Overview

The United States produced 176.9 billion pounds of milk in 2005. Just 30 percent of the milk is processed into fluid milk and cream products. Total beverage milk in 2005 totaled 6.2 billion gallons.

According to the National Milk Producers Federation, fluid milk sales make up 30 percent of total U.S. milk consumption. About half of all milk consumed in the United States is in the form of cheese.  November 2006 . . . Fluid Milk


Source
Dairy Backgrounder, Economic Research Service, USDA, July 2006.

Marketing

• Beverage Companies - American Beverage Association lists U.S. beverage companies and their brands.
• California Commodity Profile: Dairy Products (pdf), Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2002.
• The Changing Landscape of U.S. Milk Production, Economic Research Service, USDA, 2002 - This report examines quantity of milk produced and the location, number, size and business organization of U.S. dairy farms. 
• China Agricultural Data, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2001 - Information on production, cost of production and trade.
• Dairy, Briefing Room, Economic Research Service, USDA.
• Dairy Programs, USDA.
• Dairy Yearbook, Economic Research Service, USDA - Annual data is compiled on milk and dairy product production, milk use, manufactured dairy products and prices.
• A Descriptive Analysis of Recent Trends in the International Market for Dry Milk Products (pdf, 2.8 MB), The Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research and Development, University of Wisconsin, 2002.
• Farm to Retail Price Relationships for Fluid Milk (pdf), Cornell University, 2001.
• Fluid Milk. Farm & Retail Prices and the Factors that Influence Them (pdf), U.S. GAO, 2001.
• Fluid Milk Prices and Price Spreads, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003 - This document reviews the relationship between farm-level and retail milk prices.
• Milk by Any Other Name . . . Consumer Benefits from Labeled Milk, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003 - This study reviews consumer preferences to labeling milk.
• National Dairy Council - A source for nutritional information.
• Report to Congress on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Program and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Program - The Beverage Marketing Corporation was commissioned to review the generic fluid milk advertising and promotional programs.  
• Trends in U.S. Per Capita Consumption of Dairy Products, 1909 to 2001, Amber Waves, June 2003 - This article reviews fluid milk consumption statistics.
• Why Milk - A Dairy Marketing Institute Web site devoted to the got milk?® advertising campaign.

Processing/Manufacturing

• The Dairy 100, Dairy Foods magazine - Dairy Foods compiled a list of the top dairy processors based on sales figures. The list is located in the left side column. You must sign in to access the information.
• Dairy Grading, Ag Marketing Service.  
• Fluid Milk Processing Feasibility Study, "A Catalyst for Thought," (pdf), Kansas Department of Commerce, 2003 - Included in this study are an overview of the dairy industry in Kansas, the current trends and the process of fluid milk processing. Fundamental issues of Federal Milk Marketing Orders, seasonality of production and demand are also addressed.
• Fluid Milk Promotion Order, Code of Federal Regulations.
• General Specifications for Dairy Plants Approved for USDA Inspection and Grading Service (pdf), Ag Marketing Service, 2002.
• Grading, Code of Federal Regulations.
• Milk for Manufacturing Purposes and its Production and Processing (pdf), Ag Marketing Service. 2002.  

Production

• Dairy Products: Overview and Fluid Milk Products, University of Guelph.
• Dairy Research Centers - Pilot dairy plants available for the public’s use.

Businesses/Case Studies

• The Effect of the Northeast Dairy Compact on Producers and Consumers, with Implications of Compact Contagion (pdf), Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2002 - This paper lays out the market-level effects of the Northeast Compact on producers and consumers in New England. Further analyzed is the Compact's effects on producers and consumers in the rest of the United States.
• Harris Farm - Harris Farm of Dayton, Maine, produces natural (antibiotic and hormone-free) milk from a herd of registered Holsteins. In 1996, the farm began direct marketing its milk in recyclable glass bottles. In addition to milk delivery, the farm also delivers meat, eggs, butter and cheese directly to customers. Harris Farm Glass Bottled Milk is also available for purchase in more than a dozen stores located in southern Maine.
• Longmont Dairy Farm Inc. - Longmont Dairy Farm Inc. is family owned and operated at Longmont, Colorado. This family business offers home delivery of its milk, which is sold in returnable glass bottles. The family opened a country store in Longmont in 2000 to market ice cream and dairy products along with other farm-fresh products from Colorado.  
• Maple View Farm - This dairy farm near Hillsboro, North Carolina, owns its own bottling plant. Maple View Farm Milk was first bottled in November 1996. Only milk produced on the farm is processed and bottled. Glass-returnable milk bottles are used. Ice cream products are also processed and sold.
• Milking the Tourist Trade, Cooperative Partners Online, 2002 - The Young family of Ohio has expanded its retail store to include activities for all ages.
• Returns to Investment in Whey Protein Research (pdf), Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2002 - Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed new uses for whey protein. A model of the U.S. dairy industry traces the likely effects on the markets for milk and dairy products from commercial adoption of these new uses.
• Shatto Milk Company is a family-owned dairy farm north of Kansas City, Missouri. It began processing bottled milk in 2003. The milk is sold through retail outlets in the Greater Kansas City area.
• Shaw Farm - Shaw Farm of Dracut, Massachusetts, is the last operating dairy farm in its area. Shaw Farm offers home delivery service. In addition to milk, other products are delivered including ice cream. Milk is sold in returnable glass bottles. A seasonal on-farm ice cream stand was opened in 1999.

 Links checked February 2008.