Market Reports

Manufacturers report that cheese demand is robust and that spot milk for manufacturing is available and affordable. While cheese manufacturers would be keen to capitalize on the available milk, a plethora of issues are complicating operations and preventing additional output.

USDA’s Dairy Market News reports that domestic cheese demand is “healthy”. Exporters are busy moving product they contracted to sell last month when prices were lower, which tightens the supply of fresh cheese available for sale in Chicago.

Class III and Class IV futures settled today not far from where they finished last Friday.Those prices are generally disappointing for dairy producers, but they are not low enough to significantly slow milk output. The dairy herd is massive, and it’s likely to stay that way for a while.

The mercury is climbing on the West Coast and heat stress is dragging down milk yields. In the Northeast temperatures are expected to average above normal, gradually bringing an end to the spring flush. But in the Midwest and Southern Plains it’s unusually cool. Milk yields have slipped from the peak, but the mild weather is prolonging the flush, no matter what the calendar says.

After a few hot weeks, stress is starting to sap milk yields. Nevertheless, there is more milk than manufacturers can accommodate in the Southwest and mountain states despite supply management programs.

Summer is off to a sweltering start in much of the nation and there is still plenty of milk. Cheese plants are running full throttle, demand is strong and exports are booming.