MD_DA431
DA
MD DA431 BUTTER - CENTRAL 

MADISON, WI.  March 25, 2015 (Report 12)

CENTRAL BUTTER

Central butter prices are moving lower with many butter manufacturers 
finishing up print orders for the upcoming holidays. The market tone 
is firm on strong seasonal demand. Cream supplies are tight. 
Production rates are mostly steady with a few butter manufacturers 
slowing down as the Easter/Passover orders are being shipped. Butter 
inventories are light to moderate with some manufacturers concerned 
about not being able to put away enough stocks for demand in future 
months. Bulk butter prices range from 4 cents under market to 6 cents 
over the market, based on the CME Group and various indices. Bulk 
butter stocks are increasing. The NASS Cold Storage report noted U.S. 
butter stocks as of February 28, 2015 were 178.2 million pounds, an 
increase of 29.3 million pounds from a month ago, and an increase of 
6.4 million pounds compared to a year ago. This week, a cooperative 
export assistance program accepted requests for 5.7 million pounds of 
butter. According to the DMN National Retail Report- Dairy, for March 
20-26, the weighted average advertised price for a 1 lb. package of 
butter in the Midwest was $2.60, with a range of $2.49-3.00. The 
national weighted average price is $3.08, an 18 cent decrease from 
last week but 34 cents higher than a year ago. The Grade AA butter 
price at the CME Group closed Wednesday at $1.6850, a 0.5 cent 
increase from last Wednesday's close. 






1500CT Tara.Herbst@ams.usda.gov 608-278-4154 
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