The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will soon begin collecting data for its quarterly Milk Production survey. This effort aims to provide updated information on the state of the U.S. milk industry throughout the year.
The survey, which takes place in January, April, July, and October, asks milk producers about herd size, number of cows milked, and total milk production for the first day of each month. It also gathers details on milk consumed on farms and the amount fed to calves.
Travis Averill, NASS Livestock Branch Chief, stated: “The dairy industry relies on the Milk Production reports to make decisions about the marketing of milk. 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.”
Approximately 4,500 operators nationwide will be surveyed to achieve an accurate measurement.
Averill emphasized privacy concerns: “At NASS, we have a strong commitment to respondent confidentiality. We are required by law to protect the privacy of all responses and publish data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.”
Results from this round of data collection will be published on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The report will be available at nass.usda.gov/publications as well as through NASS’s Quick Stats database at quickstats.nass.usda.gov.
For further information about participation or results, individuals may contact NASS at 888-424-7828.
