MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  March 16, 2016 (REPORT 11)                         

WEST CHEESE                                                      

West cheese production remains steady to higher as milk intakes increase seasonally. 
Manufacturers say demand is still good from food service and retail accounts. However, 
club stores and other large retailers have slowed their cheese orders somewhat and are 
taking a wait and see approach to the market. Many want to see what direction the cheese 
price trend will take before making any large-scale purchase decisions. In addition, end 
users are facing a lot of offers from cheese makers, especially for cheese barrels, but 
are hesitant to make buys until they can work through their own inventories. Cheese 
stocks remain long for barrels. Some end users note a little more tightness with cheese 
blocks, especially fresh blocks. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy for the week of 
March 11-17 shows the U.S. weighted average advertised retail price for an 8 ounce pack 
of natural shredded cheese is $2.29, up $.01 from last week, but down $.06 from a year 
ago. Packs average $2.47 in the Southwest and $1.94 in the Northwest. For 8 ounce blocks, 
the U.S. price is $2.43, up $.14 from last week, and up $.13 from a year ago. Blocks 
average $2.45 in the Southwest and $1.81 in the Northwest this week. In the West, 
wholesale prices are up $.0225 for process, and up $.0350 for cheddar block, cuts, and 
Monterey Jack. Swiss cut wholesale prices are unchanged. In CME Group trading Wednesday, 
barrels closed at $1.4300, down $.0350 from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.4875, 
down $.0225 from a week ago.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.5775-1.8350     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.6200-2.0650     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 1.8000-2.0200     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 1.8100-1.9700     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 2.6325-3.0625     


1530CT Mike.Bandli@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7010
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