MD_DA830 Cheese - Midwestern U.S. Report 47 - Released on November 18, 2020 Cheese producers in the Midwest continue to report COVID-19 related staffing concerns in regards to production. Some shifts are hard to keep fully staffed according to producer contacts. Generally, though, production is running steadily, as cheese plant managers relay most employees are doing their part and staying at home if necessary. Milk availability is growing and cheesemakers are reporting notably lower spot milk prices and say offers are increasing, as well. There was some interest on the cheese buyer side this week, as some customers are returning to the fray in light of the market price declines, but most reports continue to point to buyer hesitancy. Curd and barrel sales are notably slower, as customers are concerned about more public restrictions due to the pandemic. Cheese customers do not want to have extra inventories at the end of the year if cheese prices continue their decline. Midwestern wholesale prices are unchanged for Swiss cuts, down $.4675 for process and down $.4475 for all other types. WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED DOLLARS PER POUND(MIXED LOTS (1000-5000 POUNDS)) Blue 5 pounds 2.7825-3.8525 Brick 5 pounds 2.5150-2.9400 Cheddar 40 pound Block 2.2375-2.6375 Monterey Jack 10 pounds 2.4900-2.6950 Mozzarella 5-6 pounds 2.3150-3.2600 Muenster 5 pounds 2.5150-2.9400 Process American 5 pound Loaf 2.0875-2.4475 Swiss 6-9 pound Cuts 3.1825-3.3000 Information for the period November 16 - 20, 2020, 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