Market News

Cash cheese higher

 

In the spot dairy market Thursday, cash cheese was higher. Barrels were up four and a half cents at $1.65. There were 10 loads sold, ranging $1.615 and the closing price. The last bid unfilled was on two loads at $1.65. Blocks were two cents higher at $1.68. There was one load sold at $1.675. The last bid unfilled was on one load at $1.68.

AA butter was three and a quarter higher at $1.9025. The USDA says the last bid unfilled was for one load at that price.

Grade a nonfat dry milk was unchanged at $.89.

In Class III milk futures trade at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the most active months were steady to higher. June was up $.22 at $16.75 and July was $.32 higher at $17.19, while August was up $.18 at $17.36 and September was $.08 higher at $17.36.

The USDA reports dairy producers made less money in April 2015 than in April 2014. The dairy index for last month was 82, 35% lower than a year ago, with an all milk price of $16.50 per hundredweight, a drop of $8.80. The highest price received was in Florida at $20.10, down ten cents on the month and $8.60 on the year. The lowest price was in California at $14.52, forty cents lower than in March and $8.89 below April 2014.

The milk to feed ratio for dairy cattle was 1.95, compared to 2 a month ago and 2.42 a year ago. For the week of May 25th through May 29th, central and east low/medium heat nonfat dry milk ranged from $.90 to $1.02, mostly at $.93 to $.98, down a penny from the previous week. High heat NFDM was $1.05 to $1.25, up five cents.

Buttermilk powder in the central and east ranged from $.80 to $1.05. Whey powder in the central region came out at mostly $.38 to $.42, down one and one half. Whey for animal feed ranged from $.22 to $.30, one and a half lower. Lactose in the central/west was pegged at mostly $.20 to $.27. Whey protein concentrate was reported at mostly $.80 to $1.00, down two cents. Nationally, whole milk prices were $1.05 to $1.54, thirteen cents lower. Rennet casein ranged from $3.35 to $3.80 and acid was reported at $3.35 to $4.10.