Dairy Procuct Prices

Dairy Products Prices
ISSN: 1949-0380

Released January 20, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

Dairy Products Prices Highlights
Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Grade AA standards averaged $1.58 per pound for the week ending January 14, 2012. The United States (US) price per
pound decreased 1.9 cents from the previous week.
Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound blocks averaged $1.57 per pound for the week ending January 14,
2012. The price per pound decreased 0.9 cent from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound barrels adjusted to 38
percent moisture averaged $1.61 per pound, up 0.5 cent from the previous week.
Dry Whey prices received for bag, tote, and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade standards averaged 70.2 cents per
pound for the week ending January 14, 2012. The US price per pound increased 2.3 cents from the previous week.
Nonfat Dry Milk prices received for bag, tote, and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade or United States Public
Health Service (USPHS) Grade A standards averaged $1.42 per pound for the week ending January 14, 2012. The US
price per pound decreased 0.1 cent from the previous week.
Butter Prices and Sales – United States: December 17, 2011-January 14, 2012
Week ending
Region

Price weighted by sales
United States ...........................................

December 17,
2011

December 24,
2011

December 31,
2011

January 7,
2012

January 14,
2012

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

1.5922

* 1.5658

1.5873

1.6015

1.5828

(pounds)
Sales
United States ...........................................
* Revised.

4,918,175

(pounds)
* 3,488,079

(pounds)
2,230,674

(pounds)
3,670,407

(pounds)
6,927,814

40 Pound Block Cheddar Cheese Prices and Sales – Region and United States:
December 17, 2011-January 14, 2012
Week ending
Region

December 17,
2011

December 24,
2011

December 31,
2011

January 7,
2012

January 14,
2012

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

Price weighted by sales
Minnesota and Wisconsin ........................

1.8855

1.7355

1.6781

1.6928

1.6813

Other States .............................................

1.7636

1.6936

1.6357

1.5733

1.5630

United States ...........................................

1.7739

1.6977

1.6380

1.5810

1.5724

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Sales
Minnesota and Wisconsin ........................

1,014,820

1,061,954

561,219

724,016

889,814

Other States .............................................

11,000,369

9,682,657

9,645,469

10,531,402

10,217,117

United States ...........................................

12,015,189

10,744,611

10,206,688

11,255,418

11,106,931

500 Pound Barrel Cheddar Cheese Prices, Sales, and Moisture Content – Region and United States:
December 17, 2011-January 14, 2012
Week ending
Region

December 17,
2011

December 24,
2011

December 31,
2011

January 7,
2012

January 14,
2012

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

Price weighted by sales
Minnesota and Wisconsin ........................

1.7706

1.6853

1.6821

1.6835

1.6912

Other States .............................................

1.8001

1.7363

1.6845

1.6730

1.6773

United States ...........................................

1.7864

1.7101

1.6834

1.6786

1.6838

Price adjusted to 38% moisture
weighted by sales
Minnesota and Wisconsin ........................

1.6954

1.6114

1.6106

1.6055

1.6179

Other States .............................................

1.7224

1.6592

1.6084

1.6015

1.5996

United States ...........................................

1.7099

1.6347

1.6094

1.6036

1.6081

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Sales
Minnesota and Wisconsin ........................

4,885,894

4,053,104

4,301,637

5,452,366

4,911,558

Other States .............................................

5,654,428

3,855,206

5,033,822

4,762,848

5,582,658

United States ...........................................

10,540,322

7,908,310

9,335,459

10,215,214

10,494,216

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Moisture content
weighted by sales
Minnesota and Wisconsin ........................

35.25

35.16

35.25

34.99

35.19

Other States .............................................

35.20

35.12

35.07

35.23

34.99

United States ...........................................

35.23

35.14

35.15

35.10

35.08

2

Dairy Products Prices (January 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Dry Whey Prices and Sales – United States: December 17, 2011-January 14, 2012
Week ending
Region

Price weighted by sales
United States ...........................................

December 17,
2011

December 24,
2011

December 31,
2011

January 7,
2012

January 14,
2012

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

0.6562

0.6602

0.6707

0.6791

0.7020

(pounds)
Sales
United States ...........................................

(pounds)

* 7,992,091

* 5,537,602

(pounds)
5,385,391

(pounds)
6,707,828

(pounds)
7,966,805

* Revised.

Nonfat Dry Milk Prices and Sales – United States: December 17, 2011-January 14, 2012
Week ending
Region

Price weighted by sales
United States ...........................................

December 17,
2011

December 24,
2011

December 31,
2011

January 7,
2012

January 14,
2012

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

(dollars per pound)

1.4418

1.3766

1.4006

* 1.4162

1.4151

(pounds)
Sales
United States ...........................................

19,782,722

(pounds)
* 29,459,923

(pounds)
* 20,944,632

(pounds)
* 12,506,405

(pounds)
18,315,630

* Revised.

Statistical Methodology: Dairy Products Prices
Data collection period: Dairy Products Prices statistics are based upon survey data collected after Saturday of each week.
Sampling frames and sample size: The Dairy Products Prices program consists of 80 manufacturing plants selling one
million pounds or more of dairy products as defined by Public Law Number 106-532. There are 18 plants reporting 40
pound cheddar blocks, 14 plants reporting 500 pound cheddar barrels, 19 plants reporting butter, 28 plants reporting
nonfat dry milk, and 20 plants reporting dry whey. There are 8 plants in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Region reporting
40 pound cheddar blocks and 8 plants in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Region reporting 500 pound cheddar barrels.
Modes of data collection: Data are collected by electronic data reporting, telephone, and facsimile.
Term and definitions: Firms complete the weekly questionnaires using definitions from Public Law Number 106-532
and through the aid of instructions provided during the Annual Validation interview as well as provided information on
the questionnaire.
Reliability: Price data included in the Dairy Products Prices report are collected through a Census of all qualifying
manufacturers of the following products:
1)
Cheddar cheese in 40 pound blocks, colored between 6 and 8 on the National Cheese Institute color
chart, meeting Wisconsin State Brand, USDA Grade A, or better standards.
2)
Cheddar cheese in 500 pound barrels, white, meeting Wisconsin State Brand, USDA Grade A, or better
standards.
3)
Salted butter (80% butterfat), fresh or storage, in 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA
Grade AA standards.
4)
Non-fortified, nonfat dry milk in 25 kilogram bags, 50 pound bags, totes, and tankers meeting USDA
Extra Grade or USPH Grade A standards.
5)
Edible non-hygroscopic dry whey in 25 kilogram bags, 50 pound bags, totes, and tankers meeting
USDA Extra Grade standards.
Estimating Procedures: Price data reported by manufacturers are reviewed for reasonableness and consistency by
comparing with data reported in prior weeks and by data reported by other firms in their region and national trends.
During weekly review both field office and Agricultural Statistics Board re-contact manufacturers to verify any unusual

data relationships. The Agriculture Marketing Service conducts on-site verifications if manufacturers fail to sufficiently
explain any unusual data relationships.
Revision Policy: Dairy Products Prices information is subject to revisions to the previous four weeks. The previous two
calendar years of estimates for the weekly dairy products prices are subject to verification by AMS.
Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ............................................................................................................. (202) 690-2424
Travis Averill – Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...................................................................................................... (202) 720-3040
Sherry Bertramsen – Livestock Slaughter ................................................................................................ (515) 284-4340
Doug Bounds – Hogs and Pigs, Goats ...................................................................................................... (202) 720-3106
Mike Miller – Milk Production and Milk Cows ....................................................................................... (202) 720-3278
Everett Olbert – Dairy Products Prices ...................................................................................................... (202) 720-4751
Lorie Warren – Dairy Products, Sheep ..................................................................................................... (202) 690-3236

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