Dairy production in the United States

May 25, 2022

Favorable land and resources, together with the adoption of modern and efficient farming practices, ensure America’s position as the world’s largest producer of cow’s milk.

Dairy production in the United States includes farms, cooperatives and companies that produce milk, cheese, and the different products derived from it, as well as the products related to obtaining them, such as milking machines, and the distribution chain to the consumer.

Productive capacity

Currently milk production in the United States ranks as one of the world’s top milk producers, this is possible because it has a production of 101.3 million metric tons. This number is three times the combined milk volume of New Zealand and Australia. This milk production capacity involves 40,000 farms distributed in all 50 states. This characteristic has been favored by the variety of climates and this has allowed the non-seasonality of production. More than half of the volume produced corresponds to the five states that produce the most milk in the country: California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York and Texas, generating 53% of all milk. The average U.S. cow produces 10,150 kilograms of milk per year, mainly due to the work carried out on a daily basis to ensure the comfort and care required by the animals. Currently, the dairy cattle stock stands at 9.4 million head according to the latest report from the Department of Agriculture.

The Dairy Farm Approach

The majority of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated. With generations of experience, dairy farmers know that healthy cows that are well cared for and fed a consistent, nutritious diet produce high quality, healthy milk. Dairy farmers work closely with veterinarians and nutritionists to identify ongoing comfort, health, nutritional, environmental and social needs to achieve a product that is consistent in quality and safety. This is given by continued investments in research and innovation, combined with a long and intense heritage of craftsmanship in production, which supports U.S. consistency in delivering products and ingredients as the market requires.

The future of Dairy Production is on the right track

U.S. dairy production has the land, infrastructure and technological resources in place to continue the expansion of dairy production and supply. This capability is backed by the assurance of rigorous standards of quality, safety, and centrally by the knowledge of producers that, with a well-cared for herd, fed a nutritious diet, and provided with the appropriate welfare, consistently produce healthy, high quality milk.

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