increase outweighed the national trend of declining cow numbers, which fell by 49,000 nationwide compared to January 2023. Nationally, milk production totaled 18.3 billion pounds, down 0.9% from the previous year. This decrease reflects both fewer cows and slightly lower individual production compared to 2023. Despite the national dip, production per cow in the US has been steadily increasing, up 8.4% since 2014.

While Wisconsin's dairy industry appears to be holding its own, the national picture suggests some ongoing challenges. The decrease in cow numbers combined with slightly lower individual production raises questions about potential long-term trends. However, with Wisconsin defying the national trend and showcasing increased production per cow, the state's dairy industry seems to be adapting and innovating.

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