yy

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1966 = * : - Crop ‘Reporting Board, SRS, USDA’

CITRUS: The Nation's 1965-66 orange crop is expected to total 133.0 million
boxes, This is 10 percent larger than last season's crop and 15
percent above average, Florida is expected to account for 71 percent of total
U. S, production, California 26 percent and Arizona and Texas 3 percent, At
the end of February, about 48 percent of the total orange crop had been har-
vested--the same percentage as was harvested at that date last season,

Picking of Early and Midseason varieties in Florida and Texas is nearing
completion, Nearly ali of Arizona's Navel crop and more than half of
California's was harvested by the end of February. Of the total 1965-66 orange
crop, Early, Midseason and Navel varieties account for about 55 percent, com-
pared with 52 percent last season.

Production of Valencia oranges is expected to total 60,2 million boxes,
up y percent from last season. Florida accounts for nearly all of the increase,
Meturity of Florida's Valencia crop is lagging about 3 weeks behind last year,
By the end of February about 6 percent of the crop had been harvested compared

with 9 percent a year ago, Picking of Valencia oranges is underway in Arizona
and Texas,

Grapefruit’ production is forecast at 45,2 million boxes, up 10 percent
from last year and 15 percent above average. Florida's crop is forecast at
34.0 million boxes, down one million boxes from the February estimate. This
reduction results from the January 31st freeze, which retarded fruit sizing.
Approximately 60 percent of the Nation's crop had been harvested by the end
of February, compared with 57 percent at the same time last year, About two-
thirds of Florida's grapefruit was harvested by the end of February, In
Texas about 63 percent has been picked, About 29 percent of Arizona's crop
and 18 percent of California's has been harvested.

Lemon production is forecast at 17.4 million boxes, up 19 percent from
last season and 7 percent above average. Both California and Arizona expect
larger crops than last year and average, By the end of February, harvest of
Arizona's crop was about completed, but only 21 percent of California's crop
had been picked,

Florida's citrus trees show little effects from the freezing weather
of January 31. Groves that were damaged appear to have suffered only leaf
kill, New leaves are appearing to the tips of most limbs, and blossom buds
are making their appearance, Undamaged groves are covered with bloom buds
with much open bloom in the southern and central citrus area, Adequate soil
moisture has stimulated growth and good care that has been given groves the
past five years is evident in their good condition and appearance. {ft appears... «
that the freeze will have little effect on next year's crop. A

In California, cold weather has slowed the sizing of fruit, Navel and
Valencia oranges are smaller than normal for this time of year, A considerable
volume of the lemons now being picked are of small sizes, Below freezing
temperatures occurred during February, but wind machines ard orchard heaters
warded off frost damage. Rain maintained soil moisture and a normal
snowpack is expected to provide water for summer irrigation,

-S-


CROP PRODUCTION, March’ 1966 " : _ “Crop Reporting Board; SRS, USDA

“AVOCADOS 1/
TT 7 TT 7 7 7 Producti

State and ene ee | PEO

Seasonal Group ios 963, : 1963-

: Tons Tons Tons Tons
California, All. : . 48,460 46,800 24,000 6/
Fall and Winter 3/ =: 5/ 32,200 12,800 31,000
Spring and Summer 4/ ; 5/ 34,600 - 11,200 6
Florida : 8,300 _. 13,900 ° 13,400 “2,900
. United States _ 56,760 . 60,700 "37,400 : 6/

lf Crop year begins with bloom of the year shown and ends with completion of harvest:
the following year. . . .

2/ Includes quantities unharvested on account of economic conditions, and excess
cullage of harvested fruit. :

Includes "Fuerte" and other fall and winter varieties.
Includes "Hass" and other spring and summer varieties.

Not available.

ereee

First forecast for California "Spring and Summer" varieties, California "All"
and U, S. to be released as of April 1, 1966.

* POTATOES , IRISH

Seasonal ~ — Production ~~ -__
group . erage: 3 Indi- .
1965: cated : :
__SeGR Boson | 2? Togs. 2960-645 "1 1966 nse “hE 2868 eee
~ “yoaoTM "15050" 1,006
Cwt. Cwt. owt. ‘owt. owt.
Winter:
Fla. 1h5 2ho 1,2h2° 1,450 1,568
Calif... a 2,747 2,209 3,50) __
Total’ ° 7:_ 22.0 19.4 25.8 _190_._ _18: 32990 73,659” 5,072 __
Early Spring: Oo ; .
Pla: -Hastings - 30.5 162 155. pre 11 3,665 4,309 Apr. 11
_ Other 3.0 132 5 378 323,—Ci"'
Texas 2-3 103 _ _ 65_ _ — — 2301 266 8
Total _ wt 26.7 3523 38.8 256 1397 7 7 Wa 7a" “a eo87 FT


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1966 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

POULTRY AND EGGS: Egg production during February totaled 4,924 million

eggs, down 3 percent from February 1965 and down 2 per-
cent from the 1960-64 February average (48 State comparisons). Number of
layers during February averaged 298.7 million, down 1 percent from the same
month a year earlier and down seasonally 1 percent from January 1966. Pro-
duction per layer averaged 16.5 eggs during February, a decrease of 2 per-
cent from February 1965. Production per layer adjusted for number of days
showed a 2 percent seasonal increase from January to February. Aggregate
egg production January and February 1966 was 10,330 million eggs or down 2
percent from the corresponding period a year earlier.

February egg production set record highs in the South Central and
Western regions while in the East North Central it was the lowest since
1940. Regional production was above February 1965 by 3 percent in the
South Atlantic and 1 percent in both the South Central and Western States.
Production decreased 11 percent in the West North Central, 5 percent in
the East North Central, and 4 percent in the North Atlantic region.

Rate of lay per layer during February was 16.5 eggs per 100 layers
compared with 16.8 a year earlier. February rate of lay was below a year
earlier in all regions except in the Fast North Central where it was the
same.

Layer numbers on March 1 are estimated at 297.5 million, down 1
percent from February 1, 1966 and down fractionally from March 1, 1965.
Compared to a year earlier layer numbers decreased 8 percent in the
West North Central, 5 percent in the East North Central, and 2 percent
in the North Atlantic regions. There was a 5 percent increase over
March 1, 1965 in the South Atlantic region, a percent increase in the
West, and a 3 percent increase in the South Central States. The March 1
rate of lay per 100 layers was 59.9 compared with 57.9 a month earlier
and with 61.0 a year earlier.

HENS AND PULLETS OF LAYING AGE, AND EGGS LAID
PER 100 LAYERS ON FARMS MARCH 1

HENS AND PULLETS OF LAYING AGE ON FARMS, MARCH 1

Thou. Thou. Thou. Thou. Thou. Thou, Thou. Thou.
4B,382 65,659 43,257 51,953 43,127 301,721 ae

T6304
196 4378 433936 54377 47,50 4B3359 298,034 298,901
1966 433700 1238h £93900 307676 207889 S07hkg 2967698 2972531

EGGS LAID PRR 100 LAYERS ON FARMS, MARCH 1

: Number Number Number Number Number Number Number Number
1960-64 (Av.): “58.2 60.6 62.4 59.0 56.6 “61.7 60.0 so=

1965 59.7 60.7 63.3 60.7 59.5 61.9 62.0 61.0
1966 58.7 61.2 62.5 59.3 58.0 60.1 59.9 59.9


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1966 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA .

Harvest of Desert Valleys grapefruit is expected to increase during March.
Grapefruit in other areas are generally small but with favorable weather,
sizes will improve. Cool temperatures during February slowed sizing of
Navel oranges. Approximately 55 percent of the crop was harvested by the
end of February and those remaining are expected to attain normal sizes vith
warm weather. Valencia orange trees have a heavy set of fruit. Lemon
harvest was active during February. Fruit is coloring more rapidly than
usual. Harvest of lemons is complete in the Desert areas; 80 percent
finished in Central California; and in Southern California the crop is about
“25 percent harvested.

Harvest of Arizona! s Valencia oranges was underway the last half of ©
February. Shipments are expected to be light through March, but increase
in April. Grapefruit harvest continued light. Weather has been favorable
for sizing and coloring.

In Texas, citrus harvest was slowed by frequent rains during February.
Trees are in good condition, and with abundant soil moisture fruit sizes
continue to increase. Approximately 63 percent of the grapefruit was
- harvested by the end of February. Picking of Early and Midseason oranges
is virtually complete, and Valencia oranges are moving in light. volume.

AVOCADOS: Production of fall and winter varieties of avocados in California
is expected to total 31,000 tons, sharply above last season's

crop of 12,800 tons. Considerable tonnage of Fuertes remains to be picked

although harvest of “other fall and winter" varieties is near completion.

POTATOES: Winter potato production is estimated at 5,072,000 hundredweight,
¢ down 1 percent from a month earlier but 39 percent above last
vyear's below average crop. In the Ft. Myers-Immokalee area of Florida,
digging of red skinned varieties was active in late February and harvest of
white skinned varieties was underway early in March. Harvesting in Dade
County is expected to be general by mid-March. Harvest of the Everglades
crop has been completed. Digging in California in the Perris-Hemet district
of Riverside County and in some of the later areas of the San Joaquin Val. Jey
is active and is expected to continue so during the rest of March.

There are 38,800 acres of early spring potatoes for harvest, 10 per-
cent more than the 35,300 acres harvested lest year. The Hastings area .
of Florida has a record high 30,500 acres, a tenth more than a year a
earlier. The acreage in other Florida areas is below last year but in
Texas is up 29 percent to 5,300 acres. In the Hastings area, vines of
early plantings were frozen back to the ground in late January, and
some acreage was replanted. Soil moisture is excellent. Growers expect
to begin harvest around mid-April, slightly later than usual. Planting
in north and west Florida sections was delayed by heavy rains. Some acreage
in the Everglades was replanted following the frost damage Jate in January. .
In Texas, growers planted much above their December intentions with most of... _
the increase in the Mission-Sullivan City area of the Rio Grande Valley.
Slightly more than half of the acreage in the Valley is planted to white
varieties with most of this acreage grown under contract for chips.

~6-


__...% 2 1959-63: 19K 1965 2965.
ORANGES :
EARLY, MIDSEASON &: a
NAVEL VARIETIES 3/: _
Calif. © : 11,600 “15,600 19,000 435,000 585,000 712,000
Fla., All : 46,0h0 46,400 52,000 2,072,200 2,088,000 2,340,000
Temple : 3,580 3,800 4,000 ~- 161,200 171,000 180,000
Other : 42,460 ., 42,600 48,000 1,911,000 1,917,000 2,160,000
Texas : 1,065 570 goo . 47,914. 25,6 40,500
Ariz. : 642 670 9TO 2h ,080 25,100 36,400
en WA 7,390, 300 ue
Total Above H
Varieties __ _ _ 2 59,511 _ &
VALENCIA:
Calif. : 13,860 16,900 26,000 15 t sBOO 600, 000 800,000
Fla. : 38,840 39,800 12,000 1,747,400 1,791,000 1,890,900
Texas : 691 9 310 7350 77 3088 ; fie ; 32800
tT ede. --- eb 930 _ 1, 750_ _ _ 1,800 _ _ 34,860 _ _ 65,600 _ _ _67,500 _
ictal 3
Yalencta a -—-~ 2 56,321 _ 57,860_ _ _60,150 2,408,145 _ 2,470,600 _ 2,573,300 _
Calif. : 27,460 1,600 35,000 21,029,800 _ 1,185,000 1,312,000
Fla. : 84,880 6,200 gh ,000 3,813,600 3,879,000 4,230,000
Texas : 1,756 880 1,250 78,999 39,600 56 , 300
Ariz. 2 «61,572 2,420 2,770 , 90,700 103,900
a  -. : ~# 72390, 300 LLL Ea
115,832 _121,108_ _ 133,020 4,994,729 _ 5,194,660 _ 5,702,200 _
Fla., All: : 30,680 31,900 34, 000 1, 303,800 1,356,000 1,445,000
Seedless 20,560 21,700 23,000 73,800 922,000 977,000
Pink : _ 7,620 8,700 000 323,800 370,000 382,000
White : 12,940 13,000 14,000 50,000 52,000 238° 000
Other : 10,120 10,200 115000 30,000 3000 68,000
Texas 2 3,05 2,000 3,800 122,160° (0,000 252,000
Ariz. > 2,626 2,900 200 92,800 102, C00
Calif., All 2 2,996 4,230 5200 138, 000 137,000
Desert Valleys: 1,576 2,530 2,500 1, 000
2,420 _ 1,700. _ _ 1,700 _ _ 47,600. _ _ 51,000 _ _ 57,000 _
39,356 _ 41,030_ _ 45,200 _| 60_ _ 1,666,800 _ 1,836,000 _
15,18Q 13,500 15,500 13, 000 89,000
{088 _“ttio _ "ato __7US20__ 72%200 __ 773/700 _
= 16,268 — Uh,610_ 7 Ti7,hho DT = 555,200 ~~ 862,700 _

Average:

000

Includes quantities not harvested, or harvested but not utilized, on account of economic conditions, and quantities

donated to charity. 2/ Net content of box varies. Ay
Arizona, 75 lbs.; Flaride snd other States, 90 Ibs.5

California areas, 67 Ibs.; Florida 85 3hs. and. Texas 40 Ibs. Lemons ~ 76 Ibs.; Limes - 80 lbs.; Tangelsé ~ 90 The and
Tangerines - 95 Ibs. 3/ Navel and Miscellaneous varieties in Califcrnia and Ariyona. Eerly and

4/ Production too small to warrant a Quantitative estimate.

-9-

proximate averages are as followst Cranges ~ California and
rapefruit + California, Desert Valleys and Arizona 64 lbs.; other

ason. yurieties
in Florida and Texas, All varieties in Louisiana. For all Statea except Florida, includes small quantities of tangerines.



wk,

bd Release:
| March 10, 1966
3:00 P.M, (E,S,T.)

UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY AS OF MARCH 1, 1966

CITRUS FRUITS 1/

: boxes boxes boxes boxes

Oranges ......... eee
Grapefruit ..
Lemons ...

115, 832 92,755 121,108 133,020
39,356 -... 34,210 41,030 45,200
19, 040 14,610 17, 440

:Average: : Ind. : Ind.
:1960-64: 19° 1966 :1960-64:_19°°_: 1966 : 1960-64: 19° : 1966 _
:1,000 1,000 1,600. © 1,000 1,000 1,000
tacres acres acres Cwt, Cwt. Cwt. cwt. cwt, cwt,

: 21,0 194 25.8 190 189 197 3,990 3,659 5,072

26, r 172

: : Average :
1960-64 : 1965; 1966 2196064 2/ :

: Million Million Million
pounds pounds pounds Millions Millions Millions

10,028 ..10,419> 9,865
9,820 9,254

1/ Monthly totals may not add to cur ulative totals due to differences in rounding.
2/ Data for Alaska and Hawaii not available for inclusion in average,

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Statistical Reporting Service Crop Reporting Board
CrPr 2-2 (3-66) Washington, D. C.




CROP PRODUCTION, March 1966

5

Crop Reperting Board, SRS, USDA
FEBRUARY EGG PRODUCTION

Eggs per ~ y ~~ ~ — 7 Total eggs produced ~ ~ 7 —
100 layers : During February :2_mos. Jan. & Feb. _
T965_: 1966 3 _1965 6
Number Number Mil. Mil. Mil. Mil.
Maine pid 335) 1,750 15792 72 78 155 165
N.H. : 1,525 1,570 1,708 1,820 26 29 56 61
vt. : 619 62h 1,778 1,778 11.0 11.1 23 23
Mass 2,562 2,500 1,722 1,694 hy i) 95 90
R.I 376 364 1,702 1,702 6.4 6.2 pa B
Conn : 3,4bd 3,4 1,658 1,674 57 59 122 12
N.Y. 93494 37606 U3646 13608 = 156 157 328 334
N.J. 2 7,510 6,763 1,988 1,473 114 100 238 20
Pa. z _ 15,256 _ 14,387, 1,694 15630. 258 235. eh
Weatl. : _ Wi gob” 7 43,866- “1,657_ 1,634 _ Tuk ~ 7 T7a7_ — “ay573" ~ 7 T4515
Ohio 2: LVyoer 10,288 “1,686 “1,722 186 LIT 393 372
Ind. : 10,777 10,186 1,669 1,669 180 170 361 358
Tl. : 3351 8,309 1,641 156 35 285
Mich : 32 4 6,131 1,722
Wis. t pe —_ ght 1,722.
E.N.Cent.: 952 _ 41,888" 1.68 1 _
Minn. : Bs 10,6807 15770 12 aE
Iowa :  17,07h 15,756 1,820
Mo. : 6,292 5,921 1,658
N.Dak. : 1,806 1,632 1,523
$.Dak. z 6,464 6,233, 1,747
Nebr. : 6,518 phe 1,725
Kans. :_ 4,ho6  — _4380_ _1,702_
W.N.Cent.: _ 54,7827 ~ 50,250_ “1, 752_
Del. : 1 So fi 580° 1,562
Md. : ll 1
ee Meee et
Va. 3
Wc. : 117308 11542 12236
S.C : 5,026 5,092 1,708
Ga. : 15,380 17,016 1,663
Fla. : _ 6,762 _ _7,862_ _1,775_
S.Atl. 2 _ B7,6847 7 50,2007 “1.6717
Ky. 2 7 75,138 5,033” “1,459
Tenn. : 5 22h 5,059 1,439
Ale. : 10,030 10,519 1,655
Miss. : 10,585 11,723 1,750
Ark. + 10,706 11,368 1,652
La. : 2,938 3,126 1,565
Okla. : 2,534 25366 1,596
Texas . 12,506 _ 12,974 _15579_
S.Cent. : _ 59,6617 ~ 61,1687 1,611_
Mont. 978 978 ~1,590
Tdaho : 1,191 1,132 1,792
Wyo. : 282 280 1,666
Colo. : 1,324 1,284 1,635
N.Mex. : 6T 758 1 Sef
Ariz. : 91 998 1,64
Utah 3 1,151 1,210 1,708
Nev. 3 yo 1,383
Wash. t 4,867 4,792 =1,781
Oreg. 2,365 2,400 1,758
Calif. — 34,781_ _ 36,557_ _1,728_ _i,¢
West 22 #8566 _ 2031" ae =
States: 299,549 _297,805_ 1,683" _
Alaska : oT * Tr 15562 >
Hawaii > HO) 803 13753.
U.S. _ 300,425 1,683,



CROP PROFUCTION,.-March: 1966

Crop Reporting Board, SRS; USDA

MILK PRODUCTION; February ‘milk production in the United States is estimated
vat 9,254 million pounds, down 6 percent from February a year

ago.and the smallest output for the.month since 1959.

increased 4 percent from January to February, a slightly smaller gain than:

a year earlier,

Production per day

MONTHLY MILK FROTUCTION, FEBRUARY 1966, WITH. COMPARISONS

(In millions of pounds)

Maine yy 56 59 :

N. #, : T/ 31 31 :

ve. : i 151 158 :

Mass : T/ 63 67 ft

R, I : Lf 8.0 833 tt

Conn Y/ | 56 60 rae:
N.Y. : 822 879 915 84k oz: Miss.
NJ. : 92 86 88 ~~ 83° os: Ark,
Pa. : 528 537 584 - 532 ot: La.
Ohio : 405 394 416 378 os: Okla,
Ind, + 2by 234 231 221 :: Texas
Tl. 2 325 317 322 «9301 = :: Mont.
Mich, : 4ie 4e8 4s 2: Idaho
Wis, +2,461 1,580 1,515 it Wyos
Minn, tr 959 1,006 90TF tr Colo. ~
Towa : 468 486 4ez tt N. Mex,
Mo. : 257 228 220 ar: Avia, 7
N. Dak. : 138-: 126 107° Utah
8. Dak, : 11h 122 111 i: Nev.
Nebr 143 135 129 i Wash.
Kans, > Uhh 43 134 : Oreg.
Del : Y 13.2 13.6 13.2 :: Calif.
Ma 119 tek 235. 125) :: Aleska
Va 137 133 U4 130s; Hawaii
W, Va. Ay 43 39 ots

N.C, 117 113 119-1123): UL SL

Vy Averages not available.

:Feb, Av.: Feb. : Jan. : Feb,

Fhe ee oe eee

:1960-64 : 1965_: _1966 : 1966_
a 39 ah 39
16 B 82 73
109 120 12h 115
162 167 178 =: 168
BT 138 1s 138
66 6h 7h 63
83 9 gl BL
58 5k 55 53
u/ 76 8 ©6778
107 103 103-103
230° 234 257 228
31 29 27 27
19 110 109 «106
13.1 12.3 12,0 11.9
67° iH CS 61
y 22 2h 230
L/ a ae Se
“58 5h 59 sh
8.9 9.9 10.4 10.0
yy 138 149 Ud
& 5 62 6h 62
616 636. 668 . 622
1.70 1,61 1,69 1.5%
10.3 11.3 14.0 12.7
5,63% 5,865
2.9820 9,254

CROP REPORTING BOARD


CROP PROIUCTION, March 1966 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, ‘USDA

Nearly half of the acreage for spring oats in Oklahoma had been seeded
by March 1, but planting of spring small grains was just starting in Kansas.
Cotton, corn and sorghum planting was started in South Texas but was delayed
by wet fields. Flax in Texas was blooming but yellowing some from excess
moisture,: Early varieties of peaches were starting to bloom in Georgia.
Harvest of sugarcane was proceeding repidly in Florida, Tobacco seeding
had extended into Virginia,

Across the mid-U. S., during periods of favorable weather farmers were
busy top-dressing small grains, spreading lime and fertilizers, and sowing
grass Seéas, Little plowing was done as soils were either frozen or too
wet, -In northern areas, farmers were beginning to make plans for the
coming crop season and buying seed and fertilizer. Farm work was mainly
the care of livestock and other winter chores.. 7

Field preparation for planting spring crops was underway in California
but behind schedule because of wet soils. Sugar beets were being harvested.
Some fields were being worked in the Pacific Northwest and planting of .
spring grains, early potatoes, green peas, onions, and sugar beets was
starting. Cold weather in Arizona has slowed alfalfa growth although some
cutting has’ been done. In most other Western areas, farm work was. limited
to usual winter chores because of the cold weather.

Livestock Require Heavy Supplemental Feeding

Snow cover and wet soils in February limited grazing, requiring heavy
supplemental feeding in most States, Hay and feed supplies generally are
adequate to carry livestock numbers until spring grazing, despite some local
shortages: in the Northeast. An open November and December helped to
maintain adequate feed reserves, Livestock were kept in good condition during
the month with no unusual losses of newborn stock reported,

In the South, small grains and winter pastures provided limited forage
because of the wet and cold. Leasing of Kansas Flint Hills pastures was
underway with demand strong. Condition of Western range feed on March 1
was ‘above last year and average. Prospects for early grass in the Western
range areas will depend on moisture supply and warming.weather, Ranchers
are optimistic about future. range feed because current conditions are
favorable, :

There is no detailed information on the effects of the early March
blizzard in the Northern Great Plains, Some livestock losses occurred
but the extent of such losses has not been fully assessed at this time,


~~

“ CROP PRODUCTION, March 1966 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

Winter's brief respite in the East ended the third week when northerly
winds pushed an Arctic air mass across the Midwest and East dropping
temperatures below zero in 17 States from the central Rockies to New
England. The cold weather, with snow and freezing rains, extended into
the upper reaches of the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. This slowed
growth and harvest of vegetables but caused little damage. Most of the
West experienced less temperature. change during the last half of
February where temperatures were near normal. .

Soil Moisture Favorable

Precipitation during February was generally above normal from the
Western Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast, but below normal in much of
the West. Soil moisture supplies in the East were at the highest level
in months because of above normal precipitation in January and February.

In the West, moisture supplies have been adequate because low tem-
peratures minimized moisture needs. Topsoils were drying in parts of the
Southern and Central Plains and moisture needs will increase as tempera-
tures moderate. Supplies of irrigation water in the West are expected to
be adequate because of good reserves in storage reservoirs.

A blizzard hit the Northern Plains on March 1 and continued through
the week. The storm was centered in the Dakotas with heavy snow and winds
extending into Nebraska and western Minnesota.

Winter Grain Prospects Good

Prospects for fall seeded small grains continued uniformly good
throughout most of the Nation. Low temperatures resulted in a minimum of
freezing and thawing in February and winterkill of winter wheat has been
light. Topdressing was active when weather permitted with reported in-
creases in use of fertilizers. Farmers in the Plains area are generally
optimistic about this year's prospects, although in the Texas Panhandle
and New Mexico dry topsoils are causing some concern. Low temperatures
have minimized moisture needs, but when temperatures moderate seasonally
moisture needs for dryland wheat will increase.

Snow cover was generally sufficient in Montana to protect winter wheat
during periods of extreme cold and survival prospects are good. In the
Pacific Northwest, small grains have wintered well and growth has started
in warmer areas. In the Corn Belt, winter wheat is in good to excellent
condition with little evidence of winter injury. In the Southeast, small
grains continue to improve although cold and wet weather have slowed
growth and limited grazing.

Wet Soils Slow Land Preparation In South

Low temperatures and wet soils curtailed field activities in South
Central and South Atlantic States but conditions are not serious as much
land was plewed dast fall. Spring grain seeding. is progressing slowly.

-3-


CROP PROLUCTION, .March 1966 _ - _ Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

GENERAL CROP REPORT AS OF MARCH 1, 1966

. Cold weather during February, slowed growth of winter grains, but
winterkill was light, according to the .Crop Reporting Board, Prospects
for small grains continued uniformly good throughout most of the Nation,
although in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico dry topsoils were causing
some concerh, February precipitation was generally above normal east of
the Great Plains ‘but,below normal in much of the Far West. Wet soils
slowed land preparation, in the South but much land already had been plowed
jast fall.

Production of winter vegetables for fresh market is expected to be 8
(percent below. last year and 4 percent less than average. Total prospective
1966 planted acreage for green peas, tomatoes, and winter: spinach for
processing is 6 percent above the previous year, Winter potato production
is expected to be 39 percent above last year's below average crop and
early spring potato acreage is 10 percent lerger.than a year ago.

. » Livestock required heavy supplenental feeding duriiig February but
were kept in good condition. February milk production was 6 percent .
below last year and-the lowest output for the month since 1959.. Egg
production during February was 3 percent, less than a year. earlier and 2
percent | below average.

Citrus Production Above Avérage 7

The 1965-66 citrus crop is expected to be'10 percerit larger than last
season and 14 percent-above average. By March 1, 48 percent: of the
orange crop. and 60 percent of the grapefruit had been harvestéd, Orange
harvest is. running at about the. same rate as last season but grapefruit
harvest is a little further advanced, .

. Deciduous fruit and nut trees ‘in California are beginning to break
dormancy, Almonds and apricots are in full bloom in some aréds. Peaches
‘in the Sacrariento Valley are beginning to bloom.

Eebruaty. Temperatures Below -Normal

8 Temperatures. during ‘February alternated between warm and cold but
for the month averaged below normal over most of the Nation. The cold
weather retarded plant growth but caused relatively little damage.
February began with Arctic air spreading from the Rockies eastward but
temperatures were above normal in the West.. .This pattern quickly
changed to springtime weather over most of the eastern half of the ,
Nation but the West then experienced much below normal temperatures.

oan , -2-