MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 29 - Released on July 17, 2020 After falling to $1 in the early COVID-19 closures, block cheese prices have since trebled. However, Monday's $3 CME closing price for cheese blocks did not hold throughout the week. While cheese block prices have slipped closer to barrel prices, markets remain in uncharted waters. Demand remains strong. Midwestern cheesemakers do say with the market prices peaking, customers are buying in a hand-to-mouth fashion. With somewhat available milk supplies, from $2 under to Class in the Midwest, producers nationwide are running active schedules. Barrels are a little more available, but blocks are reportedly tighter. Information for the period July 13 - 17, 2020, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: The weekly average price for CME barrels is $2.4180, compared to $2.3760 last week. CME blocks’ weekly average is $2.8320, compared to $2.7785 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: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN MARS (My Market News): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov