Changes between the March 1 U. S. orange production forecast and final production have
averaged 4.6 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 0.5 million boxes in 1972-73
to 10.6 million boxes in the 1975-76 season.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD: The all orange juice yield for 1976-77 is projected at
1.12 gallons of 45 degree brix concentrate per box.
Final yield from the 1975-76 crop was 1.29 gallons per box. This frozen concentrate orange
juice yield forecast is down from 2.17 gallons per box predicted in February and also below the
January pre-freeze forecast of 1.29 gallons per box. The reduction from January is principally
attributable to the freeze.

GRAPEFRUIT: The 1976-77 U.S. grapefruit crop is expected to total 69.9 million boxes, unchanged
from last month and only slightly below the 1975-76 season, Prospects in Florida
at 49.0 million boxes compare with 49.1 million last season. Picking for fresh market has been
very active in the areas which had the least freeze damage. The Texas crop, forecast at 11.5
million boxes, is unchanged from last month but is 7 percent above the 1975-76 crop. The quatity
remains good although sizes are smaller than usual. California expects to harvest 6.5 million
boxes, 10 percent less than last season. Flavor is good and harvest continues at the normal rate.
Arizona prospects at 2.9 million boxes are 6 percent below the 1975-76 crop.

Harvest of the U.S. grapefruit crop was 40 percent complete by March 1 compared with 51 per-
cent on March 1 last season.

Changes in the U.S. production estimate between the March 1 forecast and final production
have averaged 2.3 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 280,000 boxes in 1975-76
to 4.2 million boxes in 1966-67

LEMONS: The California and Arizona lemon crop is expected to total 26.6 million boxes, the same

as last month's forecast but 49 percent above the 1975-76 season. The California
production forecast at 21.0 million boxes is 36 percent above last season. Arizona production
which is forecast at 5.6 million boxes is more than double the 1975-76 crop.

Harvest in the two states combined is nearing the half way mark with 79 percent completed
in Arizona compared with 100 percent last year. In California picking is 40 percent complete
compared with 48 percent last year. Harvest is being completed in the Desert area and is heavy
in the central and southern areas. Some fruit will be unharvested due to dry conditions that
reduce quality.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo crop is set at 4.9 million boxes, unchanged from last month but 11
percent below last season. Harvest is virtually complete.

TANGERINES: Production is expected to total 5.6 million boxes, 2 percent below last month's

forecast but 3 percent above last season. The Florida utilization estimate of 3.3
million boxes is 3 percent below last month (the total crop that reached 210 size or larger was
5.8 million boxes). Harvest in Florida is complete. The California and Arizona crops are placed
at 1.5 million and 0.8 million boxes, respectively, and are unchanged from last month, About 60
percent of the California crop has been harvested with the Minneola variety currently being har-
vested,

TEMPLES: Production in Florida is estimated at 3.5 million boxes, 17 percent above last month but
36 percent below last season. Harvest is 80 percent complete,

POTATOES: The final forecast of 1977 winter potato production in California and Florida is 2.5
million cwt., 17 percent below the 3.0 million cwt. harvested in 1976. Yield prospects

have improved from the previous month in Califonnia where about 3/4 of the crop is now harvested.

Digging will continue into early April. Harvest was active in the Everglades, Martin County and

Fort Myers areas in Florida but light in Dade County. Harvest will be delayed by several weeks

in Dade County as the crop recovers from the January freeze. Crop is good,

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1977 5 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


CITRUS FRUIT Vv

1 PRODUCTION ' PRODUCTION
crop 1 BOXES TON EQUIVALENT
AND UTILIZED | TINDYCATEDI UTILIZEO VINDICATED
STATE 1197475 1 197576 t 1976477 t TIT4=7S t 1975-76 t 1976-77
7 TeD00 UNITS 37 TsOT UNTTS
ORANGES*EARLY MID & NAVEL 3/¢
ARIZ t 920 730 800 35 27 30
CALIF t 289000 284300 275000 19050 19061 14013
FLA t 969600 982800 1129000 40347 prey 5040
TEX 1 29930 34800 49200 125 162 i79
us t 1289650 1339630 1443000 59557 55696 6262
ORANGES» VALENCIA 1
ARIZ ’ 49050 19950 39150 152 73 i18
CALIF t 279100 265000 15016 900 975
FLA 1 769700 695000 39452 39708 35108
TEX ' 19610 29400 68 102 102
us + 1099460 1009550 49688 49783 $300
ALL ORANGES : -
ARIZ : 49970 39950 187 100 148
CALIF t 559100 531000 21066 1,961 1,988
FLA 1 1732300 1815000 79799 8r154 84145
TEX ' 49540 64200 69600 193 264 281
us 3 2379910 242,380 24465550 109265 109479 10,562
TEMPLES 1 -
FLA ' 5y300 5,500 39500 239 248 ise
GRAPEFRUITsWHITE SEEDLESS +
FLA 1 25,900 28,300 30,000 19101 19203 1,275
GRAPEFRUIT,PINK SEEDLESS :
FLA + 119500 13,000 115000 489 553 468
GRAPEFRUITs OTHER '
FLA ’ 79200 7,800 8,000 306 332 340
ALL GRAPEFRUIT ’
ARIZ ’ 29770 3,080 2,900 89 99 93
CALIF ‘
DESERT ’ 39750 40100 39700 3120 133 118
OTHER AREAS ' 39160 24800 106 104 34
TOTAL : 60910 66500 226 235 212
Fla 1 00 494000 11896 29088 2,083
TEX 5 00 119500 292 428 460
us 1 1580 694900 29503 2.850 2,048
TANGERINES 1
ARIZ , 410 660 800 23 25 30
CALIF ’ 15620 15350 194650 61 51 S4
Fla 1 39100 39400 39300 147 162 157
us ’ 59330 59410 $550 231 238 24)
LEMONS. t
ARIZ ’ 7,200 2420 52600 2t 92 213
CALIF 1 229200 155400 214000 B44 $85 798
us 1 299400 17,820 269600 preety 677 1,01
TANGELOS '
FLA ’ 49700 5500 49900 212 248 22.

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

2/ NET LBS PER BOX? ORANGES@CALIF & ARIZ=759FLA~90p
TEX~851 GRAPEFRUIT@CALIF DESERT & ARIZ=64» CALIF
OTHER@67y FLA=852 TEX“80$ LEMONS=761 TANGELOS &
TEMPLES-90$ TANGERINES= CALIF & ARIZ@75y FLA=95.

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

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1977 8 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


The Texas winter wheat crop was generally dormant at the beginning of February. Snow pro-
vided very Tittle moisture and disappeared rapidly, leaving dryland stands vulnerable to wind
erosion. Wheat began growing on the High Plains near midmonth but needed more soil moisture
Farmers irrigated where facilities existed. Near the end of the month, blowing soil plagued
wheat fields on the Plains. Snow helped settle the dust and offered a measure of relief to dry
soils.

Precipitation was below norma? in Colorado and winter wheat conditions declined. High winds
on the 22nd and 23rd extensively eroded soils and damaged wheat. New Mexico dryland wheat rated
poor and irrigated wheat fair, High winds hampered small grain irrigation.

The Washington winter wheat crod was in good condition but dependent on future rains. In
California, recent rains helped the wheat crop but more rain is needed

FEBRUARY FIELDWORK VERY LIMITED

Major spring fieldwork activity has begun slowly due to the lingering effects of the severe
winter weather. Fieldwork was concentrated mostly in the southern areas of the Nation, followed
by the Mountain and Pacific Coast States. Corn Belt field activities were mostly confined to
spreading fertilizer and disking old crap residue. Wet fields delayed land preparation and
planting in southern Texas where earliest field crop planting usually begins. Orchard pruning
and spraying progressed well throughout the Country and was almost finished in some southern
areas and the northwest. Tobacco plant bed preparation advanced into Virginia, but earlier cold
weather held plant development in check.

Cotton praducers planted some fields in Arizona and Texas. Less than] percent of the crop
was planted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley by March 1, about the usual progress by that date.
Texas producers planted sorghum in the central and southern areas, but less than I percent of the
State's crop was planted compared with 6 percent last year and the average. Less than 1 percent
of the Texas corn crop was planted, lagging the 3 percent in 1976 and 4 percent average. Farm-
ers also planted early corn in Georgia and Florida

ORANGES: U. S. orange production is expected to total 244.6 million boxes, down 2 percent from

the February 1 forecast but 1 percent above the 1975-76 crop. Florida prospects
indicate a crop of 181.0 million boxes, 1 percent Tess than forecast last month and slightly
Jess than last year. Early and mid-season oranges are now expected to total 112.0 million
boxes, up 2 percent from last month's forecast and 13 percent above last season. The Valencia
forecast at 69.0 million is 5 percent below last month and 16 percent below Tast season. Har-
vest of early and mid-season varieties was at record rates during February and was 91 percent
complete by March 1.

In California, orange crop prospects declined 4 percent during the month and a total of
53.0 million boxes is now expected. The Navel crop is now forecast at 27.0 million boxes, down
7 percent from last month and 5 percent below last year. Harvest of navel oranges was 47 percent
complete as of March 1. Quality reméins good, however, maturity is earlier than normal due to
stress resulting from insufficient irrigation water available in the Southern San Joaquin Valley.
Valencia prospects at 26.0 million boxes are unchanged from February 1 but are 8 percent above
last season. The crop is in good condition and sizes are larger than last year.

The Texas crop is expected to total 6.6 million boxes, unchanged from last month but 6 per-
cent above last season. Production of early and mid-season varieties is estimated at 4.2 mil-
lion boxes, 11 percent above last season. The Valencia crap estimated at 2.4 million boxes is
the same as last season. Harvest of early and mid-season varieties was in the final stages on
March 1. Valencia harvest is 10 percent complete compared with 28 percent on March 1 last
season.

Prospects in Arizona at 3.95 million boxes are down slightly from last month but 47 percent
above last season. The Navel harvest is virtually complete while Valencia harvest is just get-
ting underway.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1977 4 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


Producers of spring potatoes are expected to harvest 91,300 acres, down 8 percent from the
99,000 acres harvested in 1976 but 8 percent more than in 1975. The crop is making good progress
in California with occasional frosty mornings causing only negligible damage, A major concern of
growers is the extent of available water supplies. farly planted potatoes in Arizona are pro-
gressing well. Most of the acreage in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas was planted by mid-
February and planting continues active “n the Winter Garden area. In the Knox-Haskel] areas,
planting was underway by mid-February and completed by early March. Planting is nearly complete
in Alabama with early fields up. In the Hastings area of Florida, planting continued into early
March, Early plantings are just emerging but with lower temperatures the crop is expected to be
delayed in reaching maturity. Cold weather in February has delayed growth in West Central areas
of Florida. Some potatoes were planted in Coastal Counties of North Carolina in late February.

FIVE-MONTH AVERAGE CORN AND GRAIN SORGHUM PRICES, UNITED STATES,
OCTOBER 1976 - FEBRUARY 1977

GRAIN SORGHUM

t CORN, z
MONTH AND: AVERAGE PRICE: “AVERAGE PERCENT : AVERAGE PRICE : AVERAGE PERCENT

YEAR i PER BU 1/ : OF SALES 2/_ =: PER CWT 1/__—:_~——COOF-_ SALES 2/
DOLLARS PERCENT DOLLARS PERCENT

OCT 1976 : 2.33 13.0 3.68 12.9
Nov 1976 : 2.02 13.9 3.30 14.0
DEC 1976 : 2.24 8.9 3.51 Ww
JAN 1977 : 2.34 Ws 3159 12.3
FEB 1977 : 2.31 7.8 3.53 5.0
5 MONTHS: 3/ 2.24 4/352
17 PRICES PUBLISHED IN AGRICULTURAL PRICES, OCTOBER, 1976 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1977.
2/ WEIGHTED AVERAGE OR PERCENT SOLD FOR YEARS 1973-75 AS SHOWN IN FIELD CROPS - PRODUCTION,
FARM USE, VALUE, SALES, MAY 4, 1976 AND CROP PRODUCTION, DECEMBER 10, 1976. WEIGHTS USED TO

COMPUTE WEIGHTED AVERAGE WERE TOTAL SALES FOR 1973, 1974, AND 1975 AS SHOWN IN FIELD CROPS -
PRODUCTION, FARM USE, VALUE, SALES MAY 12, 1975 AND MAY 4, 1976. oO
37 FIVE MONTHS WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE JSING AVERAGE PERCENT OF SALES AS WEIGHTS.

4 $1.97 PER BUSHEL.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1977 6 CROP REPORTING RGARD, SRS, USDA


CROP PRODUCTION CQ ene

Board
Released: March 9, 1977 Statistical Reporting
3:00 P.M. ET Service

U.S. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS--Production is expected to total 15.0 million tons, down 1 percent
from last month but 2 percent above the 1975-76 crop.

ORANGES-~Production is forecast at 244.6 million boxes, down 2 percent
(4.1 million boxes) from February 1, but 1 percent (2.2 million boxes)
above last season. By March 1, harvest of the U. S. crop was 49
percent complete.

GRAPEFRUIT--Production is forecast at 69.9 million boxes, unchanged from
February 1 but slightly (0.2 million boxes) below the 1975-76 crop.
About 40 percent of the crop had been harvested by March 1.

LEMONS--Prospects at 26.6 million boxes are unchanged from Tast month’s
forecast but are 49 percent above the previous season.

WINTER POTATOES--Final production is estimated at 2.5 million cwt., 5 per-
cent above last month's forecast but 17 percent below the 3.0 million
cwt. harvested in 1976.

SPRING, POTATOES--Acreage for harvest is estimated at 91,300 acres, 8 percent
below the 99,000 acres harvested in 1976 but 8 percent more than in
1975,

CrPr 2-2 (3-77) For information call: (202) 447-2127


POTATOES, 1977 CROP

7 AREA
SEASONAL GROUP : PLANTED : HARVESTED =
AND STATE 24975? 976 | gt} i975: ig76 0? TNO
T,000 ACRES
WINTER:
CALIF : 49 5,2 4.5 4.9 5.2 4,5
FLA > O.5 9.4 921 914 9.2 911
TOTAL 144 14.6 13.6 14.3 14.4 13.6
SPRING: :
ALA 10.6 11,5 11.0 10.6 11.5 11.0
ARIZ 6.2 6.8 65 6.2 6.8 6.5
CALIF 27.6 3418 29/5 27.6 34.2 2915
FLA-HASTINGS 16.2 19.5 19'5 16.2 19.3 19.5
-OTHER 1.9 3.0 1.8 1.9 2.5 1.8
LA 3.1 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.4
MISS 2.0 2:0 2:0 1.9 2.0 19
NC 12.2 B30 13.5 12.0 13.0 13/4
TEX 5.6 7.3 55 515 721 513
TOTAL 85.4 100.9 91.9 84.5 99.0 91.3
“YIELD : PRODUCTION
1975: 1976? gy? i978? tg76 TD
CHT T,000 CHT
WINTER:
CALIF : 215 220 235 7,054 1,144 1,058
FLA : 195 200 155 1,833 1,840 1.41
TOTAL : 202 207 182 2,887 2,984 2,469
SPRING: 1/
ALA : 130 140 1,378 1,610
ARIZ 2 245 270 13519 13836
CALIF : 380 395 10,488 13,509
FLA-HASTINGS : 195 210 3,159 4.053
OTHER : 185 160 352 400
LA : 70 78 182 195
MISS : 90 95 71 190
Nc > 160 145 1,920 1,885
TEX : 150 155 825 1,101
TOTAL : 237 250 19,994 24,779

7 YYELD AND PRODUCTION FOR 1977 TO BE RELEASED APRIL 8, 1977

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1977 7 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP_SUMMARY
(DOMESTIC UNITS)

CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

: 765 INDICATED 1976-77
CROP : 1975-76 : FEST MART
: 1,000 BOXES
ORANGES : 242,380 248,600 244,550
GRAPEFRUIT : 70,080 69,900 69,900
LEMONS z 17,820 26,600 26,600

J/ SEASON BESINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.

POTATOES ‘
SEASONAL AREA PLANTED” : AREA HARVESTED
: 7 INDICATED : > INDICATED
GROUP : 1976 : roar : 1976 : ran
7,000 ACRES
WINTER : 14.6 13.6 14.4 13.6
SPRING : 100.9 91.9 99.0 91.3
: YIELD PER ACRE z PRODUCTION _
INDICATED z INDICATED_197:
1976 : 1977, : 1976 ET RT
Cut 7,000 CHT
WINTER 3 207 y92 2,984 2,356 2,469
SPRING : 250 APR 8 243779 APR 8
UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/ —
7 7 : TROICAT =
CROP : 1975-76 FEB T : WAR
FETRIC TOW
ORANGES : 9,506,390 9,733,190 9,581,690
GRAPE FRUIT : 23585 ,480 23583,660 23583, 660
LEMONS : 614,160 917, 160 917, 160
BOTATOES :
7 TREK PLANTED, 7 AREA HARVESTED
SEASONAL
: THOICATED : 7 TROTCATED
GROUP : 1976 Hea ; 1976 : iar
HECTARES
WINTER : 5,910 5,500 5,830 5,500
SPRING : 40,830 37,190 40,060 36,950
i “YIELD PER-HECTARE i PRODUCTION
7 TNDICATED 7 TNOTCATED_197
1976 : 1977 : 1976 FEB: MART
: METRIC TONS
WINTER : 23.22 20.36 135,350 106,870 111,990
SPRING : 28.06 APR 8 1,123,950 APR 8

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:
APPROYE OD: . M. Graham, Chairman,
Stuckey, Acting Secretary,

B
M.
. J. W. Kirkbride, F.E. Rolf,
x R. P. Small, D. J. Buckner,
H. J. DeLong, D. J. Fedewa,
D. H. Johnson, LD. Seebeck.

ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH \977 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA



FEBRUARY WEATHER

February continued dry, but the bitter cold 1976-77 winter temperatures moderated during the
month, February temperatures averaged wel] above normal west of the Mississippi River and only
slightly below normal in the East. The dry weather characterizing the 1976-77 winter continued
with many western States receiving tess than 25 percent of normal precipitation. Above norma?
moisture was limited to the northern Great Plains, upper Great Lakes area and other small, scat-
tered areas, Much of the moisture in the northern Great Plains and the West fell during the last
week of the month,

The month began with bitter cold temperatures persisting across the eastern half of the coun-
try. The Ohio Valley and the area south of the Great Lakes had the largest departures, averaging
12 to 15° below normal, Much of the western and northern Plains were near normal. Little or no
moisture fell over the parched western States. Snow and high winds buffeted the Buffalo, N.Y.
area during the week. The southern and central Plains experienced a period of warming but cooled
rapidly again at the week's end. Record low temperatures were set at numerous locations the
morning of the 6th; Columbus, Ohio -11°, Madison, Wis, -19°, Roanoke, Va. 8° and Birmingham, Ala.
7.

The second week saw unusually warm temperatures prevail over the western two-thirds of the
Nation. Temperatures in the plains averaged 18 to 21° above normal. Most of the precipitation
during the week was associated with a low pressure system which moved from Texas northeastward
through New England spreading rain in its path. The rain was heavy in east Texas but rather
light as the low moved northeastward. Some rain fell in the Pacific Northwest and northern
California but not nearly enough to relieve the drought.

The unseasonably mild temperatures continued to persist from the Mississippi River to the
West Coast during the week of February 14-20. Temperatures in the intermountain Plateau region
averaged 10 to 13° above normal and most of Montana was 15 to 20° warmer than normal. On the
other hand, Florida averaged 6 to 8° below normal and several frosty mornings were reported.
Precipitation was generally light across the Nation, but rain did start again at the end of the
week in Washington, Oregon and northern California. The New England area received additional
snow, bringing depths up to 60 inches in northern Maine.

February ended with the wettest week of the winter. With a few minor exceptions, same mois-
ture fell over the entire country. Record breaking warmth also covered many parts of the Nation.
The area east of the Rockies was at least 6° above normal except in the Upper Great Lakes, New
England and Florida. Moisture amounts across the Pacific Northwest totaled 2 to 4 inches along
the coast and up to 1 inch further inland. Heavy rains also fell across the Southeast with over
3 inches in parts of Alabama and Mississippi.

WINTER WHEAT

Most of the United States, including the major winter wheat areas, reported low soil moisture
supplies through February. Most of the winter wheat crop had very little snow cover during
February but wind damage was light until high winds on the 22nd and 23rd caused extensive
erosion in some fields, particularly in eastern Colorado and western Kansas. At the end of the
month, light precipitation helped settle the dust in areas subject to blowing and held the soil
in place, Moderate temperatures helped green the winter wheat crop as far north as south central
Montana.

Kansas winter wheat was in poor to fair condition and the limited vegetative cover made the
crop susceptible to wind damage. After midmonth the crop began greening, but sot?s were dry and
strong winds eroded fields and damaged some wheat. The Oklahoma winter wheat crop ended the
month in fair to good condition. Precipitation near midmonth in all areas of the State except
the Panhandle, along with higher temperatures, helped establish root systems and enabled plants
to make some much needed top growth. Small plants in the Panhandle remained susceptible to
blowing and near the end of the manth winds damaged some of the crop in the western Panhandle.
High temperatures and winds evaporated topsoil moisture quickly and the crop needed more moisture
at the end of the month.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1977 3 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA