Volume 37 August 11, 2017 Number 30 Sheep industry sees growth Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! opportunity through cheeses A By Rena Archwamety great opportunity for high- the industry. 2 million pounds of sheep’s milk end artisanal cheeses thanks The United States produces cheese produced each year. INSIDE MADISON, Wis. — As interest to a large university, several a very small amount of sheep’s “But we are importing 53-73 in artisan cheese continues to large medical employers and milk and sheep’s milk cheeses, million pounds — that’s 28-38 ✦ Conventional dairy grow, cheesemakers are taking a nationally-known music fes- but in recent years it has been times as much sheep’s milk ads down 10 percent. the opportunity to diversify tival that all provide an ideal importing 40-60 percent of the cheese imported than what For details, see page 3. their offerings through new marketing base. world’s sheep’s milk cheese is produced here,” he says. varieties, fl avors or milk types. “I would like to see us do a trade every year, according “This would seem to indicate ✦ Guest column: This trend has garnered the better job of really enlightening to David Thomas, professor tremendous opportunity for Has whey become attention of domestic dairy people and improving availabil- of sheep management and domestic production.” the new pork belly? sheep producers, a small and ity. I think people are willing genetics at the University of However, he notes that op- For details, see page 4. relatively young industry that to pay for it,” says Kieffer, who Wisconsin-Madison. This spring portunity may not be as simple also sees new opportunities also is interim administrator Thomas presented a webinar as it seems based on these ✦ Retail WATCH Exclusive: for increasing demand for new of the Sheep Dairy Association on sheep’s milk and sheep’s numbers. One of the real chal- Salemville Cheese cheeses. of Wisconsin and president of milk cheese opportunities, lenges in the U.S. dairy sheep Cooperative expansion Laurel Kieffer, who milks the Dairy Sheep Association of sponsored by the American industry is the small number of doubles its footprint. about 100 sheep on her Dream North America. Sheep Industry Association’s producers, most of which are For details, see page 5. Valley Farm in Strum, Wiscon- The Dairy Sheep Associa- Let’s Grow Program. (Visit spread out with only about one ✦ FDA to exercise discretion sin, says there is not much tion of Wisconsin formed last http://www.sheepusa.org/Gro- or two in many states with the in UF milk labeling on cheese. sheep’s milk cheese availability August with the help of the wourflock_Resources_Edu- exception of concentrations in For details, see page 12. in areas like nearby Eau Claire, Wisconsin Department of Ag- cationalWebinars to view the Wisconsin and New England. Wisconsin, though she sees riculture, Trade and Consumer presentation.) Also, he explains that there is Protection (DATCP) as a means “We’re far and away the no program in North America to support Wisconsin’s dairy greatest market for sheep milk for organized milk recording sheep industry and promote cheese in the world,” he said or genetic improvement for Wisconsin State Fair cheese sheep’s milk products in the during his March presentation, dairy sheep. state. The new association where he also noted that the “Marketing of sheep’s milk auction raises record $56,760 was a 2017 recipient of a “Buy North American dairy sheep when you’re an isolated sheep Local, Buy Wisconsin” grant, industry is fairly new, with the producer is diffi cult,” he says. WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Team Lake Country Dairy, Schuman Cheese, and it currently is working on fi rst commercial dairy sheep “One of the things that every- Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, was named the 2017 Grand Master Cheese marketing kits for the 2017 farms forming in the mid-late one must do is make sure that Maker during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction Thursday at holiday season for cheesemak- 1980s. they have a stable market Wisconsin State Fair Park. Plant Manager Gary Gosda accepted the ers, grocery stores and specialty While there are no offi cial for that sheep milk — either award on behalf of Team Lake Country Dairy for Monteau, the fi rst- shops to help promote sheep’s USDA numbers on dairy sheep process it themselves or fi nd place entry in the Smear Ripened Cheese class at the 2017 Wisconsin milk cheeses and products. It operations in the United States, a local processor for sheep State Fair Cheese & Butter Contest. also plans to bring in sheep Thomas estimates there may milk — before they enter that Each blue ribbon entry from the contest sold during the event, farmers to do demos in grocery be around 125 U.S. farms cur- business.” which raised a record total of $56,760 for student scholarships and stores and boost exposure for rently milking sheep and about Turn to SHEEP, page 10 a dairy promotions at the Wisconsin State Fair. Chr. Hansen purchased 22 pounds of Monteau for $50 per pound for a total of $1,100. Other auction results include: Mild Cheddar: Dan Stearns, Agropur, Weyauwega, made the 42 Milk production forecasts Canada has new pounds of Mild Cheddar purchased by Masters Gallery Foods for $60 TRQs, processor per pound for a total of $2,520. lowered for 2017, 2018 support with CETA Swiss Styles: Marc Druart, Emmi Roth, Monroe, made the 20 pounds WASHINGTON — With slow growth in milk per cow that more of Roth Petite Swiss purchased by Wells Fargo for $60 per pound for than offsets increases in dairy cow numbers, USDA lowered its OTTAWA, Ontario — Ca- a total of $1,200. U.S. milk production forecasts for 2017 and 2018 in its “World nadian Minister of Inter- Flavored Soft Cheese: Steve Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Co., Monroe, Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates” report released national Trade Francois- made the 10 pounds of Odyssey Peppercorn Feta purchased by Emmi Thursday. Philippe Chamagne recently Roth for $100 per pound for a total of $1,000. For 2017, USDA projects milk production will total 215.7 billion announced the allocation Flavored Goat Milk Cheese: Team Lancaster, Saputo Specialty pounds, down 600 million pounds from its forecast a month ago. of new tariff rate quotas Cheese, Milwaukee, made the 10 pounds of Wild Blueberry Vanilla The 2018 milk production projection has been lowered to 220.3 (TRQs) for imports of cheese Chèvre purchased by Rock River Laboratories for $80 per pound for billion pounds, down 900 million pounds from last month’s report. from the European Union a total of $800. For 2017, fat-basis exports are raised from the previous month (EU) under the Canada-EU Smoked Cheese: Saxon Creamery Team, Saxon Cheese, Cleveland, on higher butter and anhydrous milkfat shipments. Fat-basis Comprehensive Econom- made the 12 pounds of Big Ed’s Smokehouse Gouda purchased by imports are unchanged. The skim-solid basis export forecast for ic and Trade Agreement Saputo for $215 per pound for a total of $2,580. 2017 is lowered on weaker than expected whey sales. The import (CETA), which is set to Flavored Hard Cheese: Mike Matucheski, Sartori Co., Antigo, forecast is unchanged. take effect Sept. 21. The a Turn to AUCTION, page 12 Turn to USDA, page 11 a Turn to CANADA, page 11 a © 2017 CHEESE MARKET NEWS® — This is Cheese Market News’ E-subscription and may not be forwarded to anyone other than the intended paid subscriber without the express permission of Cheese Market News (For more information, contact [email protected]) 2 CHEESE MARKET NEWS® — August 11, 2017 MARKET INDICATORS Chicago Mercantile Exchange for the week ending August 10, 2017 Cash prices for the week ended August 11, 2017 CHEESE FUTURES (Listings for each day by month, settling price and open interest) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Aug. 7 Aug. 8 Aug. 9 Aug. 10 Aug. 11 Fri., Aug. 4 Mon., Aug. 7 Tues., Aug. 8 Wed., Aug. 9 Thurs., Aug. 10 AUG17 1.644 3,590 1.637 3,614 1.635 3,605 1.657 3,602 1.650 3,589 Cheese Barrels SEP17 1.694 2,947 1.692 2,957 1.680 2,993 1.718 2,982 1.716 2,972 Price $1.5300 $1.5100 $1.5925 $1.5550 $1.5875 OCT17 1.720 2,399 1.712 2,435 1.707 2,446 1.744 2,461 1.740 2,462 Change NC -2 +8 1/4 -3 3/4 +3 1/4 NOV17 1.725 2,562 1.724 2,573 1.717 2,584 1.738 2,601 1.735 2,605 DEC17 1.713 2,407 1.719 2,421 1.707 2,435 1.721 2,440 1.720 2,450 Cheese 40-lb. Blocks JAN18 1.700 902 1.704 913 1.704 917 1.707 924 1.702 947 Price $1.6800 $1.6600 $1.6800 $1.7050 $1.7425 FEB18 1.701 799 1.703 803 1.703 804 1.708 819 1.705 830 MAR18 1.708 749 1.708 749 1.708 751 1.704 770 1.705 776 Change -1 3/4 -2 +2 +2 1/2 +3 3/4 APR18 1.705 678 1.706 683 1.708 689 1.703 697 1.700 698 MAY18 1.705 609 1.707 614 1.708 616 1.703 627 1.703 630 Weekly average (Aug. 7-11): Barrels: $1.5550(-.0180); 40-lb. Blocks: $1.6935(-.0485). JUN18 1.721 579 1.721 584 1.715 584 1.713 589 1.713 594 Weekly ave.