MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  September 21, 2016 (REPORT 38)                     

WEST CHEESE                                                      

Western cheese production is active. A few cheese manufacturers have had down days for 
repairs or maintenance, but facilities are mostly running near full capacity. Milk is in 
good supply. Export cheese markets remain soft, while domestic demand from retail and 
food service markets is firm. Cheese manufacturers say healthy amounts of bulk cheese are 
moving into cut and wrap facilities. A few end users suggest they are comfortable to work 
through inventories, but may be more interested to reenter the market if cheese prices 
continue to slide lower. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy for the week of September 
16-22 shows the U.S. weighted average advertised retail price for an 8 ounce pack of 
natural shredded cheese is $2.39, up $.21 from last week, and up $.01 from a year ago. 
Packs average $2.38 in the Southwest and $2.84 in the Northwest. For 8 ounce blocks, the 
U.S. price is $2.40, up $.30 from last week, and up $.11 from a year ago. Blocks average 
$2.58 in the Southwest and $2.91 in the Northwest this week. In the West, wholesale 
prices are down $.1050 for process, and down $.0475 for cheddar block, cuts, and Monterey 
Jack. Swiss cut wholesale prices are unchanged. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels 
closed at $1.5100, down $.0175 from a week ago and blocks closed at $1.5850, down $.0850. 

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.6375-1.8950     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.7625-2.2075     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 1.9425-2.1625     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 1.9525-2.1125     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 2.4950-2.9250     

1530CT Mike.Bandli@ams.usda.gov 605-557-7010
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