Wisconsin dairy operations are working to pay bills – and that’s keeping the state’s overall milk production climbing despite lower milk prices.
The latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture pegs the states overall milk production to be up 5% compared to December of 2014. The number of milk cows in Wisconsin is holding at 1.28 million head. That number is unchanged from November, but it is about 6,000 more milk cows compared to December 2014.
Each cow in Wisconsin’s producing on average 1,935 pounds of milk – 90 pounds more then last December. In consumer terms – that equates to about almost 8 gallons more milk each cow in the state produced in December compared to last year.
It’s also interesting to look at the changing dynamics of how much milk’s being produced – and where.
According to the U.S.D.A – the following west, southwest states slipped in December milk.
Arizona – down 2.3%
Californina – down 3%
Texas – down 3%
New Mexico – down 6.2%
And where might cows be going?
South Dakota production went up in December by 13% and Michigan milk production also surged 5%.