WASHINGTON — February production of nonfat dry milk was down 7% from the previous year, but production of skim milk powders was up 64%, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest Dairy Products Report.
Nonfat dry milk production was 109,585,000 lbs, down 6% from 117,033,000 lbs in January and down 7% from 117,768,000 lbs in February 2010. Output of skim milk powders was 36,209,000 lbs, down 10% from January but up 64% from 22,029,000 lbs a year ago.

Manufacturers’ stocks of edible nonfat dry milk of Feb. 28, 2011, were 99,689,000 lbs, up 2% from 97,753,000 lbs but down 34% from 151,639,000 lbs in February 2010. February nonfat dry milk shipments were 94,034,000 lbs, down 20% from 117,582,000 lbs in January and down 4% from 98,390,000 lbs in February 2010.

Total dry whey production was 81,823,000 lbs, down 10% from 91,069,000 lbs in January but up 5% from 78,244,000 lbs in February 2010. Production of lactose was 74,872,000 lbs, down 8% from 81,410,000 lbs in January but up 18% from 63,620,000 lbs in February 2010. Whey protein concentrate production totaled 31,913,000 lbs in February, down 9% from 34,871,000 lbs in January but up 2% from 31,391,000 lbs in February 2010. Dry buttermilk outturn was 8,596,000 lbs, down 25% from 11,486,000 lbs in January but up 10% from 7,816,000 lbs in February 2010.

Total manufacturers stocks of dry whey on Feb. 28, 2011, were 49,208,000 lbs, up 1% from 48,920,000 lbs in January and up 12% from 44,027,000 lbs in February 2010. Total lactose stocks were 76,934,000 lbs, down 3% from 79,573,000 lbs in January and up 17% from 65,736,000 lbs in February 2010. Whey protein concentrate stocks totaled 33,663,000 lbs, down 1% from 33,936,000 lbs in January and down 6% from 35,617,000 lbs in February 2010. Dry buttermilk stocks were 10,395,000 lbs, up 7% from 9,694,000 lbs in January but down 32% from 15,293,000 lbs in February 2010.

Butter production in February was 150,103,000 lbs, down 10% from 166,425,000 lbs in January but up 6% from 141,052,000 lbs in February 2010. Total cheese production in February was 807,141,000 lbs, down 9% from 886,855,000 lbs in January but up 4% from 775,273,000 lbs in February 2010. Production of regular hard ice cream totaled 62,291,000 gallons, up 11% from 55,942,000 gallons in January but down 1% from 63,171,000 gallons in February 2010. Low-fat ice cream production was 27,867,000 gallons, up 17% from 23,823,000 gallons in January, and up 1% from 27,538,000 gallons from February 2010.