MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 33 - Released on August 14, 2020 Cheese producers, like many dairy manufacturers, are facing more uncertainties in recent weeks. As schools plan reopening, or plan virtual learning protocols, cheesemakers are reporting lower-than-average food service orders for this time of the year. Cheese buyers are in a favorable position, though, as market prices plunged from their peak of $3 (for CME blocks) just a month ago, to their current point, hovering around $1.70 this week. One positive note, from Western cheese contacts, is that international players are showing a little more interest now. Cheese inventories have grown with plentiful milk supplies. Spot milk prices in the Central region ranged from $5 under to $1.50 over Class this week. Some Western cheese producers reported turning away some extra milk loads in order to manage inventories. Information for the period August 10 - 14, 2020, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: The CME weekly average for cheese barrels was $1.4780, compared to $1.7275 last week. The weekly average for blocks was $1.6670, compared to $1.8685 a week ago. 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