In the dairy spot market, cash cheese was steady to lower in pretty quiet activity. Barrels were unchanged at $1.62. Blocks were down $.0575 at $1.67. The last offer uncovered was for one load at that price.

Butter was a penny higher at $2.38, with the last bid unfilled for two loads at that price.

Grade A nonfat dry milk was down $.0275 at $1.0075, with one load sold. The last bid unfilled was for a load $.99. The last offer uncovered was for two loads at the closing price.

At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Class III milk futures were higher. October was up $.08 at $15.69 and November was $.20 higher at $15.75. December was up $.20 at $15.89 and January was $.22 higher at $15.94.

The USDA reports that nationally, prices for whole dry milk are holding steady. Dry schedules are said to be sporadic, with mixed inventories and sales mainly based on contracts. USDA says some resellers do expect better demand this quarter. Spot market activity for dry milk was slow with an unsettled undertone.

For September, the Dairy Market News monthly average for dry whole milk was $1.2455, compared to $1.9248 in September 2014. That’s a year to year decline of nearly $.68. August 2015 dry whole milk production was 6.8 million pounds, down 32% on the month and 46% on the year. F.O.B, at the producing plant, dry whole milk ranged from $1.17 to $1.35.