CDFA Dairy Statistics & Trends Mid-Year Review

Dan Commodity Report, Dairy & Livestock

dairy-buildingCalifornia Department of Food and AgricultureFrom January to June 2014, California recorded a 2.9 percent overall increase in milk production in comparison to the total milk production from January to June 2013. Additionally, in the first six months of 2014, California reported: total Nonfat Dry Milk (for human consumption) increased 9.2 percent; total Other-Dry Milk Products decreased 2.2 percent; total Butter production increased 0.4 percent; total Cheese production increased 6.2 percent; and Class 1 Sales of Fluid Milk (including half-and-half) decreased 2.9 percent when compared to the same period in 2013.

From January to March 2014, the average mailbox milk price paid to California producers was $22.69/cwt. (a $5.24/cwt. increase from $17.45/cwt. for the first quarter in 2013).

The top ten counties in California are Tulare, Merced, Kings, Stanislaus, Kern, Fresno, San Joaquin, Madera, San Bernardino and Riverside.

The top ten counties accounted for 95% of California’s total milk production and 20% of the nation’s total milk production.

The milk production of Tulare, Merced, Kings, Stanislaus, and Kern counties accounted for 15% of the nation’s total milk production.

California Farms by Size, a Comparison

  • The 536 dairy farms producing over 2.4 million pounds per month (37% of the state’s dairies) produce 73% of the state’s milk marketings.
    In May 2014, 811 dairies produced more than one tanker load of milk per day.
  • The 346 dairy farms (24% of the state’s dairies) producing less than 750,000 pounds per month produce less than 4% of the state’s milk marketings.
  • Nearly 42% of the total milk marketings were from dairies who produce over 5 million pounds of milk per month.
  • In May 2014, 203 dairies produced more than 5 million pounds of milk per month (an increase of 2 dairies from 201 dairies in 2013).

For the full report with all pricing and charts, please CLICK HERE. (.pdf)