MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  February 15, 2017 (REPORT 7)                       

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Current production is mostly steady to lower as cheese yields drift 
seasonally lower. Overall, short-term cheese demand remains active as 
trades continue into this week after heavy CME trading last week. 
Mozzarella interest is fair to good as some operations amass supplies 
and rebuild working stocks. Restocking activity for cheddar-aging 
programs are moderate to good. The cheese market is steady with an 
unsettled undertone as prices fluctuate. Weekly average cheese prices 
at the CME Group closed out last week mixed. As a result, barrels 
increased $0.0875, but blocks slid $0.1125. Prices for Grade A Swiss 
are unchanged following the previous week's price increase. Tuesday's 
CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels close at $1.6500, down $0.0500 
from a week ago; blocks closed at $1.6100, down $0.0200 from a week ago. 
This week, a cooperative export assistance program accepted requests for 
export assistance to sell 2.048 million pounds (929 metric tons) of 
cheese. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, February 10-16, 2017, noted 
the Northeast weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks 
was $2.05, 21 cents below the national average, with a regional price 
range of $1.33-$2.50. The Southeast 8 oz. block average price was $2.52, 
26 cents above the national average, with a regional price range of $1.66-
$3.50. The Northeast average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese shreds was 
$2.35, 1 cent below the national average price, with a regional price 
range of $1.99-$3.00. In the Southeast, the average price for 8 oz. shreds 
was $2.32, 4 cents below the national average, with prices ranging $1.66-
$2.50.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.0975-2.3825     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.8125-2.2925     
Muenster                                     : 2.0825-2.4325     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.3100-3.6325     

1100CT daniel@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7006
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