WASHINGTON — March production of edible nonfat dry milk was 188,616,000 lbs, up 10% from February and up 50% from March 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its latest Dairy Products report.

Manufacturers’ stocks of edible nonfat dry milk were 210,290,000 lbs, up 9% from February and up 76% from March 2011. March nonfat dry milk shipments were 166,561,000 lbs, up 27% from February and up 33% from March 2011.

Output of skim milk powders was 11,912,000 lbs, down 35% from February and down 72% from the previous year. Total dry whey production was 90,233,000 lbs, up 1% from February but down 4% from March 2011. Production of lactose was 89,929,000 lbs, up 11% from February and up 5% from March 2011. Whey protein concentrate production totaled 38,881,000 lbs, up 10% from February and up 6% from March 2011. Dry buttermilk outturn was 10,104,000 lbs, down 5% from February but up 15% from March 2011.

Total manufacturers’ stocks of dry whey on March 31, 2012, were 48,119,000 lbs, down 7% from February and down 6% from March 2011. Total lactose stocks were 74,033,000 lbs, up 5% from February and up 1% from March 2011. Whey protein concentrate stocks totaled 47,128,000 lbs, up 15% from February and up 56% from March 2011. Dry buttermilk stocks totaled 21,925,000 lbs, up 11% from February and up 35% from March 2011.

Butter production in March 2012 was 176,005,000 lbs, up 4% from February and up 6% from March 2011.

Total cheese production was 946,257,000 lbs, up 10% from February and up 4% from March 2011.
Production of regular hard ice cream totaled 72,487,000 lbs, up 15% from February but down 3% from March 2011. Low-fat ice cream production was 39,579,000 lbs, up 27% from February and up slightly from 39,437,000 in March 2011.