LEMONS: The California and Arizona lemon crop is expected to reach a new record of 30.4 million
“~~~ boxes (1.05 million metric tons), up 4 percent from last month's forecast and 47 percent
more than last season. The California crop is now forecast at 23.5 million boxes, 2 percent
greater than last month and 33 percent above the previous season. Picking is active in al}
areas except the desert where harvest is nearing completion. The forecast for Arizona is now
6.90 million boxes, 10 percent higher than February 1 and 126 percent greater than the small
crop harvested in 1979-80. However, the Arizona crop is 86 percent complete. Harvest in the 2
States was 52 percent complete on March 1 compared with 41 percent on March 1 last year.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo crop totaled 5.00 million boxes (204 thousand metric tons), 22 per-
cent below the 1979-80 season. Harvest is virtually complete.

TANGERINES: The U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 5.45 million boxes (213 thousand metric

tons), 1 percent below last month and 13 percent less than last season. With
harvest complete in Florida, the State's crop estimate is now 3.00 million boxes, 3 percent
below last month and 23 percent less than last season. The California crop forecast continues
at 1.70 million boxes, 3 percent above the previous season. Packout is complete in Arizona and
the crop estimate is now 750 thousand boxes, up 7 percent from February 1 and the same level as
last season.

TEMPLES: The Florida temple crop is expected to total 3.50 million boxes (143 thousand metric
tons), unchanged from the February 1 forecast and 42 percent less than produced in
1979-80. Harvest is about three-fourths complete.

PAPAYAS: Fresh papaya production is forecast at 4.10 million pounds (1860 metric tons) for

March, down slightly from February. Production in April is expected to increase to
4.35 million pounds (1970 metric tons) followed by production of 4.30 million pounds (1950
metric tons) in May. A seasonal increase in production is expected in June with 4.90 million
pounds (2220 metric tons) forecast.

Fresh production in February was down 6 percent from a month earlier and area harvested, at
1950 acres (790 hectares), was down 8 percent. Total fresh production for the first two months
of 1981 was up 73 percent from the same period last year.

POTATOES: Winter potato production in the U.S. is forecast at 2.53 million cwt (115 thousand
metric tons), up 6 percent from last month's forecast. This production is 7 percent

more than in 1980 but still the fourth smallest crop of record. Estimated production in Florida
is 1 percent below last year but California's production is up 27 percent. Harvest is complete
in the Stuart area of Florida and is active in southwestern areas with good quality reported.
Crop maturity is later than normal in Dade County and harvest is progressing slowly. Digging is
not expected to increase significantly until late March or early April. In California harvest
has progressed well under favorable weather conditions. Harvest is nearly complete in Riverside
County while some acreage remains to be dug in the Kern District. Quality is reported as
excellent and cullage is lighter than normal.

Area planted to spring potatoes in the U.S. is expected to total 79.9 thousand acres (32.3
thousand hectares}, up 6 percent from 1980 but 10 percent less than 1979. If realized, this
acreage will be the second smallest planted acreage of record. Acreage intended for harvest is
forecast at 78.4 thousand acres (31.7 thousand hectares), 8 percent more than fast year's record
Tow, but down 6 percent from 1979.

Plantings in California are forecast at 27.5 thousand acres, 22 percent above 1980 but 8
percent below 1979. Weather during planting has been ideal and this year's crop is in excellent
condition. Harvest in the Kern District is expected to begin about April 1, two weeks ahead of
normal.

Planted acreage in Florida is estimated at 23.0 thousand acres, 10 percent above 1980. In
the Hastings area, planting continued into early March and early plantings are up to good
stands. Heavy rains in upper St. Johns County caused some flooding 1 in low areas and a small
acreage had to be replanted.

In North Carolina planted acreage is expected to be 2 percent greater than Jast year.
Planting became active the last week of February. Estimated acreage planted in Texas is down 5
percent from 1980. In the Rio Grande Valley planting began on schedule and progressed well.
Harvest is expected to begin in late April. In the Winter Garden area planting was on schedule
and the crop made good growth during February. In the Knox-Haskell area planting is active but
soil moisture is very short.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1981 5 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESS, USDA




FEBRUARY FIELDWORK

Subnormal temperatures and widespread precipitation held outside activities to a minimum
during the first half of February. Farmers spread fertilizer and manure where field conditions
permitted. Above-normal temperatures during the latter part of the month melted most of the
remaining snowcover in northern areas and encouraged growth of crops and pastures and promoted
early ptanting in southern areas. Corn planting began shortly after mid-February in Texas and
by the end of the month extended into Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Grain sorghum planting began about mid-month in southern Texas and got underway in Arizona
during the last week of the month. Tobacco growers prepared and seeded plantbeds; plants were
in fair to good condition on March 1. Cotton growers prepared land for planting; some
pre-irrigating was done in California. Deciduous fruit growers sprayed and pruned mature trees
and set out new trees. Vegetable planting and harvest activities centered in the Southwest,
Texas, and Florida. Maple sirup producers tapped trees and prepared equipment for the upcoming
processing. Mild temperatures encouraged an early flow of sap.

ORANGES: The U.S. al} orange crop is forecast at 245 million boxes (9.52 million metric

tons) for the 1980-81 season, virtually unchanged from the February 1 forecast but 11
percent less than the 1979-80 season. Harvest of all U.S. oranges as of March 1 was 50 percent
complete compared with 45 percent on the same date a year earlier.

Florida all orange prospects are unchanged at 173 million boxes, 16 percent less than last
season's total. Production for the early and mid-season varieties in Florida is expected to
total 107 million boxes, unchanged from last month but 9 percent below last season. The
Valencia crop in Florida is forecast at 66.0 million boxes, the same as a month ago and 26
percent less than the 1979-80 season. Harvest of Florida's early and mid-season oranges is
nearing completion while picking of Valencias is just beginning.

The California all orange production forecast is also unchanged at 64.0 million boxes, 7
percent greater than Jast season's utilized production. Navel orange output is expected to
reach a new record level of 37.0 million boxes, unchanged from last month but 13 percent above
the previous record crop of 32.6 million boxes harvested in 1979-80. As of March 1, 39 percent
of California's navel crop expected to be utilized had been harvested. California's Valencia
orange crop forecast, at 27.0 million boxes, is unchanged from a month ago and the same as last
season.

Texas orange production is now forecast at 4.70 million boxes, 2 percent less than last
month but 17 percent above the 1979-80 harvest. Picking in Texas is 66 percent complete. The
Arizona all orange crop forecast is unchanged at 3.05 miilion boxes, 13 percent below last
season's production. Arizona's harvest is 30 percent complete.

Changes in U.S. orange production between the March 3 forecast and final production have
averaged 4.57 million boxes over the past ten seasons, ranging from 510 thousand boxes in
1974-75 to 11.5 million boxes in 1979-80.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD: The 1980-81 crop projection for the Florida FCOJ yietd
continues ‘at 1.19 gallons per box at 43.4 degree brix

equivalent. , : .
GRAPEFRUIT: The 1980-81 U.S. grapefruit crop is expected to total 66.2 million boxes (2.44 mil-
lion metric tons), 1 percent less than was expected on February 1 and 10 percent
less than was harvested last season. Prospects in Florida at 48.5 million boxes are unchanged
from last month but 11 percent below last season. Movement to processing was very active during
February. The Texas crop at 7.40 million boxes is down 5 percent from last month and 6 percent
Jess than last season's production. California’growers expect to harvest 7.30 million boxes,
the same as last month's estimate but 3 percent below last season's harvest. Arizona's crop is
now forecast at 3.00 million boxes, down 3 percent from last month but at the same production
level as last season.

Harvest of the U.S. grapefruit crop was 59 percent complete on March 1 compared with 53
percent on the same date last year.

Changes in the U.S. grapefruit production estimate between March 1 forecast and final

Production have averaged 2.20 million boxes, ranging from 80 thousand boxes in 1978-79 to 4.70
million boxes in 1976-77.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1981 4 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESS, USDA


POTATOES

3 AREA

SEASONAL GROUP
. AND HARVESTED

tINDICATED + TINDICATED
1979 1980 ¢ 1981

STATE

1,000 ACRES

WINTER
CALIF . 3.3 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.2
FLA z 37 8.6 6.6 8.6 8.5 8.6

+ ;
TOTAL t 13.0 11,6 11.8 11.9 11.5 11,8
t

SPRING :
ney : 6.0 4.0 7.3 6.0 4.0
ARIZ 2 6.2 6.2 4.4 4,0
CALIF ? 30,0 26.0 22.5 27.5
FLA © HASTINGS & 20.0 18.5 18.0 2161

= OTHER 3 1.0 9 7) 1,0
LA 2 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.5
ac $13.8 13.7 13.0 13.3
TEX : 7.5 Tel 6.2 6.0

TOTAL 72.6

1,000 CwT
WINTER

BLIF 235 280 792 705 896
FLA 195 190 1,591 1,658 1,634
TOTAL 205 ata 2,383 2,363 2,530

SPRING 1/
aa 105 1,022 - 630
ARIZ 290 1,302 1,276
CALIF 390 11,060 8,775
FLA © HASTINGS 195 4,255 34510

= OTHER 170 162 136

tA To 150 419
ac 140 2r2o1 1,820
TEX 160 130 1,136 806
TOTAL 255 235 21,5348 17,072

1/ YIELD AND PRODUCTION FOR 1981 TO BE’ RE EASEO APRIL 9, 1961.

, i PAPAYAS ='HAWAIT

MONTH
FORECAST
981
: ACRES 7,000 POUNDS. SS
JAN : 2,855 «3,060 «1,785 «= 21202777 4,370
FEB : 2860-2970 1925980212310
MAR 2,915 :
APR : 950
may 2975
UN 3,085
CUMULATIVE FRESH PRODUCTION JAN-FEB 4,900

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1981 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESS, USDA


CROP PRODUCTION (Qi

Released: March 10. 1981 Economics and

Statistics Service

U.S. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS production is forecast at 15.0 million tons (13.6 million metric tons),
9 percent less than last season.

ORANGE production is forecast at 245 million boxes (9.52 million metric tons),
virtually unchanged from last month but down 11 percent from the
1979-80 season.

GRAPEFRUIT production is forecast at 66.2 million boxes (2.44 million metric
tons), 1 percent less than expected on February 1 and 10 percent less
than harvested last season.

LEMON production for California and Arizona is expected to be a record high
30.4 million boxes (1.05 million metric tons), up 4 percent from last
month's forecast and 47 percent more than last season.

WINTER POTATO production is forecast at 2.53 million cwt (115 thousand metric
tons), up 6 percent from the February 1 forecast and 7 percent greater
than the 1980 crop.

SPRING POTATO area for harvest is expected to total] 78.4 thousand acres (31.7
thousand hectares), up 8 percent from last year's record low, but the
second smallest acreage of record.

Crop Disposition and Value Revisions: Estimates of farm use, sales and
value of field crops for 1974-78 have been reviewed and will be published
about mid-March in FIELD CROPS, Production, Disposition and Value, by States
(Statistical Bulletin No. 659). These estimates are comparable with revised
crop production for the period as published December 1980 in Statistical
Bulletin No. 646. These bulletins are available from Crop Reporting Board
Publications, ESS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rm. 0005, South Bidg.,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D. C. 20250.

CrPr 2-2 (3-81) For Information Call: (202) 447-2127


CITRUS FRUIT ws

3 PRODUCTION : PRODUCTION
CRUP BOXES z TON EQUIVALENT
o- ween ewww wen nen eee ween meneen nw nnnennencsces
AND WIILIZED sINDICATED UTILIZED tINDICATED
STATE 1944"79 3 1979940 3 1980-81 1980=82
: 1,000 UNITS 2/ 1,000 UNITS
ORANGES, EARLY AID & NAVEL 37%
ARIZ 3 700 850 900 26 32 33
CALIF 2 29,800 32,600 37,000 780 ‘1,223 1,388
FLA 3 91,000 117,900 107,000 4,095 5,306 4,815
TEX 3 4,300 2,300 2709 163 98 ws
us 3 116,600 153,650 147,600 5,084 6,659 6,351
ORANGES, VALENCTA 3
ARI7 3 2,200 2650 2,150 . 83 99 é1
CALIF : 16,500 27,900 27,000 619 1,912 1,012
FLA 3 73,000 88,800 66,000 3,265 3,996 2,970
TEX 3 2,100 1,730 2,000 89 13 85
us : 93,500 120,160 97,150 4,076 5,180 4,148
ALL ORANGES 3
ARIZ : 2,900 3,500 3,050 109 ist 14
CALIF 3 37,300 59,600 64,000 1-399 20255 2,400
FLA 3 164,000 206,700 173,000 7,380 9,302 7,785
TEX 3 6,400 4,050 4,700 272 a71 200
us £210,600 273,839 244,750 9,160 11,839 10,499
TEMPLES 3
FLA 3 4,700 6,000 3,500 ale 270 158
GRAPEFRUIT, WHITE SEEDLESS 2
FLA : 29,406 31,100 27,000 1,250 1,322 1,147
GRAPEFRUIT, PINK SEEULESS 3
FLA 13,300 15,400 13,500 565 671 574
OTHER GRAPEFRUIT 3
FLA : 7,300 7,900 8,000 310 336 340
ALL GRAPEFRUIT : :
ARIZ 3 2,250 3,000 3,900 72 96 96
CALIF 3
DESERT z 3,260 4,200 3,800 104 134 122
OTHER AREAS 3 2,870 3,300 34500 96 112 447
TOTAL 3 6,130 7,500 7,300 200 245 239
FLA = 50,000 54,800 48,500 2,125 2.329 2,061
TEX : 9,000 7,900 7,400 360 316 296
us z 67,380 73,200 66,200 2,757 22986 2,692
TANGERINES 3
ARIZ : aso 750 750 17 268 2a
CALIF 2 1¢450 12650 "1,700 54 62 6a
FLA : 3,500 3,900 3,000 166 185 143
us 3 5,460 6,300 5,450 237 275 235
LEMONS :
ARIZ 3 5,500 , 3,050... 6,900 209 116 262
CALIF 2 14,100 17,700 23,500 536 673 893
us z 19,600 20,750 30,400 745 789 1,155
TANGELOS z
FLA 4,290 64400 5,000 189 288 225

1/ THE CRU
SHOWN A

2/ NET LAS
TEX=855
OTHER=6
TEMPLES

3/ NAVEL A
ART ZONA
TEXAS»
TEXAS.

P YEAR BEGINS WITH THE BLUOM OF TnE FIRST YEAR
NO ENDS WITH YEAR BARVEST IS COMPLETED.

PER BOX? ORANGES*CALIF & A#IZ=75,FLA=90,
GRAPEFRULTeCALIF DESERT & ARIZ=64, CALIF

Ty FLASBS, TEX@80F LEMONS*76% TANGELOS &
907 TANGERINES= CALIF & ARIZ75, FLA©95S.
ND MISCELLANEGUS VAXIETIES IN CALIFORNIA AND

« EARLY AND MIVSEASON VARIETIES IN FLORIDA AND
INCLUOING SMALL WUANTITIES OF TANGERINES IN

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1981 7 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(DOMESTIC, UNETS)
CITRUS FRUITS, ‘PRODUCTION 1/

1,000 BOXES

ORANGES : 273,830 244,850
GRAPEFRUIT =: 73,200 66,700
LEMONS 20,750 29,300

1/ SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND EA
FOLLOWING YEAR.

POTATOES

PRODUCTION

INDICATED 1981

WINTER
SPRING

2,380 2,530

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

METRIC TONS

ORANGES 10 740 160 9 528 160 9 524 530
GRAPEFRUIT 2 708 850 2 459 380 2 442 140
‘LEMONS 75 720 1 009 700 1 087 800

1/, SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN ANO ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE
FOLLOWING YEAR,

POTATOES

AREA PLANTEG
° INDICATED 1987
HECTARES

SEASONAL

GROUP INDICATED 1981

32 330 : 29 380 31 730
“YIELD PER HECTARE PR

: INDICATED 1981 : 1980

METRIC TONS

24.01 197 180 107 950 144 760
Ro 774 370 APR

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 field offices and Washington headquarters.

APPROVED: CROP REPORTING BOARD:
L. Olson, Chairman,

a.
G. L. Clampet, Secretary,
1A ae 0, W. Barrowman, —-R. L. Schulte,
; + R. P. Small, W. R. Blackson,
v R.

+ D. Fenley, D.C. Johnson,
‘M.D. Humphrey.

ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1981 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESS, USDA


FEBRUARY WEATHER SUMMARY

Heavy and regular rainfall ended the drought that had plagued parts of the South and
Northeast since fall. Rains partially relieved drought in other parts of the East. The first
half of the month was typical winter weather. Frequent outbreaks of arctic air from central
Canada spread throughout the Rockies and the East. Near-blizzard conditions blew soil and snow
in the central Plains. Temperatures turned unseasonably mild the latter half of the month,
setting many record highs. Grasses greened in the South and wheat started to gréen as far north
as Kansas.

FIRST WEEK...Unseasonably warm air was pushed eastward as frigid arctic air poured into the
Nation early in the week. Ahead of the cold front, moderate rain fell along the gulf coast and
in New England. Lighter rain changed to freezing rain in the Ohio Valley as the colder air
moved in. After moderate to heavy rain caused some flooding in New England, snow began to cover
the mountains. A storm system developed at midweek in the northern Mississippi Valley and
spread snow across the northern Plains and Great Lakes. Another storm, in the Gulf of Mexico,
spread rain from Texas to Florida and then northeastward along the east coast.

SECOND WEEK...A complex storm system moved out of the central Rockies into Texas and then
northeastward through the Great Lakes. Strong, gusty winds in the central Plains kicked up a
combination of dust and snow. The storm brought precipitation to all of the area from the
Rockies eastward. Rain fel? in the south--some very heavy amounts in the Southeast--and along
much of the east coast while snow covered the area from the central Plains northward and through
the Great Lakes. Another blast of arctic air moved in behind the storm and brought some of the
coldest air of the winter into the Plains. Subzero temperatures reached into the Texas
Panhandle.

THIRD WEEK...The weather warmed rapidly after the severe arctic outbreak. Average
temperatures were well above normal for the week~-as much as 27° above normal in the northern
Plains and 30° above in northern New England. Temperatures rose to 70° as far north as
Montana before another cool surge began at the end of the week. Moisture, borne northward on
warm southerly winds, resulted in widespread rain east of the Mississippi River. Heavier rain
caused flooding in the Northeast and Northwest.

FOURTH WEEK...Most of the Nation received some rainfall during the week, although parts of
the central and northern Plains remained dry. Storms moving into the Pacific Northwest early in
the week and tater into central Catifornia spread rain throughout the West. Snow fell at higher
elevations. Almost daily rains in New England caused flooding in many areas. Showers and
thunderstorms caused heavy rains from central Texas through Arkansas. Unusually warm weather
prevailed in central and northeastern United States but temperatures were near normal along the
west coast and in the Southeast. (Prepared by NOAA/USOA Joint Agricultural Weather Facility).

WINTER WHEAT

Winter wheat rated good to excellent in the Pacific Northwest and good in the Corn Belt and
the Southwest at the beginning of March. In the Great Plains, winter wheat was in fair to good
condition, except -in Texas where the crop rated poor to good. Nearly all areas needed
precipitation. Above normal temperatures in major production areas during the second half of
February encouraged winter wheat to break dormancy, especially in southern areas. Farmers began
fertilizing these fields.

Kansas winter wheat condition averaged fair on March 1, but was extremely variable throughout
the State. There was scattered light wind damage in the southern third of the State. Short
soil moisture supplies continued to pose a very serious problem as wheat began its spring
growth, Winter wheat in Texas was in poor to good condition. Mild temperatures during the
Jatter part of February encouraged winter wheat to emerge from dormancy; with limited moisture
supplies, growth was slow. Nebraska wheat was in fair condition with variable amounts of wind
damage evident in most areas. Oklahoma fields needed additional moisture for good growth.
Arizona winter wheat made excellent progress with heads forming in some fields by March 1.
California winter wheat received moisture during February and showed good development.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1981 3 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESS, USDA