Milk production in the 24 major milk producing states during October totaled 17.7 billion lb., up 2.5% from October 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest “Milk Production” report showed. It also showed USDA revised its September production number to 17.2 billion lb., up 2.4% from September 2019. The September revision represented a decrease of 5 million lb., or less than 0.1%, from last month's preliminary production estimate, USDA said.

Data showed that production per cow in the 24 major states averaged 1,997 lb. for October, 35 lb. above October 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major states was 8.88 million head, 62,000 head more than October 2019 and 17,000 head more than September 2020.

USDA estimated total milk production in the U.S. during October at 18.6 billion lb., up 2.3% from October 2019. Production per cow in the U.S. averaged 1,977 lb. for October, 37 lb. above October 2019. The number of milk cows on farms in the U.S. was 9.39 million head, 43,000 head more than October 2019 and 14,000 head more than September 2020.