MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  February 17, 2016 (REPORT 7)                       

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  

Midwest cheese production is steady and milk supplies are in balance with cheese making 
needs. Manufacturers are running full schedules with the available milk. Some cheese 
makers are buying the occasional load of milk if they can get it at or below Class. While 
others say they would be willing to sell off an extra load of milk here and there to ease 
up a little on cheese making, they would rather make cheese in their own plants than sell 
the milk below Class. Domestic retail sales continue to be good, but demand for cheese 
used in manufacturing is a little slow. Inventories continue to be long, especially for 
cheese barrels and, to a lesser extent, for cheese blocks. The DMN National Retail 
Report-Dairy shows that February 12-18 Midwest ads for 8 ounce shred cheese have a 
weighted average advertised price of $2.06, 16 cents lower than the national average. 
Midwest prices range from $1.66-$2.50. One year ago, the national price was $2.47. For 8 
ounce blocks, the Midwest average price is $2.16, 6 cents below the national average 
price. Midwest ads are priced from $1.50-$3.50. Last year, the national price was $2.36. 
Midwestern wholesale prices are unchanged for Swiss cuts, but up $.0150 for process and 
all other types. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at $1.4700, up $.0050 
from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.4900, unchanged from last week. 

WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.5675-1.9275       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 1.8575-2.2825       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.5850-1.9800       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 1.8325-2.0375       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.1250-3.1125       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.6575-2.5975       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.6700-2.7875       


1300CT mike.bandli@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