Despite a slow down in demand for dairy products and falling prices the nation's dairy operations are still turning out more milk than a year ago with a combination of more cows and more like per cow. The latest evidence? The most recent USDA Milk Production Report shows July's milk output a bit over 19 billion pounds; 2% more than July a year ago. The cow herd was up from last July by about 129,000 head or about 1%. But the report showed a small decline in cow numbers from June to July; 300 head.

And  USDA Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski, says as far as projected milk production for this year and next.

We did pull back our milk productions forecasts this months reflecting lower cow numbers."

But the pull-back is not that mush and USDA still projecting a 2% increase in milk output this year and a 1.3% hike in 2022.

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