Idaho No. 4
Texas produced a sliver more milk than Idaho in February, knocking Idaho into fourth place in the U.S. in that category.
Idaho had been the No. 3 milk state in the nation, staying just ahead of New York, which it passed several years ago, and well behind No. 1 California and No. 2 Wisconsin.
According to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Texas dairies produced 1.39 billion pounds of milk in February, while Idaho’s 350 dairies produced 1.37 billion pounds.
New York, which had played leapfrog with Idaho in past years for the No. 3 spot, produced 1.24 billion pounds of milk in February.
California dairies produced 3.13 billion pounds of milk in February and Wisconsin dairies produced 2.48 billion pounds.
Idaho Dairymen’s Association Executive Director Rick Naerebout pointed out that the margin between Texas and Idaho in total milk production is razor thin and Idaho still produces a lot of milk.
According to USDA, Idaho has 705,000 milk cows and Texas has 683,000.
Over the past year, Texas passed Idaho in milk production by 14 million total pounds. According to Naerebout, that amounts to less than a third of one day’s production.
“Texas may have passed us but we’re still growing,” he said. “Texas is just growing at a more rapid pace than we are.”
While it was cool to be the No. 3 dairy state, the fact is both states have healthy dairy industries and that’s a great thing, he said.
Idaho’s dairy industry has some major expansion projects that will underpin growth of the state’s milk sector, but so does Texas, Naerebout said. Idaho may pass Texas again someday, but that could be because the Lone Star state is facing major water shortages, Naerebout said.
“That will be less fun because then their dairymen will be suffering at that point,” he said. “Right now, we are both healthy dairy states that have great opportunities for dairymen and, while I don’t like to get passed, I’m happy for them down there to be able to grow their family businesses for the next generations.”
Idaho may now be the No. 4 dairy state, but the milk industry’s impact on the state’s economy is still huge.
According to a study by University of Idaho agricultural economists, the direct economic impact of the state’s dairy industry is $7 billion and the milk sector is responsible for 9,000 jobs directly, both on dairy farms and in the milk processing industry.
When you include the indirect impacts of the industry, the numbers jump to 33,000 jobs and the economic impact is north of $11 billion.
The study also found the state’s combined dairy industry was responsible for generating $155 million in state and local taxes, including $61 million in sales tax, $45 million in property tax and $30 million in income tax.
That study was based on data available in 2020 and Idaho’s dairy industry has seen significant expansion since then. Add in general inflation and the numbers are likely much higher now.
Idaho’s milk production is centered in the Magic Valley but there are milk processors located around the state.
