Dairy Markets Week in Review

The first week of trading in 2010 saw cash block cheese fall to $1.41 per pound, down 4 cents on the week but 33 3/4-cents above a year ago. The blocks have lost 29 1/4-cents in the last three weeks.

The barrels closed the first Friday of 2010 at $1.4325, up a quarter-cent on the week and 36 1/4-cents above a year ago. Barrels got as low as $1.03 on January 7, 2009. Twenty four cars of block traded hands in the first week of 2010 and 12 of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. block average hit $1.7004, up 0.9 cent. The barrels averaged $1.4878, down 1.2 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.3450, up 1 3/4-cents on the week and 23 1/2 above a year ago. 28 cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.3370, down 1.9 cents.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk held at $1.37 but Extra Grade closed at $1.3850, down 1 1/2-cents on the week. NASS powder averaged $1.2807, down 5.2 cents, and dry whey averaged 38.57 cents, up 1.3 cents on the week.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.