The latest Milk Production report from the USDA was recently released. In addition to the first look at production numbers for 2025, the report also included the annual milk production data for 2024.
2024 in Review: U.S. Production, Milk Cows Lower Than in 2023
U.S. milk production totaled 226 billion pounds in 2024, down 0.2% compared with 2023’s total.
It was the second consecutive year that total annual milk production was down year-over-year. Although the country’s total milk production has increased 8.3% over the last decade, production has essentially held steady or decreased within the last few years.
As for annual production per cow, 2024’s average was 24,178 pounds, 61 pounds above 2023’s. The average number of milk cows on U.S. farms during 2024 was 9.34 million head, 42,000 head below that in 2023.
January 2025 Production, Milk Cows Up YOY for 24 Top States
Across the 24 major states, milk production reached 18.3 billion pounds in January 2025, up 0.2% compared with January 2024.
California had the greatest percent decrease in milk production for January year-over-year. January 2025 production in the Golden State was 3,335 million pounds, down from 3,538 million pounds in the same month in 2024. That’s a change of 5.7%.
South Dakota and Texas tied for the greatest percent increase, 6.5%, in milk production for January year-over-year. January 2025 production for South Dakota was 426 million pounds, up from 400 million pounds in 2024. January 2025 production for Texas was 1,485 million pounds, up from 1,394 million pounds in the same month in 2024.
The number of milk cows on farms across the 24 major states was up to 8.93 million head in January 2025. That’s 54,000 head more than in January 2024.
On the other hand, average milk per cow was down slightly year-over-year across the 24 top states. In January 2025, milk per cow averaged 2,054 pounds. In January 2024, that average was 2,062 pounds.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
This article provides a pretty good overview of milk supply in the U.S. for the past couple of years and even the past decade. It appears that overall supply is pretty stable, even with the slight decline during the past two years. The bigger picture is what has happened to demand – it’s up! USDA data show American dairy consumption across categories has consistently increased each year between 1975 and 2022. Americans ate 653 pounds of dairy per person in 2022, up from 490 pounds in 1975. While milk usage in cheese and other high-value products is increasing, individual milk intake dropped to a new low in 2022. That all means the price of milk at the farm gate continues to be strong.
If you’re looking for new farm customers to purchase those trucks on your lot, be sure to put dairy farmers at or near the top of that list. And remember to keep your inventory on AgTruckTrader.com®. After all, AgTruckTrader.com® is included in your CAD membership – so take full advantage of it.
