MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  September 20, 2017 (REPORT 38)                     

WEST CHEESE    

Cheese production in the West is steady. Some processors report slightly lower milk 
intakes due to some plants being closed for repair/maintenance workloads. Sales into the 
domestic market are unchanged from last week. Competition with Europe continues to be 
intense. Cheese stocks are still plentiful and outweigh recent demand. Contacts report 
that barrels are currently available, but the market will tighten in the coming weeks due 
to process cheese being exported. Cheese prices are fair. The DMN National Retail Report-
Dairy for the week of September 15-21 shows the U.S. weighted average advertised retail 
price for an 8 ounce pack of natural shredded cheese is $2.17, down $.09 from last week. 
Packs average $2.06 in the Southwest and $2.15 in the Northwest. One year ago, the 
national price was $2.39. For 8 ounce blocks, the U.S. price is $2.09, down $.11 from 
last week. Blocks average $1.83 in the Southwest and $2.27 in the Northwest. One year 
ago, the national price was $2.40. In the West, wholesale prices were down $.0450 for 
process, and down $.0050 for cheddar block, cuts, and Monterey Jack. Swiss cut wholesale 
prices are unchanged from last week. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at 
$1.5125, up $.0125 from a week ago and blocks closed at $1.5975, down $.0175. 

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.5950-1.8525     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.7475-2.1925     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 1.9275-2.1475     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 1.9375-2.0975     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 2.8500-3.2800    

1530CT Florence.KoneGonzalez@ams.usda.gov 608-422-8594
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