October 15, 2007

**[FLORIDA]{.smallcaps}**

[**Weather:**]{.smallcaps} Corn, peanut and cotton harvesting gained
momentum in early September. Army worms and spider mites pressured row
crops and hay with growers spraying rigorously for control. The oldest
peanut and cotton fields showed poor quality and low yields due to
drought. Producers picked a considerable amount of cotton without
defoliating. Scattered rains during September slowed some harvesting but
boosted production prospects for the younger acreages of peanuts and
cotton. The rainfall softened the ground and settled the dust which
aided harvesting. Irrigated pecan orchards were in good condition but
dryland trees had smaller nuts. Some pecan producers combated mouse ear
infestations to increase yield prospects; however, trees not sprayed
showed lower prospects. By the end of the month, a considerable amount
of peanut acreage in some Panhandle localities was not yet mature due to
late plantings. Most irrigated fields averaged good production with
peanut digging 25 percent finished by September 30, compared with 14
percent dug by the same date last year. The five year average harvest
progress for peanuts dug by the end of the month is 35 percent.

**[Cotton:]{.smallcaps}** Based on conditions existing on September 1,
yield is expected to average 644 pounds per acre, unchanged from a month
ago, and down 145 pounds or 18 percent from last year. Production is
expected to total 110,000 bales, down 56,000 bales or 34 percent from
last year. Growers plan to harvest 82,000 acres, down 19,000 acres or 19
percent from last year. Scattered rains throughout September aided
growth and development of late plantings.

**[Peanuts]{.smallcaps}:** Yield is forecast to average 2,700 pounds per
acre, equal to the September forecast and up 200 pounds from last year.
Production is estimated at 310,500,000 pounds, up 10,500,000 pounds from
last year's production, but down 99,900,000 pounds from the record crop
of 410,400,000 pounds produced in 2005. Growers expect to dig 115,000
acres, down 5,000 acres or 4 percent from a year ago. Scattered rainfall
over the Panhandle and northern Peninsula interrupted some digging
during September. However, producers kept most harvesting on schedule.

**[Pecans:]{.smallcaps}** Production of this alternate bearing crop is
anticipated at 1,000,000 pounds, double the 2006 production of 500,000
pounds. Ninety percent of the crop or 900,000 pounds will come from
improved varieties. Most growers do not anticipate harvest to start
until late October or early November. Growers with adequate spray
programs have disease problems under control, and the trees show large
nuts. Orchards without irrigation systems show smaller nuts and are in
poor condition.

**[Sugarcane:]{.smallcaps}** Production for seed and sugar is forecast
at 14,612,000 tons, up 266,000 pounds or 2 percent from the 14,346,000
tons cut last year. Yield is set at 36.9 tons per acre, equal to the
September forecast, and up a ton from last year. Growers hope to cut
396,000 acres, down 4,000 acres from the 400,000 acres cut in 2006.
Harvesting began in early October with most mills open by mid- month.
Growers faced problems with Orange Rust disease in most areas.

**[UNITED STATES]{.smallcaps}**

**[Cotton:]{.smallcaps}** Upland cotton production is forecast at 17.4
million 480-pound bales, up 2 percent from last month but down 17
percent from last year. Growers in the Southeast are expecting lower
production than last month. However, in the Delta and Southwest regions,
producers are expecting higher production than last month with record
yields forecast in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In the
Southeastern States, defoliation of the crop was underway throughout the
region. In Alabama, the crop is developing ahead of normal. Harvest got
underway by mid-September ahead of the 5-year average but condition is
rated mostly poor to very poor. In Georgia, harvest began by the end of
September and was behind the 5-year average. In the Carolinas and
Virginia, harvest was progressing ahead of last year and the 5-year
average. Objective yield measurements in Georgia show bolls per acre to
be the lowest since 2002, but boll weight is the third heaviest in the
last five years.

[**Peanuts:**]{.smallcaps} Production is forecast at 3.42 billion
pounds, down 1 percent from last year\'s crop but up 3 percent from last
month. Area for harvest is expected to total 1.19 million acres,
unchanged from September but down 2 percent from last year. Yields are
expected to average 2,873 pounds per acre, up 70 pounds from last month
and up 10 pounds from 2006. Production in the Southeast States (Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina) is expected to total
2.44 billion pounds, up 3 percent from September but down 3 percent from
last year\'s level. Expected acreage for harvest, at 866,000, is
unchanged from September but down 7 percent from 2006. Yields in the
region are expected to average 2,819 pounds per acre, 75 pounds above
last month and 109 pounds above 2006. As of September 30, peanut harvest
was 12 percent complete in Alabama, and 5 percent complete in Georgia.
Alabama and Georgia lagged their 5-year averages by at least 17
percentage points. Peanut harvest in South Carolina, at 21 percent
complete, was closer to normal but still lagged its 5-year average by 4
points.

**[Pecans:]{.smallcaps}** The October 1, 2007 forecast of pecan utilized
production is 320 million pounds (in-shell basis), up 55 percent from
last year\'s crop and 14 percent above 2005. Improved varieties are
expected to produce 260 million pounds or 81 percent of the total, while
native and seedling varieties, at 59.2 million pounds, make up the
remaining 19 percent. The 2007 crop is expected to be larger than last
year\'s in most producing States mainly because it is a high year in the
alternate bearing pattern typical of pecans. Production is lower than
last year in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri due to a severe Easter
freeze, and in Louisiana, which is in a down-cycle production season.
Georgia\'s forecast, at 100 million pounds, would make the State the
leading pecan producer. The crop is over twice as large as last
season\'s and up 25 percent from 2005. Pecan trees in Georgia had a very
large nut set in 2007. Hot, dry weather limited nut size in dryland
orchards and limited disease and insect damage. The Easter freeze
damaged some trees in the eastern part of the State, but the major
growing area in the southwest escaped most of the damage. New Mexico\'s
production forecast of 71.0 million pounds would rank the State second
in pecans for 2007. Alabama\'s production is forecast at 11.0 million
pounds, up 83 percent from 2006 and nearly 3 times 2005. Two hurricane
seasons followed by very low production last year created a situation
where a majority of trees in the State set a very heavy crop in 2007.

[**Sugarcane:**]{.smallcaps} Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed
in 2007 is forecast at 30.4 million tons, unchanged from the September
forecast but up 3 percent from 2006. Sugarcane growers intend to harvest
883,500 acres for sugar and seed during the 2007 crop year, unchanged
from September but 14,600 acres less than last year. Yield is forecast
at 34.4 tons per acre, the same as last month but up 1.5 tons from last
year. The Louisiana harvested acreage is down 15,000 acres, yield up 1.7
tons, and production up 3 percent from 2006. Yields are forecast above
last year in all producing States except Texas, where the yield is
expected to decline 0.3 ton.

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 26%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 11%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 11%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 11%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="11"><p><strong><span class="smallcaps">Crop
Production</span></strong>: Acreage for harvest and forecasts of yield
and production for Florida</p>
<p>and United States as of October 1, 2007 with comparisons</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td rowspan="2">Crop</td>
<td colspan="3">Harvested acreage</td>
<td colspan="3">Yield per acre</td>
<td rowspan="2">Unit</td>
<td colspan="3">Production</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="2">2006</td>
<td><p>For</p>
<p>harvest</p>
<p>2007</p></td>
<td colspan="2">2006</td>
<td><p>Indicated</p>
<p>2007</p></td>
<td colspan="2">2006</td>
<td><p>Indicated</p>
<p>2007</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td colspan="3"><em>Thousands</em></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="3"><em>Thousands</em></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="11"><strong>FLORIDA</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Cotton <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>101</td>
<td colspan="2">82</td>
<td>789</td>
<td colspan="2">644</td>
<td><sup>2/</sup></td>
<td>166</td>
<td colspan="2">110</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Peanuts <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>120</td>
<td colspan="2">115</td>
<td>2,500</td>
<td colspan="2">2,700</td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>300,000</td>
<td colspan="2">310,500</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Pecans, All</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>500</td>
<td colspan="2">1,000</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Improved Varieties</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>200</td>
<td colspan="2">900</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Native and Seedling</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>300</td>
<td colspan="2">100</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="11"><blockquote>
<p>Potatoes:</p>
</blockquote></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Winter <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>5.5</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>3/</sup></td>
<td>250</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>3/</sup></td>
<td>Cwt</td>
<td>1,375</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>3/</sup></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Spring <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>22.6</td>
<td colspan="2">27.2</td>
<td>285</td>
<td colspan="2">284</td>
<td>Cwt</td>
<td>6,441</td>
<td colspan="2">7,726</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Sugarcane <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>400</td>
<td colspan="2">396</td>
<td>35.9</td>
<td colspan="2">36.9</td>
<td>Ton</td>
<td>14,346</td>
<td colspan="2">14,612</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Tobacco, Type 14 <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>1.1</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>4/</sup></td>
<td>2,600</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>4/</sup></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>2,860</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>4/</sup></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="11"><strong>UNITED STATES</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Corn for grain</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>70,648</td>
<td colspan="2">86,071</td>
<td>149.1</td>
<td colspan="2">154.7</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>10,534,868</td>
<td colspan="2">3,318,102</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Cotton, All <sup>5/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>12,731.5</td>
<td colspan="2">10,543.0</td>
<td>814</td>
<td colspan="2">826</td>
<td><sup>2/</sup></td>
<td>21,587.8</td>
<td colspan="2">18,153.5</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Hay, Alfalfa</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>21,384</td>
<td colspan="2">21,451</td>
<td>3.35</td>
<td colspan="2">3.37</td>
<td>Ton</td>
<td>71,666</td>
<td colspan="2">72,347</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Hay, All Other</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>39,423</td>
<td colspan="2">40,338</td>
<td>1.78</td>
<td colspan="2">1.87</td>
<td>Ton</td>
<td>70,000</td>
<td colspan="2">75,617</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Peanuts for nuts <sup>6/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>1,210</td>
<td colspan="2">1,190</td>
<td>2,863</td>
<td colspan="2">2,873</td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>3,464,250</td>
<td colspan="2">3,419,300</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Pecans, All</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>206,300</td>
<td colspan="2">319,605</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Improved Varieties</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>151,130</td>
<td colspan="2">260,361</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Native and Seedling</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>55,170</td>
<td colspan="2">59,244</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="11"><blockquote>
<p>Potatoes:</p>
</blockquote></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Winter <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>17.5</td>
<td colspan="2">11.5</td>
<td>257</td>
<td colspan="2">215</td>
<td>Cwt</td>
<td>4,495</td>
<td colspan="2">2,473</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Spring <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>67.5</td>
<td colspan="2">70.4</td>
<td>293</td>
<td colspan="2">294</td>
<td>Cwt</td>
<td>19,766</td>
<td colspan="2">20,668</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Summer <sup>1/</sup></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>53.9</td>
<td colspan="2">50.3</td>
<td>337</td>
<td colspan="2">328</td>
<td>Cwt</td>
<td>18,166</td>
<td colspan="2">16,504</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Fall</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>983.0</td>
<td colspan="2">996.2</td>
<td>406</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>7/</sup></td>
<td>Cwt</td>
<td>398,921</td>
<td colspan="2"><sup>7/</sup></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Rice</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>2,821</td>
<td colspan="2">2,731</td>
<td>6,868</td>
<td colspan="2">7,215</td>
<td><sup>8/</sup></td>
<td>193,736</td>
<td colspan="2">197,051</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Sorghum for grain</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>4,937</td>
<td colspan="2">6,702</td>
<td>56.2</td>
<td colspan="2">74.8</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>277,538</td>
<td colspan="2">501,457</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Soybeans for beans</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>74,602</td>
<td colspan="2">62,818</td>
<td>42.7</td>
<td colspan="2">41.4</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>3,188,247</td>
<td colspan="2">2,598,046</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Sugarbeets</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>1,303.6</td>
<td colspan="2">1,241.4</td>
<td>26.1</td>
<td colspan="2">24.5</td>
<td>Ton</td>
<td>34,064</td>
<td colspan="2">30,382</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="11"><blockquote>
<p>Sugarcane for</p>
</blockquote></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Sugar and seed</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>898.1</td>
<td colspan="2">883.5</td>
<td>32.9</td>
<td colspan="2">34.4</td>
<td>Ton</td>
<td>29,580</td>
<td colspan="2">30,411</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Tobacco, All</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>338.9</td>
<td colspan="2">355.1</td>
<td>2,144</td>
<td colspan="2">2,000</td>
<td>Lbs.</td>
<td>726,644</td>
<td colspan="2">709,965</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Wheat, All:</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>46810</td>
<td colspan="2">51,011</td>
<td>38.7</td>
<td colspan="2">40.5</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>1,812,036</td>
<td colspan="2">2,066,722</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Winter</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>31,117</td>
<td colspan="2">35,952</td>
<td>41.7</td>
<td colspan="2">42.2</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>1,298,081</td>
<td colspan="2">1,515,989</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Durum</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>1,815</td>
<td colspan="2">2,112</td>
<td>29.5</td>
<td colspan="2">33.9</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>53,475</td>
<td colspan="2">71,686</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><blockquote>
<p>Other spring</p>
</blockquote></td>
<td>13,878</td>
<td colspan="2">12,947</td>
<td>33.2</td>
<td colspan="2">37.0</td>
<td>Bu.</td>
<td>460,480</td>
<td colspan="2">479,047</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="11"><p><sup>1/</sup> Estimates for current year carried
forward from earlier forecast.</p>
<p><sup>2/</sup> Yield in pounds, production in 480 pound net weight
bales.</p>
<p><sup>3/</sup> Winter potatoes combined with spring.</p>
<p><sup>4/</sup> Estimates discontinued in 2007.</p>
<p><sup>5/</sup> Includes both upland and Amer-Pima cotton.</p>
<p><sup>6/</sup> 2006 revised.</p>
<p><sup>7/</sup> First forecast in November.</p>
<p><sup>8/</sup> Yield in pounds, production in hundredweight. Includes
sweet rice production.</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>