MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  March 16, 2016 (REPORT 11)                         

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  

Although still a little early for spring flush, Midwest cheese makers are seeing plenty 
of milk available for their processing needs. Many manufacturers say they are near full 
capacity. However, they will still buy a few extra loads of milk to complete production 
schedules, if the milk is priced right. Some spot loads of milk are available at $1.50 to 
$3.00 under Class. Domestic retail cheese demand continues to be a good draw. Sales into 
food service and mozzarella for pizza have also been respectable. Barrel cheese and 
cheese for manufacturing lines are moving slowly with most transactions completed only on 
standing contracts. Manufacturers feel end users are holding off on purchases and trying 
to burn through their inventories, before reentering the market. Inventories continue to 
be long for cheese barrels, but a little lighter for blocks. The DMN National Retail 
Report-Dairy shows that March 11-17 Midwest ads for 8 ounce shred cheese have a weighted 
average advertised price of $2.04, 25 cents lower than the national average. Midwest 
prices range from $1.50-$2.50. One year ago, the national price was $2.35. For 8 ounce 
blocks, the Midwest average price is $2.06, 37 cents below the national average price. 
Midwest ads are priced from $1.50-$2.50. Last year, the national price was $2.30. 
Midwestern wholesale prices are unchanged for Swiss cuts, but up $.0225 for process, and 
up $.0350 for all other types. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at $1.4300, 
down $.0350 from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.4875, down $.0225 from last 
Wednesday. 

WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.5625-1.9225       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 1.8875-2.3125       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.6150-2.0100       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 1.8625-2.0675       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.1550-3.1425       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.6875-2.6275       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.5725-2.6900       


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