Wisconsin continues to narrow milk gap with California

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin is still No. 2 in the nation in milk production but it continues to chip away at California's lead.

Wisconsin produced 2 billion pounds of milk last month. That's about 100 million more pounds than it produced in February of last year, a 6 percent increase.

Meanwhile, California continues to struggle. It produced 2 percent less milk last month compared to February 2009.

Still, the Golden State maintains a firm hold on the nation's top spot. Dairy farmers there produced 3 billion pounds of milk in February.

California and Wisconsin account for one-third of U.S. milk production.

Minnesota produces about 5 percent of the nation's milk supply. Its farmers harvested 700 million pounds last month, a modest 1 percent increase over the same period a year ago.

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On the Net:

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service: http://www.nass.usda.gov/

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