nd-livestock
 
New Release                                             Milk Production
                                                       October 17, 2005

                      July-September Milk Production

North Dakota

Milk production in North Dakota during the July-September quarter totaled
132 million pounds, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics
Service, North Dakota Field Office. Production decreased 3 million pounds
from the April-June quarter and 2 million pounds from last year's
July-September quarter. The average number of milk cows during the quarter
was 32,000, down 1,000 from last quarter and 2,000 from the July-September
2004 quarter. Milk produced per cow during the quarter averaged 4,110
pounds, up from 4,100 pounds last quarter and 3,950 pounds last year.

United States

Milk production in the U.S. during the July-September quarter totaled 44.0
billion pounds, up 4.2 percent from the July-September quarter last year.
The average number of milk cows in the U.S. during the quarter was 9.05
million head, 27,000 head more than the same period last year. Production
per cow during the quarter averaged 4,862 pounds, up from 4,679 pounds during
the same period last year.

                  Milk Cows and Production, July - September Quarter

                           Milk Cows 1/              Milk Production 2/
                                                                  Change from
 State                   2004       2005       2004       2005        2004
                       - - 1,000 Head - -     - Million Pounds -   Percent
 North Dakota             34          32        134        132        -1.5
 California            1,733       1,763      9,133      9,360         2.5
 Minnesota               465         453      1,984      2,018         1.7
 New York                655         648      2,907      3,053         5.0
 Wisconsin             1,240       1,236      5,541      5,829         5.2
 United States         9,027       9,054     42,239     44,024         4.2
 1/ Includes dry cows, excludes heifers not yet fresh. 2/ Excludes milk
 sucked by calves.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
  David Knopf, Director
  USDA, NASS, North Dakota Field Office
  NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448
  P.O. Box 3166
  Fargo, ND 58108-3166
  Telephone: (701) 239-5306
  E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov
  Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/