The USDA says December dairy product numbers ended the year mostly higher with skim milk powder production showing the most significant decline.

Total cheese production totaled more than 1.1 billion pounds, nearly three percent higher on the month and up a little more than a half of a percent from the prior year. Italian and American cheese production were both up on the month and year.

Butter production totaled 206 million pounds, up nearly 19 percent from the prior month and 12 percent from the last year.

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