Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled
55.3 billion pounds, up 1.8 percent from the same three months a year earlier.
The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was
9.40 million head, 29,000 head more than the first quarter, and 76,000 head
more than the same period in 2016.
California continues to have the highest total production with about 3.59
billion pounds, but was one of just five states that had lower production
compared to last year. Texas had the greatest increase in year-to-year output
as that state produced 1.01 billion pounds of milk in June, up 15 percent from
the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major states was 8.73
million head, 83,000 head more than June 2016, and 4,000 head more than May
2017.