California production, estimated at 55.0 million boxes is unchanged from last month but up
5 percent from last season. Navel orange output is placed at 29.0 million boxes, unchanged from
the January 1 estimate but 2 percent above the 1975-76 season. California's Valencia orange
crop, at 26.0 million boxes, is up 8 percent from last season.

Texas orange prospects, at 6.6 million boxes, are unchanged from last month and 6 percent
higher than the 1975-76 season total. ‘The Arizona crop is now forecast at 4.0 million boxes,
down slightly from last month's level, but 49 percent greater than last season's short crop.

Changes in U. S. orange production between the February 1 forecast and final production have
averaged 7.2 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 1.5 million boxes in 1971-72
to 18.3 million boxes in the 1970-71 season.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD: The all orange juice yield for the 1976-77 crop is

projected at 1.17 gallons of 45 degree brix concentrate
per box. Final yield from the 1975-76 crop was 1.29 gallons per box

GRAPEFRUIT: The 1976-77 U.S. grapefruit crop is now forecast at 69.9 million boxes, stightly

below last season and down 11 percent from a month ago as a result of the freeze
damage to Florida's crop. In Florida, growers now expect to harvest 49.0 million boxes, down 16
percent from last month, but only slightly below last season's record crop and wel] above 1974-75
output. Basic loss in grapefruit is from fruit droppage after freezing weather with some weight
toss in the processed portion of the crop. Internal damage is not as severe in grapefruit as in
other fruit but stem adherance is weakened. The Texas crop, at 11.5 million boxes, is 7 percent
above last season and unchanged from last month. California production is forecast at 6.5 mil-
lion boxes, off 10 percent from last season, and the Arizona crop is forecast at 2.9 million
boxes compared with 3.3 million in 1975-76

Grapefruit harvest was 29 percent complete on February 1 compared with 35 percent on the
same date last year. Picking in Florida was 34 percent complete, off from the 38 percent on
February I last season. Harvest is also lagging in California, Arizona and Texas.

Changes in the U.S. production between the February 1 forecast and final production have
averaged 2.1 million boxes over the past ten years, ranging from 0.3 million boxes in 1975~76
to 4.3 million in 1968-69.

LEMONS: California's 1976-77 lemon crop is expected to total 21.0 million boxes, unchanged from

last month but 36 percent above last season's production. Prospects for Arizona's crop,
at 5.6 million boxes, remain unchanged from last month. If realized, Arizona's 1976-77 lemon
production will be more than double last season's total.

Picking in both States is lagging behind last season. Arizona, with harvest 78 percent com-
plete, is well behind last year's 96 percent completion for the same time. California's harvest,
at 33 percent complete, has fallen 6 percent behind Tast season.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo crop is now forecast at 4.9 million boxes, down 1] percent from both

last month and the 1975-76 season. Harvest, which-was well on the way to completion
at the time of the freeze, is 92 percent comptete, about the same as on February 1 last year.
Considerable icing was evident in most of the remaining fruit, and those few undamaged groves will
be rapidly harvested for the fresh trade.

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




Texas wheat fields on the High Plains lacked adequate soil moisture but weeks of cold weather
kept most fields dormant. Elsewhere in Texas, some fields were so wet cattle could not graze the
crop early in the month. By midmonth, fields began to dry and the crop responded to milder weath-
er but development lagged normal.

Montana winter wheat was in fair condition. Snow cover ranged from poor to fair except for
some good cover in eastern areas, The Washington winter wheat crop was in good condition with
warm temperatures melting the snow cover by the end of January. Oregon winter wheat stands rated
poor to fair in the East and had very little snow cover during the month.

In the North Central States, snow insulated most winter wheat fields from the record sub-
normal temperatures which prevailed over most of the area throughout the month.

FLORIDA CITRUS FREEZE DAMAGE

The cold wave cf January 18-20 brought temperatures in the low to mid-20's for several hours
duration throughout all Florida citrus producing districts. A sample survey the morning of
January 20 found some ice in nearly all oranges sampled. Cool weather during the balance of
January was beneficial in minimizing loss of fruit through droppage and deterioration, and har-
vest of the Early and Mid-season orange crop has proceeded at a record rate since the freeze.

A total embargo was placed on all shipments of Florida citrus fruit for fresh market for the
period January 24 through February 2 to prevent the shipment of freeze-damaged fruit. A fruit
damage survey as of February 1 found 35 percent of oranges and 68 percent of grapefruit with no
damage. At that same date, 14 percent of the sample orange trees and 5 percent of the sample
grapefruit trees showed serious to very serious leaf damage. Long term freeze effects to citrus
trees cannot yet be fully evaluated although damage is much lighter than for the 1962-63 freeze.
fruit damage will again be surveyed at mid-February to determine if further freeze damage has

leveloped.

By February 7, about 74 million boxes of Early-midseason oranges had been harvested, but
only 17 million boxes of grapefruit. Light picking of Valencias has begun but significant volume
will not be picked until March or later when fruit maturity levels are attained. Citrus crop
losses due to the freeze will be glosely related to weather during the remainder of the harvest
season-~temperatures above 65°-75° will promote fruit droppage and deterioration, which have
been light thus far. The forecasts as of February | reflect significant fruit losses from the
freeze resulting from an expected heavier fruit droppage and from fruit weight losses which are
already evident in Tower per-box juice yields.

ORANGES: This season's U. S. orange crop is forecast as of February 1 at 248.6 million boxes,

off 11 percent from a month ago but 3 percent higher than the 1975-76 total. Florida's
freeze-damaged crop i$ now estimated at 183.0 million boxes, a 14 percent reduction from the
January 1 level but 1 percent more than Tast season's output. Production prospects for early
and mid-season oranges in Florida are off 9 percent from last month to 110.0 million boxes.

Harvest of early and mid-season oranges on February 1 was about 59 percent complete compared
with 69 percent on the same date a year earlier. Weekly harvest for processing is currently
running at about 11.0 million boxes. The continued cool weather since the freeze has benefited
fruit utilization. The Vatencia crop in Florida is forecast at 73.0 milvion boxes, down 21 per-
cent from a month ago and 11 percent less than the 1975-76 season. Maturity of Valencias has
not reached the harvest point, so the more seriously damaged groves cannot yet be harvested and
loss will result.

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


TANGERINES: The Nation's tangerine production is forecast at 5.7 million boxes, 4 percent higher
than the 1975-76 season of 5.4 million boxes. In Florida, the crop to be utilized

is now estimated at 3.4 million boxes. (The total crop that reached 210 size or larger was 5.8

million boxes.) In Florida the freeze came after the major fresh harvest season and picking is

nearing completion in the few remaining undamaged groves. Picking will proceed rapidly as hold-

ing quality declines. The California and Arizona crops, at 1.5 and 0.8 million boxes, respec-

tively, are unchanged from a month earlier, but wel] above production during the 1975-1976 season.

TEMPLES: Production of temples in Florida is now expected to total 3.0 million boxes compared

with the forecast of 5.7 million last month and the 5.5 million box crop last season,
As of February 1, harvest was 46 percent complete, compared with 33 percent on the same date a
year ago. Serious freeze damage occurred to most of the States remaining temples. Because of
the thin skin characteristics, the balance of the crop will have to be picked quickly to avoid
loss due to drying.

POTATOES: Production of winter crop potatoes in California and Florida is now forecast at 2.4
million cwt, 17 percent below the January 1 forecast and 21] percent below the 1976
crop.

California's production is estimated at 345,000 cwt., down 9 percent from January 7 and
down 17 percent from 1976, Expected yields are down 20 cwt per acre from last month to 210 cwt
per acre. Cold weather, water shortages and continued dry weather have kept potato growth below
normal. About a fourth of the crop has been harvested with size running small. Current harvest
activity is centered primarily in Riverside County. Continued cold has delayed volume harvesting
in the central San Joaquin counties

The Florida crop is now forecast at 1.4 million cwt, 22 percent below January 1 and 23 per-
cent below 1976's crop. Expected yields are down sharply from 200 cwt per acre on January 1 to
155 cwt as the recent freeze caused heavy damage to the winter crop. Very little if any loss of
acreage is expected but reduced yields are expected on more than half of the total acreage
planted. Early acreage suffered only a slight reduction in yield as many growers were getting
ready to dig. Acreage that was several weeks away from harvest was the most severely damaged
Late planted acreage is expected to recover and yields should be average although harvest is
expected to be delayed.

POTATOES
SEASONAL = SER HARVESTED YIELD : PRODUCTION

GROUP AND: : 7 TRO 7 TNO 7 aT
stare: 1975, 1976 2 jon 1975 2 197 yg77 1975 1976 977

TOOT ACRES THT 000 CHT

WINTER:
CALIF =: 4.9 © 5.24.5 215220, 21DS«,054 1,144 945
FLA 4 2 195 200 155 -1.833=«*1,840—«41,417
TOT =: 14.3 «14.4 (13.6 202-207 173 2,887 «2,984 2,356

CROP PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1977 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


CROP PRODUCTION CB eae

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

Service

US. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS production is now expected to total 15.2 million tons, off 12 percent
from the January 1 level but 3 percent greater than the 1975-76 season.
The reduction from last month was primarily due to the January freeze
damage to Florida's crops.

ORANGE output is now forecast at 248.6 million boxes, an 11 percent decline
from month earlier levels, but still 3 percent larger than last
season's total.

GRAPEFRUIT production is now placed at 69.9 million boxes, down 11 percent
from last month but only slightly below the 1975-76 total.

LEMON production is now estimated at 26.6 million boxes, unchanged from
January 1? prospects but 49 percent above the short crop last season.

POTATO production for the 1977 winter season is forecast at 2.4 million
cwt., 17 percent below January 1 and 21 percent below a year eartier.

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


cITRUS FRUIT 1/

PROOUCTION ' PRODUCTION
CROP BOXES U TON EQUIVALENT
AND UTILIZED t INDICATED? UTILIZED sINOICATED
STATE 1974075 1 1975-76 t 1976077 1 19Te~75 | 1975-76 1 1976077

ORANGESsEARLY MID & NAVEL 3/
ARIZ
CALIF
FLA
TEX
us
ORANGES e VALENCIA
ARIZ
CALIF
FLA
TEX

ALL ORANGES
ARIZ
CALIF
FLA
TEX
us

TEMPLES

FLA
GRAPEFRULY WHITE SEEOLESS
A
GRAPEFRUITsPINK SEEDLESS
FLA
GRAPEFRUIT» OTHER
LA
ALL GRAPEFRUIT
ARIZ

CALIF
DESERT
OTHER AREAS
TOTAL

FLA

TEX

’

1

1

!

t

'

:

'

'

'

:

!

t

:

:

'

t

'

'

'

‘

’

'

'

‘

t

:

'

t

:

:

1

'

t

'

'

'

:

1

us '
TANGERINES a
ARIZ ’
CALIF
FLA 1
us 1
LEMONS '
ARIZ :
CALIF ’
:
'
1

us
TANGELOS
FLA

920
264000
965600

29930
1289450

49050
279100
769700

19610

1099460

49970
559100
1739300
49540
2372910

593500
252900
119500

79200

2r770

39750
39160
_ 69910
440600
74300
619880

610
19620
39100
59330

79200
229200
297400

49700

19000 UNITS 27

730
26.300
96,800

39800
1319630

19950
246,000
824400

29400

2105750

29680
524300
1815200
60200
2424380

5500
28,300
23,000

79800

35080

42100
39100
7200
499100
109700
705080

660
1350
35400
S410

29420
159400
174820

59500

850
295000
1209000
49200
1449050

30150
269000
739000

20400

1040550

1839000
67600
2489600
39000
309000
128000
89000

29900

695900

800
19450
32400
59650

50600
219000
264600

44900

35
19050
45347

125
59557

152

12016
35452
68

109245
239
1e101
4ag
306
ao
120
106
226
19896
292
25503
23

61
147
231
274
B44
14118

212

19000 UNITS

a7
19061
49446
162
5696

73
900
35708
102
49783

100
15961
89154

264

109479

248
19203
553
332
99

131
104
235
2.088
4268
2.850

25
51
162
238

92
585
677

248

32
1,088
4,950

179
65269

i18
975
34285
jo2
44480

150
25063
8,235

261
10,729
135
1,275
468
340
93
118
94
212
24083
460
2,868
30

54
162
246
213
798
1,011

221

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=905
TEX-851 GRAPEFRUIT=CALIF DESERT & ARIZ=649 CALIF
OTHER@67, FLA~BS> TEX~B03 LEMONS*763 TANGELOS &
TEMPLES=90% TANGERINES= CALIF & ARIZ@75_ FLA~95.

3/ NAVEL AND MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES IN CaLIFORNIA AND
ARIZONAs EARLY AND MIDSEASON VARIETIES IN FLORIDA AND
TEXAS» INCLUDING SMALL QUANTITIES OF TANGERINES IN

TEXAS.

CROP PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1977

CROP.

REPORTING BOARD, SRS» USDA


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

INDICATED 1976-77,

crop: 1975-76 ET
T7000 COKE

ORANGES : 242,380 278,650 248,600

GRAPEFRUIT 703080 78,750 69,900

LEMONS : 17,820 26,600 26,600

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

POTATOES
7 ___AREA HARVESTED 277 YTECD PER ACRE : PRODUCTION
SEASONAL: B : 3 : INDICATED 1977
croup: (1976: eerie : 1976: at : 1976 4: JAN: FEB
z H : 4 H A 1 3 1
T,000 ACRES CuT 7,000 CHT
WINTER 4 13.6 207 173 2,984 2,855 2,356
UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRULTS, PRODUCTION
B 7 p TNOICATED 1976-7
cROP : 1975-76 on : i
METRIC TONS
ORANGES : 9,506,390 10,959,700 9,733,190
GRAPEFRUIT =: 2,585,480 2,925,670 2,583,660
LEMONS : 614,160 917,160 917,160
POTATOES
7 AREA HARVESTED = YIELO PER HECTARE: PRODUCTION
SEASONAL = ? INDICATED ? > INDICATED = z____INDICATED T9577
Group: «1976 =: ag77Stit:Ss«*976: tae : 1976 qn
: : : : : 3 1 : 1
HECTARES WETRIC TONS
WINTER : 5,830 5,500 23.22 19.43 135,350 129,500 106,870

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.

ePPROVED: CROP REPORTING BOARD:

. W. Kirkbride, Acting Chairman,
. L. Koehn, Secretary,

» Small, F. E. Rolf,

» Agnew, Jr., OD. J. Fedewa,
. DeLong, D. H. Johnson,
ay W. W. Wilken.

xm
omuze

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

CROP PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1977 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


JANUARY WEATHER SUMMARY

January brought record low temperatures east of the Rockies. For the month as a whole, the
largest negative departures from normal encompassed the States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
northern Kentucky and western Pennsylvania where average temperatures for the month were 16 to
19° below normal. Many stations in this area and in the South reported average January tempera-
tures to be the coldest of record. Shortly after midmonth, the cold air swept over Florida.
Snow fell as far south as Miami Beach; meanwhile, Alaska experienced unusually balmy weather.
Precipitation was below normal in a large portion of the Nation. The central Rockies and areas
west of the Plateau had much less than normal precipitation. The Pacific Northwest, much of
California and northern Nevada had one-third or less of their normal precipitation, further in-
tensifying extremely dry conditions.

January began with a storm in the Southwest that moved eastward into a very cold air mass.
Snow fell on the Plateau, the southern Rockies and from the central Plains southward to northern
Texas, The storm continued eastward and a variety of precipitation fell along the Gulf Coast from
Texas to northern Florida. Rain along the Coast, freezing rain from northeast Texas through
northern Alabama, and snow north of this area resulted from the storm.

A series of cold outbreaks continued to pour cold air into the U. S. east of the Rockies
and on January 7th and 8th the cold air swept southward through the Plains. At midmonth, the cold
air still enveloped most of the nation although the area vest of the Rockies was not as cold as
the previous week. East of the Rockies, it was 20 to 24° colder than normal from North Dakota
to Illinois. Precipitation excluded the Southwest and was very light in the Plains. The South,
the lower Mississippi Valley and New England reported significant amounts of snow or rain.

In the week following midmonth, the cold air was centered in the Ohio Valley where temper-
atures were 22 to 26° below normal. Average temperatures ranged 5 to 10° in this area. A lull
in the input of cold air into the northern Plains allowed some warming in the Plains. However,
the Southeast was not so fortunate as temperatures in Florida were as much as 18 to 20° below
normal and freezing temperatures occurred for five sucessive nights. Severe damage to fruit and
vegetable crops resulted. Snow fell as far south as the Everglades. Snow also covered areas in
Alabama and Georgia. During the latter part of the week, rain, with snow at higher elevations,
fell from the California Sierras into Arizona and the centra) Rockies.

The short lull in the flow of cold air from central Canada halted abruptly during the last
week of the month when an extremely cold arctic air mass plunged southward and eastward. High
wind, snow, blowing snow and bitter cold temperatures combined to create severe blizzard con-
ditions along and behind the advancing cold air as it moved through the northern Plains, the
Lakes area, the north central States and the Northeast. The extreme cold and penetrating winds
halted most activities and a number of storm related deaths were reported.

As the cold air penetrated the deep South, snow, sleet and freezing rain fell from north
central Texas to Georgia and northern Florida. Light rain or drizzle was reported along the
north Pacific Coast but otherwise dry weather persisted in the West.

WINTER WHEAT

The United States winter wheat crop was under stress during January from generally dry soils
and subnormal temperatures. Snow blanketed most of the major winter wheat producing areas during
the early part of the month, but later the snow line receded northward and exposed the crop in
the southern and central Great Plains, In the northern Great Plains and North Central States,
snow protected the winter wheat throughout the month. Very little wheat acreage was damaged by
winds.

The Kansas winter wheat crop rated only poor to fair. During early January, snow protected
some of the crop but winds swept many fields after midmonth, taking away the potential soil mois-
ture represented by the snow cover. Most of the Oklahoma winter wheat was in fair condition.
Cold weather kept the crop dormant until near the end of the month when relatively warm but sub-
normal temperatures began to green some wheat fields. Dry topsoils in the major producing areas
and the possibility of winterkill concerned Oklahoma farmers.

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