WASHINGTON — May production of nonfat dry milk was up 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 in May was 149,149,000 lbs, up 8% from April and up 13% from May 2008. Output of skim milk powders was 26,732,000 lbs, up 9% from April but down 41% from the previous year.

Manufacturers’ stocks of edible nonfat dry milk on May 31 were 189,177,000 lbs, up 8% from the previous month and up 44% from the previous year.

Total dry whey production was 95,253,000 lbs, down 4% from May 2008. Production of lactose was 59,991,000 lbs, down 9%, and total whey protein concentrate production was 33,958,000 lbs, down 9%. Dry buttermilk outturn was 5,526,000 lbs, down 19% from the previous year.

Total manufacturers’ stocks of dry whey on May 31 were 49,016,000 lbs, down 17% from the previous year, including 47,451,000 lbs for human use, down 12%, and 1,565,000 lbs for animal use, down 69%. Whey protein concentrate stocks totaled 36,229,000 lbs, down 20% from the previous year. Total lactose stocks were 73,342,000 lbs, down 12% from a year ago. Dry buttermilk stocks were 5,317,000 lbs, down 45% from 2008.

Butter production in May was 139,391,000 lbs, nearly the same as May 2008 but down 2% from April 2009.

Cheese production in May totaled 860,747,000 lbs, up 2% from April and up 3% from May 2008.

Production of regular hard ice cream in May was 80,820,000 gallons, down slightly from the previous year. Low-fat ice cream production was 36,311,000 gallons, down 3% from the previous year.