MD_DA440  
DA 
MD DA440 BUTTER - WEST 

MADISON, WI.  March 15, 2017 (REPORT 11)

WEST BUTTER

Western butter makers report very little change from last week. Cream is readily 
available for butter production, and manufacturers seem willing to actively churn 
in order to fill current orders. Domestic demand is steady, but processors say 
interest is light outside of contracted purchases. End users are focusing 
predominantly on immediate needs, buying hand to mouth as opposed to putting up 
large volumes of butter into storage. Inventories are generally growing 
seasonally. Industry contacts expect more U.S. processers will shift more butter 
production from print to bulk once the spring holidays pass. Bulk butter pricing 
in the West this week is 3 cents below to 1 cent above, based on the CME Group 
with various time frames and averages used. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy 
for the week of March 10-16 found that the U.S. weighted average advertised price 
of 1 pound butter is $3.18, up $.14 from last week. The U.S. weighted average 
price was $3.43 one year ago. In the Northwest, the weighted average advertised 
price of 1 pound butter is $3.89. There were no reported advertised sale prices 
in the Southwest. The Grade AA butter price at the CME Group on Wednesday closed 
at $2.1500, down $.0475 from a week ago.


1530CT Mike.Bandli@ams.usda.gov 608.422.8592
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