PA Dairy Overview

PA Dairy Overview

Pennsylvania is ranked 8th in total milk production nationally, with the Commonwealth’s 465,000 cows producing nearly 9.8 billion pounds of milk annually. The state’s annual milk production per cow is 21,037 pounds – or about 2,446 gallons – per cow. At 4,850 dairies, the state has the second largest number of dairy farms nationally, having more dairy farms than every other state except Wisconsin.

Trends in Pennsylvania’s dairy industry:

  • The number of Pennsylvania dairy farms is declining. Currently, 4,850 dairy farms are located in Pennsylvania. This represents 19.5 percent of all dairy farms across the nation. Pennsylvania’s average herd size is about 96 cows, and 99 percent of all dairy farms in Pennsylvania are family owned.
  • The number of cows in Pennsylvania continues to decrease. Cow numbers in 2024 averaged 466,000, down 1,000 head from a year ago. The dairy herd in the Commonwealth has been decreasing steadily for many years. In the last 10 years, the state’s herd size has shrunk 12% or by 65,000 head.
  • Milk per cow in 2024 decreased slightly. The average Keystone State dairy cow produced 21,037 pounds of milk (2,446 gallons). This is a decline of 120 pounds compared to 2021. Milk production is up about 1,000 pounds or 4.3 percent from 10 years ago in Pennsylvania.
  • The state’s total milk production decreased for the fourth consecutive year. Unfortunately, during 2024, a decrease in the state’s herd size was compounded by reduced productivity resulting in less total production. A total of 9.782 billion pounds of milk was produced across the Commonwealth. This is down 0.8%, or about 77 million pounds compared to 2023.
  • Opportunities for growth exist in this region. Pennsylvania is located within a day’s drive of more than 50 percent of the population in North America and Canada. With abundant water, access to both domestic markets and international seaports, and a strong dairy infrastructure, Pennsylvania is well positioned for growth. However, finding incentives for companies to invest in Pennsylvania’s dairy infrastructure remains essential.

Creating a more favorable environment for Pennsylvania’s dairy farms will be critical to the industry’s ability to grow and meet increasing dairy demand, both domestically and across the seas.

Click here to view a visual snapshot of the economic benefits of Pennsylvania dairy.

To learn more about how to better support Pennsylvania’s dairy farms, contact the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346-0849 or email info@centerfordairyexcellence.org.