News

October milk production up 0.5%

2016 U.S. cheese production continues to run ahead the 2015 pace. Every month this year, total domestic cheese production has been ahead of last year with an increased number of dairy cattle and higher average yields per cow.

The total cheese output for October was up 0.5% at 1.033 billion pounds, with Italian type cheese 1% higher at 442.333 million and American up 1.4% at 397.969 million pounds. Butter production was down 3.6% at 143.028 million pounds, the first year to year decline in 2016 and a sign the industry may be responding to near record supplies and slower export demand. Nonfat dry milk for human consumption came out at 140 million pounds, 18% above October 2015, with skim milk powder at 42.9 million pounds, 8.1% higher.

Dry whey totaled 84.1 million pounds, a 9.0% increase, with lactose for human and animal consumption at 89.3 million pounds, up 7.5%, and whey protein concentrate at 36.3 million pounds, down 13.8%. Hard, regular ice cream was pegged at 60.1 million gallons, 5.1% lower, and lowfat ice cream totaled 31.4 million gallons, down 1.7%. Hard sherbet was reported at 2.56 million gallons, a decrease of 12.5%, and frozen yogurt came out at 5.06 million gallons, down 8.8%.