March Warm With Variable Precipitation

March temperatures averaged warmer than normal over the entire Nation except for
portions of States along the Canadian Border from North Dakota to Maine where colder
than normal readings prevailed. Alnost all of the soutl.ern half of the Nation averag-
ed over 6° warner than the normal March average terperature while most areas in the
northern half averaged about 3° above normal. The month began much warmer than normal
across the Country. Readings reached the 70's from south Dakota to Indiana on March 3,
Generally wide-spread warmer-than-normal weather persisted until midmonth.

thawing Corn Belt soils and stimulating growth of southern Plains winter wheat. Buds
on peach trees in the Central States swelled earlier than usual causing growers to
worry about the risk of freeze damage. Their fears were confirmed when bitter cold
during the third week spread over the Nation sending temperatures in many areas plum-
meting to record lows for the first week of spring. This cold spell pushed freezing
temperatures deep into the South causing moderate to severe damage to peaches in the
mid-Mississippi and Ohio River Valley States and hurting tender young truck crops

and gardens. The month ended as it had begun--warmer than normal.

March precipitation varied greatly across the country from less than half of
normal in the South and Southwest to more than twice normal amounts over much of the
Northwest. Above normal precipitation fell throughout the North Atlantic States, the
northwest half of the Western States, including the northern two-thirds of California,
and scattered parts of the Corn Belt and Southern Great Plains including parts of
drought-plagued northwest Texas. Precipitation, however, was below normal over the
South Atlantic States, most of the South Central States and the southeast half of
the Western States, The first week brought good rains to the Southern Great Plains.
Up to 2 inches fell on Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Northwest Texas received the
first significant rain in months with amounts ranging from 0.3 to over one inch.
Violent weather began to ripple across the country from the Rockies to the Atlantic
Coast shortly before mid-March. Rapidly changing weather systems typical of early
spring triggered successive waves of thunderstorms, high winds, tornadoes, hail, and
torrential rains during the remainder of the month. In late March, freak snowstorms
occurred in the mid-Atlantic States. Norfolk, Va. got a whopping 7 inches of snow
while Greensboro, N. C. received 4 inches of snow. Very little flooding was reported
at month's end in contrast to a year earlier when extensive flooding occurred on
streams feeding into the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

Winter Wheat In Good Condition--Moisture Adequate

The Nation's winter wheat crop generally made good growth during March reflecting
above normal temperatures early in the month and good moisture conditions. The major
exception was in southwest Oklahoma and northwest Texas where moisture has been short
all season. By April 1, the winter wheat crop was considered to be in good condition
in most areas with adequate moisture and very little damage reported as a result of
freezing temperatures during late March. Development of the U. S, crop is near normal
and harvest is expected to start at about the usual dates.

In Kansas, the Nation's leading wheat State, condition of the crop improved during
March as general rains were received over mich of the State. Moisture condition is
good although not up to last year's level. Cold, snowy weather during the lst week of
April slowed growth but development was considered normal with 10% of the acreage
jointing. The bulk of the Oklahoma crop is rated good but stress from lack of moisture
is evident in the Panhandle and extreme Southwest. The tops of plants were burned by
the March freeze but actual damage was light. The most damage occurred in early joint-
ing and heavily fertilized fields. Crop maturity is about equal to last year. The
Texas wheat crop made fair to good growth and prospects are generally fair to good.

On the Texas High Plains, which have been plagued by droughty conditions all season,
prospects are fair for irrigated wheat but mostly poor for dryland wheat.

Elsewhere, the Nation's winter wheat crop has had favorable conditions all season.
In the Northwest, which was plagued by drought last year, moisture and other conditions
affecting growth have been good. The Washington crop is in good shape with ideal
moisture conditions. In Oregon, conditions vary from fair in the west to good in the
east where little winterkill occurred, Montana winter wheat is rated fair to good
with sufficient soil moisture in the northwest part, but short to adequate elsewhere.

Colorado winter wheat is in good to excellent condition, while the Nebraska crop
has adequate moisture and is in good condition, From Missouri to Ohio winter wheat
is in fair to good condition but recent freezing weather damaged the crop in some areas.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 5 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Citrus Fruits, Production 1/

Crop and State 197-72? 1972-73} MMSteared =: yo7i-72 + 1972-73: Malcated
1,000 boxes 27 Equivalent tons
Oranges:
Early, Midseason &
Navel Varieties 3/:
Arizona 900 1,060 400 33,800 39,800 15,000
California 22,300 18,700 21,000 836 000 701,000 788,000
Florida 68,800 90,000 92,000 3,096,000 4,050,000 4,140,000
Texas 3,800 5,000 4,300 171,000 225,000 194,000
Total Above Varieties 95,800 114,760 117,700 4,136,800 5,015,800 5,137,000
Valencias:
‘Arizona 4,000 4,000 3,000 150,000 150,000 113,000
California 21,100 23,400 20,000 791,000 878,000 750,000
Florida 68,200 79,700 72,000 3,069,000 3,587,000 3,240,000
Texas 2,000 2,400 2,300 90,000 108,000 104,000
Total Valencias + 95,300 109,500 97,300 4,100,000 4,723,000 4,207,000
All Oranges: :
‘Arizona : 4,900 5,060 3,400 183,800 189,800 128,000
California > 43,400 42,100 41,000 1,627,000 1,579,000 1,538,000
Florida : 137,000 169,700 164,000 6,165,000 7,637,000 7,380,000
Texas : 5,800 7,400 6,600 261,000 333,000 298,000
U. S., All Oranges : 191,100 224,260 215,000 8,236,800 9,738,800 9,344,000
: ‘
Grapefruit: 3
‘Arizona 3 2,540 2,640 2,400 81,300 84,500 76,800
California, All : 5,400 5,400 4,700 175,700 176,400 153,300
Desert Valleys : 3,200 3,000 2,800 102,000 96,000 89,600
Other Areas : 2,200 2,400 1,900 73,700 80,400 63,700
Florida, All : 47,000 45,400 46,000 1,998,000 1,930,000 1,955,000
Pink Seedless : 12,300 11,700 12,000 523,000 497,000 $10,000
White Seedless : 23,800 23,500 24,000 1,012,000 999,000 1,020,000
Other : 10,900 10,200 10,000 463,000 434,000 425,000
Texas : 9,200 11,800 11,000 368,000 472,000 440,000
U. S,, All Grapefruit > 64,140 65,240 64,100 2,623,000 2,662,900 2,625,100
Lemons: :
‘Arizona : 3,080 4,600 2,900 117,000 175,000 110,000
California : 13,600 17,600 14,500 517,000 669,000 551,000
U.S. Lemons > 16,680 22,200 17,400 634,000 844,000 661,000
Tangelos: :
Florida : 3,900 3,500 4,100 176 ,000 158,000 185,000
Tangerines: :
‘Arizona : 570 530 400 21,400 19,900 15,000
Califormia : 1,260 1,600 1,100 47,300 60,000 41,300
Florida 3 3,200 3,000 2,800 152,000 143,000 133,000
Total Tangerines + 5,030 5,130 4,300 220,700 222,900 189,300
Temples: :
Florida : 5,300 5,100 5,200 239,000 230,000 234,000

1/ The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with completion of harvest the
following year, 2/ Net content of box varies. Approximate averages are as follows: Oranges - .
California and Arizona, 75 lbs.; Florida and Other States, 90 lbs.; Grapefruit-California, Desert Valleys
and Arizona, 64 lbs.; other California areas, 67 lbs.; Florida, 85 lbs.; and Texas, 80 lbs.; Lemons -

76 lbs.; Tangelos - 90 lbs., Tangerines - California and Arizona, 75 lbs.; Florida, 95 lbs.; and

Temples - 90 lbs. 3/ Navel and Miscellaneous varieties in California and Arizona. Early and midseason
varieties in Florida and Texas, including small quantities of Tangerines in Texas.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 10 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD:

The all orange juice yield for 1973-74 is projected at 1.31 gallons of 45 degree brix con-
centrate per box. Final yield from the 1972-73 crop was 1.33 gallons per box.

CITRUS CROP - HARVEST AND UTILIZATION TO APRIL 1

1972-73 z 1973-74
Utilization H Utilization
Crop : 3 3 7Remaining: 3 3 > Remaining
: Fresh :Processed: Total : For : Fresh :Processed: Total : For
H H H ; Harvest : B i : Harvest
: Thousand Boxes
Oranges : 23,320 91,575 114,895 109,365 24,341 «95,422 «119,762 95,238
Grapefruit 2 17,949 23,674 41,623 23,617 +=—:18,089 25,149 43,238 +=. 20, 862
Lemons 6,184 6,767 12,951 9,249 6,124 3,931 10,055 7,345

As of the first of April, 119.8 million boxes of oranges or about 56 percent of the U. S.
crop had been harvested. This compares with 114.9 million boxes or about one-half the crop har~

vested by this time a year earlier. Processors had used 80 percent of the oranges harvested by
April 1, the same proportion as a year earlier.

Grapefruit harvest was 67 percent complete by April 1, about the same rate as last year when
64 percent had been harvested by April 1. To date 58 percent of the crop harvested has been
utilized by processors compared with 57 percent a year earlier.

About 58 percent of the lemons had been picked by April 1, the same as a year ago. Processors
have utilized 39 percent of the crop, compared with 52 percent by April } last year.

Grapefruit: U. S. grapefruit production is forecast at 64.1 million boxes, 2 percent less than

last season, and unchanged from the March 1 forecast in all States, Prospects in
Florida at 46 million boxes remain 1 percent above last season, ‘The Texas crop, at 11 million
boxes,is 7 percent below last season, California and Arizona forecasts are down 13 percent
and 9 percent. respectively, from a year ago.

The Nation’s grapefruit harvest was two-thirds complete by April 1 and contimues to progress
at about the same rate as last season. Harvest in Florida is about 7@ percent complete, The
rate of harvest averaged over 2 million boxes per week during March. In Texas, harvest is well
ahead of last year with over 90 percent of the crop picked. Arizona harvest continues behind
last season with about one-fourth of the crop now picked. Harvest in the California Desert
Valleys is about one~fifth complete,

Changes in U. S. grapefruit production between the April 1 forecast and final production
have averaged 1,7 million boxes over the past 9 seasons, ranging from .4 million boxes in 1972-
73 to 4.1 million boxes in the 1968-69 season,

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 7 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Fieldwork Progress Rapid in South But Slow In North Central States

Fieldwork continued active in the South Atlantic States with only minor delays
from rain throughout most of March. Good progress was nade and nost land is ready
to plant when warver weather arrives. In the South Central States, few rains and
above normal temperatures created ideal weather conditions for fieldwork, Farmers
were able to make excellent headway in preparing land for spring planting. Progress
in most States was well ahead of a year earlier, Tennessee is the notable exception
as frequent rainfall has caused delays and planting will be one or two weeks later
than normal but comparable with the late season of last year. Plowing for row crops
in Oklahoma is well advanced for this time of year with final seedbed preparation
for cotton, sorghums, peanuts and soybeans underway. Texas farmers made rapid pro-
gress planting cotton, corn, sorghum and rice from the Blacklands to the Lower Rio
Grande Valley. In Arkansas, seedbed preparation for planting rice and cotton crops
4s about complete, Land preparation in Mississippi by late March was more than 50
percent complete compared with only about one-fourth complete a year earlier.

In the North Central States, fieldwork’started on a linited scale in drier areas
but snow, rain and wet soils held fieldwork to a standstill most of the month,
Tilling, spreading fertilizer and seeding of legumes has been confined to localized
areas on sandy or well-drained soils. Most Corn Belt farners made excellent pro-
gress with fall plowing last year and are. in good shape to put the finishing touches
‘on fieldwork this spring as weather pernits. By April 1, spring plowing and small
grain seeding was underway in the southern parts of South Dakota and Iowa and was well
along in Kansas and Nebraska,

Early March warn temperatures in the North Atlantic States brought hopes of an
early spring but winterlike weather returned to most of the area making conditions
unfavorable for outdoor farm work. Very little aple sirup was nade.

In the Western States, fieldvork generally started in early March and made fair
progress although frequent rains slowed operations in the Northwestern States and in
northern California, Liming, fertilizing and spring wheat seeding began in early
March in Washington, but cool wet weather interrupted progress during the month. Rain~
fall over the northern half of California halted wvet fieldwork as March ended, Frequent
but light precipitation delayed or slowed seeding in most eastern Colorado areas during
March, but planting progress of early crops was ahead of last year's slow pace by April 1.
Tillage operations were active in the lighter soils of southwest and southcentral Idaho
at midnonth but rains slowed work during the latter part of March. In Arizona, prepara~
tions for planting cotton were completed in nost areas and planting was well underway
in warner areas,

ORANGES: The Nation's 1973-74 orange crop is expected to total 215 million boxes,

up 1 percent from March 1 but 4 percent below the 1972-73 record. Pro-
duction in Florida is forecast at 164 million boxes, up 2 million boxes from March 1
but 3 percent below last season's record crop. Prospects in California indicate a
crop of 41 million boxes, an increase of 1 million boxes from March 1 but 3 percent
below last season. Texas production at 6,6 million boxes is up 2 percent from
March 1 but 11 percent below last season. Arizona prospects at 3.4 million boxes
are unchanged from last month and 33 percent less than last season.

Harvest of oranges in the U. S. is ahead of last season with approximately 56
percent harvested as of April 1 compared with about 51 percent at the same time last
season. In Florida harvest was virtually completed on early and midseason oranges by
the end of March and Valencia harvest was 6 percent complete. In Texas harvest was
rapidly nearing completion by April 1. Most fresh market packing houses plan to

stop shipping by the middle of April. The juice plants are operating at full capacity
and are expected to continue operating into May. In Arizona, the orange harvest is
increasing with about one-fourth of the Valencia oranges picked. In California har-
vest of navels is about 80 percent complete. Light picking of Valencias has started
as the crop nears maturity.

U. S. April 1 orange forecasts have differed from acutal production on an

average of 3.2 million boxes during the past 9 seasons, ranging from .2 million
boxes in 1972-73 to 8.5 million boxes in 1970-71.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 6 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


The pasture and range feed condition in 37 States reporting
on April 1 is rated as poor to fair. The reported condi-
tion for this year is 79 percent, compared with 86 percent for April 1, 1973.

PASTURE AND RANGE FEEI

Pasture condition is largely influenced by lowered grazing conditions in the
Southwest, the Dakota's and Florida. Much of western Texas has severe drought
conditions. Conditions in the remainder of the United States are generally good.

April 1, Pasture and Range Feed Condition, By States
35-49, severe drought; 50-64, very poor; 65-79, poor to fair; 80 and over, good to excellent

State: atte : 1973 1974 State 3e38s 2 1973: 1974
Ala. : 68 84 78 Nev. 80 89 91
Ariz. z 77 96 67 N, J. 79 78 86
Ark. 3 74 86 84 New Mex. 72 93 62
Calif. 3 77 94 89 .¢. 82 88 89
Colo. : 76 80 84 N. Dak. y 82 68
Del. 81 84 89 Ohio 82 86 82
Fla. 2 74 81 64 Okla. 74 86 82
Ga. : 76 86 82 Oreg 82 82 86
Idaho > oY 84 90 S.C. 7 84 75
Ill. > 86 89 85 S. Dak. cv, 88 72
Ind. : 85 91 89 Tenn. 76 86 83
Iowa : V 89 86 2: Texas 1 68 83 64
Kans. > 78 91 84  :: Utah 82 76 86
ky. > 79 93 90 Va. 80 91 92
La. : 71 78 80 Wash. 84 83 87
Md. 2 79 80 77 W. Va. 75 84 79
Miss. : 68 78 80 Wyo. VY 80 87
Mo. : 79 85 82
Mont. : y 76 71 30 States 2/: 75 86 79
Nebr. : oY 91 86 37 States 86 79

1/ Data not available.
2/ States for which comparable data are available.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 9 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


crop productior

Va

Release:
April 10, 1974
3:00 P.M. ET

CROP REPORT HIGHLIGHTS AS OF APRIL 1, 1974

Citrus production is up 1 percent from March 1 but 4 percent less than
last season. Production prospects increased during March for oranges
and Florida temples but declined slightly for tangelos and tangerines.
Grapefruit and lemon prospects are unchanged from last month.

Orange production is forecast at 215 million boxes, an increase of 1
percent (3,1 million boxes) from March 1 but 4 percent (9.3 million
boxes) below last season's record. Harvest was approximately 56 per-
cent complete by April 1 compared with about 51 percent at the same
time last year.

Grapefruit production is forecast at 64.1 million boxes, unchanged
from the March 1 forecast but 2 percent (1.1 million boxes) below the
1972-73 crop. About two-thirds of this season's crop was harvested
by April 1.

Lemon production at 17.4 million boxes is the same as last month but
22 percent (4.8 million boxes) less than last season's record. Harvest
is about 60 percent complete.

Spring potato production forecast of 22.7 million cwt. is 7 percent
more than the 21.2 million cwt. produced last year and 8 percent more
than 1972.

Ne

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE CROP REPORTING BOARD
CrPr 2-2 (4+74) WASHINGTON, D.C, 20250

7



PEANUTS: The revised estimate of the peanut crop for 1973 is 3,474 million pounds (net weight),

6 percent above the record large 1972 crop. A record high yield per harvested acre
of 2,323 pounds in 1973 exceeded the 1972 yield by 120 pounds, The 1973 revised production is
up 26 million pounds from the estimate released in the Annual Crop Surmary in January 1974.

A total of 1,530,200 acres, were planted for all purposes in 1973, down 2,600 acres from a
year corlier, . Acreage harvested for nuts totaled 1,495,700 actes in 1973, 9,300 acres more
than in 1972. The season was one of optinun coniitions for obtaining full maturity of the
crop, Weather conditions were excellent for digging, curing, and harvesting in the Virginta—
North Carolina area and the southeast, In the southwest, the crop progressed very well through-
out most of the groving season, Yields were reduced as a result of wet weather in October and
Novenber causing shattering of peanuts in windrows.

In the Virginia-North Carolina areas, production was a record high 789 million pounds,
24 percent above 1972 and 4 percent above the previous record of 758 million pounds, produced
in 1970. A record high yield of 2,933 pounds per acre surpassed by 115 pounds the previous
record set in 1970 and was 560 pounds nore than last year. Acreage harvested for nuts totaled
269,000, up 1,000 acres from a year earlier.

Peanut production in the southeast area is estimated at a record 1,941 nillion pounds, 2
percent above the previous record of 1,895 million pounds established in 1972, A record high
yield of 2,451 pounds ‘exceeded by 47 pounds the previous record set in 1972,as Georgia, Florida,
and Mississippi had record yields. Acreage harvested totaled 792,000 acres, 3,500 akove the
previous year,

The southwest peanut crop, at 744 million pounds, vas virtually unchanged from 1972, The
1973 yield per acre, at 1,711 pounds, was down 19 pounds fron a year earlier, Acreage harvested
for nuts totaled 434,700 acres compared with 429,900 acres in 1972, Oklahoma had a record high
yield and production in 1973.

Peanuts

: Acreage planted A Acreage harvested
State and area ijl: 1972: 1973 1/7: 7: 1972: 1973, 1/7

t 1,000 acres
Ala. : 199 201 204 194 197 200
Fla. 3 74 71 68 54 54 55
Ga, : 518 520 520 510 512 512
Miss. : 9.5 10.0 9.5 9.5 10.0 9.5
N. Mex, : 8.1 8.0 7.8 8.0 7.9 7.7
N.C. : 170 169 168 155 166 166
Okla. t 122 122 123 ug 15 118
Ss. Cy : 15.3 15.8 15.9 15 15.5 15,5
Texas : 310 313 312 297 307 309
Va. : 103 103 103 93 102 103
U. Se : 1,528.9 1,532.8 1,530.2 1,454.5 1,486.4 1,495.7

3 Yield per acre 2 Production

:__ 197. 972s 973 TL z 1972: 1973 17

: Pounds 1,000 pounds
Ala, : 2,070 1,870 2,000 401,580 368,390 400,000
Fla. : 2,590 2,550 2,735 139,860 137,700 150,425
Ga. : 2,490 2,620 2,625 1,269,900 1,341,440 1,344,000
Miss. : 1,735 1,600 1,750 16,483 16,000 16,625
N. Mex. : 2,070 2,590 2,460 16,560 20,461 18,942
N.C. : 2,100 2,230 2,810 325,500 370,180 466 ,460
Okla. : 1,840 2,110 2,150 218 960 242,650 253,700
S.C. : 2,000 2,050 1,940 30,000 31,775 30,070
Texas : 1,235 1,565 1,525 366,795 480,455 471,225
Va. : 2,360 2,605 3,130 219,480 265,710 322,390
U, Se z 2,066 2,203 2,323 3,005,118 3,274,761 3,473,837
L/ Revised

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 12 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Irish Potatoes

Seasonal : Acreage : Yield per acre Production
vege) Harvested A a
arvest = 2 ct t cates 2 cas : cates
State ed a a 17 : 1974 : 21974
1,000 acres Git. 1,000 ewe.
Winter 3 1S.4 14.0 13.6 151 204 204 2,327 2,883 2,768
Spring: 2/
Alabama 9.0 11.0 12.5 155 118 130 1,395 1,298 1,625
Arizona 8.0 9.9 9.4. 300 210 250 2,400 2,079 2,350
Arkansas 1.4 v4 / 65 Y Vv 91 y y
California 31.2 34,7 35.5 355 325 355 11,076 = 11,278 12,603
Fla.-Hastings : 21.1 19.0 19.0 142 180 160 2,996 3,420 3,040
Other 1.8 2.1 2.8 140 150 140 252 315 392
Louisiana 2.7 2.3 2.8 Bs 83 100 203 191 280
Mississippi : 2.0 2.0 2.0 85 85 90 170 170 180
North Carolina : 11.0 11,2 9.3 146 14s 145 1,606 1,624 1,349
Texas 7.6 6.7 74 108 125 11s 822 838 851
Total 98.9 100.7 219 214 228 21,011 21,213 22,670
Summer: 3/
Alabama 8.0 8.0 July 11 130 125 July 111,040 1,000 July 11
California 7.3 9.5 « 384 320 ” 2,584 5,040 "
Colorado 7.6 6.5 " 275 220 " 2,090 1,430 "
Delaware 6.5 6.8 " 190 195 " 1,235 1,326 "
Illinois 2.0 1.8 « 200 15S ” 400 279 “
Indiana 9 1.0 “ 150 130 " 135 130 "
Iowa 3.1 2.6 " 220 175 " 682 455 "
Kansas 1.0 y/ 9s if 9S V/
Kentucky 2.3 Vy 65 iy 150 y
Maryland 2.1 2.0 July 11 167 160 9 July 11 351 3200 July 11
Michigan 8.8 8.0 . 200 140 ” 1,760 1,120 ”
Minnesota 7.2 7.4 " 250 250 " 1,800 1,850 ”
Missouri +6 V 110 M4 66 y
Nebraska 2.5 24 ” 170 170 " 425 408
New Jersey 10.8 9.3 " 195 185 « 2,106 1,721
New Mexico 3.2 3.2 “ 275 260 " 880 832
North Carolina: 3.1 3.0 ” 128 120 ” 397 360 ”
Ohio 2.7 2.8 " 170 150 " 459 420 "
Tennessee 3.9 4.2 " 95 80 " 371 336 0
Texas 14.3 12.0 ” 165 245 " 2,360 2,940 ”
Virginia 29.3 31.0 " 141 105 " 4,131 3,255 "
West Virginia 3.7 3.6 " 70 na " 259 256 ”
Total 130.9 125.1 " 182 272 " 23,776 21,478 "

Lf Estimates discontinued after 1972.

2/
Total Spring 101,500.
3/ 1973 revised.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974

1974 Spring Planted acreage revised April 1 as follows:

il

California 35,500; Florida-Other 2,800;

Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


LEMONS: The combined California and Arizona crop at 17.4 million boxes is

unchanged from last month, but 22 percent below last season's record.
California production is 18 percent below last Season. The Arizona harvest
is complete with production set at 2.9 million boxes, 37 percent below last
season.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo harvest, which is now complete is set at 4.1
million boxes, 2 percent less than last month but 17 percent above
last season.

TANGERINES: The tangerine crop in Florida, Arizona and California is
forecast at 4.3 million boxes, down 2 percent from last month
and 16 percent below last season. Harvest is virtually complete.

TEMPLES: Florida's temple crop, at 5.2 million boxes, is up 4 percent from
last month and 2 percent more than last season. Harvest is more
than 90 percent complete with movement now seasonally declining.

POTATOES: The first forecast of the 1974 spring potato crop at 22.7 million

ewt., is 7 percent more than the 1973 production of 21.2 million
cwt. and 8 percent above the 1972 crop of 21.0 million cwt. Acreage for
harvest is estimated at 100,700 up 2 percent from the 98,900 acres harvested
in 1973, and 5 percent above the 1972 crop.

Most of the spring potato acreage was planted by the end of March.
Rains in late March delayed field work and slowed development in Florida and
North Carolina. The Alabama crop is forecast at 1.6 million cwt., 25 per-
cent larger than the 1.3 million cwt. harvested in 1973, Plantings are
making good progress following a mild winter, The California crop is fore-
cast at 12.6 million cwt., 12 percent larger than the 1973 production of nearly
11.3 million cwt. Planting progressed rapidly and was virtually complete by
the end of March. Acreage for harvest is placed at 35,500 compared with
34,700 acres harvested in 1973. First harvest is expected in the Edison
district of Kern County just after mid-April. Production in the Hastings,
Florida, area is forecast at 3.0 million cwt., which compares with a 1973
crop of 3.4 million cwt. and the 1972 crop of 3.0 million cwt. Fields have
made fair progress since the cold weather in February;.however, volume supplies
are not expected until late April or early May. Production in North Carolina
is forecast at 1.3 million cwt. compared with 1.6 million cwt. harvested in
1973. Spring planting progressed rapidly but wet weather during the last of
March slowed crop development. Yield prospects are about average. In Texas,
production at 851,000 cwt. is up from the 838,000 cwt. harvested in 1973.
Harvest in the Lower Rio Grande Valley will start about mid-April. The San
Antonio-Winter Garden area should begin in late April.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 8 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS *
April 1, 1974

Good to excellent
Poor to fair

BRB very poor
FR Severe drought AS REPORTED BY
7) Not estimated 7 CROP CORRESPONDENTS.

¥INQICATES CURRENT SUPPLY OF FEEO FOR GRAZING ON NON-{RRIGATED PASTURES AND RANGES RELA-
TIVE TO THAT EXPECTED FROM EXISTING STANDS UNDER VERY FAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

U. 3. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Neg. SRS 316-74(4) STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS*
April 1, 1973

Good to excellent
Poor to fair

BBY Very poor

FRR Severe drought
5) Not estimated

‘AS REPORTED BY
CROP CORRESPONDENTS

‘* INDICATES CURRENT SUPPLY OF FEED FOR GRAZING ON NON-IRRIGATED PASTURES AND RANGES RELA-
TIVE TO THAT EXPECTED FROM EXISTING STANDS UNDER VERY FAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS,

U. 8, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Nog. SRS 161-73(4) STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 4 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

Indicated_1973-74

Crop 1972-73 March 1 April 1
1,000 boxes

Oranges 224,260 211,900 215,000

Grapefruit 65,240 64,100 64,100

Lemons 22,200 17,400 17,400

1/ Season begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the com-

pletion of harvest the following year.

IRISH POTATOES

Acreage Yield per acre Production
Seasonal
group = Harvested : For harv. : Ind, :Indicated
1973 1974 1973 1974 19731974
1,000 acres Cwt, 1,000 cwt.
Spring : 98.9 100.7 214 225 21,213 22,670
PASTURE AND RANGE
Average
Item toes ee 1973 1974
Percent
Condition April 1/ 75 86 79

T/ Average for 30 States.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974

Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


CROP REPORT SUMMARY AS OF APRIL 1, 1974

Orange harvest continues to be ahead of last season with early and
midseason varieties virtually harvested. Grapefruit harvest is progressing
about the same rate as last season. In Florida most of the citrus counties
received heavy rain in late March. In California, rain slowed lemon picking.
Harvest of navel oranges and desert grapefruit is active while picking of
Valencia oranges and other area grapefruit is getting underway.

Planting of spring potato acreage was nearly complete by the end of
March. Acreage in most areas is progressing satisfactorily. Harvest in
early areas will begin about mid-April. Volume supplies should be available
during May.

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

APPROVED: CROP REPORTING BOARD:
B. M. Graham, Chairman,
M. R. Stuckey, Acting Secretary,

USM &. ‘ J. W. Kirkbride, D. J. Fedewa,
R. A. R. L. Freie,

McGregor,
Cc. E. Gore, W. G. Hamlin,
R. H. Hettinger, J. F. Riggs,
ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE A. L. Sandberg, A. M. Scott.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1974 2 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA