Revisions added 37 million pounds to the original February 50-state estimate, now put at 17.7 billion pounds, up 2.3 percent from a year ago, after adjusting for the Leap Day.
March cow numbers were up for the 14th consecutive month, totaling 9.468 million head in the 50 states.
New Mexico, still recovering from winter storm Uri, was down 1.1 percent, due to a 30-pound drop per cow, though cow numbers were up 1,000 head.
Pennsylvania was down 1.5 percent on a drop of 10,000 cows, though output per cow was up 10 pounds.
South Dakota took back the title of the biggest gain, up 13.4 percent, thanks to 18,000 more cows outweighing a 10-pound drop per cow.
Texas, which was also hit hard by winter storm Uri, was up 3.9 percent on 27,000 more cows, but output per cow was down 15 pounds.
Dairy demand is the crucial factor and Gould pointed out that, prior to the Covid pandemic, we consumed more cheese and butter via restaurants than at home.
The USDA’s latest Livestock Slaughter report shows an estimated 302,200 head were sent to slaughter under federal inspection in March.
Meanwhile, the annual Livestock Slaughter Summary reports 3.06 million dairy cows retired from the dairy business in 2020, down 160,700 from 2019 or 5 percent.
Checking the cooler, March butter stocks didn’t shrink, but they didn’t build either, according to USDA’s latest Cold Storage report — and that’s good news.
The group of analysts believe “More milk was pushed to the Class III side of the market from Class IV, with the new St.
Looking globally, the April 20 Global Dairy Trade auction weighted average slipped 0.1 percent following a 0.3 percent uptick on April 6.
GDT skim milk powder averaged $1.5265 per pound, down from $1.5272, and whole milk powder averaged $1.8583 per pound, up from $1.8531.
The proverbial elephant was in the dairy aisle in March.
Countries seeing a rise in market share were Poland, Belarus, and Turkey, according to HighGround Dairy.
Fluid milk and cream demand remained strong with imports from New Zealand expanding, as well as from the EU.
12, 75.5 cents above a year ago, and an inverted 1.25 cents above the blocks .
Midwest cheese plant managers tell Dairy Market News spot milk remains available, with prices at or around $5 under Class III.
Some contacts report a shift in production focus from retail orders, which are and have remained steady, to growing restaurant/food service.
Butter got back to $1.87 per pound on April 19, fell to $1.74 April 22, and closed the next day at $1.77.
Western cream is abundant with “a few pockets of seemingly tightening output,” says Dairy Market News; but even in these areas, cream supply is meeting demand.
Grade A nonfat dry milk climbed to an April 23 close at $1.2525 per pound.
CME dry whey set a new CME record at 70.25 cents per pound on April 20, but backed down to an April 23 close of 62 cents, down 5.5 cents on the week and 23.5 cents above a year ago.
The May Federal order Class I base milk price was announced at $17.10 per hundredweight, up $1.59 from April, $4.15 above May 2020, and the highest Class I price since December 2020.
Unfortunately, renewed concerns over forward feed costs with a cold snap in the Midwest possibly delaying germination this spring after a surprisingly bullish Planting Intentions report has tempered enthusiasm,” the Margin Watch concludes.
That’s 2 percent ahead of a year ago and mirrors the latest five-year average.
Cooperatives Working Together members accepted 17 offers of export assistance this week to help capture sales of 1.32 million pounds of cheese, 272,822 pounds of butter, 2.205 million pounds of whole milk powder, 2.205 million pounds of anhydrous milkfat, and 304,238 pounds of cream cheese.