By Sean Ellis
Idaho has regained the No. 3 spot for total milk production, “moooving” Texas back down to the fourth spot.
In 2024, Texas passed Idaho to become the nation’s No. 3 dairy state in terms of total milk production. In 2025, Idaho returned the favor and regained the No. 3 spot, by a sliver.
According to USDA data released Feb. 20, Idaho’s 350 dairy operations produced 18.26 billion pounds of milk in 2025. Texas dairies produced 18.21 billion pounds of milk last year. The margin – a little less than 51 million pounds – is equal to about one day’s worth of total milk production in Idaho.
In 2024, Texas produced 17.04 billion pounds of milk while Idaho produced 17.02 billion pounds. That difference was equal to about a third of a day’s worth of milk production.
In milk production terms, it was the thinnest of margins both years, said Idaho Dairymen’s Association Executive Director Rick Naerebout.
“They passed us last year by about a third of one day’s production and we passed them back by just shy of one day’s production,” he said. “It’s kind of fun to have this back and forth, but really, we’re not talking big differences between three and four. We’re neck in neck.”
Before 2024, Idaho had a solid hold on the No. 3 spot for about 15 years since passing New York. Those two states played leapfrog for the No. 3 spot for a few years until Idaho pulled away for good.
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