USA: Milk production and number of cows increase

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Milk Production Report for February 2023 showed a 0.8% increase in milk production year-over-year, with a total of 8 billion kilograms of milk. Five of the top six states recorded production growth, except for California, which declined. Also following suit, the number of cows in the US has seen growth, 37,000 head up from last February and an additional 12,000 cows from last month. In fact, five of the top six states showed positive growth, except for Wisconsin, which lost 3,000 cows. Dan Basse, president of AgResources Company, told the PDPW audience last week at their business meeting in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, that the reason for a decline in cow numbers in the state of Wisconsin stems primarily from environmental pressures. These six states with the most cows in the US account for more than half of total US production. Production per cow in the U.S. averaged 3 pounds more than in February 2022. Phil Plourd, president of Ever.Ag, ...