Class I demand remains in the summer slump. Retail feature activity is generally limited.

Class II interest (outside of ice cream) is steady to lighter after the recent push for consumer products such as dips, whipped cream and sour cream for the holiday weekend. Ice cream interest remains strong seasonally for most producers.

Churning remains light with most cream coming from contracted sources. A couple manufacturing plants lost power for various periods of time which caused extra milk to be cleared to other operations. Severe discounts continue in the region to clear surplus volumes with reported prices ranging from around $2.00 to more than $5.00 below class.

Recent declines in cheese prices have many makers trying to limit spot purchases until cheese prices stabilize and cheese sales improve. Most manufacturing plants continue to operate on extended schedules in order to clear the volumes.

Milk supplies remain burdensome through much of the upper portion of the Central area as heat stress to cows has been minimal thus far. Intakes declined slightly after a few warm, muggy days but then cooled off, resulting in a partial rebound from the initial levels.

Many plant operators would welcome a more significant decline as intake levels have not declined appreciably from the annual peak. Milk volume declines further south have been more significant. Drought conditions in parts of Texas and nearby states may impact local feed availability.

Replanted drowned/washed-out portions of fields are typically well behind the initial planting and some corn fields now have soybeans or possibly another crop mixed in.

Hay/haylage harvest continues with some producers finishing first cutting while starting second in other early harvested fields.  PD