MD_DA431

     Butter - Central U.S.

     Report 52 - Released on December 26, 2018

     Cream supplies destined for butter churns have been expectedly easier to locate during the
     holiday week. Butter makers report cream is nearing capacity at their respective plants.
     Some butter churners report being booked up early into 2019. They are hopeful that cream
     availability levels will remain similar into the first quarter of next year. Sales reports
     have remained positive for butter makers, and they are currently producing to get ahead of
     spring holiday demand pushes. Butter markets remain solid coming into 2019. Some contacts
     expect a similar market pattern in 2019 which butter has maintained throughout 2018, if
     only slightly lower on the average with increasing export competition.

     National Retail Report Dairy ± Butter Summary
     Advertised Prices at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets ending during the period of
     12/21/2018 to 12/27/2018

     Butter 1#            Weighted Average Price
     National              This Period  Last Week  Last Year
      Organic                $6.31         $5.99     $5.11
      Conventional           $3.09         $3.02     $3.21

        Prices This Period
     Regional (Conventional)  Wtd.       Ave.Low     High
     Midwest                $2.61         $2.48     $2.99
     South Central          $3.10         $2.50     $5.09
     Prices for: Central U.S., All First Sales, F.O.B., Grade AA, Conventional, and Edible Butter

     Price Range  - 80% Butterfat; $/LB Butterfat:          .0450 - .0700


     Information for the period December 24 - 28, 2018, issued weekly

     Secondary Sourced Information:

     Cold Storage ± Butter Summary
     Released December 21, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),
     Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

                                                                      11/30/18
                    Stocks in all Warehouses (1,000 pounds)    as a percent of
                           11/30/17    10/31/18    11/30/18    11/30/17   10/31/18
     Butter Stocks          159,258     230,735     153,730       97         67

     November Records          Record High             Record Low
                         (1000 pounds)     Year  (1000 pounds)     Year
     Butter                 542,962        1991      15,116        1975
     Published by:
     Dairy Market News - Madison, WI
     ISRAEL WEBER, 608-422-8601
     Email: israel.weber@ams.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