MD_DA431
DA
MD DA431 BUTTER - CENTRAL 

MADISON, WI. March 2, 2016 (Report 9)


Central region churning is steady to slower. Some manufacturers 
indicate they are not buying cream volumes outside of contracts. As 
the market shows weaker prices, manufacturers are focusing on 
balancing current production and upcoming sales commitments. Sales 
related to the upcoming spring holidays are picking up. Retailers 
planning advertising features ahead of the holidays want to make sure 
packaged butter will be on hand as the features activate. Butter 
inventories are steady to building, but, as churn operators throttle 
back on spot cream purchases, the week to week gains in inventories 
are less pronounced. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy for February 
26-March 3 noted the national weighted average advertised price for a 
1 pound package of butter was $2.96, $0.48 below one week ago, but 
$0.19 above one year ago. The weighted average prices in the Midwest 
and South Central regions are $2.59 and $2.69, respectively. The CME 
Group Grade AA butter market closed Wednesday at $1.9800, down $0.2000 
from last Wednesday.


1530CT Janet.Linder@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7003
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