MD_DA431 Butter - Central U.S. Report 48 - Released on December 01, 2021 Butter churning resumed as more cream became available last week and the current week due to Class II/III producers taking holiday days off. Butter plant managers say they are locating cream in the low 1.20s, both regionally and from the Western states. Bulk butter remains tight, and contacts question if cream availability will remain as it currently is for long. A major factor holding back butter production, and reports continued similarly into this week, is a lack of employees to successfully run shifts. There have been some improvements, but the problem remains at the forefront of plant managers' dockets. Butter market tones are hovering steadily around the $2 mark. Prices for: Central U.S., All First Sales, F.O.B., Grade AA, Conventional, and Edible Butter Bulk Basis Pricing - 80% Butterfat $/LB: +0.0600 - +0.1500 Information for the period November 29 - December 3, 2021, 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