Milk futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed higher Thursday on holiday optimism and strong cheese demand.

July Class III milk 12 cents higher at

$22.97.  August up 54 cents at $20.95. 

September 45 cents higher at $18.81. 

October 36 cents higher at $17.74. 

November through January contracts 18 to 31 cents higher.

Dry whey unchanged at $0.33.   

Blocks up $0.0350 at $2.6750.  Six trades were made ranging from $2.66 to

$2.68. 

Barrels up $0.0150 at $2.4150.  Four trades were made at $2.41 and $2.4150.

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