MD_DA230 Fluid Milk and Cream - Central U.S. Report 6 - Released on February 10, 2022 Milk yields slid due to multiple winter storms and frigid conditions over the past few weeks. However, contacts say they expect currently milder/warmer conditions to impact milk in the positive moving into upcoming weeks. Class I demand has held generally steady since school resumed in early/mid January. Bottling is mixed on the retail side, as some areas are seeing upticks from grocery sales. Class III plants are busier. Some are coming back online after updates, while others are continuing to produce as milk availability into Class III is mixed by location. A growing number of contacts relay overall milk availability is tightening. Spot prices in the Midwest ranged from $2 under to $1 over Class this week. Most prices are falling between $1 under to $.50 over Class. Last year's prices during week 6 were $8.50 to $4 under Class III. Cream availability is generally steady and somewhat accessible. Butter producers say they are running busy churning schedules, despite employee shortages. Still, though, they relay staffing shortages are steadily prohibitive. Snowfall in the southern portion of the Central region benefitted some very dry conditions, although there are many areas that remain in need of moisture. Corn planting is expected to begin in parts of Texas by late February/early March, although soil moisture varies widely from one area of the state to another. As cattle prices increase along with feed prices, contacts say there are questions regarding near- and far-term milk output due to herd size and costs of production on the dairy farm. Still, some dairy farmer contacts relayed stronger milk-per- cow production in 2021 than in previous years. Price Range - Class III Milk; $/CWT; Spot Basis: -2.00 – 1.00 Trade Activity: Moderate The DMN monthly average of the range price series for Upper Midwest Class II cream during January was $3.5290, compared to $2.7836 in December. Midwestern U.S., F.O.B. Cream Multiples Range - All Classes: 1.2000 - 1.3000 Price Range - Class II; $/LB Butterfat: 3.1317 - 3.2312 Multiples Range - Class II: 1.2600 - 1.3000 Information for the period February 7 - 11, 2022, issued weekly Published by: Dairy Market News - Madison, WI ISRAEL WEBER, 608-422-8601 Email: israel.weber@usda.gov Additional Dairy Market News Information: Dairy Market News (DMN) by Phone: (608)422-8602 DMN Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN MARS (My Market News): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov