In the North Central States farmers got an earlier than normal start on fieldwork. Spring-
like weather resulted in earlier than usual snow melt and soil drying. Spreading fertilizer and
seeding of legumes was ahead of normal. Spring plowing was well ahead of normal in most areas,
In Illinois, corn and soybean acreage was about 86 percent plowed, well ahead of 1975 and normal.
Farmers were delayed in their spring activities in Michigan and Wisconsin by a severe ice storm
which caused considerable damage to trees and fences and left debris along field boundaries.

Field work continued active in the South Atlantic and South Central States. Most farmers
there also got an early start on their spring field activities and progress was generally ahead
of normal. Field work was delayed by wet soil and severe thunderstorms in Alabama, Georgia and
Mississippi. Some tornado damage and local flooding were reported, Spring plowing, topdressing
and other fieldwork made good progress in the drier localities. The Louisiana rice crop was 24
percent seeded compared with 37 percent in 1975 and 23 percent average. In Texas, seeding pro-
gressed along the Upper Gulf Coast and South Central regions. A few early rice fields were
seeded in Arkansas, Tobacco transplanting was nearly complete in Florida and land preparations
were underway in Virginia, In South Carolina, transplanting was 38 percent complete. Farmers in
Kentucky and Tennessee seeded plant beds, Kentucky seeding was 87 percent complete. Tobacco
transplanting was just starting in North Carolina with about 5 percent of the acreage set by
April 1.

In the Western States, fieldwork has generally been slower than in other parts of the Nation
due to less than normal rainfall and below normal temperatures, In Washington, seeding for this
year's spring wheat, sugarbeets, and potatoes began about mid-March in the Columbia Basin but
was interrupted by strong winds toward the end of the month. Arizona alfalfa hay growth has been
good and first cuttings were underway in some of the watmer central and western areas. Planting
of cotton is active in the California desert areas and increasing in the San Joaquin Valley.
Corn planting in California is increasing slowly with earliest fields emerging, Fieldwork in
the southwestern area of Idaho began during the month with the planting of spring grains, sugar-
beets and onions.

WINTER WHEAT GROWTH SLOW

The Nation's winter wheat crop, despite early breaking of dormancy this spring, made less
than normal growth during March, Near normal conditions prevail in most areas outside the major
winter wheat producing southern and central Great Plains, In the dry areas of Colorado, Kansas,
New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, winter wheat prospects deteriorated during March as below normal
precipitation continued in this drouth area.

In Kansas, the Nation's leading wheat State, prospects varied considerably. In the western
two-thirds of the State growth has been below normal due to a shortage of topsoil and subsoil
moisture. In the southwest quarter of the States, stands are thin, winterkill is above normal,
and many fields have been partially or completely tilled to control soil erosion, Wheat growth
in other areas of the State has been near normal, All Oklahoma wheat producing areas were in
need of general rains, By April 1 approximately half of the acreage was in the jointing stage.
Some wheat is being grazed out, as farmers weigh the possibility of a wheat harvest. Wheat on the
Texas High and Low Plains was making fair to good growth where irrigation water was available, but
dryland prospects continued to deteriorate. In Central and East Texas, recent rains have improved
crop prospects, but across South Texas and the Edwards Plateau, prospects were well below normal.

In Colorado, winter wheat continued to deteriorate during March. Dry soils, high winds and
poor stands have made prospects dim in the southeast area of the State. While the northeastern
area has not had significant precipitation this spring, the soil moisture situation was better
than in the southeast area and current prospects are for a near normal crop if average rainfall is
received during April, Nebraska winter wheat remains in mostly fair condition with some wind
erosion and winterkill caused by the dry conditions at seeding last fall.

The winter wheat crop was in generally good to excellent condition east of the Mississippi.
The crop was beginning to head in Mississippi and Georgia. Generally warmer than normal tempera~
tures in the North Central States resulted in winter wheat breaking dormancy earlier than usual,

In the Pacific Northwest the crop is developing slowly with warmer temperature needed to
promote growth. In northern Idaho there is some concern over possible loss due to heaving and in
Washington there are isolated areas of winterkill, In Montana winter wheat conditions range from
fair to good with some wind damage reported.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 5 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA.


POTATOES:

‘SEASONAL GROUP AREA HARVESTED : YIELD PER ACRE PRODUCTION
AND ? TINDICATED? INDICATED: : : INDICATED
STATE 21975: 1976 (1974 1975 1976 1974 =; 19751976
1,000 ACRES cur 1,000 Cw
WINTER: : 13.7 14.3 14.6 214 202 207 2,933 2,887 3,024
SPRING: 1/
ALA 12.5 10.6 1.5 145 130 150 1,813 1,378 1,725
ARIZ t 8.6 6.2 6.7 260 245 260 2,236 1,519 1,742
CALIF 35.5 27.6 34.8 385 380 360 13,668 10,488 12,528
FLA-HASTINGS 18.8 16.2 19.0 175 195 190 3,290 3,159 3,610
OTHER : 2.8 1g 2.7 170 185 180 476 352 486
LA 2.8 2.6 2.9 90 70 85 252 182 247
MIss 2.0 1.9 2.0 95 90 100 190 7. 200
NC 13.0 12.0 13.0 165 160 155 2,145 1,920 2,015
TEX 7.4 5.5 6.8 130 150 125 962 825 850
TOTAL 103.4 84.5 99.4 262 237 235 25,032 19,994 23,403

T7 1976 REVISED SPRING PLANTED ACREAGE WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS REPORT TO BE

RELEASED APRIL 15, 1976.

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITION, APRIL 1:
GOOD TO EXCELLENT, 80 AND OVER; POOR TO FAIR, 65-79;

VERY POOR, 50-64; SEVERE DROUGHT, 35-49; EXTREME DROUGHT, UNDER 35

: AVERAGE

: AVERAGE : : : 19 :
STATE # iges74 2 1975 ; 1976 5 T6574 | 75 : 1976
ALA : 72 a 82 > 83 80 84
ARIZ : 78 75 73 79 89 82
ARK : 7 80 88 73 70 60
CALIF : 80 88 49 2 83 85 85
COLO : 78 6L 64 #2N DAK : oY 60 75
DEL : 82 89 91 :30HIO 2 83 84 86
FLA 3 73 75 80 2 77 76 14
Ga : 79 78 80 : 82 84 88
IDAHO 4 88 87 + 78 14 84
ILL 86 83 90 : ol 56 63
IND 87 87 90 > 78 78 84
IOWA y 83 83 : 70 68 53
KANS 80 76 ae : 82 75 80
KY 82 84 a9 2 83 89 90
LA 73 7 80 + 84 86 80
iy 80 86 87 : 76 79 82
MISS a 7 76 2 1 75 81
MO 80 7 82 :
MONT aU] 72 84 :
NEBR i/ 60 69 30 STATES 2/: 77 77 73
2 37 STATES + 75 4

T/ DATA NOT AVATLABLE,
2/ STATES FOR WRICH COMPARABLE DATA ARE AVAILABLE.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 10

CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


Grapefruit harvest was 70 percent complete by April 1, same as last season. Of the crop
harvested to date, processors have used 54 percent, the same as last season.

Lemon harvest as of April 1 was half complete compared with 64 percent on April 1, 1975.
Processors have utilized 39 percent of this season's crop compared with 65 percent in the same
period last year.

GRAPEFRUIT: U.S. grapefruit production is expected to total 68.9 million boxes, one percent

less than last month's forecast, but 12 percent above last season. In Florida, crop
prospects at 49,0 million boxes are down 2 percent from last month, but 10 percent above last
season. Harvest is 75 percent complete. The Texas crop at 11.0 million boxes is unchanged from
last month, but Sl percent larger than last season's crop. Nearly 85 percent of the crop has
been harvested. The California crop at 5,8 million boxes is up 2 percent from last month's fore-
cast, but is 13 percent below the 1974-75 crop. Harvest is about 1/3 complete in the Desert
Valleys and will begin in other areas this month, The Arizona crop of 3.1 million, boxes is un-
changed from last month, but is 12 percent more than last season. Harvest is about 30 percent
complete, Sizes are relatively small but quality is good.

Changes in U.S. grapefruit production between the April 1 forecast and final production
have averaged 1.6 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 40,000 boxes in 1972-73
to 4.1 million boxes in 1968-69.

LEMONS: The California and Arizona lemon crop is expected to total 18.9 million boxes, 0.1 mil-
lion boxes more than last month, but 36 percent less than Last season's record crop.
Production in California at 16.5 million boxes is unchanged from last month, but is 26 percent
below last season. Production in Arizona is set at 2.4 million boxes, 4 percent above last
month, but 2/3 less than last season. Harvest is peaking in California's South Coast area and
should be completed in central California this month. Harvest in Arizona is virtually complete

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo production at a record high of 5.5 million boxes is 17 percent above
the previous record set last season, Harvest is now complete

TANGERINES: Tangerine production at 5.6 million boxes is unchanged from last month, but is 6
percent above last season. Harvest is virtually complete in Florida and Arizona,

TEMPLES: Florida's temple crop is estimated at 5.5 million boxes, unchanged from last month,
~ but 4 percent above the 1974-75 season. Harvest is virtually complete

POTATOES: The first forecast of production for 1976 spring potatoes at 23.4 million cwt. is 17
percent above 1975 output of 20.0 million cwt. but down 7 percent from the 1974 crop.

Planting in California was nearly complete by the end of March, Stands are good on emerged
acreage. The Kern County harvest is expected to begin in late April and be active by early May.

Early plantings in Alabama progressed well but rains during March slowed cultivation. The
Florida crop has made good progress, but conditions have been dry, and irrigation has been used
extensively in the Hastings area. Harvest began over the State during the first week in April
with volume supplies expected by the end of April, Planting in North Carolina is ahead of last
year. Early plantings suffered some minor frost damage. Digging in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
and Winter Garden areas of Texas will begin in late April or early May.

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED: The pasture and range feed condition for the 37 States reporting on

— — April lL was rated as generally poor to fair, The reported condition
was 74 percent, compared with 75 percent for a year earlier. Generally good to excellent con-
ditions prevailed in the Northwest and Eastern States, while conditions in other areas were
mainly very poor to fair.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 7 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


WINTER WHEAT - 5 STATES: Winter wheat production in 1976 in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Okla~
homa and Texas is forecast at 522 million bushels based on April 1

conditions. This is down 48 million bushels or 8 percent from the December 1, 1975 forecast and
182 million bushels or 26 percent below the final 1975 output for these 5 States. Acreage to be
harvested for grain in these States is expected to total 23.0 million acres, 15 percent below
last year. Acreage planted for the 1976 crop was slightly above a year earlier, but the April 1
indicated percent for grain is only 76 compared with 91 percent harvested last year. Acreage,
yield and production estimates by State are shown on Page 8,

Estimates for these five States are based on a special survey of winter wheat producers con-
ducted about April 1, Producers in other winter wheat States were not surveyed for this report.
The U. 8. winter wheat crop for 1976 was forecast at 1,496 million bushels in the Winter Wheat
and Rye Seedings report issued December 22, 1975, The next forecast of the Nation's 1976 winter
wheat crop will be released in the May 10 Crop Production Report.

ORANGES: U. S. orange production is expected to total 234.4 million boxes, up 1 percent from

last month, but 1 percent below last season. Prospects in Florida are for a record
crop of 174.8 million boxes, 1 percent above last season's record. Harvest of early and mid-
Season oranges at 98.8 million boxes is complete. Picking of the 76.0 million box Valencia crop
is getting underway with less than 10 percent harvested to date.

In California, the 50.0 million box crop is unchanged from last month, but is 9 percent below
last season. The Navel crop at 27.0 million boxes is 4 percent below the 1974-75 season. liar~
vest was 61 percent complete by April 1. Valencia crop prospects at 23.0 million boxes are 15
percent below last season. Harvest is now underway.

The Texas crop is expected to total 6.1 million boxes, unchanged from last month's forecast
but 34 percent above the 1974~75 season. Production of early and mid-season varieties is set at
3.8 million boxes, 30 percent more than the 1974-75 season, The Valencia crop at 2.3 million
boxes is 43 percent above last season. Harvest of early and mid-season varieties is virtually
complete and the Valencia harvest is 70 percent complete.

Prospects in Arizona at 3.5 million boxes declined 5 percent (0.2 million boxes) from
March 1 due to a decline in the outlook for Valencias. Harvest is complete for Navels but is
less than 15 percent finished for Valencias.

Changes in U. S. production between the April 1 forecast and final production have averaged
2.9 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 90,000 boxes in 1974-75 to 8.5 million
boxes in 1970-71.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICES YIELD:

The Florida all orange juice yield for 1975-76 is projected at 1.30 gallons of 45 degree
brix concentrate per box. Final yield from the 1974-75 crop was 1.31 gallons per box.

CITRUS CROP - HARVEST AND UTILIZATION TO APRIL 1

5 1974-75, i 1975-76
CROP a UTILIZATION : REMAINING: UTILIZATION REMAINING
: 3 : FOR t 2 FOR
; FRESH | PROCESSED * TOTAL * spvesr , FRESH | PROCESSED © TOTAL! spvesr
THOUSAND BOXES

ORANGES 26,532 98,445 124,977 112,933 24,782 102,769 127,551 106,799
GRAPEFRUIT : 20,022 23,204 43,226 18,144 22,022 26,097 48,119 20,781
LEMONS 6,583 12,161 18,744 10,656 5,745 3,718 9,463 9,437

As of the first of April, 127.6 milion boxes of oranges or 54 percent of the U.S. orange
crop had been harvested. This compares with 53 percent of the crop harvested on this date last
year. Processors had used 81 percent of the oranges harvested by April 1 compared with 79 per-
cent a year earlier.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA



CITRUS FRUIT vw

: PRODUCTION : PRODUCTION
cROP 3 BOXES + TON EQUIVALENT
AND : UTILIZED TINDECATED? UTILIZED t INDICATED
STATE F1973-74 1974-75 2 1975-76 F°1973-74 ¢ 1974675 2 1975-76
? 19000 UNITS 2/7 19000 UNITS
ORANGES sEARLY MID & NAVEL 3/%
ARIZ ast 450 920 750 W 35 28
CALIF t 214900 28000 275000 621 1,050 15013
FLA : 924100 969600 984800 49145 4347 45446
TEX 3 41200 29930 35800 179 1a5 162
us t 118,650 1286450 1304350 S162 54557 51649
ORANGES + VALENCIA +
ARIZ t 24960 44050 2.700 see 152 rol
CALIF : 18,500 275100 234000 694 25016 863
FLA 1 739700 764700 769000 30317 39452 39920
TEX t 25400 19610 25300 102 68 98
us t 974560 1094460 104,000 4224 41688 41682
ALL ORANGES. t
ARIZ : 35410 49970 35450 128 187 129
CALIF 3 405400 559100 505000 19515 29066 15876
FLA t 165.800 1739300 1745800 79462 79799 79866
TEX : 64600 49540 69100 281 193 260
us P 2164210 2379910 2344350 94386 109265 105332
TEMPLES :
Fla + 3300 S300 S»S00 239 239 248
GRAPEFRUITsWHITE SEEBLESS
FLA t 254900 254900 28,000 15201 19101 19190
GRAPEFRUIT +PINK SEEDLESS z
FLA + 120200 119500 13,000 519 489 553
GRAPEFRUIT sOTHER t
FLA t 105000 79200 B+000 425 306 840
ALL GRAPEFRUIT 3
ARIZ 5 20050 20770 35100 66 ao 99
CALIF ’
DESERT 3 25360 39750 35200 1% ao 102
OTHER AREAS ' 29290 29950 2600 77 9 87
TOTAL t 44650 6700 S800 153 219 189
FLA : 485100 44600 49+000 21045 19896 29083
TEX t 10,700 79300 115000 428 292 440
Us t 654500 614370 684900 20692 29496 2.811
TANGERINES :
ARIZ + 680 610 650 26 a3 24
CALIF ast 19360 19540 19500 Si 58 s6
FLA 1 24800 34100 34400 133 1467 162
us : 44840 59250 5,550 210 2a8 242
LEMONS :
ARIZ ? 25900 79200 29400 110 274 91
CALIF $16,990 22.200 165500 S66 Boy 627
us + 179800 294400 189900 676 19158 718
TANGELOS t
FLA t 34700 45700 55500 167 2l2 248

1/ THE CROP YEAR BEGINS WITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR
SHOWN AND ENDS WETH YEAR HARVEST IS COMPLETED.

2/ NET LBS PER BOX! ORANGES~ CALIF & ARIZ=-75» FLA=90»
TEX“853 GRAPEFRUET= CALIF DESERT & AR12=-64+ CALIF
OTHER=679 FLA-855 TEX-80% LEMONS"76% TANGELOS &
TEMPLES=904 TANGERINES= CALIF & ARIZ=75, FLA~95.

3/ NAVEL ANO MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES IN CALIFORNIA AND
ARIZONA. EARLY AND MIDSEASON VARIETIES IN FLORIDA AND
TERAS» INCLUDING SMALL QUANTITIES OF TANGERINES IN
TEXAS.

4/ ESTIMATE FOR CURRENT YEAR CARRIED FORWARD FROM EARLIER FORECAST.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 9 CROP REPORTING BOAROs SRSs USDA


CROP PRODUCTION CQ ison

Released: -Board
‘eleased: April 9, 1976 7 :
3:00 P.M. ET Statistical Reporting
Service

U.S. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

Citrus production at 14.4 million tons is up 1 percent from last month but is 1
percent below last season. Prospects increased from last month for oranges and
lemons, remained unchanged for tangelos, tangerines, and temples and were down
for grapefruit.

Orange production is forecast at 234.4 million boxes, a 1 percent increase (2.6
million boxes) from last month but 1 percent (3,6 million boxes) below last
season. Prospects improved in Florida and by April 1, harvest of the U.S. crop
was 54 percent complete.

Grapefruit production is forecast at 68.9 million boxes, down 1 percent (0.9 mil-
lion boxes) from last month but 12 percent (7.5 million boxes) above last season.
Harvest was approximately 70 percent complete on April 1.

Lemon production at 18.9 million boxes is up 0.1 million boxes from last month but
is 36 percent (10.5 million boxes) below last season,

Spring Potato production is forecast at 23,4 million cwt., 17 percent above the
20.0 million cwt. produced last year but 7 percent less than 1974,

WINTER WHEAT - 5 STATES: Based on April 1 conditions, winter wheat production in

Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas is fore-
cast at 522 million bushels, down 8 percent from the December 1 forecast and 26
percent below the 1975 output,

This report contains a special April 1 forecast
of winter wheat acres remaining for harvest, yield and
production for the five States of Colorado, Kansas,
New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The 1976 wheat crop in
parts of this area has been affected by a persistent
drouth since seeding last fall. Effects of the drouth
to December 1 were reflected in the Winter Wheat and
Rye Seedings report issued December 22, 1975. This
special report updates drouth effects on 1976 winter
wheat prospects to April 1, but assumes normal weather
conditions from April 1 to harvest.

CrPr 2-2 (4-76) For Information Call: (202)447-2127




PEANUT PRODUCTION RECORD HIGH: Production of peanuts during 1975 is estimated at 3,857 million pounds

(net weight), 5 percent above the previous record set a year earlier.
The final 1975 production is down 9.5 million pounds (1/4 of 1 percent) from the estimate published in
the Annual Crop Summary released in January 1976. Yield per harvested acre at 2,565 pounds is also
a record high, exceeding by 74 pounds the previous record set in 1974.

Growers planted 1,531,900 acres of peanuts for all purposes in 1975, a 12,300 acre increase from
a year earlier. However, acreage harvested for nuts increased 31,900 from a year earlier to 1,504,000
acres. Heavy rains accompanied by lowland flooding in mid-July and September were responsible for
lower yield in the Yirginia-North Carolina area. Good weather aided harvesting in the Southeastern and
Southwestern States.

PEANUTS, 1975 AREA REVIEW: Virginia-North Carolina - The production of 658 million pounds estimated for

1975 is down 3 percent from 1974, The average yield of “2,466 pounds is 53
pounds below the previous year and well below the record 2,933 pounds established in 1973, Acreage
harvested for nuts totaled 267,000 acres, a 3,000 acre drop from a year earlier.

Southeast ~ Peanut production in the southeast established a new record high of 2,483 million pounds,

exceeding the previous high set in 1974 by 6 percent. A new record high was also establish-
ed for average yield per acre which, at 3,068 pounds, is 111 pounds above 1974's record, Harvested
acteage totaled 809,200 acres, up 16,700 from 1974.

Southwest ~ The 1975 peanut crop of 716 million pounds was up 11 percent from the previous year. Average
yield for the area was 1,674 pounds, 102 pounds above the 1974 average. Acreage harvested
for nuts totaled 427,800 acres, up 18,200 from the previous year

PEANUTS:
t AREA PLANTED z AREA HARVESTED.
STATE 1973 : 1974 1975 (1973 » 1974 s 1975

Hi 1,000 ACRES
ALA : 204.0 204.0 208.0 200.0 201.0 206.0
FLA : 68.0 "66.0 63.0 55.0 55.0 55.0
CA : 520.0 519.0 527.0 512.0 516.0 524.0
MISS : 9.5 5.0 9.0 9.5 5.0 8.7
N MEX : 7.8 7.7 8.9 7.7 7.6 8.8
NC : 168.0 168.0 167.0 166.0 166.0 165.0
OKLA : 123.0 121.0 122.0 118.0 114.0 115.0
sc ? 15.9 15.9 16.0 15.5 15.5 15.5
TEX : 311.0 309.0 307.0 309.0 288.0 304.0
va : 103.0 104.0 104.0 103.0 104.0 102.0
us 1,530.2 1,519.6 1,531.9 1,495.7 1,472.1 1,504.0

: YIELD PER ACRE a PRODUCTION

: 1973, $1974 + 1975 + 1973 + 1974 + 1975

: POUNDS 1,000 POUNDS
ALA + 2,000 2,360 2,600 400,000 474,360 535,600
FLA * 2,735 3,100 3,230 150,425 170,500 177,650
CA + 2,625 3,220 3,295 1,344,000 1,661,520 1,726, 580
MISS + 1,750 1,200 1,550 16,625 6,000 13,485
N MEX + 2,460 1,715 2,290 18,942 13,034 20,152
Nc + 2,810 2,315 2,265 466,460 384,290 373,725
OKLA 3 2,150 1,910 2,020 253,700 217,740 232,300
sc + 1,940 2,000 1,900 30,070 31,000 29,450
TEX + 1,525 1,435 1,525 471,225 413,280 463,600
va # 3,130 2,845 2,790 322,390 295,880 284,580
Us 2,323 2,491 2,565 3,473,837 3,667,604 «3,857,122

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 1 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


WINTER WHEAT-SPECIAL 5-STATE SUMMARY

2___ AREA SERDED ‘AREA HARVESTED: YIELD PER AGRE PRODUCTION
STATE z CROP _OF INDICATED: 7? ENDICATED:

"1975 19761 % 1979 «+ APR, + 1975 + APRA, : :

: 2 : Vv: £1976: 11976" + 21975: 1976

: 1,000 ACRES 1,000 ACRES BUSHELS 1,000 BUSHELS
COLO 2 2,750 2,830 2,240 2,040 22.5 21.0 50,400 48,110 42,840
KANS : 12,800 13,100 12,100 11,000 29.0 26.0 350,900 327,500 286,000
N MEX : 463 454 387 227 26.0 21.0 10,062 5,448 4,787
OKLA : 7,400 7,550 6,700 5,800 24.0 21.0 160,800 113,250 121,800
TEX + 6,500 6,300 5,700 3,900 23.0 17.0 131,100 75,600 66,300
TOTAL S-STATES : 29,913 30,234 27,127 22,967 25.9 22.7: 703,262 569,908 $21,707

7 DECEMBER 1, 1975 ESTIMATE.

U.S. WHEAT PRODUCTION 1966-75
BIL. BU.

20

U.S. total wheat production

Ce aie aes
- reas eT
—_ 7 eee

+
U.S. winter wheat production

AN

5 states winter wheat production *

0 J 1 \ L L L
1966 1969 1972 1975
* COLORADO, KANSAS, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, AND TEXAS.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEG. SRS 368-76 (3) STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 8 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA



MARCH WEATHER

March temperatures averaged above normal in all areas east of the Continental Divide.
Midwest temperatures ranged 6 to 8° above normal. Above normal March temperatures coupled with
previous warm weather brought an early spring to many areas, With the beginning of plant
growth, the demand for moisture increased and nature has complied in most areas. From the 100th
meridian to the Appalachians, the month furnished above normal rainfall with some exceptions.
The East Coast and most of the West measured less than normal rainfall; this accentuated an
already serious problem in California where water storage is much lower than normal, The al-
ready dry winter wheat area in the southern and central Great Plains received less than half
the normal rainfall.

The first week of the month saw a return to winter for the area west and north of a line
from New Mexico to the Great Lakes. Average temperatures ranged as much as 12 to 18° below
normal in the northern Rockies and 6 to 9° below in most other places. The East was still
above normal with maximum departures 15 to 18° above from the mid-Mississippi Valley to the East
Coast. The greatest precipitation ranged from 1 to 2 inches from the lower Mississippi Valley
to the Great Lakes and eastward through New York. Freezing rain and snow characterized precipi-
tation around the Great Lakes and in New York.

In the following week heavy rain fell in the mid~South, Maximum amounts were in excess of
5 inches in central Mississippi. Most of the mid-South rain was accompanied by thunderstorms,
and several tornadoes were reported. Showers extended westward to the Texas Panhandle where
moisture is badly needed, but they were only light and widely scattered in that area. Rain was
spotty and very light over the rest of the main winter wheat area. Temperatures ranged near
normal over most of the Country.

In the third week rain was again heavy in the mid-South with over 5 inches falling in
Alabama and northern Georgia. Heavy rain extended into South Carolina. Again severe thunder-
storms spawned damaging tornadoes and hail in the Southeast. With the exception of the Pacific
Northwest, little or no precipitation fell west of the Mississippi River Valley. Although
freezing weather dipped far south -~ almost to the Gulf Coast early in the week, later
warming made the average temperature for the week above normal oa most of the Nation. Central
Montana was 12° above normal. Most of central U. S. averaged 6° above and both Coasts were
near normal. Even though Spring officially arrived during the period the early part of the
week saw snow from Michigan and the eastern Ohio Valley to the central and northern Appalachians
and over the northern Atlantic Coast States.

March roared out as heavy rain with thunderstorms, and tornadoes continued in the mid-
South. The thunderstorm area extended northward up the Mississippi River Valley by mid-week.
Most of the Nation continued to have above normal temperatures with the central Plains averaging
as much as 12° above normal during this last week of the month,

MARCH FIELDWORK ACTIVE

Land preparations were considerably ahead of normal by the end of March as mild temperatures
dominated most of the Nation. Some areas have enjoyed up to 8 weeks of mild temperatures. Heavy
rains caused some delays in field work in the mid-South, Spring plowing in Ohio and Indiana was
60 to 75 percent complete, well ahead of normal. Spraying and top dressing of fall seeded grains
were also ahead of schedule, Favorable conditions have permitted farmers to plant spring wheat
and oats much ahead of normal, Spring seeding of small grains had extended into North Dakota and
Minnesota. The South Dakota spring wheat crop was 26 percent seeded on April 1 compared with 1
percent in 1975 and 3 percent average, In Missouri 84 percent of the oats crop was sown, 3 weeks
ahead of normal.

Row crops were closer than small grains to normal planting patterns, By April 1 corn plant~
ing was general throughout the South. Corn planting began in Missouri and Tennessee about a week
ahead of normal, In Florida corn planting was nearly complete. Some areas of the Southeast were
too wet, but the Louisiana crop was 30 percent planted and the Mississippi crop 17 percent. In
Texas planting made good progress in the South but was just beginning on the High Plains; planting
was 31 percent complete compared with 47 percent in 1975 and 40 percent average. Cotton planting
in Texas was 11 percent complete compared with 10 percent in 1975 and the average of 7 percent.
Planting began in Georgia and Nevada. In Arizona, preplanting irrigation was in progress, and
final seedbed preparation was underway in the Yuma area. In Arkansas, land preparation and herbi~
cide application were active. In California, planting was general by the end of March, In Texas,
sorghum planting was well underway from the Low Plains southward, with planting nearly complete
inesome areas. Statewide, about 45 percent of the crop was planted, compared with 34 percent in
1975 and 35 percent average.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 4 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


(BY Extreme drought “As REPORTED oF
Not estimated ‘choP CORRESPONDENTS

* INDICATES CURRENT SUPPLY OF PASTURE FEED FOR GRAZING ON NON- IRRIGATED PASTURES AND
RANGES RELATIVE TO THAT EXPECTED FROM EXISTING STANDS UNDER VERY FAVORABLE WEATHER
CONDITIONS.

U.S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEG. SRS 359-78 (4), STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS*

BB Severe drought e
A Extceme drought 4 eas aspontéo ay
EBB Not estimated ROP COnTESPONDENTS

‘* INDICATES CURRENT SUPPLY OF IPASTURE'FEED FOR GRAZING ON NON-IRRIGATED PASTURES ANO
RANGES RELATIVE TO THAT EXPECTED FROM EXISTING STANDS UNDER VERY FAVORABLE WEATHER
CONDITIONS,

U.S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEG, SRS 332-75 (4) STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976 3 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(DOMESTIC UNITS)
- CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

CROP p 1974-75 INDICATED 1975-76
: ART H APRI
1,000 BOXES
ORANGES : 237,910 231,780 234,350
GRAPEFRUIT 3 61,370 69,800 68,900
LEMONS : 29,400 18,800 18,900

T7 SEASON BEGINS WITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.

POTATOES
SEASONAL : AREA HARVESTED YIELO PER ACRE : PRODUCTION
GROUP : : INDICATED : INDICATED = 7 INDICATED
21978 1976 1975s 976 1975 1976
1,000 ACRES CWT 1,000 CWT
SPRING : 84.5 99.4 237 235 19,994 23,403

PASTURE AND RANGE

ITEM 7 AVERAGE 7 >
3 1965-74 2 1975 z 1976
: PERCENT
CONDITION APRIL i : 7 77 73
‘T/ AVERAGE FOR 30 STATES.
UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION
7 7 TNDICATED_ 1975-76
CROP : 1974-75 : MAR I i APR 1
Py 1,000 METRIC TONS
ORANGES : 9,294 9,084 9,191
GRAPEFRUIT t 2,264 2,586 2,550
LEMONS : 13014 648 651
POTATOES
SEASONAL AREA HARVESTED : YIELD PER HECTARE : PRODUCTION
GROUP INDICATED = > INDICATED : ? INDICATED
1975 1976 i 1978 1976 H 1975 H 1976
1,000 HECTARES QUINTALS 1,000 METRIC TONS
SPRING 34.2 40.2 265 264 907 1,062

The CROP PRODUCTION report contains State and National estimates with related
information on selected agricultural commodities. These data were prepared and
adopted by the Crop Reporting Board which consists of commodity statisticians from
the Statistical Reporting Service's field offices and Washington headquarters.

CROP REPORTING BOARD:

B. M. Graham, Chairman,
APPROVED: M. L. Koehn, Secretary,
: aA 7 J. W. Kirkbride, F. E. Rolf,
if - y R. A. McGregor, D. J. Buckner,
fbi a / fh ay Hl J. DeLong. W. C. Dobbs,
° | D. J. Fedewa, L. A. Fretwell,
W. G, Hamlin, R. H. Hettinger,
. M. D. Humphrey, Jr., D. H. Johnson,
ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE H. J. Tippett.

CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA

w

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1976