MD_DA230 Fluid Milk and Cream - Central U.S. Report 16 - Released on April 18, 2019 Last year and into 2019, small dairy farms have been and are closing at a rapid clip throughout the upper Midwest and in the Mid-East and Eastern parts of the U.S. Recently, there are more reports of medium to larger dairy farms calling it quits. Some contacts suggest a larger number of cows are being culled as well. As fewer cows milk, contacts are anxious about how this will affect milk production this flush season. A growing number of dairy industry contacts, fluid milk and processors alike, have suggested that spring flush volumes are atypically low this year. Additionally, hay shortages in the upper Midwest are being regularly reported by farmers. Bottling reports are mixed in the region. Some milk handlers suggest sales are steady to up, while others report flat to lower bottling intakes. Although a number of cheesemakers suggest spot milk is tighter than in recent years, some cheese producers received healthy discounts this week. Reported spot milk prices ranged from $1 over to $3 under Class. Cream availability was steady, while butter makers do not expect the accessibility to remain for long. They say this week was one of their last weeks to take on affordable cream, and some butter plant managers expect to be micro-fixing by the end of the month. With continuing cold weather in the upper Midwest, ice cream production/sales are back and forth. Contacts suggest some ice cream manufacturers are scheduling long weekends for staff during the spring holidays. In the Midwest, field work is still slow to take off, due to wet fields and continued coldness. Southern Central farmers are also waiting for some dryness, but harvest expectations are promising if the weather cooperates. South Central farmers are also sharing concern regarding maintaining qualified and experienced hands, as other industries are wooing away workers. National Retail Report Dairy ± Fluid Milk Summary Advertised Prices at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets ending during the period of 4/12/19 to 4/18/2019 Half Gallon, All Fat Tests Weighted Average Price National This Period Last Week Last Year Organic $4.11 $4.20 $3.60 Conventional $2.19 $2.03 $2.28 Regional (Conventional) Wtd. Ave. Low High Alaska n.a. n.a. n.a. Hawaii $2.99 $2.99 $2.99 Midwest $2.82 $1.99 $3.29 Northeast $2.05 $0.99 $2.99 Northwest n.a. n.a. n.a. South Central $1.89 $1.89 $1.89 Southeast n.a. n.a. n.a. Southwest $1.99 $1.99 $1.99 Regional (Organic) Wtd. Ave. Low High Alaska $3.49 $3.49 $3.49 Hawaii n.a. n.a. n.a. Midwest n.a. n.a. n.a. Northeast $4.47 $3.69 $5.49 Northwest $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 South Central $4.30 $3.50 $4.79 Southeast $3.88 $3.88 $3.88 Southwest $3.99 $3.99 $3.99 Gallon, All Fat Tests Weighted Average Price National This Period Last Week Last Year Organic n.a. $6.41 n.a. Conventional $2.74 $2.40 $2.35 Regional (Conventional) Wtd. Ave. Low High Alaska n.a. n.a. n.a. Hawaii n.a. n.a. n.a. Midwest $2.79 $1.99 $2.99 Northeast n.a. n.a. n.a. Northwest $2.51 $1.79 $2.99 South Central n.a. n.a. n.a. Southeast $2.99 $2.99 $2.99 Southwest n.a. n.a. n.a. Regional (Organic) Wtd. Ave. Low High Alaska n.a. n.a. n.a. Hawaii n.a. n.a. n.a. Midwest n.a. n.a. n.a. Northeast n.a. n.a. n.a. Northwest n.a. n.a. n.a. South Central n.a. n.a. n.a. Southeast n.a. n.a. n.a. Southwest n.a. n.a. n.a. Midwestern U.S., F.O.B. Cream Multiples Range - All Classes: 1.2000 - 1.2800 Price Range - Class II; $/LB Butterfat: 2.8024 - 2.8928 Multiples Range - Class II: 1.2400 - 1.2800 Information for the period April 15 - 19, 2019, 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: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN Database Portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home