CITRUS FRUIT 1/

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION
: BOXES TON EQUIVALENT
CROP Hy ied
AND : UTILIZED
STATE lel allele alaittetatetatatel : INDICATED: NDICATED

1987-88

1,000 UNITS 2/ 1,000 UNITS

ORANGES,EARLY MID
&

NAVEL 3/:
ARIZ 4/: 600 950 650 23 36 24
CALIF : 33,000 34,500 31,000 1,238 1,294 1,163
FLA : 64,200 65,800 78,000 2,889 2,961 3,510
TEX : 200 500 950 9 22 40
US > 98,000 101,750 110,600 4,159 4,313 4,737
ORANGES, VALENCIA
ARIZ 4/: 1,700 2,200 2,400 64 83 90
CALIF : 20,900 24,000 24,000 784 900 900
FLA : 55,000 53,900 62,000 2,475 2,425 2,790
TEX : 110 375 600 5 16 26
us : 77,710 80,475 89,000 3,328 3,424 3,806
ALL ORANGES ‘
ARIZ Als 2,300 3,150 3,050 87 119 114
CALIF : 53,900 58,500 55,000 2,022 2,194 2,063
FLA : 119,200 119,700 140,000 5,364 5,386 6,300
TEX 2 310 875 1,550 14 38 66
us : 175,710 182,225 199,600 7,487 7,737 8,543
TEMPLES :
FLA : 2,950 3,400 3,600 133 153 162
GRAPEFRUIT, WHITE :
SEEDLESS H
FLA : 25,600 26,900 28,000 1,088 1,143 1,190
GRAPEFRUIT, COLORED:
SEEDLESS H
FLA : 18,000 20,000 20,500 765 850 871
SEEDY GRAPEFRUIT
FLA 3,150 2,900 3,500 134 123 149
ALL GRAPEFRUIT :
ARIZ af: 2,400 2,200 2,200 77 70 70
CALIF 4/ 5/:
DESERT : 3,600 4,200 4,200 115 134 134
OTHER AREAS : 4,500 4,900 151 164
TOTAL : 8,100 9,100 266 298
FLA > 46,750 49,800 52,000 1,987 2,116 2,210
TEX : 220 1,925 3,400 9 77 136
US : 57,470 63,025 2,339 2,561
TANGERINES :
ARIZ 4a/: 700 700 550 26 26 21
CALIF Al: 1,800 2,230 1,500 68 83 56
FLA 6/: 1,950 2,340 2,300 93 VW 109
US 6/: 4,450 5,270 4,350 187 220 186
LEMONS 4/:
ARIZ : 3,250 7,100 5,000 123 270 190
CALIF : 15,100 21,500 18,500 574 817 703
us : 18,350 28,600 23,500 697 1,087 893
TANGELOS :
FLA : 2,950 4,000 4,300 133 180 194

1/_ THE CROP YEAR BEGINS WITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH
YEAR HARVEST IS COMPLETED. 2/ NET LBS PER BOX: ORANGES-CALIF & ARIZ-75, FLA-
90, TEX-85; GRAPEFRUIT-CALIF DESERT & ARIZ-64, CALIF OTHER-67, FLA-85, TEX-80;
LEMONS-76; TANGELOS & TEMPLES-90; TANGERINES-CALIF & ARIZ-75, FLA-95.

3/ NAVEL AND MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES IN CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA. EARLY AND
MIDSEASON VARIETIES IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS, INCLUDING SMALL QUANTITIES OF
TANGERINES IN TEXAS, 4/ ESTIMATES FOR CURRENT YEAR CARRIED FORWARD FROM
EARLIER FORECAST. 5/ THE FIRST FORECAST FOR CALIF GRAPEFRUIT “OTHER AREAS"
WILL BE AS OF APR 1. 6/ PER PROGRAM MODIFICATION, FLA “ALL TANGERINES"
INCLUDE HONEY TANGERINES BEGINNING WITH 1987-88 SEASON. ESTIMATES FOR
PREVIOUS SEASONS ARE REVISED TO INCLUDE THE HONEY VARIETY.

CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,
MARCH 1988 5 NASS, USDA


FLORIDA CITRUS: Florida's citrus trees and groves are in excellent condition.
Soil moisture 4S generally adequate as light rains fell
through February. Few growers needed to irrigate. Cool temperatures held new
rowth to a minimum in spite of a few warm days in the 80's. By the end of
ebruary, tiny pin head bloom buds were forming on trees of all ages. There
is only minimal open bloom at this time on young Navel and Valencia trees.
Harvest of early and midseason oranges averaged just over 5.70 million boxes
per week during February. Average movement per week for February of both
white and colored grapefruit was better than 2.00 million boxes. This
increased volume was due to labor being available from early orange harvest
crews. Temple harvest increased steadily during February to almost 500
thousand boxes for the last week of the month. Movement of all Tangelos
slowed by the end of the month as supplies were running low. Caretakers have
been active fertilizing, cultivating, and hedging.

TEXAS CITRUS: Harvest of grapefruit continued at a slow pace during February.

Cool wet weather during parts of the month slowed field
activity. Quality remained good. Harvest of early and mid-season oranges was
virtually complete. Harvest of Valencia oranges was beginning to increase as
weather permitted. Early quality has been good.

PAPAYAS: Hawaii fresh papaya production is forecast at 2.30 million pounds

(1040 metric tons) in March 1988, 34 percent lower than March 1987.
Increases are anticipated over the next three months with output of 4.30
million pounds (1950 metric tons) expected in April, 5.70 million pounds (2590
metric tons) in May and 6.70 million pounds (3040 metric tons) in June.

February fresh utilization is estimated at 2.93 million pounds (1330 metric
tons), 27 percent lower than during January and 20 percent below last February.
Weather conditions during February were mostly favorable. However, some older
orchards were prematurely taken out of production due to phytophthora
infestation, a result of wet conditions during the beginning of the year.

Crop area totaled 4075 acres (1650 hectares) in February, 1 percent lower
than January but 3 percent higher than last February. Area harvested in
February totaled 2285 acres (920 hectares), 7 percent below January and 5
percent below February a year ago.

WINTER POTATOES: Production of winter potatoes is forecast at 2.82 million cwt

128 thousand metric tons), up 13 percent from last year but
6 percent below 1986. California potatoes, with harvest about 70 percent
complete, are turning out better than anticipated a month ago. Florida harvest
is increasing; yields and quality are good.

SPRING POTATOES: Planted area for spring potatoes in 1988 is estimated at. 81.9

thousand acres (33.1 thousand hectares), down 1 percent from
last year, but 6 percent above two years ago. Growers anticipate harvest from
80.8 thousand acres (32.7 thousand hectares), up fractionally from last year
and 6 percent above 1986.

California acreage is expected to be down 3 percent from last year.
Planting and development are on normal schedule. Florida planting is almost
complete in the Hastings area and is in progress elsewhere. Acreage in areas
other than Hastings is up moderately. Planting is getting started in North
Carolina a little ahead of normal. Growth of early fields is slow in Texas
and Louisiana because of cool weather. Soil moisture is fair. Arizona
acreage is up 24 percent from last year. March 1 found most of Alabama spring
potatoes planted with growth ahead of normal.

CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,
MARCH 1988 8 NASS, USDA


POTATOES

AREA : t
SEASONAL: --------------------------- : YIELD 2 PRODUCTION
GROUP : PLANTED : HARVESTED :
AND Deere reer nnn enn nn nnn ne nn nnn nn nn ee nnn nnn nn enn nn nen ne ee oe
STATE : : IND: : IND: : IND : : IND
: 1987 : 1988 : 1987 : 1988 : 1987 : 1988 : 1986: 1987: 1988
1,000 ACRES CWT 1,000 CWT
WINTER :
CALIF : 4.6 5.2 4.6 5.2 235 270 1,479 1,081 1,404
FLA : 7.3 7.3 7.1 7.1 200 200 1,512 1,420 1,420
TOTAL : 11.9 12.5 11.7 12.3 214 230 2,991 2,501 2,824
SPRING 1/
ALA : 5.0 4.2 4.9 4.1 125 682 613
ARIZ : 4.9 6.1 4.9 6.1 275 1,298 1,348
CALIF 221.3 20.6 21.3 20.6 370 7,605 7,881
FLA :
HASTINGS : 27.0 27.0 26.5 26.5 170 6,860 4,505
OTHER 2 2.2 2.6 2.1 2.5 190 71 399
LA : 5 5 3 4 60 35 18
NC : 14.6 14.5 14.5 14.4 140 2,055 2,030
TEX : 7.0 6.4 6.2 6.2 150 1,116 930
TOTAL 82.5 81.9 80.7 80.8 220 19,822 17,724

FRESH PRODUCTION

1987 1988 :FORECAST
: 1988
eee TACRES SS 1,000 POUNDS :
JAN + 3,905 4,120 2,420 2,450 4,000 4,010
FEB : 3,940 4,075 2,395 2,235 3,665 2,930
MAR : 3,965 2,400 3,465 2,300
APR > 3,995 4,300
MAY : 3,950 5,700

CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,
MARCH 1988 4 NASS, USDA


FEBRUARY WEATHER SUMMARY

The temperature pattern of February resembled that of January, but
positive temperature anomalies in the West were greater, and the area affected
was much larger. Relatively cold weather persisted in the eastern half of the
Nation, except for areas along the east coast from North Carolina to New
England. Wettest areas, with respect to normal, were the Gulf coastal States,
the Rocky Mountain States, the desert Southwest, the Northeast, and the middle
and lower Mississippi Valley. (Prepared by NOAA/USDA Joint Agricultural
Weather Facility.)

WINTER WHEAT

Winter wheat was mostly good to fair during February. However, crop
condition was mostly fair to good in the northern and central Great Plains and
Rocky Mountain States during most of the month. Outbursts of extremely cold
temperatures surged across the eastern half of the Nation the first half of
the month, but adequate snow cover protection kept damage at a minimum. Snow
cover vanished the second half of the month but temperatures were warm enough
to prevent serious damage. The cold weather st*fled growth until midmonth but
by month's end wheat broke dormancy as far north as Missouri. The warm
temperatures promoted growth from Oklahoma southward. During February,
dryness plagued wheat development in the northern Great Plains, especially in
South Dakota. In Arizona, wheat reached the heading stage in western areas.
Wheat grew well in California but began showing signs of moisture stress in
dryland areas. Topdressing was active in the Southeast, Pacific Northwest,
Corn Belt, northern and central Great Plains and Delta as the month ended.

FEBRUARY FIELDWORK

Oklahoma's cotton harvest extended into February but neared completion the
first week of the month. Cotton land preparation progressed rapidly in
California and Arizona. By the end of the month cotton planting was underway
in Arizona. Snow followed by quick melt-down restricted fieldwork in the
eastern half of the Nation during the first half of February. Rain continued
hampering fieldwork most of the month in the Southeast and Delta. The last
week of the month, warm, windy weather dried soils, opening the door for
spring field activity to begin in the eastern half of the Nation. By midmonth
corn planting was underway in California and Texas. Seeding reached 7 percent
completion in Texas as the month drew to a close. Sorghum planting was
underway in the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley areas of Texas. Fieldwork
was limited mostly to spreading fertilizer in th> Corn Belt during February.

ORANGES: The U.S. all orange crop is forecast at 200 million boxes (7.75 mil-
lion metric tons) for the 1987-88 season. This is 3 percent higher
than the February 1 forecast and 10 percent above the 1986-87 season.

Florida's all orange crop is estimated at 140 million boxes, up 4 percent from
the February 1 forecast and 17 percent more than last season's crop. Produc-
tion prospects for early and mid-season oranges in Florida are 78.0 million
boxes, 19 percent more than 1986-87. The Valencia crop in Florida is forecast
at 62.0 million boxes, 3 percent above a month ago and 15 percent higher than
the 1986-87 season.

Harvest of all U.S. oranges as of March 1 was 46 percent complete, compared
with 48 percent a year earlier. Harvest of Florida early and mid-season
varieties is 94 percent complete, while Valencia harvest has just begun.

CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,
MARCH 1988 6 NASS, USDA


National United States

C ro p states Department of
Service Agriculture
a Fact Finding
P d u ct 10on tor Apetire Washington, D.C. 20250
ro Agficultural
Statistics
Board
RELEASED: March 9, 1988
3:00 P.M. ET
HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS production, excluding California "other areas" grapefruit, is forecast

at 12.5 million ‘tons

(11.4 million metric tons),

up 2 percent from

February 1, and 6 percent higher than last season.

ORANGE production is forecast at 200 million boxes (7.75 million metric tons),
3 percent above February 1 and 10 percent higher than last season.

GRAPEFRUIT production, excluding California's “other areas" crop, is forecast
at 61.8 million boxes (2.31 million metric tons), up fractionally from
last month and 6 percent above last season.

WINTER POTATO production is forecast at 2.82 million cwt (128 thousand metric
tons), up 13 percent from last year but 6 percent below 1986.

SPRING POTATOES are planted on 81.9 thousand acres (33.1 thousand hectares),
down 1 percent from last year but 6 percent above two years ago.

RIKIK IKI IK IKI I RIAA I II II SII III III ISIS IE IIIA I IKI SII III SII IIIA II AISA

Pe ee ee

* through USDA's EDI SERVICE.

* Russell Forte, (202) 447-5505, OGPA, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250.
*

* The next issue of this report will be published April 11, 1988

Requests for a subscription order form covering all available reports
should be directed to Agricultural Statistics Board Publications, Room
5829-South Building, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250.

This report and other statistical, economic, marketing and news reports
are available electronically as soon as possible following release

NOTICE

(202) 447-4021.

For more information, call or write:

ee 2

AK IIK III III AK ISIS IIIA III ISI AI III II III IK III PIII IIIS IIA IIA A IA IIA

CrPr 2-2 (3-88)

For Information Call: (202) 447-2127


The California al? orange forecast, at 55.0 million boxes, is up 2 percent
from last month but 6 percent less than last season's production. The Navel
orange forecast, at 31.0 million boxes, is 3 percent above last month's
forecast but 10 percent less than the 1986-87 harvest. As of March 1, about
56 percent of California's Navel crop had been harvested. The California
Valencia orange crop forecast, at 24.0 million boxes, is unchanged from both a
month ago and Tast season's crop. Harvest has just started in the desert
area. The all orange forecast for Arizona, which was carried forward from
January 1, is expected to total 3.05 million boxes, 3 percent less than last
season's production. The Texas all orange forecast is 1.55 million boxes,
unchanged from last month and compares with 875 thousand boxes harvested last
season.

Changes in U.S. production between the March 1 forecast and final produc-
tion averaged 5.47 million boxes over the past ten seasons, ranging from a low
of 170 thousand boxes in 1980-81 to a high of 12.2 million boxes in 1981-82.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD: The 1987-88 Florida all orange frozen

concentrate juice yield forecast has
been increased to 1.53 gallons per box of 42.0 degrees Brix equivalent, up
from last month's projection of 1.51 gallons per box. This increase is due to
the continued gains in both Brix and pounds of unfinished juice per box.

GRAPEFRUIT: The March 1 grapefruit forecast, excluding California's “other

areas", is 61.8 million boxes (2.31 million metric tons), up
fractionally from the February 1 forecast and 6 percent above last season.
Production for the California "other areas" crop, which will be forecast as of
April 1, accounted for 4.90 million boxes during the 1986-87 season. The
California "Desert Valley" crop forecast, which was carried forward from the
January 1 forecast, is 4.20 million boxes, unchanged from last season. The
Florida all grapefruit forecast is 52.0 million boxes, unchanged from last
month's forecast but up 4 percent from last season. Harvest in Florida is
about half finished.

The forecast for Arizona, carried forward from the January 1 forecast, is
2.20 million boxes, the same as last season. The Texas forecast is 3.40 mil-
lion boxes, up 3 percent from February 1. This compares with 1.93 million
boxes harvested during the 1986-87 season.

TANGELOS: The Florida crop, excluding K-early citrus fruit, is forecast at

4.30 million boxes (176 thousand metric tons), unchanged from last
month but 8 percent above last season. Tangelo shipments slowed as harvest
neared completion.

TANGERINES: The U.S. all tangerine forecast of 4.35 million boxes (169 thou-

sand metric tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but 17
percent less than last season. This forecast includes all varieties of
tangerines in Florida (Dancy, Robinson, and Honey), as well as production of
California and Arizona tangerines. Florida Honey tangerines beginning this
year are included in the State and U.S. totals. Production estimates shown
for previous seasons have been revised for comparison purposes with the new
crop forecasts.

The Florida forecast is 2.30 million boxes, unchanged from February 1 but
2 percent below 1986-87. Florida's Honey tangerine harvest is active with
about two-thirds of the crop picked as of March 1.

TEMPLES: The Florida temple forecast, at 3.60 million boxes (147 thousand
metric tons), is unchanged from February 1? but up 6 percent from
last season. Harvest was almost two-thirds complete as of March I.

CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,
MARCH 1988 7 NASS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY

(DOMESTIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

CROP 1986-87 power enna nnn nn en een enone nen eee e ee
FEB 1 MAR 1
1,000 BOXES
ORANGES : 182,225 193,600 199,600

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

POTATOES

AREA PLANTED

SEASONAL :-----------------nnneecen none nn nnn ee ene nn ne ene een nnnnenecenene
GROUP =: ~——«1987 INDICATED 1988 1987 INDICATED 1988
1,000 ACRES
WINTER > og 12.5 W.7 12.3
SPRING : 82.5 81.9 80.7 80.8
YIELD PER ACRE PRODUCTION

INDICATED 1988

1,000 CWT

WINTER : 214 230 2,501 2,590 2,824
SPRING 3 220 APR 11 17,724 APR 11

The CROP PRODUCTION report contains State and National estimate:
related information on selected agricultural commodities. These data were
Prepared and adopted by the Agricultural Statistics Board which consists of
commodity statisticians from the field offices and Washington headquarters.

APPROVED: AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD:
Rich Allen, Chairperson,
Le Duane wewells Secretary»
y Robert L. Addison, obert L. Freie,
Even Wilson Donald M. Bay, Clifton D. dames,
Arvin R. Budge, Gregory Preston,
dames L. Smith.

ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,
MARCH 1988 2 NASS, USDA


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

INDICATED 1987-88

1986-87

METRIC TONS

7,018,890 7,511,490 7,750,080
1/. SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE
COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

POTATOES

AREA PLANTED AREA HARVESTED
SEASONAL 1 -~------------------- +--+ ---- 2-220 2-2 nnn en nn nen eee en ee

GROUP

WINTER : 4,820 5,060 4,730 4,980
SPRING 2 33,390 33,140 32,660 32,700

YIELD PER HECTARE PRODUCTION

: : INDICATED 1988
1987 : INDICATED 1988 : 1987 penne nnn een nn nn-----
3 : FEB 1 MAR 1
METRIC TONS
WINTER 23.98 25.72 113,440 117,480 = 128,090
SPRING 24.62 APR 11 803,940 APR 11
CROP PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS BOARD,

MARCH 1988 3 NASS, USDA