February 6, 2010

After climbing on a slow, but steady pace for the past five months, the USDA announced that the January Class III milk price is $14.50 per hundredweight--down 48-cents from the month before, but $3.72 above year-ago levels. The 2009 average ended the year at $11.36, down from $17.44 in 2008.

The Class IV price was also down by $1.16 from last month at $13.85, but $4.26 more than last year at this time.

Meanwhile, dairy product prices were mixed-to-higher on the National Ag Statistics Service Weekly Cheddar Cheese Survey on Friday. The price of 40 pound blocks for Minnesota-Wisconsin averaged $1.53, up two cents from last week's price, while 500 pound barrels were three cents higher at $1.57. The price of U.S. 40-pound blocks were two cents lower at $1.45 for the week ending January 30. The barrels were at $1.50, which is up two cents from the previous week.

Butter prices were nearly two cents higher as the price for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.40 per pound for the week.

Nonfat Dry Milk prices rose by four cents for the week at $1.13 per pound for USDA Extra Grade standards.

And for 'other states,' blocks were down two cents at $1.43, and the barrels were at $1.58, which is up two cents from the previous week.   --USAgnet

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