08/21/08 Idaho surpasses NY in milk production

Idaho is now the third largest milk producing state in the nation, unseating New York for a spot the Empire State held for 36 years. STOREY "All through 2008 we were confident that we would surpass New York because milk production in Idaho on average has been up about 8.74 percent this year over last year." United Dairymen of Idaho's Cheri Storey commenting on the USDA report issued yesterday showing that Idaho produced 1.095 billion pounds of milk in July, 38 percent more than it did just four years earlier. STOREY "I think Idaho's dairy farm families are some of the most progressive in the nation and it speaks to their efficiencies and how they manage their businesses and you know producing a safe wholesome produce is important to all dairy producers and that couldn't be more true here in Idaho. The Idaho dairy expansion continues with an additional five thousand head added. Only industry giant California and Wisconsin produce more milk than Idaho. Nationally dairymen added four thousand cows last month after adding none in June, thus continuing a nearly four year period of growth. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott