Cooperatives Working Together (CWT), an export program funded by voluntary contributions from dairy cooperatives and individual dairy farmers, has reported that total 2018 assisted member sales reached 72.5 million lb. of American-type cheeses, 17.4 million lb. of butter (82% milkfat) and 41.6 million lb. of whole milk powder. The milk equivalent of these sales is 1.364 billion lb. on a milkfat basis.

For the week of Dec. 17, member cooperatives accepted 23 offers of export assistance from CWT that helped them capture sales contracts for 3.214 million lb. (1,458 metric tons) of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, 204,462 lb. (100 mt) of butter and 476,199 lb. (216 mt) of whole milk powder. The product will be delivered during the period from January through June 2019.

“Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers and all dairy cooperatives by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price,” CWT said. “It does this by helping member cooperatives gain and maintain world market share for U.S. dairy products. As a result, the program has significantly expanded the total demand for U.S. dairy products and the demand for U.S. farm milk that produces those products.”

The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT pays export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product are verified by required documentation.