At a glance...
Maryland is home to over 40,000 dairy cows spread across 310 farms throughout the state. In 2022, Maryland's dairy industry produced over 876 million pounds of milk and generated over $157 million in sales.
Where are Maryland's dairy farms located?
![Number of Dairy Farms Infographic](/arec.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/styles/optimized/public/2021-02/Dairy_NumberofDairyFarms_2020.jpg?itok=5_7q3i9X)
Milk Production Statistics
Statistic | Maryland | United States |
---|---|---|
Number of Dairy Farms |
310 | 27,932 |
Number of Dairy Cows | 40,000 | 9,404,000 |
Milk Production (2022) | ||
Total (million lbs.) | 876 | 226,462 |
Milk per Cow (lbs.) | 21,900 | 24,081 |
Price Received ($/cwt) | $25.20 | $25.56 |
Total Value (million $) | 157 | 57,726 |
Milk Fat Test (%) | 3.98 | 4.04 |
Data from USDA NASS, 2023.
Farm Size: How do Maryland farms compare to others in the U.S.?
Similar to the U.S., the majority of Maryland's dairies are small (<100 dairy cows per farm). In Maryland, the vast majority of cows (~80%) reside on farms that house less than 500 cows.
![Maryland Dairy Industry Statistics Graph 1](/arec.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/styles/optimized/public/2021-02/Dairy_MD_Dairy_Industry_Statistics_Presentation1.jpg?itok=hlXkdrpS)
![Maryland Dairy Industry Statistics Graph 2](/arec.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/styles/optimized/public/2021-02/Dairy_MD_Dairy_Industry_Statistics_Presentation2.jpg?itok=9n7OTgRm)