Milk production in the U.S. in March totaled 17.66 billion pounds down 0.3 percent from March of last year. Due to sequestration cuts, cow numbers and production per cow will not be reported through the end of September.
The 23 major dairy states saw production down 0.1 percent at 16.4 billion pounds, 14 of the 23 states saw an increase in production compared to a year ago, one was unchanged and 8 saw a decrease.
California milk production in March totaled 3.68 billion pounds down 3.3 percent from a year ago. Wisconsin milk production increased 3 percent to 2.4 billion pounds. New York has 1.159 billion pounds of milk up 1.8 percent, Idaho increased 0.5 percent to 1.133 billion and Pennsylvania increased 0.3 percent to 926 million pounds.
The revised February milk production numbers put output at 14.7 billion pounds which, after adjusting for Leap Day was 0.2 percent above a year ago.
For the first three months of the year, U.S. milk production totaled 50.5 billion pounds down 1.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012. California production is down 5.1 percent for the quarter while Wisconsin is up 2.9 percent compared to a year ago.
Source: Â ADPI