California contacts continue to say heat, including continued reports of triple-digit temperatures, remains a milk output hindrance. Contacts in or near the Central Valley say farm milk levels are nearing their seasonal/annual nadir. Paying above-Class prices, particularly Class III, is the current normal in California and in most of the region.
In Arizona and New Mexico, contacts are sharing a common thread with Californians.
The Pacific Northwest is one of the few exceptions in regard to milk availability. High temperatures in the 70s with nighttime temperatures in the 50s have boded somewhat well regarding cow comfort/milk output in the Northwest.
In the mountain states of Colorado, Idaho and Utah, contacts say milk is tightening week over week.
Condensed skim availability is treading the same path as milk output/availability throughout the West. Where milk output is stable, almost solely in the Pacific Northwest, skim solids are moving through regular drying channels. In the rest of the region, it's mostly decreasing in availability. Until last week, contacts said condensed skim was somewhat available from the Central Valley up into the Pacific Northwest, but more recently California contacts have suggested skim solids are tightening there, as well.
Cream availability is still somewhat accessible for all uses, but Class III cream end users say they are ramping up production to meet seasonal needs. Butter makers in the region are clearing steady amounts of cream, particularly when compared to Class IV manufacturers in other regions of the country. As Class III manufacturing progresses into the season, there may be some forthcoming tightness on the cream supply, but current multiples/prices are generally in line with previous weeks.
