Dairy Data - Documentation

This documentation provides information concerning data sources and the assembly of Economic Research Service (ERS) Dairy Data. The ERS Dairy Data page includes data files covering domestic supply, demand, and international trade of various dairy products. Data on the U.S. dairy situation and supply and utilization are updated monthly. Files are updated annually, covering supply and allocation of milk fat and skim solids; per capita consumption of dairy products; fluid milk sales; milk supply by State and region; milk production and factors affecting supply; and numbers and size of milk bottling plants. The summary statistics are compiled using primary data from Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS); the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS); National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); and the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI). 

For current data, Excel files including Pivot tables and CSV (machine readable files) are provided. For historical data, Excel files are provided. When applicable, revisions to primary data sources are incorporated into Dairy data products at the time of their scheduled release date. 

Other data of interest for the dairy industry include Milk Cost of Production Estimates and Price Spreads from Farm to Consumer. Older archived dairy data, preceding the data files below, are available in the Dairy Yearbook (last updated in September 2005) and Historical Dairy Data.

Items documented on this web page include the following. 

• U.S. dairy situation at a glance
• U.S. milk production and related data
• Supply and utilization for dairy product categories
• Supply and utilization of milk in all products
• Supply and allocation of milk fat and skim solids by product
• Dairy Products, Per Capita Consumption
• Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product
• Selected soft dairy products, domestic use
• Milk cows and production by State and region
• Milk production and factors affecting supply
• Number and average size of milk bottling plants
• Per capita consumption of selected cheese varieties
• Historical dairy data
  • Commercial disappearance for dairy product categories (1995–2010)
  • Commercial disappearance, milk in all products (1995–2010)
  • Milk supply and utilization of all dairy products (1970–2010)
  • Number and size of milk bottling plants (1960 – 2007)
• Archived historical data
• Supporting Files
• Recommended citation

U.S. Dairy Situation at a Glance

Scope / Coverage

“The U.S. dairy situation at a glance” provides a consolidated view of key indicators for the U.S. dairy sector, offering both monthly and annual data. It covers the latest 14 months of statistics along with annual summaries for the previous two years. The files provide recent data that can be examined quickly. 

Methods

This data product aggregates data from multiple primary sources and other ERS dairy data files. For the most part, data for the table are simply downloaded from primary data sources and other ERS dairy data files and inserted into the U.S. dairy situation at a glance files. For Consumer Price Indices, year-over-year percentage changes are calculated and displayed. 

Guide to CSV Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record.
• Period: Indicates the period field represents. It takes one of the following values: “January”, “February”, “March”, “April”, “May” “June”, “July”, “August”, “September”, “October”, “November”, “December”, and “Annual”.
• Timeperiod_id: Numeric value denoting the Period. It takes values 1:12 when Period indicates a month, and 17 when Period indicates annual aggregation.
• Frequency: Frequency of the measurement: “Monthly”, “Annual”.
• Category: Indicates the name of the broad category.
• Data_item: Indicates a specific indicator within a Category.
• Value: Numeric value for the record.
• Unit: Unit of measure associated with value. 

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service provides information on methodology and quality measures, while information on the methods behind Consumer Price Index can be found on the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics website.

Strengths and Limitations

“U.S. Dairy Situation at a Glance” provides a centralized, easy-to-read summary of essential dairy sector indicators, including monthly and annual data, supporting trend analysis and monitoring. This data allows users to analyze short-term trends and long-term patterns in dairy production, prices, and related metrics.

Data releases for the previous five years are available on request. However, since each of these files reflects a snapshot of the data at the time of publication, previous releases would not reflect subsequent revisions from primary data sources. Users are encouraged to contact the primary data providers if they are interested in data prior to what is provided in the most recent publication of U.S. Dairy Situation at a Glance.

Resources

Please see Dairy at a Glance for detailed information concerning primary data sources.

U.S. Milk Production and Related Data

Scope / Coverage

“U.S. milk production and related data”, published quarterly, provides quarterly and annual statistics on key indicators of the dairy sector. It covers milk cow numbers, milk per cow, total milk production, a proxy for dairy feed prices (16-percent protein feed value), and replacement cow prices. The dataset spans multiple years and includes quarterly periods (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December) as well as annual aggregations.

Methods

The quarterly and annual aggregate for average number of milk cows, milk per cow, milk production, and replacement cow prices are estimated by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). 

The 16-percent dairy feed value is used by NASS, as the denominator for the milk-feed ratio. It is estimated as a weighted average of prices for corn, soy meal and alfalfa hay prices.

Guide to CSV File Fields

The dataset is compiled from official USDA sources and structured for ease of analysis. Each record includes:

• Year: Year associated with the record, starting with 1998.
• Period: Indicates the period field represents. It takes one of the following values: “JAN-MAR”, “APR-JUN”, “JUL-SEP”, “OCT-DEC”, “ANNUAL”.
• Timeperiod_id: Numeric value representing the frequency of the reported data: quarterly (13: “JAN-MAR”, 14: “APR-JUN”, 15: “JUL-SEP”, 16: “OCT-DEC”) or annual (17).
• Timeperiod_name: It describes the Period and Timeperiod_id. It takes one the following values: “Quarter 1”, “Quarter 2”, “Quarter 3”, “Quarter 4”, “Annual aggregation”.
• Aggregation: Describes the level of the aggregation used for the annual values. It takes the following values: “Quarterly average” (averaging the quarterly values), “Quarterly sum” (summing the quarterly values), and “Not applicable” (no aggregation was applied).
• Data_item: Indicates a specific indicator. It takes the following values: “Milk cow”, “Milk per cow”, “Milk production”, “16-percent protein feed value”, “Replacement cow price”.
• Value: Numeric value for the record.
• Units: Unit of measure associated with value.

Data Accuracy

For information regarding data quality, please see the methodology and quality measures information provided by NASS. 

Strengths and Limitations

“U.S. milk production and related data” provides consistent quarterly and annual data for key dairy production and cost indicators. This data enables analysis of production factors, feed cost proxies, and replacement cow market dynamics across time. 

It is important to note the feed value is a composite value of the U.S. average prices for corn, soybean and hay (alfalfa). Actual feed values differ considerably from one farm to another, and the proxy does not consider other feeds used by dairy farmers. Note that the feed value proxy is an approximate value of 100 pounds of 16-percent protein feed, not an estimate of the value of feed used in production of 100 pounds of milk. For more information, see Parity Prices, Parity Ratio, and Feed Price Ratios, published by NASS.

Resources

“U.S. milk production and related data” uses quarterly and annual data from NASS as a primary source.

Supply and Utilization for Dairy Product Categories

Scope/Coverage

“Supply and utilization for dairy product categories” provides monthly supply and utilization for seven dairy product categories and annual supply and utilization tables for eight major dairy product categories in the United States. It covers the period from January 2011 to the most recent month and year based on data available at the time of publication. The categories include butter, dry skim milk products, American-type cheese, other-than-American-type cheese, dry whey, whey protein concentrate, lactose, and evaporated and condensed whole milk. For the first seven categories, both monthly and annual data are available, while evaporated and condensed whole milk includes annual data only. The tables track supply, use, and annual adjustments to calculate apparent domestic human use. 

Methods

The following calculations are used for the monthly and annual tables:

Total supply = beginning commercial stocks + production + imports

Domestic disappearance = total commercial supply – exports – ending stocks

For the annual tables, annual adjustments are included to calculate apparent domestic human use. The data for these adjustments are readily available on an annual basis. For butter, American-type cheese, and other-than-American type cheese, net U.S. shipments to U.S. territories are subtracted from domestic disappearance. For dry skim milk products, dry whey, whey protein concentrate, and lactose, net U.S. shipments to U.S. territories and animal feed use estimates are also subtracted from domestic disappearance.

Apparent domestic human use = domestic disappearance 
    – net shipments to U.S. territories – animal feed use [if applicable]

Import and Export Codes Used

The primary source for dairy import and export data is the Census Bureau and these data are reported by Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Census data are compiled using a commodity classification system developed by the World Customs Organization: the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System or simply the Harmonized System (HS). HS is an international standard for recording world trade at 2-digit, 4-digit, and 6-digit levels of detail. The United States adopted a 10-digit code system to include greater product detail and began using it for U.S. trade on January 1, 1989. A list of codes used for U.S. exports is maintained by the Census Bureau  and called Schedule B. Codes used for U.S. imports are provided in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). Census data for dairy products are reported in kilograms of product weight or liters of product volume. Since ERS commercial disappearance data are reported in pounds, data for imports and exports must be converted to product weight in pounds.

For lists of HTS codes used for product categories, see the HTS codes used for imports, product categories. Descriptions listed are those provided by the USITC Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb. Although the USITC descriptions provided by the USITC Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb are useful, they are not as accurate or complete as those in the actual tariff schedule. In the Excel workbook, DataWeb descriptions are provided instead of the actual HTS descriptions in the interest of brevity. 

For lists of Schedule B export codes used for product categories, see HS codes used for exports, product categories. Export classification in Schedule B is not nearly as detailed as import classification in HTS. Note the distinction between American-type and other-than-American type cheese is not precise. We have categorized HS codes according to what we believe are the predominant varieties of cheeses within each HS classification. For example, we make a simplifying assumption that all processed cheese exported is of an American type.

Net Shipments to U.S. Territories

Net shipments to U.S. territories include shipments from the United States to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands minus shipments from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the United States. Data for net shipments to other U.S. territories are not available.

Animal Feed Use Estimates

Animal feed use estimates are based on data published in the annual report series Dairy Products Utilization and Production Trends by American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI). For dry skim milk products, domestic animal feed use includes products produced for animal use and products originally intended for human use but used for animal feed. For the whey products—dry whey, whey protein concentrate, and lactose—animal feed use estimates are included for the entire period. For data beginning in 2019, animal use of whey products originally intended for human consumption is explicitly reported by ADPI, in addition to animal use of products originally intended for animal feed use.

Guide to Excel Workbook and CSV Fields

The Excel workbook contains the following tabs:

• Contents: Table of contents for the workbook. Lists all product-specific worksheets (monthly and annual), with brief descriptions and notes on data sources and publication date.
• Butter, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of butter (2011–current). Includes beginning stocks, production, imports, total supply, exports, ending stocks, and domestic disappearance.
• Butter, annual: Annual supply and utilization of butter (2011–current). Aggregated by year, with annual adjustments such as net shipments to U.S. territories and apparent domestic human use.
• Dry skim milk, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of dry skim milk products (2011–current). Tracks stocks, production (by type), imports, exports, ending stocks, and domestic disappearance.
• Dry skim milk, annual: Annual supply and utilization of dry skim milk products (2011–current). Annual totals and adjustments, including animal feed use and apparent domestic human use.
• Amer cheese, monthly:    Monthly supply and utilization of American-type cheese (2011–current). Includes stocks, production, imports, exports, and domestic disappearance.
• Amer cheese, annual: Annual supply and utilization of American-type cheese (2011–current). Annual totals and adjustments, including net shipments to U.S. territories and apparent domestic human use.
• Other cheese, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of other-than-American-type cheese (2011–current). Same structure as the American cheese tabs, but for non-American cheeses.
• Other cheese, annual: Annual supply and utilization of other-than-American-type cheese (2011–current). Annual totals and adjustments.
• Dry whey, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of dry whey (2011–current). Tracks stocks, production (by use), imports, exports, ending stocks, and domestic disappearance.
• Dry whey, annual: Annual supply and utilization of dry whey (2011–current). Annual totals and adjustments, including animal feed use and apparent domestic human use.
• WPC, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of whey protein concentrate (WPC) (2011–current). Tracks stocks, production (by use), imports, exports, ending stocks, and domestic disappearance.
• WPC, annual: Annual supply and utilization of WPC (2011–current). Annual totals and adjustments.
• Lactose, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of lactose (2011–current). Tracks stocks, production, imports, exports, ending stocks, and domestic disappearance.
• Lactose, annual: Annual supply and utilization of lactose (2011–current). Annual totals and adjustments.
• Evap cond whole, annual: Annual supply and utilization of evaporated and condensed whole milk (2011–current). Annual data only (no monthly), due to data availability.
• Data: Machine-readable, flat table of all data from the above worksheets. Contains all supply and utilization data for all products, periods, and categories in a normalized format for analysis.

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Table: Indicates the names of the corresponding tabs in the excel/pivot table version of the data product: Butter, monthly; Butter, annual; Dry skim milk, monthly; Dry skim milk, annual; Amer cheese, monthly; Amer cheese, annual; Other cheese, monthly; Other cheese, annual; Dry whey, monthly; Dry whey, annual; WPC, monthly; WPC, annual; Lactose, monthly; Lactose, annual; Evap cond whole, annual
• Year: Year associated with the record. It starts with 2011.
• Period: Indicates the period the field represents. It takes one of the following values: “January”, “February”, “March”, “April”, “May”, “June”, “July”, “August”, “September”, “October”, “November”, “December”, or “Annual”.
• Timeperiod_id: Numeric value denoting the Period. It takes values 1:12 when Period indicates a month, and 17 when Period indicates annual aggregation.
• Frequency: Frequency of the measurement: “Monthly”, “Annual”.
• Product: Indicates the name of the dairy product. It takes the following: “Butter”, “Dry skim milk products”, “American Style Cheese”, “Other than American Cheese”, “Dry whey”, “Whey protein concentrate (WPC), “Lactose”, and “Evaporated and condensed whole milk”.
• Category: Indicates a broad supply and utilization category: “Supply”, “Use”, and “Annual adjustments”.
• Data_item: Indicates an element of the supply and utilization balance sheet specific to a given Product (e.g. beginning stocks, production, imports, exports, etc.)
• Quantity: Numeric value for record.
• Units: Unit of measure associated with value (million pounds).

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides information on methodology and quality measures, while the U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to the U.S. International Trade Statistical Program. Data regarding domestic use may be subject to inaccuracies because of limitations discussed in the Strengths and Limitations section below.

Strengths and Limitations

“Supply and utilization for dairy product categories” provides detailed monthly and annual supply and utilization data for key dairy product categories. It includes annual adjustments for animal feed use and territorial shipments for more accurate estimates of apparent human domestic disappearance. Using data from multiple sources (federal and nonfederal)—including NASS and ADPI—ERS maintains a consistent methodology that ensures longitudinal reliability. It may serve as a benchmark for institutional policy analysis, econometric forecasting, and the evaluation of evolving domestic consumption patterns. 

Please note that there are mismatches among items in the tables and assumptions that could cause some inaccuracies in calculations of total supply, domestic disappearance, and apparent domestic human use.

• Butter: NASS reports Cold Storage stocks as an aggregate category that includes butter, anhydrous milkfat, and butteroil; these products are not disaggregated in the NASS Cold Storage report. However, the NASS Dairy Products report includes only butter production. Although the Census Bureau reports imports and exports of various butterfat products, we have included only butter in our import and export numbers. 
• Dry skim milk products: NASS reports production of nonfat dry milk, skim milk powder, and dry skim milk for animal use. Imports and exports include all of these products in aggregate. While NASS reports stocks for nonfat dry milk and dry skim milk for animal use, it does not report stocks of skim milk powder.
• Cheese: Some cheese exports cannot be clearly categorized as American-type cheese and Other-than-American type cheese based on descriptions listed in Schedule B. To address this issue, ERS uses simplifying assumptions:  all processed cheese exports are American-type cheeses and all fresh, grated, and non-specified cheeses are other-than-American type cheeses. These assumptions are not always accurate.
• Lactose: The questionnaire that NASS uses to collect production and manufacturers’ stock data of lactose does not specify a skim-solids percentage. It also does not specify that lactose is necessarily in powdered form or syrup. International trade data (classified according to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule for imports and Schedule B for exports) include two categories for lactose and lactose syrup: HS1702.11: “Containing by weight 99 percent or more lactose, expressed as anhydrous lactose, calculated on the dry matter;” and 1702.19: “Other.” Of these two categories, ERS only includes reported quantities for 1702.11 for imports and exports. Reporting both aggregated totals categories for 1702.11 and 1702.19 would result in negative calculated numbers for domestic disappearance for some months. However, it is possible that some of the lactose reported as exported under 1702.19 has been reported in NASS production numbers.
• Unknown changes in so-called “pipeline stocks” contribute to the uncertainty of domestic disappearance as a proxy for consumption. These are unknown stock quantities that are not reported by NASS. For dry products, NASS reports only manufacturers’ stocks in its Dairy Products report. Pipeline stocks may also be held by dealers, brokers, and retailers, potentially for an extended period. For butter and cheese, NASS reports stocks held in refrigerated warehouses. NASS states in its Cold Storage report, “All commodities reported on the cold storage report are regardless of ownership or origin. NASS does not differentiate between commodities owned by manufacturer, producer, wholesaler, retailer, government owned, or domestically produced vs. imported.” Although the lack of information concerning pipeline stocks is likely a lesser issue for butter and cheese than for dry products, NASS states in its Cold Storage report, “Excluded are stocks in space maintained by wholesalers, jobbers, distributors, chain stores, locker plants containing individual lockers, meat packer branch houses, and frozen food processors whose entire inventories are turned over more than once a month.”

Resources

“Supply and utilization for dairy product categories” uses multiple sources to construct comprehensive measures of supply and utilization for core dairy production. Production and stocks data originate from the NASS. Import and export volumes for dairy products are sourced from the FAS and the Census Bureau. HTS codes used for imports are from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). HS codes used for exports and net shipments to U.S. territories are from Schedule B, maintained by the Census Bureau. Data for animal feed use are based on data from annual Dairy Products and Utilization & Production Trends reports from the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI).
 

Supply and Utilization of Milk in all Products

Scope/Coverage

“Supply and utilization of milk in all products” includes monthly and annual data on the supply and utilization of milk across all dairy products, expressed in milk-equivalent bases (milk-fat and skim-solids) and in terms of milk fat and skim solids for the United States, from January 2011 to the most recent available month and year. It covers key elements of the supply and use balance sheet such as beginning stocks, milk marketings, imports, exports, and ending stocks, along with adjustments for farm use, net shipments to U.S. territories, animal feed use, and other uses. 

Methods

The following monthly and annual data are provided for the supply and utilization of milk in all dairy products:

• Milk-equivalent milk-fat basis
• Milk-equivalent skim-solids basis
• Milk fat
• Skim solids 

Calculations for these tables are similar to the calculations of supply and utilization for dairy product categories. An exception is the deduction of farm use to estimate milk marketings.

Milk marketings = milk production – farm use

Total supply = beginning stocks + milk marketings + imports

Domestic disappearance = total supply – exports – ending stocks

For the annual tables, adjustments are made as follows:

Apparent domestic human use = domestic disappearance
     + household farm use
      – (net shipments to U.S. territories
      + domestic use of dairy products as animal feed
     + other uses)

Farm Use

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) publishes farm use data on an annual basis. To estimate monthly farm use of milk, Economic Research Service (ERS) prorates the annual farm use number using the number of days in each month. For the current year, ERS estimates monthly farm use based on published data from recent years. Farm use includes both milk fed to calves and household farm use. While total farm use is subtracted from milk production to derive milk marketings, household farm use is added back in the annual tables as part of the calculation of apparent domestic human use.

Conversion Factors

Milk is made up of water, milk fat, and skim solids (protein, lactose, ash, and trace elements). Milk equivalent estimates are calculated on both a milk-fat basis and a skim-solids basis. The milk-fat and skim-solids content of milk varies from year to year, month to month, and from one cow to another. In recent years, proportions of milk fat and skim solids in U.S. milk have been trending upward. In 2025, farm milk in the United States averaged 86.56 percent water, 9.12 percent skim solids, and 4.32 percent milk fat.

To account for the supply and use of milk in all products, it is necessary to either account for the milk solids (milk fat or skim solids) or the equivalent amount of milk (on a milk-fat or skim-solids basis) associated with stocks, imports, and exports of the products. Conversion factors associated with milk fat and skim solids are used for this accounting.

For stocks, the milk-fat and skim-solids percentages are estimated for each product reported by NASS. The same type of procedure is used for animal feed use estimates. For imports, exports, and net shipments to U.S. territories, milk-fat and skim-solids percentages are estimated for each HS code, based on information from several sources. To estimate the farm milk equivalent (m.e.) on milk-fat and skim-solids bases, estimated milk fat and skim solids are divided by estimates of milk fat and skim solids in U.S. farm milk, which vary from month to month.

National milk-fat test data for each month are provided by NASS. Since USDA does not report an average national solids-nonfat (SNF) test, ERS uses the weighted-average SNF test reported by USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for the seven Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) with component-based pricing (see Milk Marketing Order Statistics). In November 2018, a California FMMO became effective and it is one of the seven FMMOs with component-based pricing. Prior to that, California milk handlers were regulated by a State milk marketing order, which was separate from the FMMO system and was administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). For months prior to November 2018, ERS estimated a weighted-average SNF test for the United States, using the SNF test for the six FMMOs with component-based pricing (extrapolated to include all U.S. areas outside of California), SNF test data reported by CDFA, and milk production data reported by NASS.

For lists of conversion factors for stocks, imports, and exports, net shipments to U.S. territories, and animal use estimates—as well as the sources for the conversion factors—see Dairy conversion factors and sources.

As an example, to convert 4,000 kilograms of Cheddar cheese imports or exports into a skim-solids basis milk equivalent in a month when skim solids in farm milk equals 8.99 percent, the following formula would be used:

(product quantity [kilograms or liters] × metric to pounds conversion factor)
     × (skim solids percentage) / (SNF Test)
     = pounds on m.e. skim-solids basis

(4,000 kg of cheese × 2.204623 pounds/kilogram)
     × (29.9% of skim solids in Cheddar cheese) / (8.99% of skim solids in farm milk)
     = 29,330 pounds on a m.e. skim-solids basis

This number is divided by 1 million, as commercial disappearance numbers on milk-equivalent bases are published in million-pound units.

Net Shipments to U.S. Territories

As with the data file “Supply and utilization for dairy product categories,” net shipments to U.S. territories for milk in all products include shipments from the United States to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands minus shipments from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the United States. The same HS codes and conversion factors used for exports are also used for net shipments to U.S. territories.

Animal Feed Use Estimates

Animal feed use estimates are based on data published in the annual report series Dairy Products Utilization and Production Trends by the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI). For some dry milk products—dry skim milk products, dry whole milk, and dry buttermilk—domestic animal feed use includes products produced for animal use and products originally intended for human use but used for animal feed. For several whey products, animal feed use estimates are included for the entire period. For data beginning in 2019, animal use of whey products originally intended for human consumption is explicitly reported by ADPI in addition to animal use of products originally intended for animal feed use. ADPI reports some feed use quantities as “undesignated” dry milk products and “undesignated” whey products. In these cases, conversion factor percentages used are weighted averages of the conversion factors for designated products.

Other Uses

The “Other uses" column in each annual table includes milk pooled on Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs), or products produced from milk pooled on FMMOs, “that is dumped, used for animal feed, destroyed, or lost by a handler in a vehicular accident, flood, fire, or similar occurrence beyond the handler’s control” (7 CFR §1000.40 (e)). Data are not available for such occurrences related to milk not pooled on FMMOs.

Supply and utilization balances are calculated using formulas similar to those used for dairy product categories, with the following key steps:

• Milk Marketings = Milk production – Farm use
• Total Supply = Beginning stocks + Milk marketings + Imports
• Domestic Disappearance = Total supply – Exports – Ending stocks

For annual tables

• Apparent Domestic Human Use = Domestic disappearance + Household farm use – (Net shipments to U.S. territories + Animal feed use + Other uses).
• Farm use is prorated monthly from annual NASS data, and conversion factors are applied to express milk equivalents on milk-fat and skim-solids bases. These factors account for variations in milk composition and product-specific solids content. Trade data are converted from kilograms or liters to pounds using standard conversion factors.

Guide to Excel Workbook and CSV Fields

The Excel workbook contains the following tabs:

• Contents: Table of contents for the workbook. Lists all product-specific worksheets (monthly and annual), with brief descriptions and notes on data sources and publication date.
• M.E. Milk-fat basis, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of milk in all products, milk-equivalent (m.e.) milk-fat basis, 2011–current.
• M.E. Milk-fat basis, annual:  Annual supply and utilization of milk in all products, milk-equivalent (m.e.) milk-fat basis, 2011–current.
• M.E. Skim-solids basis, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of milk in all products, milk-equivalent (m.e.) skim-solids basis, 2011–current.
• M.E. Skim-solids basis, annual: Annual supply and utilization of milk in all products, milk-equivalent (m.e.) skim-solids basis, 2011–current.
• Milk fat, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of milk fat, 2011–current.
• Milk fat, annual: Annual supply and utilization of milk fat, 2011–current.
• Skim solids, monthly: Monthly supply and utilization of skim solids, 2011–current.
• Skim solids, annual: Annual supply and utilization of skim solids, 2011–current.
• Data: Machine-readable data for all worksheets. Contains all supply and utilization data for all products, periods, and categories in a normalized format for analysis.

All the tabs except for “Contents” and “Data” contain pivot tables. In addition to the Excel file, one comma-separated values (CSV) file is available.

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Table: Indicates the names of the corresponding tabs in the excel/pivot table version of the data product.
  • M.E. Milk-fat basis, monthly

  • M.E. Milk-fat basis, annual

  • M.E. Skim-solids basis, monthly

  • M.E. Skim-solids basis, annual

  • Milk fat, monthly

  • Milk fat, annual

  • Skim solids, monthly

  • Skim solids, annual

• Year: Year associated with the record.
• Period: Indicates the period the field represents. It takes one of the following values: “January”, “February”, “March”, “April”, “May”, “June”, “July”, “August”, “September”, “October”, “November”, “December”, and “Annual”.
• Timeperiod_id: Numeric value denoting the Period. It takes values 1:12 when Period indicates a month, and 17 when Period indicates annual aggregation.
• Frequency: Frequency of the measurement: “Monthly”, “Annual”.
• Category: Indicates a broad supply and utilization category: “Supply”, “Use”,  “Component test”, and “Annual Adjustments”.
• Data_item: Indicates an element of the supply and utilization specific to a given product: (e.g. beginning stocks, production, imports, exports, etc.)
• Quantity: Numeric value for record.
• Units: Unit of measure associated with value. 

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, NASS provides information on methodology and quality measures, while the U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to the U.S. International Trade Statistical Program. Data regarding domestic use may be subject to inaccuracies because of limitations discussed in the Strengths and Limitations section below.

Strengths and Limitations

“Supply and utilization of milk in all products” provides comprehensive estimates for supply and utilization balance sheet for milk across all dairy products. A defining feature of our framework is the calculation of balances on both a milk-fat and skim-solids basis, providing a dual-component analysis of the market. Adjustments for farm use, animal feed, and other uses improve accuracy of human consumption estimates. Monthly and annual revisions of underlying data are reflected in the subsequent product releases. 

The following assumptions must be made to produce this dataset. To the extent that the assumptions are incorrect, the data are inaccurate, but the extent of inaccuracy cannot be determined.

• Stock data are not available for each type of dairy product. For products without stock data, ERS assumes that they are used in the same period they are produced. 
• While milk-fat test is estimated at the national level by NASS, the SNF test is estimated by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) only for seven Federal Milk Marketing Orders and assumed to apply to the rest of the country. 
• “Typical” conversion factors, based on research from various data sources, are used for stocks, trade, and animal feed use. 
• Imports and exports of dairy products are converted in milk equivalent bases using U.S. farm milk production solids content.

Resources

Multiple federal and industry data sources are used to construct comprehensive measures of supply and utilization for all milk in all products, measured in milk equivalent and milk components quantities. Production, stocks, and milk fat content data originate from NASS while skim solids component information—comes from AMS. Import and export volumes for dairy products are sourced from the Census Bureau as reported by the Foreign Agricultural Service HTS codes used for imports are from Harmonized Tariff Schedule, maintained by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). HS codes used for exports and net shipments to U.S. territories are from Schedule B, maintained by Census Bureau. Data for animal feed use are based on data from Annual Dairy Products and Utilization & Production Trends reports from the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI). ERS combines these inputs with typical conversion factors for dairy products from many sources and milk solids composition data derived primarily from NASS milk-fat tests and AMS SNF tests—to convert product quantities into consistent milk equivalent measures. For months prior to November 2018, ERS uses information regarding SNF tests from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Supply and Allocation of Milk Fat and Skim Solids by Product

Scope/Coverage

“Supply and allocation of milk fat and skim solids by product” provides estimates of annual supply and allocations of milk components—milk fat and skim solids—across major dairy products in the United States. Allocation refers to the distribution of milk components among dairy categories. It includes data for the period from 2000 through the current year with available data, updated annually to reflect the most recent information. The geographic scope is nationwide, and the product categories covered are extensive, including cheese (American, Italian, and other varieties), fluid beverage milk, frozen dairy products, butter, whey products, dry milk products, and other dairy items, such as yogurt and sour cream. 

Methods

Methodology is a combination of data compilation, construction, and estimation. An Excel file is provided that has 7 detailed tables, and 7 summary tables for each of the items in the following list. The Excel file also has a table with all the data in a long form. Additionally, a CSV file containing all of the information is also provided.

• Product volumes (millions of pounds)
• Milk-fat supply and dairy industry allocation (million pounds)
• Skim-solids supply and dairy industry allocation (million pounds)
• Milk-fat percent of total supply by product
• Skim-solids percent of total supply by product
• Milk-fat content of products (percent)
• Skim-solids content of products (percent)

Accounting for Milk Fat and Skim Solids in Fluid Milk Products

ERS estimates the milk-fat and skim-solids content of fluid milk products by assembling data from various sources. The following steps are used in the estimation process:

1. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has provided ERS with the milk-fat content of fluid milk sales by product for Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) in-area sales. Milk-fat content data for fluid milk sales by product outside of FMMO areas are not readily available.
2. Until November 2018, California had a milk marketing order system that was independent from the FMMO system. Neither milk-fat nor skim-solids data for fluid milk sales by product are readily available for the former California system; skim-solids data for fluid milk sales by product are not readily available for FMMO areas. As a starting point for skim-solids accounting for fluid milk sales by product in FMMO areas and California, calculations were made using skim-solids percentage estimates obtained from sources such as the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, published by ARS. For California, the same types of calculations were used for milk fat.
3. While skim-solids content data are not readily available for each type of fluid milk product sold in FMMO areas, Class I total skim-solids percentages for pooled milk are available for some FMMOs. Class I milk includes pooled milk that is processed and packaged as fluid beverage milk products. Skim-solids percentages derived in step 2 above have been adjusted proportionally so the skim-solids percentage for total fluid milk sales by product is equal to the skim-solids percentage for Class I pooled milk for FMMOs with published skim-solids percentages.
4. Although milk-fat and skim-solids content data are not readily available for each type of fluid milk product sold in California in months prior to November 2018, data for the overall Class 1 milk-fat and skim-solids content for pooled milk are available. In the FMMO system, a Roman numeral I is used for milk processed into fluid beverage milk products, while an Arabic numeral 1 is used for the former California system. For California, the milk-fat and skim-solids content estimates for each product as derived in step 2 have been adjusted proportionally so that the milk-fat and skim-solids percentages of total fluid milk sales by product are equal to the milk-fat and skim-solids percentages for Class 1 pooled milk. Note the standards for components in California are higher than the rest of the United States so average milk-fat and skim-solids percentages are usually higher.
5. For areas outside of FMMO areas or California, the milk-fat and skim-solids percentages by product are assumed to be the same as the FMMO area percentages.
6. The total estimated milk-fat and skim-solids content for each product in the United States is the sum of the estimated milk-fat and skim-solids content for the FMMO areas, California—in months prior to November 2018—and the areas outside of FMMO areas or California.

Adjustments to Avoid Duplication

Net totals for some products are provided to avoid duplication in accounting for milk solids due to the use of dairy products as ingredients in other dairy products. Dairy Products Utilization and Production Trends by American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) is used in accounting for this duplication. ADPI reports include dairy industry uses of certain products by volume and as percentages of total domestic sales. In most cases, ERS uses ADPI percentage estimates rather than the volume estimates because ERS calculations of total domestic sales sometimes differ from those of ADPI. For bulk evaporated and condensed milk, ADPI reports dairy industry use of milk solids rather than product volumes—which would include the water and sweeteners—thus, ERS reports net totals for milk fat and skim solids for the products but not net totals for product volumes.

Guide to Excel Workbook and CSV Fields

The Excel file contains the following tabs:

• Contents: Index for all worksheets.
• Product volume (Summary): Annual product volumes (million pounds) from 2000 to latest data available. Covers supply (milk production, imports, farm use) and estimated production for major dairy products (cheese, fluid milk, butter, yogurt, etc.).
• Product volume: Detailed breakdown by product type and subcategories (e.g., cheese types, fluid milk variants, frozen dairy products, whey products, dry milk products). Values measured as million pounds.
• Milk fat (Summary): Annual milk-fat supply and allocation (million pounds) by categories (total supply, farm use, allocation to dairy products, residual).
• Milk fat: Detailed allocation of milk fat by product and subcategory. It includes residual values.
• Skim solids (Summary): Annual skim-solids supply and allocation (million pounds). It follows a  similar structure to milk fat summary.
• Skim solids: Detailed allocation of skim solids by product type and subcategories.
• Milk-fat % of Total Supply (Summary): Percentage distribution of milk-fat across products.
• Milk-Fat % of Total Supply (Detailed): Granular breakdown by product type.
• Skim-Solids % of Total Supply (Summary): Percentage distribution of skim solids across products.
• Skim-Solids % of Total Supply (Detailed): Granular breakdown by product type.
• Milk-Fat Content of Products (Summary and Detailed): Average milk-fat content (measured as percentage) for dairy products used to determine the values from the “Milk fat” tab. The detailed tab provides breakdown by product and subcategory. 
• Skim-Solids Content of Products (Summary and Detailed): Average milk-fat content (measured as percentage) for dairy products used to determine the values from the “Skim solids” tab. The detailed tab provides breakdown by product and subcategory.
• Data: Long-format dataset with production and supply volumes for all categories. It includes columns such as year, product category, and volume in million pounds, as well as additional columns that provide data input to the pivot tables.

All the tabs except for “Contents” and “Data” contain pivot tables.

In addition to the Excel file, one comma-separated values (CSV) files are available

The CSV version includes the following columns:

• Table: Indicates the name of the table and denotes the scope of the data. It takes the following values:
  • Product volume
  • Milk fat
  • Skim solids
  • Milk-fat percent of total supply
  • Skim-solids percent of total supply
  • Milk-fat content of products
  • Skim-solids content of products
• Table_id: A numeric or alphanumeric identifier for the table. Used to distinguish between different tables or tabs in the excel file. It takes values 1 through 7.
• Category: Indicates a broad supply and utilization category for the record. It takes on of the following values:
  • Supply
  • Farm use
  • Production of dairy products
  • Total supply
  • Dairy industry allocation
  • Residual
• Data_item_id: Indicates a unique identifier for the data item, often hierarchical (e.g., '1-1.01.00', '2-3.01.02.01.01'). More information on data_item_id can be found in the Supply and allocation ID number text file.
• Data_item: Denotes the specific element of supply and utilization or product measured (e.g., 'Milk production (farm level)', 'Cheese (other than cottage cheese)', 'Butter', 'Imports of dairy ingredients used in U.S. dairy products').
• Year: The year associated with the record (e.g., 2000, 2024).
• Value: The numeric value for the record. May be 'NA' if data is not available or not applicable.
• Units: The unit of measure for the value (e.g., 'Million pounds', 'Percent').
• Data_item_description: Assembles complete identification for each data item (e.g. Table, Category, Data_item) 

The csv file is organized so that each row represents a unique combination of these columns, providing a granular data point for a specific product, category, year, and measurement type.

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, NASS provides information on methodology and quality measures, while the U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to the U.S. International Trade Statistical Program.

Strengths and Limitations

The “Supply and allocation of milk fat and skim solids by product” provides a comprehensive view of how milk fat and skim solids are distributed across U.S. dairy products. The framework incorporates adjustments to prevent double counting of milk fat and skim solids in dairy ingredients. 

The “Supply and allocation of milk fat and skim solids by product” includes a residual category to account for untracked products, relies heavily on external data sources, and incorporates estimated values for some of the most recent years.

Resources

The source for most of the supply and product volume data is NASS. The main data source for imports is the Census Bureau. Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and  other State agencies, and ERS calculations are sources for fluid beverage milk sales (see documentation for “Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product” below). AMS is the source for production of cream products prior to 2007 and sour cream before 2003. The annual publication Dairy Products Utilization and Production Trends. by ADPI, is the source for estimated milk permeate and whey permeate production since 2012. Many sources are used to estimate milk fat and skim solids associated with the dairy products (see Dairy conversion factors and sources). Most product categories include several products. In these cases, the milk-fat and skim-solids content percentages are weighted averages of products within the category.

Dairy Products, Per Capita Consumption

Scope/Coverage

“Dairy products, per capita consumption” provides annual per capita consumption estimates for major dairy products in the United States from 1975 to the current year. It includes categories such as fluid beverage milk, cheese, butter, dry skim milk products, dry whey products, frozen dairy products, yogurt, evaporated and condensed milk, and milk-equivalent measures (milk-fat and skim-solids basis). The dataset enables analysis of per capita consumption historical trends across product types and overall dairy use. 

Methods

ERS provides annual per capita consumption estimates for major dairy products. For most products, per capita consumption is calculated by dividing domestic disappearance by the U.S. resident population plus armed forces overseas, as reported by the Census Bureau. The July 1 population estimate for each year is used. Domestic disappearance is used as a proxy for consumption and is adjusted for farm and animal use. For most products, there is no accounting for losses from spoilage, food waste, and similar factors in this data product. (For dairy food loss estimates, refer to the Loss Adjusted Food Availability Documentation and the Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System from the Economic Research Service.) 

Per capita consumption of fluid milk used is calculated differently than per capita consumption of the other dairy products. Estimated route disposition for fluid milk (instead of domestic disappearance) is divided by the U.S. resident population (which does not include Armed Forces overseas). Imports, exports, and stocks are not part of the calculation for fluid milk (as with the disappearance calculations for the other dairy products) since U.S. route disposition includes only deliveries in the United States. The Armed Forces overseas population data are not included in the calculation of per capita consumption because the route disposition data used for estimating total fluid milk sales do not include deliveries to Armed Forces overseas. 

Domestic use estimates for selected dairy product categories as well as total fluid beverage milk sales (the numerators in our per capita calculations) are published in other files that are part of this ERS Dairy Data product. Documentation for those files are available on this web page. See Supply and utilization of milk in all products, Supply and utilization for dairy product categories, Selected soft dairy products, domestic use, and Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product. 

Guide to CSV File Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record
• Category: Broad category of dairy product types: "Fluid beverage milk", "Cheese", "Butter", "Dry skim milk products", "Frozen products", "Yogurt", "Evaporated and condensed milk", "All products, milk-equivalent"
• Data_item: Specific indicator within a category
  • Fluid beverage milk: "Fluid beverage milk"
  • Cheese: "American type", "Other-than-American", "Cottage"
  • Butter: "Butter"
  • Dry skim milk products: "Dry whole milk", "Nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder", "Dry buttermilk", "Dry whey and whey protein concentrate"
  • Frozen products: "Ice cream, Regular, "Ice cream, Low-fat and nonfat", "Frozen yogurt", "Sherbet", "Other frozen dairy", "Water and juice ices"
  • Yogurt: “Yogurt, other than frozen”
  • Evaporated and condensed milk: "Whole, Canned", "Whole, Bulk", "Skim, Bulked and canned"
  • All products, milk-equivalent: "Milk-fat basis", "Skim-solids basis"
• Quantity: Numeric value for the record
• Units: Unit of measure — pounds per capita.

Data Accuracy

Some information regarding accuracy of the data is provided in other sections of this web page. Additionally, information about accuracy is available from primary data source agencies. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides information on methodology and quality measures, U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to the U.S. International Trade Statistical Program, and the Census Bureau provide information on Census population methodology at Census Accuracy, Key Methods Explained. 

Strengths and Limitations

“Dairy products, per capita consumption” provides standardized annual per capita consumption estimates for major dairy products. It uses official population estimates for consistency across years. Any revisions in underlying data, including population, are reflected in the subsequent data updates.

Since the per capita data depend upon other ERS Dairy Data files, strengths and weaknesses of those data (as described elsewhere on this web page) would apply to the per capita data as well. Notably, the per capita data in this data product do not account for food losses. For an estimate that accounts for food losses, please see Food availability (per capita) data system – Loss-adjusted food availability documentation. Please note that human consumption may be overestimated, as it is calculated as a proxy from domestic disappearance and route disposition without adjusting for losses.

Resources

“Dairy products, per capita consumption” uses data from the Census Bureau, and other sources as cited by Supply and utilization of milk in all products, Supply and utilization for dairy product categories, Selected soft dairy products, domestic use, and Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product.

Fluid Beverage Milk Sales Quantities by Product

Scope/Coverage

 “Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product” is released annually. It reports the estimated U.S. sales quantities of fluid beverage milk from 1975 to the most recent year with available data. Fluid beverage milk sales are reported across a range of product categories that reflect varying milk-fat contents and types of fluid milk beverages. These categories include the following traditional fluid milk categories: whole (3.5 percent), reduced fat (2 percent), low-fat (1 percent), and skim milk. Flavored varieties are also tracked separately, as flavored whole milk and flavored milk other than whole. In addition to these core categories, data products include buttermilk and eggnog. 

Methods

The Agricultural Marketing Service  (AMS), provides a monthly Estimated Fluid Milk Products Sales Report that includes estimates of U.S. sales of fluid milk by product. In the Report Aggregation and Extrapolation section of that report, it states:

“Estimated Sales figures are representative of the consumption of fluid milk products in Federal milk marketing order areas. The Federal Order In-Area Sales account for approximately 92 percent (based on population density) of total fluid milk sales in the United States. An estimate of total U.S. fluid milk sales is derived by extrapolating the remaining 8 percent of sales from the Federal Order data.”

AMS provides ERS with data for milk sales quantities by product within Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) areas (in-area sales). ERS takes additional steps to provide estimates for areas of the United States outside of FMMO areas to provide somewhat more accurate estimates for the United States as a whole.

Milk sales data are based on route disposition, which is defined in the U.S. Code of Regulations as “delivery to a retail or wholesale outlet (except a plant), either directly or through any distribution facility (including disposition from a plant store, vendor, or vending machine) of a fluid milk product in consumer-type packages or dispenser units” (7 CFR 1000.3).

While the AMS in-area sales data account for most of the fluid beverage milk sold in the United States, there are substantial areas of the country that are not covered by the AMS data because they are not subject to FMMO regulations. Some areas outside of FMMOs have State regulations that are similar to the FMMO system. Until November 2018, the entire State of California operated under its own similar system, and fluid milk sales data for California were publicly reported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In November 2018, a new FMMO became effective for California, and in-area fluid milk sales data for California have since been reported by AMS.

 ERS receives fluid milk sales data from other State entities as follows: 

• New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets: fluid milk sales quantities by product for the Western New York Milk Marketing Area.
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: fluid milk sales quantities (not broken out by product) for eastern, western, and southwestern market areas of the State.
• Montana Department of Livestock: fluid milk sales quantities for the State (not broken out by product).
• Maine Milk Commission: fluid milk sales quantities sold in containers with volume greater than or equal to 1 quart (not broken out by product).

For areas where sales by product are known, per capita quantities by product are calculated using county population data covering each area. For areas where sales by product are not available but total fluid sales quantities are, ERS assumes that proportions of quantities sold in those areas match proportions of the areas where sales by product data are provided.

There are some areas of the country for which no fluid milk sales data are currently available. These include parts of Ohio, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, and Pennsylvania. No data are available for the entire States of Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, or Hawaii.

From 2000 through March 2004, the entire State of Utah and parts of Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming were included in a Western FMMO area. The Western FMMO was terminated as of April 1, 2004. For April 2004 through the most current year of data availability, ERS estimates per capita consumption in these areas as follows:

Former Western order area quantity =
     (Total FMMO quantity + California quantity) ×
     {2000 to 2003 average of [(Western FMMO quantity)/
     (Total FMMO quantity + California quantity)]}

Fluid milk in Alaska and Hawaii is relatively expensive compared with other parts of the country because most of it is shipped long distances from other States. With relatively high prices, ERS assumes that per capita fluid milk consumption in these States matches the FMMO area with the minimum per capita sales for the year—usually either the Southeastern or Appalachian FMMO area. For counties with no fluid milk sales quantity data other than those in the former Western FMMO, Alaska, or Hawaii, per capita sales quantities are assumed to match the aggregate per capita quantities where data are available.

Guide to CSV File Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record
• Data_item: Indicates a specific fluid milk type, Whole, Reduced-fat (2% milk fat), Low-fat (1% milk fat), Skim, Flavored whole, Flavored other than whole, Buttermilk, Eggnog, and Total. 
• Quantity: Numeric value for the record
• Units: Unit of measure — million pounds

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agency for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. AMS reports its methodology for collecting data and reliability information in each of its Estimated Fluid Milk Sales Reports.

Strength and Limitations

“Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product” provides estimates of fluid milk sales by product type by expanding the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) fluid milk sales dataset published by AMS. Covering more than four decades, this dataset offers a detailed breakdown of major fluid milk beverages, enabling users to examine long-term consumption patterns. The product-level detail also supports analysis of evolving preferences in milk-fat content as well as trends in flavored milk consumption.

For States or geographic areas not covered by AMS, FMMO fluid milk sales, or other State-level datasets, sales quantities are estimated using a set of assumptions as described in the Methods section above; there is no straightforward way to know how well these assumptions reflect reality. In addition, the residual category—implied by the dataset and defined as the difference between total fluid milk sales and the sum of the eight estimated product categories—captures all remaining products, including specialty items that do not fit standard definitions. This residual can exhibit substantial year-to-year variation that cannot be attributed to any particular type of fluid milk; further, the types of products that make up the residual have not been consistent over time.

Resources

The “Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product” uses data for milk sales quantities by product within Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) areas from AMS as a primary source, and additional data from States not covered by the FMMO areas. County resident population estimates from the Census Bureau are used.

Selected Soft Dairy Products, Domestic Use

Scope/Coverage

“Selected soft dairy products, domestic use” is published annually and estimates domestic use for frozen products, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, and fluid cream products. 

Methods

Annual domestic use is estimated for the following soft dairy products: Ice cream (regular, low-fat, non-fat), frozen yogurt, sherbet, other frozen dairy, water & juice ices, yogurt (non-frozen), cottage cheese, sour cream, light cream, heavy cream, half-and-half, combined cream totals.

ERS calculates domestic use from production data from National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and import and export data from the Census Bureau as reported by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Data for frozen products, reported in gallons by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), are converted to pounds, with ice cream products and other frozen products assumed to weigh 4.7 and 6.0 pounds per gallon, respectively. The following formula is used:

Domestic use = Production + (Imports – Exports)

Where trade (imports and exports) details are not available for every term of the calculation, aggregated data for imports and exports are apportioned in accordance with production of the products. Production numbers, not adjusted for imports and exports, are provided for cottage cheese and sour cream. Domestic use of fluid cream products is not reported for years after 2006 because primary data are not readily available.

Guide to the CSV Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record
• Category: Broad category of soft dairy products: “Frozen products”, “Soft products, others”, and “Fluid cream”
• Data_item: Specific indicator within a category
  • Frozen products: “Ice cream, Regular”, “Ice cream, Low-fat”, “Ice cream, Non-fat”, “Frozen yogurt”, “Sherbet”, “Other frozen dairy”, “Water and juice ices”
  • Soft products, others: “Yogurt other than frozen”, “Cottage cheese”, “Sour cream”
  • Fluid cream: “Light cream”, “Heavy cream”, “Half and half”, “Light cream + heavy cream”, “Total fluid cream”
• Quantity: Numeric value for the record
• Units: Unit of measure — million pounds

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, NASS provides information on methodology and quality measures, while the U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to the U.S. International Trade Statistical Program.

Strength and Limitations

“Selected soft dairy products, domestic use” provides historical and current estimates of domestic use for selected soft dairy categories—including frozen desserts, cultured dairy products, and fluid cream—reported in millions of pounds. By measuring domestic use, the dataset effectively proxies consumer consumption, capturing utilization and through established supply and use accounting. Annual data across various sub‑categories enable detailed consumption trend analysis and detection of shifts.

The data include several limitations:

• Due to lack of data from primary data sources, fluid cream and its subcategories (light cream, heavy cream, and half-and-half) are not reported for years after 2006.
• Since stock data are not available for these products, our calculations assume that products are used in the same period as produced. 
• For products where production data are more granular than trade data, imports and exports are assumed to be in proportion to production of the products.
• Weights of ice cream products and other frozen products may vary, but we assume that the weights are 4.7 and 6.0 pounds per gallon, respectively.

Resources

“Selected soft dairy products, domestic use” data series draws primarily on information from several Government sources. Production and stocks come from NASS, which publishes monthly and annual dairy production and inventory statistics. Trade data used to account for imports and exports of soft dairy products are sourced from the Census Bureau, which supply detailed commodity-level trade information classified under the Harmonized System. Fluid cream data through 2006 was provided by the Agricultural Marketing Service through its Federal Milk Marketing Order reports. 

Milk Cows and Production by State and Region

Scope/Coverage

“Milk cows and production by State and region” data is released annually and provides State-level, regional, and national estimates for milk cows, milk per cow, and milk production in U.S. from 1970 to the most recent year with available data. 

Methods

For this table, data is provided by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). State-level data on average number of cows, total milk per cow, and total milk production is aggregated in 11 regions (Northeast, Lake States, Corn Belt, Northern Plains, Appalachia, Southeast, Delta States, Southern Plains, Mountain Region, West Coast, Other States). Additionally, the percentage of milk production is computed for each state/region. 

Guide to the Excel File and CSV Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Table: Table names corresponding to tab names from the Excel Workbook version of the data product. It takes one of the following values: Milk cows, Milk per cow, Milk production
• Year: Year associated with the record.
• Data_item: Indicates a specific indicator measured at State level and aggregated at Region level. It includes: “Milk cows, average inventory”, “Milk production per cow, average”, “Milk production”, “Percent of U.S. milk production”.
• Region: Geographic region comprised of two or more U.S. States where data are reported or aggregated. It can take a value such as “Northeast”, “Corn Belt”, or “Southeast”, etc.
• State: U.S. State name at which data are reported and aggregated.
• Value: Numeric value for the record.
• Units: Unit of measure associated with value.

In the Excel version of the data product “Milk cows, average inventory”, “Milk production per cow, average” are displayed in individual tabs, while “Milk production” and “Percent of U.S. milk production” are combined and displayed in a single tab.

Data Accuracy

For information regarding data quality, please see the methodology and quality measures information provided by the NASS. 

Strength and Limitations

The “Milk cows and production by state and region” dataset offers a long‑running, standardized source of information on milk cow numbers, milk per cow, and total milk production across States, regions, and the nation. Users can access historical data that aids trend analysis and regional comparisons related to dairy farm level production indicators. It is challenging to create meaningful regional groupings for the dairy industry. For most purposes, ERS uses Farm Resource Regions, which does not follow State boundaries and reflect areas of similar physiographic, soil, and climatic traits. However, milk production data is readily available for States—not the county clusters used for the Farm Resource Regions. Even if the county data were readily available, the Farm Resource regions that ERS often uses would be of limited usefulness in analyzing the dairy industry. For example, with the Farm Resource Regions used by ERS for most regional analyses, Florida and most of California are grouped in the same Fruitful Rim region. However, dairy farming is very different in these two areas. For these reasons, we continue to use USDA Farm Production Regions that follow State boundaries as were commonly used prior to 2000. However, even these regions have similar issues. For example, dairy farming in Southern California (typically large farms on dry lots or freestall barns) is much different than dairy farming in Oregon (relatively smaller farms and pasture often used for natural grazing).

Resources

“Milk cows and production by State and region” draws data from NASS.

Milk Production and Factors Affecting Supply

Scope/Coverage

“Milk production and factors affecting supply” is released annually and provides aggregated estimates for U.S. dairy cow inventory, milk production, and other factors affecting the U.S milk supply from 1980 to the most recent year with data available. 

Methods

For this dataset, most of the primary data are provided by NASS. For years after 2008, the slaughter price is calculated as an estimated live weight equivalent from a national price for domestic cutter cows as reported by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The annual slaughter price is calculated based on monthly weighted averages. Monthly weighted averages are in turn calculated based on the weekly data. Finally, each monthly average dressed price is converted to a live price by multiplying it by a factor of 0.495.

Note that the table includes both a January 1 inventory value for milk cows and an average inventory value as reported by NASS. The former is displayed to enable a comparison of replacement heifers to milk cows for the beginning inventory each year.

Guide to CSV File Fields

The CSV version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record. It starts with 1980.
• Category: Indicates the name of the broad category.
• Data_item: Indicates a specific indicator within a Category.
• Value: Numeric value for the record.
• Units: Unit of measure associated with value (Thousand head, head, million pounds, thousand, dollars per hundredweight, dollars per head, pounds, dollars per ton)

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, NASS provides information on methodology and quality measures.

Strength and Limitations

“Milk production and factors affecting supply” provides a comprehensive annual dataset on milk production and key factors affecting U.S. dairy supply, including herd size, productivity, prices, and input costs, to support economic analysis and forecasting.

It is important to note the feed value is a composite value of the U.S. average prices for corn, soybean and hay (alfalfa). Actual feed values differ considerably from one farm to another, and the proxy does not consider other feeds used by dairy farmers. Note that the feed value proxy is an approximate value of 100 pounds of 16-percent protein feed, not an estimate of the value of feed used in production of 100 pounds of milk. For more information, see Parity Prices, Parity Ratio, and Feed Price Ratios, published by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The slaughter cow price proxy has changed over time as available underlying data have changed, with the following prices being used:

• Utility grade, Omaha, NE 1965–87.
• Wisconsin auctions, 1988–2009.
• South St. Paul, MN auctions, 2000–2008. 
• For years after 2008, a slaughter price for live cull cows is not available; therefore, the national price for dressed domestic cutter cows (90-percent lean, 500 pounds and up) is used.

The slaughter prices are not necessarily for dairy cull cows, and there could be inconsistencies over time because of changes in the price series used.

Resources

Milk production and factors affecting supply relies on data from NASS and AMS.

Number and Average Size of Milk Bottling Plants

Scope/Coverage

“Number and average size of milk bottling plants” is released annually. It provides a national snapshot of U.S. fluid milk bottling plant counts and relate those counts to the total beverage milk sales to determine the average product volume per plant. Any revisions from the primary sources are reflected in the subsequent data releases. The current dataset covers annual data since 2008. Number and size of milk bottling plants (1960—2007) estimate data prior to 2008.

Methods

“Number and average size of milk bottling plants” uses plant data from the Interstate Milk Shippers List (IMS List), published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The plant count from FDA as of July for each year is used to construct this data series. Plants producing the following products have been included in the total:

• Pasteurized whole milk, reduced fat, low fat, and skim;
• Heat-treated (may include reduced fat, skim, low fat, or cream);
• Ultra-pasteurized milk and milk products (except plants that only produce cream products); and
• Aseptic milk and milk products (including flavored, but not including plants that only produce cream products). 

To calculate the average-size milk plant, the total quantity for the year as reported in the "Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product" file is divided by the number of plants for the year.

Guide to CSV File Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record
• Data_item: Indicates a specific indicator
  • Examples: “Total beverage milk consumed”, “Number of plants”, “Average product volume per plant”
• Quantity: Numeric value for the record
• Units:
  • Million pounds for “Total beverage milk consumed” and “Average product volume per plant”
  • Number (plants) for “Number of plants”

For data older than 2008, please check Historical Dairy Data. 

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agency for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, the Agricultural Marketing Service within their published reports describe the methodology behind collecting their data as well as the frequency of revisions. Information concerning methodology behind the IMS List is provided at the beginning of each IMS List report.

Strength and Limitations

The dataset is updated annually using the same reference point (July each year), supporting historical analysis. By pairing plant counts with fluid beverage milk sales, the series provides a simple, transparent measure of average plant size that can be used to track structural change in the industry.

There are several limitations of the dataset: 

• The data on the number and size of fluid milk bottling plants may undercount plants because the IMS List includes only those certified under FDA’s Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, meaning plants that operate solely within a single State and do not ship across State lines are not required to be listed and are therefore missing, though their number is assumed to be small. 
• In determining the average plant size, the numerator covers fluid milk use for the entire year, but denominator is the count of plants as of July 1. We assume this as a proxy for the number of plants for the entire year.
• The reported average volume per plant is an unweighted measure and does not account for differences in plant size. 

Resources

“Number and size of milk bottling plants” uses annual plant counts from the FDA’s Interstate Milk Shippers (IMS) List—specifically the July count each year. To estimate average plant size, total annual fluid beverage milk sales from the “Fluid beverage milk sales quantities by product” file are divided by the corresponding year’s number of qualifying plants.

Per Capita Consumption of Selected Cheese Varieties

Scope/Coverage

“Per capita consumption of selected cheese varieties” estimates the per capita quantities of different types of cheese available for consumption in the United States. The current dataset covers data starting with 1995. 

Methods

The per capita consumption estimates cover a wide range of cheese types. For American-style cheeses, consumption is reported for Cheddar, Other-than-Cheddar, and a Total category combining both. Italian-type cheeses include Mozzarella, Other-than-Mozzarella, and their combined Total. Estimates also include several other cow’s-milk cheeses, such as Swiss, Blue, Brick, Muenster, Cream and Neufchatel, Hispanic varieties, and an additional “Other” category. Miscellaneous categories report Total other-than-American cheese (excluding cheeses not derived from cow’s milk), Imported cheese not from cows, and Total natural cheese. Finally, processed dairy products are summarized under Processed Cheese, Cold Pack/Cheese Foods/Other Foods and Spreads, and a Total Processed category.

Per capita consumption is calculated as domestic use divided by population of U.S. residents plus Armed Forces overseas.

Per capita = (Beginning stocks + Production+ Imports- Exports- Ending Stocks - Net Shipments to the US territories) / July 1 Population Estimates.

For all varieties included in the table, production data are available. For some varieties, data for stocks, imports, exports, and shipments to U.S. territories are available to calculate domestic use as calculated in "Supply and utilization for dairy product categories." However, for most varieties, since such trade data detail is not available for every term of the calculation, aggregated data (for stocks, exports, etc.) are apportioned in accordance with the production of cheese varieties.

Population data comes from Census Bureau and represents the resident population and overseas armed forces as of July 1 of each year.

Note: Domestic disappearance is used as a proxy for consumption. Domestic use is adjusted for farm and animal use; however, losses such as spoilage and food waste are not included. For dairy food loss estimates, please refer to the ERS data product Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System – Loss-Adjusted Food Availability.

Guide to CSV File Fields

The csv version includes the fields described below:

• Year: Year associated with the record
• Category: Broad category of cheese types: “American types”, “Italian types”, “Other types of cheeses typically from cows”, “Miscellaneous”, “Processed products”
• Data_item: Specific indicator within a category
  • American types: “Cheddar”, “Other than Cheddar”, and “Total” (sum of “Cheddar” and “Other than Cheddar”
  • Italian types: “Mozzarella”, “Other than mozzarella”, and “Total” (sum of “Mozzarella” and “Other than mozzarella”
  • Other types of cheeses typically from cows: “Swiss”, “Blue”, “Brick”, “Muenster”, “Cream and Neufchatel”, “Hispanic”, and “Other”
  • Miscellaneous: “Total other-than-American cheese, excluding cheese not from cows”, “Imported cheese not from cows”, and “Total natural cheese”
  • Processed products: “Cheese”, “Cold pack, cheese foods, other foods, and spreads”, and “Total processed”
• Quantity: Numeric value for the record
• Units: Unit of measure — pounds per capita.

Data Accuracy

Please refer to source agencies for information regarding the accuracy of the primary data. For example, NASS  provides information on methodology and quality measures, while the U.S. Department of Commerce provides a guide to the U.S. International Trade Statistical Program.

Strength and Limitations

“Per capita consumption of selected cheese varieties” series provides annual U.S. estimates, measured in pounds per person, to help track long term trends in cheese consumption. This dataset complements other ERS supply–utilization accounting datasets, reported on milk equivalent bases, as well as product-level time series. This product may serve as tool for identifying shifts in consumer preferences between specific cheese varieties, allowing industry analysts to pinpoint market growth drivers. 

The “Per capita consumption of selected cheese varieties” estimates are at the national level; hence the series cannot capture regional differences in cheese consumption. The consumption estimates rely on national supply–utilization data, which reflect apparent domestic human disappearance and may not capture actual direct eating behavior, food waste, or losses at retail and consumer levels.

Resources

Production and stock data primarily come from NASS, while detailed trade data—imports and exports of cheese varieties—are drawn from the Foreign Agricultural Service and, estimates of U.S. resident population and Armed Forces overseas from the Census Bureau.

Historical Data

Commercial disappearance for dairy product categories (historical data for 1995–2010)

“Commercial disappearance for dairy product categories,” covering the period from 1995 to 2010, is the predecessor of the “Supply and utilization for dairy product categories,” described in a section above, covering the period from 2011 to current. For purposes of brevity, in this section, we will abbreviate the names of these files as “CmDsProd” and “S_U_DyPr.”

The “CmDsProd” and “S_U_DyPr” files are very similar. Most differences reflect the differences in Government programs of the two periods. The last year of activity for the Dairy Products Price Support Program (DPPSP)—formerly the Milk Price Support Program—and the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) was 2010 and both programs were repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014. Under a barter program conducted by USDA in 2009 and 2010, Government stocks of nonfat dry milk were exchanged for products containing substantial dairy content.

For the period when these programs were active, it is important to account for USDA net removals of dairy products (price support purchases + DEIP subsidized exports -unrestricted sales of U.S. Government stock) and barters. Thus, one of the key differences between the two files is that “CmDsProd” tables for butter, dry skim milk products, American type cheese, and other-than-American type cheese include columns for USDA net removals and barters. Another key difference is that only commercial stocks and commercial exports are included in “CmDsProd”; Government stocks—mostly owned by the U.S. Government, but some owned by State governments—and U.S. Government-subsidized exports are excluded. Instead of calculating domestic disappearance, as with “S_U_DyPr,” domestic commercial disappearance, which excludes U.S. Government activity through DPPSP, DEIP, and the barter program, is calculated in “CmDsProd” as follows:

total commercial supply = beginning commercial stocks + production + imports

total commercial disappearance = total commercial supply
    – USDA net removals and barters – commercial ending stocks

domestic commercial disappearance = total commercial disappearance
    – commercial exports

Another difference between the “CmDsProd” and “S_U_DyPr” is that “S_U_DyPr” has annual adjustments for shipments to U.S. territories and animal feed use that do not appear in “CmDsProd.” Although the “S_U_DyPr” has calculations for apparent domestic human use, “CmDsProd” does not. Also, “CmDsProd” does not include a table for evaporated and condensed whole milk as “S_U_DyPr” does. Some of the annual adjustments for years prior to 2011 are provided in the “Milk, Supply and utilization of all dairy products” data file, as discussed in a section below.

Most of the data sources for “CmDsProd” are the same as for “S_U_DyPr.” Additional data sources for “CmDsProd” include USDA, Farm Service Agency (FSA) for data concerning price support purchases and unrestricted sales of U.S. Government stocks. USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service and FSA are sources for U.S. Government-subsidized exports. Since the “CmDsProd” does not disaggregate animal feed use from human use, the American Dairy Products Association is not a data source for “CmDsProd.”

Commercial disappearance of milk in all products (historical data for 1995–2010)

“Commercial disappearance of milk in all products,” covering the period from 1995 to 2010, is the predecessor of “Supply and utilization of milk in all products, described in a section above, covering the period from 2011 to current. For the sake of brevity, we will abbreviate the names of these files as “CmDsMilk” and “S_U_Milk.”

“CmDsMilk” and “S_U_Milk” are very similar. Both include monthly and annual data for:

• Milk-equivalent milk-fat basis
• Milk-equivalent skim-solids basis
• Milk fat
• Skim solids

Most of the differences between “CmDsMilk” and “S_U_Milk” are for the same reasons as the differences between “CmDsProd” and “S_U_DyPr,” described in the section above. One of the key differences between “CmDsMilk” and “S_U_Milk” is that “CmDsMilk” includes columns for USDA net removals and barters. Commercial stocks and commercial exports are included in “CmDsMilk.” Government stocks and U.S. Government-subsidized exports are excluded in “CmDsMilk.” Instead of calculating domestic disappearance, as with “S_U_Milk,” domestic commercial disappearance—which excludes U.S. Government activity through DPPSP, DEIP, and the barter program—is calculated in CmDsMilk as follows:

milk marketings = milk production – farm use

total commercial supply = beginning commercial stocks + production + imports

total commercial disappearance = total commercial supply
     – USDA net removals and barters – commercial ending stocks

domestic commercial disappearance = total commercial disappearance
    – commercial exports

“S_U_Milk” has annual adjustments for household farm use, shipments to U.S. territories, animal feed use, and “other uses” that do not appear in the “CmDsMilk” file. Although “S_U_Milk” has columns for apparent domestic human use in the annual worksheets, “CmDsMilk” does not. Some of the annual adjustments for years prior to 2011 are provided in the “Milk, Supply and utilization of all dairy products” data file, as discussed in the section below.

Most of the data sources for “CmDsMilk” are the same as for “S_U_Milk.” Additional data sources for “CmDsMilk” include USDA, Farm Service Agency (FSA) for data concerning price support purchases and unrestricted sales of U.S. Government stocks. USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service and FSA are the sources for U.S. Government subsidized exports. Since “CmDsMilk” does not disaggregate animal feed use from human use, the American Dairy Products Association is not a data source for “CmDsMilk.”

Conversion factors are the same for imports, exports, and stocks in “CmDsMilk” and “S_U_DyPr.” The conversion factors used for net Government removals and barters are the same as those used for stocks.

Commercial exports, DEIP, and Government export donations

Dairy exports through Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) or U.S. Government export donations must be subtracted from total exports reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census to represent an accurate commercial export figure. ERS has obtained monthly data for DEIP amounts and U.S. Government donations starting in 2004. For years before 2004, ERS has only annual estimates of DEIP and Government export donations. Therefore, for years prior to 2004, ERS has made the simplifying assumption that monthly Government-related exports are the same proportion of total exports for each month of the year.

Milk supply and utilization of all dairy products (historical data for 1970–2010)

This data file includes annual supply and utilization tables for milk on a milk-fat equivalent basis; butter; dry skim milk products; condensed and evaporated milk; American type cheese; and other-than-American type cheese. Note these numbers are similar to annual commercial disappearance numbers reported for dairy product categories and milk in all products. However, for these supply and utilization tables, stocks include Government stocks—for the period when they were reported—in addition to commercial stocks. In contrast to the commercial disappearance data files, the milk supply and utilization tables account for shipments to U.S. territories and U.S. Government export donations. Thus, U.S. domestic human use quantities from commercial and Government sources are estimated. While the commercial disappearance data can be computed monthly, utilization numbers as computed for this data file can be computed only annually due to data constraints.

For 2011–current data, the annual tables in the data files “Supply and use for milk in all products” and “Supply and use for dairy product categories” serve the functions of this historical data covering 1970–2010. The current files are more comprehensive in that they include estimates for apparent human use of milk on a skim-solids milk-equivalent basis, skim solids, dry whey, whey protein concentrate, and lactose.

Number and size of milk bottling plants (1960 – 2007)  

This data file includes data from 1960 through 2007. The plant data covering this period were calculated by ERS from Federal Milk Marketing Order data and various State data sources. In recent years, this method has been judged less accurate than using data from the Interstate Milk Shippers List (IMS List), published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The plant count from FDA as of July for each year was used to construct a series with data since 2008.

Archived historical data

Previously published dairy data are available in the Dairy Yearbook accessible through the USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS). The Dairy Yearbook contains data on production, supply, and use of milk and manufactured dairy products, wholesale and retail price indexes, prices received by farmers, milk production costs, and regional shares of U.S. milk production, among other information. The Dairy Yearbook was last updated in September 2005. Archived data may not be comparable to the current Dairy Data tables because of subsequent changes in the methods used to calculate supply and use.

Dairy Data Documentation Supporting Files

Dairy at a glance supporting file:

• Download (XLSX) | Download (CSV)
• Return to U.S. Dairy Situation at a Glance

HTS codes used for imports, product categories:

• Download (XLSX) | Download (CSV)
• Return to Supply and Utilization for Dairy Product Categories 

HS codes used for exports, product categories:

• Download (XLSX) | Download (CSV)
• Return to Supply and Utilization for Dairy Product Categories 

Dairy conversion factors and sources:

• Conversion-factors.xlsx
• Supply-allocation-conversion.csv
• Trade-conversion.csv
• Stocks-animal-use-conversion.csv
• Sources-and-abbreviations.csv
• Return to Supply and Utilization of Milk in all Products or Supply and Allocation of Milk Fat and Skim Solids by Product

Supply and allocation ID number text file

• Download (TXT)
• Return to Supply and Allocation of Milk Fat and Skim Solids by Product

Recommended citation

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (n.d.). Dairy data [Data set].