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In its latest report, the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) shows that milk production has continued the upward trend of the last year and produced an extra 1.4% for the month of July.
Cow numbers also increased, by 2000 from June and by 18,000 from July 2015. Milk yield per cow increased as well, by 1.2% to an average of 1,920 pounds per cow.
The increase is not evenly spread across the whole country. California, which has suffered from drought, has continued its downward spiral now milking 10,000 less cows than in July 2015 is down 0.8%, but Wisconsin, the second highest milk producing state is up by 2.1% from 2,000 fewer cows.
The two fastest milk producing states, South Dakota and Michigan have eased slightly but South Dakota is still up by 5.9% with Michigan 4.5% ahead of July 2015.
Milk production is 4% higher in New York State, despite the drought which has affected much of the northern area of that state.
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