MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  March 22, 2017 (REPORT 12)                         

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  

With the exception of some routine plant maintenance, cheese production in 
the Midwest is active. Contractual milk supplies are generally meeting 
Midwest cheese makers' needs. However, spot offers continue to come in at 
Class to $3.50 under Class. Pizza cheese producers are reporting a 
seasonal uptick in orders. Retail cheese orders are also steady to strong. 
Some cheese producers suggest increased advertising and sales promotions 
have bolstered orders. Block and barrel inventories are long. CME cheese 
prices are showing signs of improvement this week. The market undertone 
remains uncertain. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at 
$1.4100, up $.0350 from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.4500, up 
$.0900 from last Wednesday. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy shows 
that March 17-23 Midwest ads for 8 ounce shred cheese have a weighted 
average advertised price of $2.21, 7 cents below the national average. 
Midwest prices range from $1.33-$2.50. One year ago, the national price 
was $2.07. For 8 ounce blocks, the Midwest average price is $2.01, 17 
cents below the national average price. Midwest ads are priced from $1.33-
$2.50. Last year, the national price was $2.20. This week, a cooperative 
export assistance program accepted requests for 3.523 million pounds 
(1,598 metric tons) of cheese. So far this year, the program has assisted 
member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 19.102 million pounds of 
cheese in export markets. Midwestern wholesale prices are unchanged for 
Swiss cuts, but down $.0450 for process and down $.0600 for all other 
types. 
                                                                 
WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.4700-1.8300       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 1.7375-2.1625       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.4650-1.8600       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 1.7125-1.9175       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.0050-2.9925       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.5375-2.4775       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.8975-3.0150       


1300CT israel.weber@ams.usda.gov (608)422-8601
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-