Cheese Prices Decline Steadily

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 -- 8:01 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Despite a slowdown in milk production across the U.S., cheese prices have declined steadily beginning in April and continuing in May, dropping Class III milk prices.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, milk production January through March was 1.0% higher than a year ago. April production was just 0.3% higher. While the number of milk cows were 26,000 higher than a year ago, or up 0.3%, milk per cow was unchanged from a year ago.

The number of milk cows increased month to month January through March but fell 16,000 in April. Each of the five leading dairy states had April production higher than a year ago except California which experienced a 1.9% decline.

California had the same number of cows as a year ago but excess rain and flooding reduced milk per cow by 1.9%. Milk production was up just 0.1% in Wisconsin from 5,000 fewer cows. Milk production in Idaho was up 2.7% from 16,000 more cows.

Texas had 5,000 more cows with milk production up 1.3%. New York had 10,000 more cows with milk production up 2.4%. Increases in milk production for some other states: 7.7% for South Dakota, 5.0% for Kansas, 2.9% for Iowa and 2.6% for Michigan.

Each state had more cows than a year ago. Some states experiencing lower milk production were Florida down 4.0%, Virginia down 4.0%, New Mexico down 3.1%, Utah down 2.7% and Arizona down 2.5%. Each of these states had fewer cows than a year ago.

Cheese prices have also experienced a steady fall, declining steadily starting in April and continuing in May. On the CME, cheddar barrels averaged $1.8175 per pound in March and $1.5921 in April. As of May 19, barrels were just $1.47 per pound.

The 40-pound cheddar blocks averaged $1.9372 per pound in March and $1.7574 in April. As of May 19, blocks were just $1.530 per pound. Dry whey prices have also fallen, averaging $0.4449 per pound in March and $0.3709 in April and as of May 19 just $0.2650 per pound.

These lower prices will drop the Class III price which was $18.52 in April to around $16.30 in May. The latest stock report showed total March 31 cheese stocks at the same level as a year ago but still at a relatively high level.

While March total cheese production was just 0.2% higher than a year ago, cheddar cheese production was up 3.6%. Cheese sales are up some from a year ago. Cheese exports were up year-to-date for 18 straight months but fell below year ago levels by 0.4% in both February and March.

Increased competition from European cheese and economic uncertainty has impacted cheese exports. But year-to-date cheese exports were still 4.0% higher than a year ago. March exports of other dairy products compared to a year ago were: butter down 36%; nonfat dry milk/skim powder down 3.0%; and dry whey products up 8%.

On a milk solids equivalent basis, the volume of March exports was 0.4% lower than a year ago, the first decline in a year. Year-to-date exports were still 5% higher than a year ago. Looking ahead, the Class III price could stay in the $16’s for both June and July.

Class III prices are then likely to increase for the rest of the year. The increase in milk production over the previous year should stay well below 1%. USDA forecast the number of milk cows to average for the year just 0.1% higher than a year ago with the increase in milk per cow just 0.8% resulting in 0.9% more milk production than 2022.

While milk production slows in the summer, the opening of schools in August will help increase beverage milk sales. The building of butter and cheese stocks starts in late fall for the seasonal increased sales Thanksgiving through Christmas. All of this will push the Class III price higher.

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