Strengthening domestic sales of yogurt, butter, cheese and dry skim milk drove higher gains in overall domestic commercial milk use from February through April.
Dairy exports dropped back during that period, as losses in dry skim milk and whey protein exports more than offset gains in butter and cheese exports. U.S. milk and milk solids production growth is accelerating, with milk production up 1.2% year over year during the period, milk solids production up by twice this rate, and milkfat production up almost three times faster.
New U.S. cheese processing capacity is drawing heavily on the growing milk supply, with cheddar cheese production up 8.1% annually in April. The monthly NDPSR survey product prices and the Class III and Class IV prices were all higher in May than a month earlier. And a milestone to note: USDA in May announced its first price reports calculated using the updated Federal Milk Marketing Order formulas announced in January.
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