MD_DA851 Cheese Highlights Report 38 - Released on September 22, 2023 Milk available for cheesemaking is somewhat snug in the Northeast and Midwest, as Class I processors continue to pull on volumes. Some cheesemakers in the Midwest say they have room for more milk, but spot loads are unavailable, and spot loads that are being traded in the region are at above-Class prices. In the West, cheesemakers say milk volumes are in good balance with production, though some processors are unable to obtain additional spot loads of milk to run desired production schedules. Cheesemakers in the Northeast say limited milk availability and labor obstacles are limiting their production schedules. Some Midwest cheesemakers are scheduling more downtime weekly due to recent declines in milk availability. In the Midwest, cheese demand varies. Contacts report seasonally busy curd sales, while barrel demand is steady to busier. Retail and food service demands for cheese in the West are strong to steady, but export demand is more moderate. Contacts in the Northeast note the strongest demand for cheddar among American-type cheeses. Mozzarella cheese is in high demand in the Northeast due to steady food service demand. Information for the period September 18 - 22, 2023, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: CME: Barrels closed at $1.6000 and 40# blocks at $1.7800. The weekly average for barrels is $1.6310 (-0.1855) and blocks, $1.8220 (-0.0790). 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