(NAFB) – USDA says milk production in the 24 largest producing states fell slightly year-over-year in July. Output was down 0.2 percent from the same month a year earlier to 18.2 billion pounds. USDA says per-cow production rose two pounds to 2,047 pounds, and the number of milk cows on dairy farms was reported at 8.88 million, down 31,000 head from July 2023. The agency revised its June milk output levels to 17.9 billion pounds, down 1.5 percent year-over-year. In the three months ending on June 30, the total milk herd totaled 9.33 million head, down from 9.41 million a year earlier. Production per cow fell to 6,151 pounds from 6,164 pounds in the same timeframe last year. The government report also says milk output in the quarter through June fell 1.1 percent to 57.4 billion pounds. Total milk production in the U.S. reached 18.9 billion pounds during July, down 0.4 percent from July 2023.