Class III milk futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange resumed their recent trend, closing lower on profit taking, demand uncertainties, and the higher dollar, which makes U.S. goods more expensive on the export market. March was down $.23 at $16.04, April was $.27 lower at $15.89, May was down $.31 at $15.90, and June was $.20 lower at $16.16.
Cash cheese blocks were $.0575 lower at $1.49. There were four loads sold, including two at $1.49. Barrels were down $.06 at $1.465. There were three loads sold, one at $1.465 and two at $1.47. The last unfilled bid was on one load at $1.46.
Butter was up $.0575 at $2.2325. There were two loads sold, one at $2.225 and one at $2.23. The last unfilled bid was on one load at $2.2375. The last uncovered offer was for six loads at $2.30.
Nonfat dry milk was $.0325 lower at $.795. There were two loads sold at $.795. The last unfilled bid was on one load at $.79. The last uncovered offer was for one load at $.8075.
The USDA says butter for the week ending February 25th averaged $2.14 per pound, down $.024. Cheddar cheese came out at $1.67, $.041 lower. 500 pound barrels averaged $1.68, up $.018. Dry whey was pegged at $.504, $.01 higher. Nonfat dry milk averaged $.955, down $.027.
California’s Department of Food and Agriculture reports nonfat dry milk for the week ending February 24th averaged $.9619, down $.048 on the week. Sales of 5,072,529 pounds were up 366,811 from the week before.
At the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center’s special dairy sale in Missouri on Tuesday, the USDA says supply and demand were moderate, with 10% of the run springer heifers (a heifer that is getting close to calving), 10% bred heifers, 30% open heifers, 10% fresh and milking cows, 2% bred and springer cows, and 7% baby calves. The rest of the run was made up of steers, bulls, and slaughter cows. Receipts were reported at 694 head, compared to 655 a month ago and 907 a year ago.
Supreme heifers, bred seven to nine months, brought $1,375 to $1,650 per head, with an incidence of $1,875, and crossbreds ranged from $1,225 to $1,435. Medium springers ranged from $700 to $980 with a few Jerseys at $900 to $935 and crossbreds at $800 to $900. Supreme heifers bred six to nine months were reported at $1,300 to $1,490 with approved quality at $1,010 to $1,285, including a Jersey that brought $950, and a few crossbreds which sold at $1,025 to $1,700. Approved heifers bred one to three months came out at $1,000 to $1,260 with an individual Jersey at $1,000. Approved heifers weighing 500 to 600 pounds brought $680 to $750 with a 565 pound Jersey at $820 and crossbreds at $680 to $770. Supreme quality fresh and milking replacement cows sold at $1,400 to $1,575 with an individual crossbred at $1,475 and medium quality ranged from $825 to $1,075 with a few crossbreds at $900 to $1,705. Holstein heifer baby calves were reported mostly at $250 to $260 and Holstein baby bulls primarily brought $95 to $130. Jersey bulls sold at $40 to $55.
Source: Brownfield Ag News
