Dairy Markets Week in Review
The cash dairy markets saw little change the second week of December but were well above a year ago . Block cheese closed Friday at $1.70 per pound, down 1 3/4-cents on the week but 18 3/4-cents above a year ago, when they tumbled almost 28 cents. That began a fall to $1.07 in the second week of 2009.

Barrel closed Friday at $1.46, unchanged on the week, 24 cents below the blocks, and 6 1/4-cents below a year ago when the barrels rolled 22 1/2-cents lower, beginning a slide to $1.07. Nineteen cars of block traded hands this week and two of barrel. The lagging, NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price gained 2.7 cents, hitting $1.5847. Barrel averaged $1.5168, up 2 cents.

Butter lost 2 cents Monday but gained it back Friday and closed at $1.45, unchanged on the week, but 34 cents above a year ago. Twenty cars were sold this week. NASS butter averaged $1.4982, up 0.8 cent.

Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Friday at $1.38, down 2 3/4-cents on the week, with two cars sold. Extra Grade held at $1.40. NASS powder averaged $1.2617, up 5.7 cents, and dry whey averaged 36.23 cents, up 0.9 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.