CHEESE HIGHLIGHTS: Milk supplies available for cheese manufacturing have increased and cheese plants are working additional hours to accommodate the increased volumes. The surge of milk from the holiday combined with increasing yields of fat and protein have built cheese inventories in the short run. Prices at the CME Group are steady to lower in daily trading this week. Blocks are mostly steady with barrels selling lower on most days. The block/barrel price spread on Thursday and Friday was a full 10 cents. Barrels closed the week unchanged at $1.6600 and blocks were unchanged at $1.7600. Buyers continue to place orders for immediate needs, but are cautious about building new inventories until price levels are better determined. The lower prices have increased inquiries from aging programs and export buyers, but sales remain slow.