The USDA says production of most dairy products in December was up on the year, aside from dry milk products, as processors focused on categories with the strongest demand.
Total cheese production was nearly 1.2 billion pounds, down about a percent from last year but up four percent from the prior month. Italian cheese production was up three percent on the year and nearly six percent from November, while American cheese was down almost four percent for the year but nearly four percent higher on the month.
Butter production totaled 198 million pounds, up more than two percent from the prior year and more than 13 percent from the last month.
Nonfat dry milk declined about 12 percent from 2023 while skim milk powder was down nearly 21 percent.
Dry whey production was down almost five percent while lactose increased by three percent on the year. Hard ice cream production rose more than 18 percent in December.
