N.D. milk production down

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota dairy farmers produced 84 million pounds of milk during July, August and September, down 2 percent from the third quarter of 2012.

The Agriculture Department says the number of milk cows in the state during the three months averaged 17,500 head, down 500 over the year.

Milk production nationally during the quarter totaled 49.4 billion pounds, up 1.5 percent from last year.