MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 18 - Released on May 3, 2019 Cheese inventories are building, as production has increased with seasonal milk escalations. That said, Midwestern producers continue to report most spot milk loads are closer to Class III than in previous years. The reported spot milk range was $1 over to $1.50 under Class, resulting in an average of $0.25 under. Week 18, in 2017 and 2018, spot milk prices averaged $4.50 under and $2 under, respectively. Cheese demand is mixed in the Midwest and West, while more active in the East. Relative to much of 2018, 2019 has been friendly to the cheese markets. This week, barrel prices have been exceptionally steady, while blocks have slipped slightly since last week. Information for the period April 29 - May 3, 2019, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: Friday on the CME, barrels closed at $1.6625, compared to $1.6300 last week. Blocks closed at $1.6750, compared to $1.6850 last week. 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