The Milk by State of Origin data are collected by Federal Milk Marketing Orders and aggregated by Market Information Branch of Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Producer Milk receipts are listed according to the location of the producer, not the location of the regulated handler. Regional and U.S. Total figures may not add due to rounding. Excluded volumes not pooled due to disadvantageous price relationships. For some marketing areas, receipts from some States have been combined in order to mask either administratively confidential data and/or small volumes. The States are listed by decreasing proportions of deliveries to the marketing area. For some marketing areas, handlers elected not to pool producer milk that normally would have been associated with the marketing area due to disadvantageous price relationships. 

Receipts of Producer Milk by Regulated Handlers is the amount of producer milk in pounds that qualifies for pooling on each of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders each month. Each order has its own criteria that determines if a producer's milk is eligible to be pooled. Average Daily Delivery of Milk Per Producer to Regulated Handlers is the amount of producer milk pooled under each Federal Milk Marketing Order divided by the number of producers whose milk is pooled for that month for each Order and then divided by the number of days in the month.

Receipts of Producer Milk by Regulated Handlers is the amount of producer milk in pounds that qualifies for pooling on each of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders each month. Each order has its own criteria that determines if a producer's milk is eligible to be pooled.  Butterfat Test of Producer Milk is the average percentage of butterfat contained in the producer milk pooled each month. Nonfat Solids Test of Producer Milk is the average percentage of nonfat solids (all milk solids other than butterfat) contained in the producer milk pooled each month. Protein (True) Test of Producer Milk is the average percentage of protein (true) contained in the producer milk pooled each month. Other Solids Test of Producer Milk is the average percentage of other solids (other than butterfat and protein (true). Nonfat Solids, Protein and Other Solids Test Data are only reported for those Federal Milk Marketing Orders that utilize multiple component pricing. Somatic Cell Count of Producer Milk is the average number of somatic cells per milliliter contained in the producer milk reported for those orders who utilize somatic cell counts in their milk pricing formulas.

The regulated plant list report is updated monthly as data are submitted by the individual Orders to the Market Information Branch of the AMS Dairy Program. This report lists the number of Federal Orders under which each plant is regulated for the particular month. Although a plant cannot be regulated under more than one order in the same month, some plants may be regulated by one order one month and then be regulated under another order the following month. Regulated handlers are required to submit to the Market Administrator the amounts of producer milk, in pounds, that were received in the previous month. The regulated plant list report lists both regulated pool distributing plants and regulated pool supply plants. Pool distributing plants package and distribute Class I fluid milk products. Pool supply plants supply pool distributing plants with Grade A milk as the need arises. The exact qualification standards and criteria for these two groups of regulated milk handling entities are defined in the statute for each Federal Milk Marketing Order (See CFR §1000 for each Order).  

Estimated Sales figures are representative of the consumption of fluid milk products in Federal Milk Marketing Order areas. The Federal Order In-Area Sales account for approximately 92 percent (based on population density) of total fluid milk sales in the United States. An estimate of total U.S. fluid milk sales is derived by extrapolating the remaining 8 percent of sales from the Federal Order data.

The Mailbox Price is defined as the net price received by producers for milk, including all payments received for milk sold, and deducting costs associated with marketing the milk.

Included in all payments for milk sold are: over-order premiums; quality, component, breed, and volume premiums; payouts from state-run over-order pricing pools; payments from super pool organizations or marketing agencies in common; payouts from programs offering seasonal production bonuses; and, monthly distributions of cooperative earnings. Annual distributions of cooperative profits/earnings or equity repayments are not included.  Included in costs associated with marketing milk are: hauling charges; cooperative dues, assessments, equity deductions/capital retains, and re-blends; the Federal milk order deduction for marketing services; Federally-mandated assessments such as the National Promotion Program and budget deficit reduction; and advertising/promotion assessments above the national program level. Other deductions, such as loan, insurance or feed mill assignments are not included. For all markets, the mailbox price is reported at the handlers' average butterfat test (i.e., no adjustment to 3.5 percent).

The Retail Milk Price is a milk price series that is collected by the Market Administrator offices surveying one outlet each of the largest food store chain, the second largest food store chain, and the largest dairy/convenience store chain in the selected city or metropolitan area. The survey is conducted on one day between the first and tenth of each month, excluding Fridays and weekends. The price obtained is for the most common brand, based on shelf space, and does not represent a temporary special price, or one that is dependent on the purchase of other food items or the use of a cents-off coupon. The determination of the largest and second largest food store chain is based on estimated sales of fluid milk products in the metropolitan area. Currently, prices are collected for conventional whole milk and conventional reduced fat (2%) milk, sold in gallon containers, and organic whole milk and organic reduced fat (2%) milk, sold in half-gallon containers.

For milk associated with Federal Milk Marketing orders, product-price formulas are used to set minimum prices as reported in the Announcement of Class and Component Prices  publication each month. The Class and Component Prices are calculated by weighting the sales values and volumes using the most recent four or five weeks (since the last monthly Announcement of Class and Component Prices) from the latest National Dairy Products Sales Report (NDPSR). For more information on product price formulas and a schedule of release dates, please visit the Dairy Mandatory Market Reporting page. Additional information on price formulas can be found on the Price Formulas page.

For milk associated with Federal Milk Marketing Orders, product-price formulas are used to set minimum prices as reported in the Announcement of Advanced Prices and Pricing Factors publication each month. Weighted-average product prices used for these formulas are computed from prices and volumes reported for the most recent two-week period in the National Dairy Products Sales Report (NDPSR). For more information on product price formulas and a schedule of release dates, please visit the Dairy Mandatory Market Reporting page. Additional information on price formulas can be found on the Price Formulas page.

Regulated handlers are required to submit to the Market Administrator the amounts of producer milk, in pounds, that were received in the previous month. Receipts of Producer Milk is the amount of milk received by producers who meet the requirements of qualification as defined by the statute. This milk is also known as eligible milk for market wide pooling. Each order has its own criteria for pool qualification and for regulated handlers. Regulated handlers, under certain circumstances and price relationships, may elect to not include certain quantities of producer milk that is eligible to be pooled on Federal Orders. The annual report is a sum of the monthly receipts of producer milk.