SD-CROP-LIVESTOCK

                        South Dakota         
                       MILK PRODUCTION 

News Release                                    July 18, 2005
     
            APRIL - JUNE 2005 MILK PRODUCTION UP

SIOUX FALLS, July 18, 2005  - -  The April - June 2005
quarterly milk production for South Dakota totaled 369 million
pounds, up 26 million pounds (8 percent) from the second
quarter of last year, according to USDA's South Dakota
Agricultural Statistics Office.  This is also up 5 percent from
last quarter's revised production total of 350 million pounds. 
Milk production for the first 6 months of 2005 totaled 719
million pounds, compared to 676 million pounds last year.

The average number of milk cows during the second quarter,
at 81,000 head, is the same as the second quarter of last year
and equal to the revised first quarter this year.

 The complete report can be accessed at www.usda.gov/nass/
          or call Carter Anderson or Steve Noyes at
                           605-323-6500