SD-CROP-LIVESTOCK

NEWS RELEASE
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
South Dakota Field Office - Sioux Falls, SD

Media contact: South Dakota Office, 605/323-6500
Email:  nass-sd@nass.usda.gov


                 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2005 MILK PRODUCTION UP


SIOUX FALLS, January 18, 2006 -- The October - December 2005 quarterly milk
production for South Dakota totaled 358 million pounds, 6 percent above the
fourth quarter one year ago, according to the South Dakota office of USDA’s
National Agricultural Statistics Service.  This is the same level as the 
July - September quarter in 2005.

The average number of milk cows during the quarter, at 81,000 head, was up 
1,000 head from the fourth quarter of 2004 but unchanged from 2005’s 
July - September quarter.


                        Access this complete report at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/dairy/pmpbb/2006/mkpr0106.pdf