Dairy Markets Week in Review
The cash cheese market was on pause for the most part, the last week of 2006. Block closed the week and the year at $1.33 per pound, up a half-cent on the week, but 3 3/4-cents below that week a year ago when it lost 6 1/4-cents. Barrel closed 2006 at $1.29, unchanged on the week, but a nickel below a year ago when it dropped 6 cents. Only two cars of block and two of barrel traded hands on the week. The latest NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price fell to $1.3132, down 2.5 cents. Barrel averaged $1.2956, down 2.9 cents.

Butter closed Friday and the year at $1.20, down 3 cents on the week, and 14 1/2-cents below a year ago. Four cars were sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.2397, down 0.2 cent. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.04 per pound, up 2.4 cents, and dry whey averaged 41.42 cents, up 0.4 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.