Wisconsin dairy industry has record-setting year

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's dairy cows have had a record-setting year.

The state's dairy industry harvested 26.1 billion pounds of milk last year. That's only an increase of less than 1 percent over 2010 production, but it's still good enough to set a state record.

Wisconsin accounted for about one of every eight gallons harvested in the nation. Each dairy cow produced an average of just over 10 tons of milk.

Minnesota cows were a little less productive. Dairy farmers there harvested 8.9 billion pounds, a decrease of 2 percent from in 2010. Cows there averaged about 9.5 tons of milk for the year.

California continues to be the nation's top milk producer. The Golden State accounted for 41.5 billion pounds of milk last year, or about 21 percent of the national total.