MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  September 30, 2015 (REPORT 39)                     

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  
                                                                 
WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Most Midwest cheesemakers are producing cheese using regular milk supplies, with 
little evident interest in securing extra milk. Regular milk supplies range from 
mostly even with last week, to very slightly lower. Cheesemakers looking for extra 
milk were offered milk at 50 cents to $1.00 over Class, which in many cases is more 
than they want to pay. Some manufacturers are fortifying vats with nonfat dry milk. 
Barrel cheese manufacturers are fielding multiple calls this week from buyers 
looking for barrels. With production mostly geared toward regular milk supplies, 
some prospective customers for barrels may have to keep checking around. 
Manufacturers are better situated to accommodate block buyer interest, relying on 
current output and inventories.  There is some additional current buyer interest 
geared toward having cheese ready to go into the pipeline and ultimately to retail 
stores for end of year holiday demand. Mozzarella demand continues to be strong for 
frozen pizzas and food service sales. The DMN National Retail Report - Dairy shows 
that September 25 - October 1 Midwest ads for 8 ounce shredded cheese have a 
weighted average advertised price of $2.35, 10 cents lower than the national 
average. Midwest prices range from $1.98 - $2.50. One year ago the national price 
was $2.52. For 8 ounce blocks, the Midwest average price is $2.31, 8 cents lower 
than the national average price. Midwest ads are priced from $1.66 to $2.50. Last 
year, the national price was $2.51. Midwestern wholesale prices are unchanged for 
Swiss cuts, down $.0350 for process, and down $.0675 for all other types. In CME 
Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at $1.5625, up $.1025 from last Wednesday 
and blocks closed at $1.6700, up $.0800. 

Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.6175-1.9775       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 1.9775-2.4025       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.7050-2.1000       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 1.9525-2.1575       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.2450-3.2325       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.7775-2.7175       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.8300-2.9475       


1300C eric.graf@ams.usda.gov  608-557-7010
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home