Dairy industry in the United States

The dairy industry in the United States includes the farms, cooperatives, and companies that produce milk, cheese and related products such as milking machines, and distribute them to the consumer.

By 1925, the United States had 1.5-2 million dairy cows, each producing an average of 4200 lb of milk per year.

[4] In 2017 the top five dairy states are, in order by total milk production; California, Wisconsin, New York, Idaho, and Texas.

[5] Dairy farming remains important in Florida, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont.

[6] Herd size in the US varies between 1,200 on the West Coast and Southwest, where large farms are commonplace, to roughly 50 in the Midwest and Northeast, where land-base is a significant limiting factor to herd size.