The big question after Easter was; will the run up in cheese prices hold? That appeared to be the case the first full week of April as prices advanced for the fourth week in a row but they reversed gears Friday, resisting the climb above $1.50. The blocks closed Friday at $1.4975 per pound, down 1 1/4-cents on the day, up 6 3/4-cents on the week, and 26 1/4-cents above a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.44, down 1 1/2-cents on the day, up 6 1/2-cents on the week, and 27 cents above a year ago. Three cars of block traded hands on the week and nine of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price lost 1 1/2-cents, hitting $1.2866. Barrel averaged $1.3003, up 1.1 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.50, up a half-cent on the week and 29 1/2-cents above a year ago. Three cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.4524, up 0.1 cent.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk closed the week at $1.2650, up 4 cents, while Extra Grade closed at $1.19, up 2 1/2-cents. NASS powder averaged $1.0657, up 1.4 cents, and dry whey averaged 38.22 cents, up 1.3 cents.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.