For the first time in over two years, many western U.S. dairy herds began showing a small profit. While these positive numbers are a welcome sight for many dairy farmers, they fall way short of making up for losses during 2008 and 2009.

Within California, the state's southern region farmers had the greatest gains, making $59 per cow compared to $55 in Kern County and $27 in San Joaquin County from January through the end of June. On a per-hundredweight basis, returns ranged from 26 to 51 cents for herds that had Frazer Frost LLP handle their farm's accounting records.

Among other western regions and states, Arizona led the way with $150 profit per cow. They were followed by: The Pacific Northwest, $48; New Mexico, $46; and the Texas Panhandle, $5. Dairy producers in Idaho lost $25 per cow for the first half of the year. On a per-hundredweight basis, returns ranged from Arizona's $1.31 to -$0.22 for Idaho.

To read the entire financial summary for the 224,000 cows in the Frazer Frost, LLP report, please download the attached PDF or click here.