MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  February 25, 2015 (REPORT 8)                       

WEST CHEESE

Cheese production in the West is steady to slightly higher.  Milk 
production trends are moving upwards on a weekly basis.  There is good 
demand for other milk utilizations yet overall milk supplies are 
adequate for processor needs.  Cheese sales are generally fair to 
good.  Buyers are finding adequate offerings of cheese in the 
marketplace to fill needs.  Some sellers of aged cheese (valued when 
prices were higher) are under pressure to lower pricing points.  NASS 
reports U.S. total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on 
January 31, 2015 at 1.043 billion pounds, up 2% from the previous 
month and up 3% from January 31, 2014.  The DMN National Retail 
Report-Dairy for the week of February 20 - 26 shows the U.S. weighted 
average advertised retail price for an 8 ounce pack of natural 
shredded cheese is $2.46, down $.01 from last week but $.06 higher 
than a year ago.  Packs averaged $2.51 in the Southwest and $2.84 in 
the Northwest.  Western wholesale prices moved slightly higher for 
process and natural varieties but are unchanged for Swiss. In CME 
Group cheese trading, barrels closed Wednesday this week at $1.4825, 
down a 1/4 cent a week ago and blocks closed at $1.5450, up 1/2 cent.                                                                  

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.6075-1.8650     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.6525-2.0975     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 1.8325-2.0525     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 1.8425-2.0025     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 3.4700-3.9000     


1530CT butch.speth@ams.usda.gov 608.278.4152
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin 
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews 
Dairy Market News database portal: 
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home