MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  April 19, 2017 (REPORT 16)                         

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  

Milk continues to be readily available for cheesemakers in the Midwest. A small 
number of recently cut-off milk producers will now be sending their milk into 
Midwestern cheese vats. Spot milk prices going into Class III production range from 
$1.50 to $5.00 under Class. Cheese production, in order to keep up with milk 
supplies, is active. In some cases, cheesemakers are scheduling seven-day workweeks. 
Cheese demand is generally steady to improving. Retail and food service cheeses are 
moving at an expected pace. Cheesemakers note that inventories are long, although 
some cheese producers report that their inventories are starting to become more 
manageable. The cheese market tone is uncertain, but CME market cash prices have been 
relatively steady in recent weeks. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy shows that 
April 14-20 Midwest ads for 8 ounce shred cheese have a weighted average 
advertised price of $2.21, 10 cents below the national average. Midwest prices 
range from $1.33-$3.00. One year ago, the national price was $2.50. For 8 ounce 
blocks, the Midwest average price is $2.17, 15 cents below the national average 
price. Midwest ads are priced from $1.33-$3.00. Last year, the national price was 
$2.33. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at $1.4000, down $0.0275 
from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.4750, unchanged from last Wednesday. 
This week, a cooperative export assistance program accepted requests for 2.335 
million pounds (1,059 metric tons) of cheese. So far this year, the program has 
assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 28.432 million pounds of 
cheese in export markets. Midwestern wholesale prices are unchanged for Swiss cuts, 
down $.0325 for process and down $.0300 for all other types.

WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.5225-1.8825       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 1.8325-2.2575       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.5600-1.9550       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 1.8075-2.0125       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.1000-3.0875       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.6325-2.5725       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.8275-2.9450    


   
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-