High temperatures and humidity are driving dairy prices higher. School pipelines are refilling and making less milk available for the churn or the vat. The block cheese price closed Friday the 13th at $1.62 per pound, up 1 3/4-cents on the week, and 25 3/4-cents above a year ago. The barrels closed at $1.5850, also up 1 3/4-cents on the week, and 24 1/2-cents above a year ago. Two cars of block traded hands on the week and one of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price hit $1.5834, up 3.7 cents. Barrel averaged $1.5779, up 2.3 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.9175, up 6 3/4-cents on the week, 69 3/4-cents above a year ago, and the highest in over five years. Only one car was sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.8025, up 3.2 cents. NASS powder averaged $1.1766, up 0.2 cent, and dry whey averaged 35.9 cents, up 0.6 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.