Temperatures continued to stay near the 60-degree mark in the Central Valley of California this week. Farm level milk output is steady. Some handlers note preliminary records continue to indicate December 2023 milk production is below December 2022 milk production. Processors say milk volumes are meeting manufacturing needs. Stakeholders note spot load availability has improved. Class I demand is lighter as session breaks for educational institutions are around the corner. Demands for all other Classes are strong to steady.
Temperatures in Arizona moved into the upper 70s/lower 80s for some of the week. Milk production is steady. Manufacturers relay milk volumes are available to meet processing needs. Class I demand is lighter as session breaks at educational facilities are fast approaching. All other Classes have strong to steady demand.
In New Mexico, temperatures were in the 40s/mid 50s. Handlers indicate milk production is steady and enough milk is available to meet the needs of manufacturers. Class I demand is lighter with educational institutions beginning session breaks in the later part of this week. All other Classes have unchanged demand.
In the Pacific Northwest, farm level milk output is steady. Handlers note a milder start to winter has contributed to more favorable cow comfort and milk volumes are on anticipated paces. No shortages of milk available for processing needs are reported. Class I demand is lighter as educational institutions throughout the area cycle into their session breaks for late December holidays. Class II, III, and IV demands are strong to steady.
Milk production in the mountain states of Idaho, Utah, and Colorado is steady. Some Idaho handlers indicate week-to-week differences in milk output have flattened. Some manufacturers are indicating milk volumes are uneven compared to processing capacities, resulting in some shifting of milk volumes amongst processors. With some session breaks at educational facilities beginning, Class I demand is lighter throughout the area. Class II, III, and IV demands are unchanged.
Cream is readily available in the region. Cream demand is steady. Cream multiples decreased on both ends of the multiple range. Demand for condensed skim milk is steady. Condensed skim milk loads are more available for spot buyers.
