US milk production edge higher in December, with national milk supplies rising 0.8% YOY in December according to the USDA. The overall increase was a result of a 0.3% YOY rise in cow numbers while yields were up 0.4% YOY. At 9.4m, cow numbers were down by 8,000 head relative to the prior month and 27,000 head above the same month in 2021. The government made big revisions in historical data – the agency “lost” 12,000 cows in November and 3,000 cows in October.

Among major producing states, December milk production in Wisconsin rose by 0.6% YOY and California increased by 0.3% YOY. Milk production in Idaho, South Dakota, Texas, Iowa and Kansas continued to improve at impressive rates. Supplies declined in New Mexico (-4.8% YOY) and Florida (-12.7% YOY). Output in Washington has fallen YOY in every month since May 2020, down 3.3% YOY in December.