Wisconsin Ag Connection - WI Cheese Production Fell Slightly During December

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WI Cheese Production Fell Slightly During December
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 02/05/2008

Monthly cheese production numbers for the Dairy State were fractionally less than last year at this time. The USDA reports that Wisconsin's dairy plants produced 210.9 million pounds of cheese during the month of December--which was down 0.2 percent from last year, but 2.9 percent more than the month earlier.

Nationally, 843 million pounds of cheese was made, 1.5 percent above the same month in 2006, and 3.7 percent more than November 2007 production totals.

Wisconsin's production of American cheese decreased as the state produced 67.4 million pounds, about 0.7 percent less than last year, but three percent above last month's production. Cheddar output rose 1.2 percent compared to 2006 to total 54.7 million pounds, and was 2.2 percent higher than the month earlier. Italian production was at 99.3 million pounds, down 4.2 percent below last year, but 3.8 percent higher for the month. And Mozzarella in Wisconsin totaled 73.1 million pounds--down 0.9 percent from December 2006, but 4.8 percent more than November 2007.

Butter production was higher as total output rose by 0.6 percent from 2006 to total 34.9 million pounds. That was also 10 percent more than last month.

And Dry Whey production was recorded at 27.6 million pounds, which was 13.7 percent over last year, but 1.7 percent less than last month.

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