MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 33 - Released on August 20, 2021 DMN contacts' recent concerns regarding block prices slipping on the CME are being realized this week. Block prices have slipped daily since reaching $1.8125 one week ago. Barrel prices have gained some ground during the week. Milk availability is shifting. After months and months of considerable amounts of available spot milk, cheesemakers say the regular calls (offers) have stopped. Spot milk prices ranged from flat market to $1 over Class. Current prices are more in line with 2019, when prices ranged from $.50 under to $1.50 over Class III. Last year's prices, $5 under to $1.50 over Class, exhibit the contrast of milk availability during a normal school setting, as is the case this year, versus last year when in-person student attendance was variant, at best. Inventories of cheese are mostly stable, although Western suppliers say stocks are available in some plants. Cheese demand is steady to busy in most areas of the country. There are a multitude of concerns from demand to production to shipping. The Delta variant of COVID-19, employment and trucking shortages, and freight issues, for both domestic and international shipping, remain regularly related concerns from cheese market participants week to week. Information for the period August 16 - 20, 2021, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: The weekly average price for CME barrels is $1.4930, compared to $1.4115 last week. CME blocks’ weekly average is $1.7505, compared to $1.7540 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