North Dakota milk production down 8 percent

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Milk production in North Dakota during January, February and March was down 8 percent from the first quarter of 2013.

The federal Agriculture Department says production during the first quarter of 2014 in the state totaled 81 million pounds. That’s down from 88 million pounds during the same period a year ago.

The number of milk cows in the state during the three months averaged 17,000 head.