MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 16 - Released on April 20, 2018 Major roadways were closed this week due to accumulated snow and rain, accompanied by gusty winds, in some areas in the Eastern region. Despite weather conditions, there have not been many reports of milk transportation delays. The spring flush spiked milk production in all regions, forcing production plants to clear more loads of milk. Spot milk loads are regularly seen ranging from $2 to $3 under Class. Cheese production nationwide is active with most plants running close to full capacity. Contacts report that the production of hard Italian cheeses slowed down due to long aging times. Cheese inventories are mixed across all regions. In the West, cheese supply is heavy but manageable, while supplies in the Northeast are in decent shape. Cheese demand is steady to decreasing. The market tone is unsettled for cheese, however there are reports of food service and retail buyers making more consistent purchases. Information for the period April 16 - 20, 2018, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: The CME Group weekly average for barrels, $1.4815, is up $.0110 from last week¶s average. The average for blocks, $1.6205, is down $.0010 Published by: Dairy Market News - Madison, WI AL YANG, (608)422.8598 Email: Al.Yang@ams.usda.gov Additional Dairy Market News Information: Dairy Market News (DMN) by Phone: (608)422-8602 DMN Website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN Database Portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home