NASS prepares to track national milk production trends
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is starting its quarterly Milk Production survey to measure U.S. dairy industry trends. Conducted every January, April, July, and October, this nationwide survey gathers key information from milk producers to help the industry plan effectively.
Around 4,500 dairy operators across the country will be contacted. They will provide details on the number of milk cows in their herds, how many cows were milked, and the total milk produced on the first day of the month. NASS will also collect information on milk used on farms and the amount fed to calves.
“The dairy industry relies on the Milk Production reports to make decisions about the marketing of milk,” said NASS Livestock Branch Chief, Travis Averill. “By participating in the survey, milk producers can ensure that NASS provides timely, accurate and useful data that all sectors of the U.S. milk industry use to make sound business decisions.”
To protect privacy, NASS follows strict confidentiality laws. All survey responses remain private and are published only as combined data, ensuring no individual producer can be identified.
Results will be available in the Milk Production report on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at nass.usda.gov/publications and in the Quick Stats database at quickstats.nass.usda.gov. Farmers with questions can call 888-424-7828 for more information.
This quarterly effort ensures that accurate data guides marketing strategies, production planning, and future growth across the U.S. dairy sector.
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