MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  April 1, 2015 (REPORT 13)                         

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  
                                                                 
Midwest cheese manufacturers continue to receive strong buying 
interest from many types of customers such as retail, food service, 
and brokers.  There was a surprising degree of phone inquiries 
beginning last Friday from mostly cheese brokers to manufacturers, 
looking for barrels for immediate delivery.  This coincided with the 
recent run up of barrel prices on CME Group trading.  Manufacturers 
receiving calls seeking barrels were generally not sure of what 
motivated the sudden intensity of inquiries.  Some barrels moved as a 
result of the interest but some remained with manufacturers who 
anticipated profits ahead by holding now.  Barrel availability is 
tighter than blocks as a rule.  Cheese overall remains a sought after 
commodity.  Many regional cheese manufacturers are accepting all the 
milk they can find.  A number of manufacturers are also acquiring spot 
milk to increase cheese production volumes.  The National Retail 
Report - Dairy (DMN) found that March 27 to April 2  Midwest ads for 8 
ounce shredded cheese have a weighted average advertised price of 
$2.38, 4 cents lower than the national average, $2.42.  The Midwest 
price range is $1.66 to $3.00.  One year ago the national average 
price was $2.44.  For 8 ounce blocks, the Midwest average price is 
$2.29, 18 cents lower than the national average price, $2.47.  Midwest 
ads are priced from $1.50 to $2.50.  One year ago the national average 
price was $2.44.  Wisconsin wholesale prices for 1,000 to 5,000 pound 
mixed lots of process cheese declined $.0250, Swiss is unchanged and 
the remaining varieties declined $.0275.  In CME Group cheese trading, 
barrels closed Wednesday this week at $1.5950, up $.0850 from 
Wednesday last week and blocks closed at $1.5800, up $.0500. 

WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.6225-1.9825       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 1.9100-2.3350       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.6375-2.0325       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 1.8850-2.0900       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.1775-3.1650       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.7550-2.6500       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.9525-3.0700       

100C eric.graf@ams.usda.gov
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: 
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home