By the National Agricultural Statistics Service

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grade AA standards averaged $1.59 per pound for the week ending December 17, 2011. The United States (US) price per pound decreased 3.2 cents from the previous week.

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound blocks averaged $1.77 per pound for the week ending December 17, 2011. The price per pound decreased 8.6 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound barrels adjusted to 38 percent moisture averaged $1.71 per pound, down 12.2 cents from the previous week.

Dry Whey prices received for bag, tote, and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade standards averaged 65.6 cents per pound for the week ending December 17, 2011. The US price per pound increased 0.2 cent from the previous week.

Nonfat Dry Milk prices received for bag, tote, and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade or United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Grade A standards averaged $1.44 per pound for the week ending December 17, 2011. The US price per pound decreased slightly from the previous week.

Dairy Products Prices statistics are based upon survey data collected after Saturday of each week.

The Dairy Products Prices program consists of 80 manufacturing plants selling one million pounds or more of dairy products as defined by Public Law Number 106-532. There are 18 plants reporting 40 pound cheddar blocks, 14 plants reporting 500 pound cheddar barrels, 19 plants reporting butter, 28 plants reporting nonfat dry milk, and 20 plants reporting dry whey. There are 8 plants in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Region reporting 40 pound cheddar blocks and 8 plants in the Minnesota and Wisconsin Region reporting 500 pound cheddar barrels.

All reports are available electronically on the NASS website: http://www.nass.usda.gov