If you’re keeping score in milk production: Western dairy producers improved field position vis a vis Wisconsin and others in the Upper Midwest and Northeast last month, according to the August Dairy Situation and Outlook Report by CALS Professor Emeritus Bob Cropp. Milk production was down 3.5% from a year ago in Wisconsin, 6.6% in Minnesota, 7.1% in Iowa and 5.0% in Illinois 3.5%. It also dropped in New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan. While cow numbers were a little lower for some of these states the extreme heat depressing milk per cow was the primary factor. In comparison states with much more favorable weather located in the West had relatively strong increases in July milk production. July production was up 4.8% in Arizona, 4.4% in California, 5.7% in Colorado, 4.8% in Idaho, 6.6% in Washington, 2.4% in New Mexico and 8.3% in Texas.