MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  September 6, 2017 (REPORT 36)                     

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
There is not a lot of change from previous weeks' milk intakes, 
which has led to mostly consistent cheese production at regional 
manufacturing plants this week. Demand shows signs of picking 
up, with some outlets purchasing heavier orders as shopping 
habits adjust back to typical school year levels. Mozzarella 
sales are active. Swiss cheese prices are somewhat stronger. 
Cheese stocks are sufficient for near term customer needs. 
Market participants note a weak to mixed undertone. This week, a 
cooperative export assistance program got requests for 
assistance in selling 793,664 pounds (360 metric tons) of 
cheddar cheese. At the CME Group, cheese prices trended lower 
with blocks and barrels dipping for the second consecutive week. 
In succession, the Northeast wholesale market saw reductions for 
both process and Muenster with shifts of $0.1625 and $0.1700, 
respectively. Grade A Swiss Cuts 10-14# grew $0.1000, with the 
Announcement of August 2017 Class and Component Prices, as Class 
III prices rose $1.12 per hundredweight compared to the previous 
month. The DMN August 2017 Northeast monthly average price for 
cheddar blocks is $2.3013, compared to $2.3220 one year ago. 
Processed 5# sliced average price is $1.9870, compared to 
$2.2688 one year ago. The CME Group August 2017 monthly average 
price for barrels was $1.5993, compared to $1.8110 a year ago; 
blocks' average price was $1.6852, down from $1.7826 a year ago. 
The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, for September 1-7, 2017, 
notes the Northeast advertised weighted average price for 8 oz. 
cheese blocks was $2.30, 19 cents above the U.S. average, with a 
regional price range of $1.79-$3.00. The Southeast's 8 oz. block 
price averaged $2.14, 3 cents above the national retail average, 
with a price range of $1.60-$3.50. The Northeast advertised 
average price for 8 oz. cheese shreds was $2.53, 24 cents higher 
than the national average, with a regional price range of $1.99-
$3.49. In the Southeast region, 8 oz. cheese shreds averaged 
$2.18, 11 below the national average, with retail prices ranging 
$1.60-$3.50. 
DAIRY PRODUCTS: According to NASS, U.S. total cheese production 
in July 2017 was 1.03 billion pounds, 1.0 percent higher than a 
year ago, but 0.3 percent lower than last month. In the Atlantic 
region, total cheese production was 117.7 million pounds, 0.8 
percent below a year ago and 7.8 less than the previous month. 
Total cheese production and the percentage changes from last 
year for selected Eastern states are, New Jersey 4.7 million 
pounds, -4.5 percent; New York 60.0 million pounds, -5.6 
percent; Pennsylvania 33.3 million pounds, +1.5 percent; Vermont 
11.8 million pounds, +12.0 percent.


WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.9700-2.2550     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.6575-2.1375     
Muenster                                     : 1.9550-2.3050     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.2725-3.5950     


1100CT daniel.johnson@ams.usda.gov  608.422.8605
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