Cheese Output Lifts In March

WSHINGTON - May 5/05 - SNS -- Cheese output posted a strong performance in march, rising above both month and year earlier levels, according to the USDA.

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 797 million pounds, 1.4% above March 2004 and 12.6% above February 2005. American type cheese production totaled 329 million pounds, 1.4% above March 2004 and 12.1% above February 2005.

Butter production was 120 million pounds in February, 19.3% above March 2004 and 5.5% above February 2005.

Frozen dessert: (comparisons with March 2004): Ice cream, Regular (hard) --- 78.6 million gallons, up 0.2%; Ice cream, Lowfat (total) --- 36.7 million gallons, down 3.2%; Ice cream, Nonfat (hard) --- 1.67 million gallons, up slightly; Sherbet (hard) --- 4.97 million gallons, down 6.1%; and Frozen Yogurt (total) --- 6.11 million gallons, down 2.6%.

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