MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 5 - Released on February 3, 2023 Milk is available for strong cheese production throughout the country, though some plant managers in the Northeast and West relay labor shortages and delayed deliveries of production supplies are limiting some plant managers' abilities to operate full schedules. Cheese production is busy in the Midwest, and spot loads of milk continue to move at as much as $10 under Class III. Some stakeholders have reported downtime at cheese plants in the upper Midwest this week, for various reasons. Demand for cheese is steady in the Northeast, but sales of mozzarella cheese to pizza makers are softening. In the West, retail demand is steady while food service and export sales are softening. Some stakeholders say lower prices being offered by cheese sellers in Europe are having a negative impact on export demand. Demand for cheese varies in the Midwest. Some cheesemakers relay strong orders, while barrel makers are concerned with growing inventories amid slowing spot sales and lighter contractual buying compared to previous years. Spot loads of cheese are available for purchasing in the Northeast and West. Contacts in the West say barrel inventories are larger than blocks. Information for the period January 30 - February 3, 2023, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: CME: Barrels closed at $1.6300 and 40# blocks at $1.8650. The weekly average for barrels is $1.5945 (-0.0155) and blocks, $1.8770 (-0.0860). Published by: Dairy Market News - Madison, WI ROMAN CARAMAN, 608-422-8593 Email: roman.caraman@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