June milk production up 2.7 percent

(Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010)

Milk production in the top 23 milk producing states totaled 15.2 billion pounds during June, up 2.7 percent from the same month a year earlier.

Across all 50 states, milk production was up 2.4 percent, according to the “Milk Production” report issued by USDA on July 19.

It is another bearish sign, considering that milk production has risen — on a year-over-year basis — for five straight months now.

The number of milk cows in the 23 states was 8.35 million, down 87,000 head from June 2009, but 10,000 more than May of this year. Production per cow was up 67 pounds in June compared to June 2009.

Wisconsin showed the highest percentage increase in June at 5.1 percent. California, the nation’s No. 1 milk-producing state, was up 3.5 percent. Missouri declined by 5.4 percent.