WASHINGTON — July production of nonfat dry milk was down slightly while production of skim milk powders was down sharply from a year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest

Nonfat dry milk production was 132,159,000 lbs, down 8% from June and down 2% from July 2008. Output of skim milk powders, meanwhile, was 14,023,000 lbs, down 17% from June and down 48% from the previous year.

Manufacturers’ stocks of edible nonfat dry milk on July 31 were 172,741,000 lbs, down 12% from the previous month but up 12% from the previous year.

Total dry whey production was 93,303,000 lbs, roughly equal to levels in June and up 2% from July 2008. Production of lactose was 60,932,000 lbs, up 1% from June but down 7% from July 2008. Production of whey protein concentrate totaled 34,911,000 lbs in July, up 3% from June but down 5% from a year ago. Dry buttermilk outturn was 5,739,000 lbs, down 8% from the previous month but up 6% from the previous year.

Total manufacturers’ stocks of dry whey on July 31 were 47,870,000 lbs, down 21% from the previous year, including 46,132,000 lbs for human use, down 16%, and 1,738,000 lbs for animal use, down 71%. Total lactose stocks were 60,163,000 lbs, down 34% from a year ago. Whey protein concentrate stocks totaled 36,405,000 lbs, down 20% from a year ago. Dry buttermilk stocks were 5,556,000 lbs, down 38% from the previous year.

Butter production in July was 111,630,000 lbs, down 11% from June and down 2% from July 2008.

Cheese production in July totaled 838,990,000 lbs, up about 1% from June and up 2% from July 2008.

Production of regular hard ice cream in July was 85,903,000 gallons, up 1% from the previous year. Low-fat ice cream production was 39,726,000 gallons, up 2% from the previous year.