MD_DA431 DA MD DA431 BUTTER - CENTRAL MADISON, WI. April 27, 2016 (Report 17) Butter makers report cream is available from sources within the Central region as well as from western and eastern sellers. Interest is moderate, though, as cream buyers indicate some plants are not looking for addition cream volumes. Instead, those managers at those plants are only processing in-house and contract cream supplies. Print and bulk butter production is steady at most facilities, although some churning facilities are on hiatus to complete maintenance/upgrades. Bulk butter orders from education institutions and food service are steady. Retail demand for print butter is trailing lower as prices moved higher during the last few weeks. Inventories are steady to building. Some manufacturers indicate they are purposely growing stocks to help cover late summer/early fall demand. Although current cream availability is ample, producers expect upcoming warmer weather will diminish butterfat solids in milk intakes in the near future. This will lead to fewer opportunities to develop sufficient print and bulk butter holdings to meet Q3/Q4 demand. The NASS Cold Storage report noted U.S. butter stocks on March 31 were 243.6 million pounds, up 32% from a year ago and 3% higher than last month. Bulk butter prices reported ranged from market to 9 cents over, with various time frames and averages used. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy for April 22-28 noted the national weighted average advertised price for a 1 pound package of butter was $3.31, $0.32 above one week ago, and $0.45 above one year ago. The weighted average prices in the Midwest and South Central regions are $2.50 and $1.99, respectively. Wednesday at the CME Group, Grade AA butter closed at $2.0400, even with last Wednesday. 1530CT Janet.Linder@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7011 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/map/da-home