High milk production dampens summer price outlook

Cheese prices were much weaker in June than early May with dry whey prices lower and butter prices higher.

In early May on the CME, cheddar barrels were $1.81 per pound, 40-pound cheddar blocks $1.80, dry whey $0.66 and butter $1.75. As of June 21, barrels were $1.48, 40-pound blocks $1.4725, dry why $0.6100 and butter $1.7850.

As a result, Class III which was $18.96 in May will be about $17.25 in June. The Class IV price will show some strength in June. With the butter price up slightly and the price of nonfat dry milk averaging about $1.27 per pound, the June Class IV price which was $16.16 in May will be about $16.45 in June.

Production steams ahead

Milk production continues at a relatively high level putting downward pressure on milk prices. U.S. milk production was estimated to be up 3.5% from a year ago in April and 4.6% higher in May.

A year ago, with lost markets due to COVID-19, dairy producers were told to reduce milk production. As a result, May milk production was 0.5% lower than the year before. Nevertheless, May production this year is making a strong comeback. Milk cows continue to increase production, with the herd churning out another 5,000 lbs., up 145,000 lbs. more than a year ago, a 1.6% increase. Of the 24 selected states 14 had more milk cows than a year ago. Milk cows are also milking exceptionally good with milk per cow up 3.0% from a year ago.

Compared to this time last year, three states had double digit increases in May milk production: South Dakota 14.6%, Indiana 12.6%, and Texas 10.8%. The two leading milk producing states, California and Wisconsin, had increases of 5.0% and 5.6% respectively. Other states with relatively strong increases were Kansas 7.3%, Iowa 6.2%, Minnesota and New Mexico 6.0%, Colorado 5.3%, Michigan 5.1%, and New York 4.2%.

Milk production dampens short-term price outlook

With widespread drought tightening feed supplies, feed prices could be a lot higher by fall which could slow down milk production by the fourth quarter.

Unless milk production slows down, milk prices are likely to weaken June through August and then increase starting in September and peaking in October or November.

Milk production will decline seasonally during the summer months while fluid milk sales will increase late August and September as schools open and butter and cheese prices will strengthen as inventories build for strong seasonal sales thanksgiving through Christmas.

And if things return more to normal with in-person learning in schools and colleges, restaurants more fully open, fans in bleachers at sporting events, the return of conferences - food service sales should return to more normal. All of this can strengthen milk prices starting this fall. However, the strength in milk prices will highly depend upon how quickly things return to 'more normal'.

Dairy exports bright spot

Dairy exports continue to be a bright spot for dairy adding support to milk prices. The volume of April exports on a milk solids equivalent grew by 25% compared to April 2020. Nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder exports were up 15.5%, whey products up 17.6%, cheese up 51.2% and butterfat 257%.

Nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder, cheese and butter remain very price competitive on the international market. With world milk production growing no more than about 1% and world demand improving the outlook for strong exports for the remainder of the year looks promising.

Milk price outlook remains uncertain

The outlook for milk prices for the remainder of the year remains uncertain. It all depends upon how milk production, domestic sales and exports turn out.

Unless cheese prices recover, Class III will be in the $16’s by July and may not reach the $17’s until September and only toping to the higher $17’s in the fourth quarter. But we can’t rule out the possibility of Class III reaching the $18’s in the fourth quarter.

Class III futures have weakened from where they were earlier but currently July is below $17 and then returns to the $17’s August and September and the low $18’s for the remainder of the year.

The latest USDA price forecast is not as optimistic about milk prices with Class III averaging just $17.15 this year compared to $18.16 last year.

Cropp is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison.