SNAPSHOT OF MISSOURI'S DAIRY INDUSTRY


According to the Missouri State Milk Board, as of December 2008, Missouri had 1,762 permitted dairy operations. Of the 1,762 total Missouri dairy operations, there were 1,246 Grade A dairies and 516 manufacturing grade dairies.

These trends emerge from the latest preliminary U.S. annual average dairy production numbers that were updated recently to include the year just passed, 2007. The graphs below reflect the latest cow numbers and milk production per cow estimates in Missouri and surrounding states.


Milk Cow Population (2000-2008)
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Missouri
154,000
145,000
137,000
129,000
122,000
117,000
115,000
112,000
110,000
Kansas
91,000
93,000
103,000
111,000
113,000
111,000
112,000
109,000
117,000
Iowa
215,000
210,000
209,000
201,000
193,000
195,000
205,000
213,000
216,000
Arkansas
39,000
35,000
32,000
29,000
24,000
22,000
20,000
17,000
15,000
Illinois
120,000
116,000
115,000
111,000
107,000
104,000
103,000
103,000
102,000
Kentucky
132,000
128,000
122,000
116,000
110,000
106,000
98,000
90,000
90,000
Tennessee
95,000
92,000
88,000
79,000
75,000
70,000
67,000
63,000
55,000
Source: USDA, NASS, Milk Production

Milk Production Per Cow (2000-2008)
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
U.S.
18,201
18,159
18,571
18,760
18,957
19,565
19,951
20,267
20,396
Missouri
14,662
13,441
14,024
14,620
15,139
16,026
16,000
14,982
14,682
Kansas
16,923
17,312
19,515
19,189
19,611
20,505
20,920
19,734
20,641
Iowa
18,298
18,024
18,201
18,955
19,912
20,641
20,146
20,085
19,995
Arkansas
12,436
12,343
12,281
12,207
13,250
13,545
13,250
12,941
13,000
Illinois
17,450
17,414
17,835
18,441
18,486
18,827
19,204
18,612
18,569
Kentucky
12,841
12,969
13,230
12,629
12,936
12,896
13,276
13,889
13,444
Tennessee
14,789
14,511
14,943
15,253
15,400
15,743
15,657
15,857
16,068
Source: USDA, NASS, Milk Production

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MU Extension - CA Program
For comments or questions concerning these pages, please contact:
Joe Horner  Beef and Dairy Economist
Ryan Milhollin Extension Associate