WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Milk production in the 24 major States increased in March as both cow numbers and output per cow moved higher. March production reached 19.6 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from a year earlier, showing continued expansion in the dairy sector.
USDA said production per cow averaged 2,133 pounds in March, which was 7 pounds above March 2025. The number of milk cows in the 24 major States reached 9.18 million head, up 188,000 from a year ago and 8,000 above February.
That larger herd helped keep production moving higher into spring. February production was revised to 17.5 billion pounds, up 3.0 percent from a year earlier, although the revision was 11 million pounds below the previous estimate.
The quarterly numbers also showed broader growth. U.S. milk production for January through March totaled 58.5 billion pounds, up 2.9 percent from the same quarter last year.
The average U.S. milk cow herd during the quarter reached 9.61 million head. That was 50,000 above the prior quarter and 204,000 above the same period last year. California, Wisconsin, and Texas remain the top three producing states in the country, followed by Idaho and New York.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Higher cow numbers and slightly stronger output per cow pushed milk production above last year.
No, it is not some new college course — Clemson has been making blue cheese since 1941, and the product has developed a worldwide following and won some pretty big awards. With good reason — it is fantastic stuff. It is also fascinating to see how it is made. Check out this sneak peek look at the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From, “Clemson Blue.”
October 24, 2023 11:32 AM
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The machines do all the work at Hickory Hill Milk in South Carolina, and the pampered cows get on-demand service. The team at Where the Food Comes From shares a special, behind-the-scenes account filming the show’s newest episode, Robot Dairy, premiering this Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at 9:30 p.m. ET on RFD-TV!
October 19, 2023 09:00 AM
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How does a robot milk a cow?
October 18, 2023 09:00 AM
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The machines do all the work at Hickory Hill Milk in South Carolina, where the pampered cows get on-demand service. They make a premium cream line of milk you still have to shake. It is so good it is used to make the world-famous Clemson blue cheese.
October 17, 2023 01:55 PM
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Today’s blog post by RFD-TV Agri-Legal Expert Roger McEowen takes a look at the “preferential payment rule,” a unique bankruptcy provision that can come as a suprise to farmers in financial distress.
October 13, 2023 10:54 AM
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September 14, 2023 12:52 PM
