State's milk production up

From Staff Reports

December 11, 2003 -- Texas milk volume continues to increase and the number of milk producers continue to decline, as noted by numbers in the Milk Market Administrator's Reports.

In a year's time, Texas lost about a dozen milk producers, but gained about 33.3 million pounds of milk production. The Milk Market Administrator's Report for October 2003 shows the state had 835 milk producers generating 449.2 million pounds of milk for the month; and, in October 2002, 846 producers making 416 million pounds of milk.

In the yearly comparison, from October 2003 to October 2002, the top four milk producing counties remain in the same order: Erath, Hopkins, Comanche, and Lamb.

In October 2003, Erath County continued to hold the No. 1 spot with 118 producers and 96.2 million pounds of milk; compared to 114 producers and 97.4 million pounds in October 2002.

Hopkins County continues to hold the No. 2 spot, according to October 2003 figures, and remains the county in the state with the most producers: 160. These producers generated 40.5 million pounds of milk for the month. In comparison, in October 2002, the county had 164 producers and 38.15 million pounds of milk.

In October 2003, No. 3 Comanche County recorded 35 producers and 35.9 million pounds of milk; down from the 38 producers and 36.5 million pounds recorded in October 2002.

Lamb County increased the number of milk producers from 5 in October 2002 to 8 in October 2003; and the volume of milk - 29.1 million pounds in October 2003 compared to 22.5 million pounds in October 2002.

A year ago, Parmer County wasn't even on the Top 10 Texas Counties list of the Milk Market Administrator's Report, but in October 2003, figures show the county's rapid climb in production. Situated in Texas' Panhandle, butting Clovis, N.M., the county has five producers which generated 15.6 million pounds of milk in October 2003. This is a 213.36 percent increase from the previous year. September 2003 figures also reflect the county's climb, with a 497.24 percent increase in milk production from the same month the previous year - 14.1 million pounds - and again, from five producers.