CROP PRODUCTION, Necember 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

The 1968-69 grapefruit crop is expected to total 57.3 million boxes,
30 percent more than last season and 35 percent above average. Arizona is
the only State not expecting to harvest more grapefruit than last season.

Lemon production in California and Arizona is forecast at 19.3 million
boxes, up 17 percent from last season and 21 percent above average. Pros-
pects are for crops larger than last season, and average, in both States.

The 1968-69 crop of tangerines in Florida, California and Arizona is
forecast at 6.7 million boxes, much larger than the 1967-68 crop. Pro~
duction is expected to be above last season in each State--Florida's crop
about double last season.

Florida's prospective crop of Temples at 5.0 million boxes is up 11
percent from last season and about one-third more than average. An esti-
mated 1.8 million boxes of tangelos will be produced in Florida compared
with 1.7 million boxes last season. Florida lime growers expect to har-
vest 750,000 boxes of limes, 4 percent more than last season. About two-
thirds of this season's crop had been marketed by December 1.

Florida citrus groves are in excellent condition. Mid-November rain
replenished surface moisture, but in sandy areas, some irrigation was in
progress by the end of the month, Temperatures in November were below
normal with some frost several mornings along the upper portion of the
citrus belt. The low temperatures helped induce dormancy in advance of
the winter season, Harvest of grapefruit and oranges is considerably be-
hind last season, because of very late bloom period. This delayed
maturity. However, fruit has continued to size-up better than had been
expected, and droppage has been less than usual.

Growers in central districts of California are harvesting Navel
oranges. Most shipments for the rest of the season will originate from
those districts. Light volumes have been harvested in southern California
and the Sacramento Valley, There is a heavy set of Valencia oranges.
Picking of Valencias will begin in desert areas about the end of February.
Grapefruit has been moving in good volume from the desert valleys, where
size and color of fruit is very good, There is a heavy set of grapefruit
in California's "Other Areas", Groves are in good condition, fruit sizing
well, and picking will begin in February.

Arizona citrus groves are in very good condition. Fruit is sizing well
and quality has been excellent. Harvest of Navel oranges started about mid-
November. Grapefruit is being picked in both Yuma and Salt River Valley
areas, Lemon harvest is nearing the halfway point. Size and color are
very good,

In Texas, harvest of citrus was moderately active in November, volume
is expected to increase now to meet the holiday demands. Cool weather during
November favored maturing and coloring.

AVOCADOS: Florida's avocado crop is forecast at 12,000 tons, 18 percent
below last season but 26 percent above the 1962-66 average.
Avocado groves are in excellent condition. Fruit responded well to ideal
growing conditions and sizes are generally larger than normal for this
time of season. California's fali and winter crop is expected to total

-~5-


CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

— -Proguetion —

: Tndi-— : Indi-
‘averege? : ‘average! :
*1963- 6 1968 i “tees £1963-6T! 1968 i eect

1,000 1,000 1,000
Get, Ort. Owt. cwt. cute cart,

"I

AED . 20.5. 8.8 _ 227. _ 180 _ _ 235 _ _2.720_ _1,.890_ _2,068_

Florida =: 9.7 1b 1.7 157 175 «= -165. 1,528,995 1,930
221.6 21.9 20.5 196 177 195 239 3,885 3,998

b
1
'
t
1
1
t
4
1
i}
i
1
1
I
5
'
i
1
1
1
1
f]
i}
!
1
1
iy
Ly
1
1
'
1
1
{
1

E. Spring:

Plorida :
Hastings :
Other 3

Texas H

seasonsl

California, All
Fall and winter 3/
Spring and Summer 4/
Florida

United Stetes

2/ crop year begins with bloom of the year shown and ends with completion of
harvest the following year, 2/ Includes quantities unharvested on account of
economic conditions, and excess cullage of harvested fruit. 3/ Includes "Fuerte"
and other fall end winter varieties. 4/ Includes "Hass" and other spring and
summer varieties. 5/ Not available. 6/ First forecast for California "Spring

and Summer" varieties, California "Ail" gud U.S. to be released as of April 1, 1969.



CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

the South Central and West up 1 percent, and the North Atlantic and East
North Central regions were practically unchanged. Layers on December 1
totaled 318.7 million head, down 3 percent from a year earlier. Region-
ally, the declines were: West North Central, 8 percent; South Central, 5:
East North Central, 3; West, 2; North Atlantic, 1; and South Atlantic less
than 1 percent.

Pullets 3 months 014 and older not of laying age on December 1 totaled
49.5 million, 3 percent above a year earlier. Decreases occurred except
in the South Atlantic and South Central regions, where number’ were up.
Potential layers (hens and pullets of laying age plus pullets 3 months
old and older not of laying age) on December 1 are estimated at 368.2
million birds, down 2 percent froma year earlier. The South Atlantic
region was up 2 percent. Other regions were down as follows: West North
Central, 8 percent; East North Central and South Central, 3; West, 23
and North Atlantic, 1 percent.

BENS AND PULLETS OF LAYING AGE, POTENTIAL LAYERS
AND EGGS LAD PER 100 LAYERS DECEMBER 1

7772" " "Yyorth Te.North:w. North: South isouth 7, |: 48 tunited
a = TSE __ _satlanticstentral central, sAtlanticitentral We, statee:states 1/_

HENS AND PULLETS OF LAYING AGE

TRO. us Thou, Thou. Ts Thou. Tacs, Thous
1962-66 (ave) 47,581 Pei 58,856 52,908 59,683 46,354 311,769 312,640
1967 345,714 45,836 51,203 62,764 69,471 52,875 327,863 328,823

1968 245,151 4,662 47,332 62,460 66,199 51,925 317,729 328,726
: PULLETS 3 MONTHS OKD AND OLDER NOP OF LAYING AGE

1966 26,320 6,080 5,230 12,080 11,650 7,870 49,230 49,428

1967 3 5,210 7,020 5,290 11,320 11,480 7,810 48,030 48,205

1968 + 5,130 6,540 jh0.-«13,030 22,440 7,720 49,270 49,470
: POTENPIAL LAYERS 2/

1966 153,342 51,556 58,760 72,405 79,144 56,279 371,486 372,606

1967 350,924 52,856 56,393 Th,084 80,951 60,685 375,893 377,038

1968 250,281 51,202 51,742 75,490 78,639 59,645 366,999 368,196
3 BOGS LAID PER 100 LAYERS

iNumber = umber = Number =Mumber = mber Sumber Number = Number

57-1 58.1 5601 56.4 5208 591 564 56.4

1962-66 (Ave) :
: 59.0 59.6 56.6 59-2 56.2 59.0 58.2 58.2

59.0 59.5 5503 58.1 56.7 59.8 58.0 58.0

3 Includes Alaska and Hawail.

2/ Hens and puliets of laying age plus pullets 3 months 014 and older not of
laying age.


CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

54,000 tons, more than triple last season's short crop but slightly above
the 1966-67 crop, Harvest of the Fuerte variety increased sharply in
November, Large-sized fruit of excellent quality is being harvested.

POTATOES: Production for the 1969 crop of winter potatoes is forecast at

3,998,000 hundredweight, 3 percent pore than in 1968. Florida
production is estimated at 1,930,000 hundredweight, 3 percent less than
last year, but Californie production at 2,068,000 hundredweight is up 9
percent, California prospects for a good-yielding crop more than offset
the decline in acreage from lest year for the two-State area.

Harvest is expected to be underway in late December in the Everglades
area of Florida, Some acreage was lost during heavy rains of September
and October, California harvest is underway in the Perris-Hemet district
of Riverside County and earlier areas of Kern County. Prospects are
for heavy movement in late December and in January.

Intended 1969 plantings of early spring potatoes in Florida and Texas
are estimated at 32,600 acres, 5 percent Less than planted in 1968.

Acreage in Florida's Hastings area is expected to be less than
last year but 1969 early spring plantings in other areas are expected to
equal 1968 levels, Plantings in southern Texas for the 1969 crop will
be underway in mid-December and are expected to be equal to 1968,

U. 5. production of fall potatoes for 1963 is estimated at
220,018,000 hundredweight, 5 percent less than in 1967. Previ-
ously the December estimates for the fall crop were released in
the Annual Summary of Crop Production about December 20th, Esti-
mates for the other seasonal groups, and comments for all groups
of the 1968 potato crop will be carried in the Annual Sumary to
be released on December 19, 1968.

The report on December 1, 1968 stocks of fall potatoes will
be released at 3:00 p.m., EST, December 12, 1968.

POULTRY AND EGGS: The Nation's laying flock produced 5,539 million eggs
in November, down 2 percent from a month earlier and 3

percent below a year earlier. Layers on farms in November averaged 318.3

million birds, up slightly from Octcber but 3 percent less than a year

earlier. Rate of ley averaged 17.40 eggs per layer, down 3 percent from

a month earlier but about the same as a year earlier. January~-November

egg production totaled 63,632 million eggs, 1 percent below a year earlier.

Egg production was below a year earlier in all regions except the
West, which was unchanged. Regional decreases were: West North Central,
10 percent; South Central, 4; and North Atlantic, East North Central, and
South Atlantic each 2 percent.

Rate of lay per 100 layers on December 1 averaged 58.0 eggs,

fractionally below a month and a year earlier, The West North Central
and South Atlantic regions were down 2 percent from a year earlier,

-6-



CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reperting Board, SRS, USDA
Crtus FRUITS 1/

como TIT TIT IIT
Tilo os — Seuttelebeleons [IIIT

rs at erage t t Tnatoatea
3 1962-63 to : 1967-68 +
1968-69 9» 11966-6738 tS
3
EARLY, MIDSEASON &
NAVEL VARIETIES 3/ !
Calite $15,740 9,300 21,000 590,000 349,000 _ 788,000
Fla. % 46,140 $1,400 71,000 2,076,400 2,313,000 3,195,000
Texas 3 665 970 2,200 29,914 43,600 ‘994000
motte oo we AABN BOO, 8 1200, 4/3000 _ _ 334000 _ 4340 _
‘ot’ ove
a 35/_63,365 _ _, _ 62,52 _ _ _95p400 _5/2,727,)14_ _25730,600_ _441272000_
FALENCTAS s"
Calif. 2 17,340 10,100 23,000 650,400 379,000 862,000
Fle. % 42, 900 49,100 60,000 1,930,400 2,210,000 700,000
Texas 2 387 830 1,900 17,425 37400 85,500
meet = - oo = npn — 8 ~~ ~~ 92 ~~ - 2200 _ _ _ 892300
f
po a ee ym OBER — — 829270 _ 874800 _ 2p 6624525. 2.710 4400_ 9, 7564500_,
¥ 33,080 19,400 44,000 1,240,400 728,000 1,650,000
2 89,040 100,500 131,000 4,006,800 45523,000 5,895,000
+ 1,052 1,800 4,100 47,339 81,000 164,500
pean - am He BRS W298 2 S00 LL. 292740 07000, 1A
Se
ranges 35/225,682 _ 224,820 _ _, 1836200 _5/5,388,639_ _52449,000_ _7,883,500_. _
fi
Flee, All 3 32,900 42,000 1,426,800 1,399,000 1,784,000
Seedless & 23,700 9,000 979,000 1,008,000 1,232,000
& 9,400 12,000 379,200 "400,000 510,000
White : 599, 608,000 722,000
Other z 437,800 391,000 552,000
Texas : 95,760 132,000 260,000
Arize s 83,320 120,000 96,000
Galif., All t 136,420 150,400 189,000
falleya =? 74, 760 93,400 112,000
= oe — ~ 4-- 300... $12660_ _ _ 372000. 172000,
4-- ww AWD Fh OO. 147324300, 12 781.4400_ 253294000
: 13 300 35,500 545,800 505,000 589,000
61,760. 124,000 144,000
T 2 2S, BSO I = 385500 “TaN 7SGOM T “eZopodoTM T T7Asoo- T

720

weer ge ee

z 130 1
mceinest ~~~ 737 PE ~~ - 8

2,800 5,700 177,600
0 500 3280
III 338 IIT 3.208 2 I aBeeswor - 8

2 = HO 1. = 72

¥ The orep year begins with the bloom ef the first year shown and ends with completion of

st the fellowing year. Includes quantities not harvested, or harvested but net utilized, on
account ef economic cenditions, and quantities donated te charity. 2 Net content ef bex varies.
Approximate av es are as follows: Oranges - California and Arizona, 75 lose; Florida and
other States, 90 lbses Grapefruit —Celifernia, Desert Valleys, and Arizona, 64 loses ether
Califernia areas, 67 lbses Florida 85 lbse and Texas 80 1bse; Lemons — 76 lb8e3 Limes — 80 lbses
Tangelos — 90 1bs.3 Tangerines - California and Arizona, 75 lbses Florida, 95 lbses and Temples —
90 ibs. 3/ Navel and Mscellaneous varieties in California and Arizona. Early and Mdseason
varieties in Florida and Texas, inoluding small quantities ef tangerines in Texas. 4/ Inoludes
amall quantities of tangerines prior to the 1964-65 seasons 5/ Includes State no longer
estimated. 6/ 1964-65 to 1965-66 average.



Ss December 10, 1968
3:00 P.M. (E,S.T.)
DECEMBER 1, 1968
The Crop Reporting Board of the Statistical Reporting Service makes the

following report for the United States from data furnished by crop correspondents,
field statisticians, and cooperating State agencies,

CITRUS FRUITS 1/

een ee ‘PRODUCTION _
CROP Average : y" Tndicated
ee 1962-63 to 1966-67 1967-68 | 1968-69
a T0007 “T0057 TT, 060
boxes boxes boxes

125, 682 124, 820 183,200

Grapefruit . 42,512 44,060 57,300
Lemons .., 15,984 6, 4550 19,300

POTATOES, IRISH

? ACREAGE TELD HARVESTED: — propucTION
Seasonal :_ HARVESTED ___ ___ PER AGRE to
group :Average: 1967! 1968 erage: 3 sAverage: :
11962266: 962-66; 1987 et 23962 go: 1967 , 1968
Tr ome TIS twt, To ZT, DOS owt, =a

Fall ...+.:_988.6 1 29.8 2 4 B12 214 2 202,431 231,224 220,018

tAverage: 1968 Tt 1969 ‘Average? 1968: 1969 iAveraget 1968 ? 1969

11963-67: 3 963- 67: 21963 3-67:

Winter ... 621.9 20.5 196" 17719542393 885 3,998
: TAcreage planted:inten-: =Yield | per planted | acre: Production
: tions

E, Spring } 34.4°32.6 135146 non 4,428 5,019 April

MONTH ? + 1968 *
wee 1982266 & =
: Million Million Millien

: pounds _pounds pounds Millions Milliona Millions

October ... : 9,547 9, 16t 94159 5,306 5,860 5,680

9.208 ___. 5.238 5,726 5,539
coe 64,200 63,632 _

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Statistical Reporting Service Crop Reporting Board
Cr Pr 2-2 (12-68) Washington, D.C. 20250


CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 re Reporting Board, a6, | USDA

fisbarTM

Pax ih 1 a oe
ci ae 2 10.8 18 Tht

26 4 a “83068
B a 8 Bo 2,18 i

“eS a a, a Be
y 4
22 2,31 2,691
ie is 150 vise OT ot
Ee z ERB UL 125 1,520 1,470
HL LoL

a
an
470 3 -
Ne Mex. : 7 31 1,5: 1,’ 11.4 2 133 the
Ariz. : ll, 1, of 1,’ 2 20 8 er
: 4 1,2 1,725 1,75' 22 2 257
Nev. 3 36 237% = 1,13 05 O04 T



CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

POTATOES, IRISH 1968 Fall Crop

group 3 3 : 3 : 3 : t
Average’). 2 1968 jAverageiig¢7 1968 jAverage, 1 1968
ts, igeaness TTP MoeeeentIet Pay eget TE TY
TT ee 27150007 "13000" “1joG0" 7 7 F000 © T,500 ~ “1F0507
s acres acres acres Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. cw. owt. cwt.
FALL: H
Maine 145.6 158.0 155.0 258 238 238 37,473 37,604 36,890
N. H 1.2 1.0 212 210 230 314 252 230
vt. 16 1.5 190 180 190 369 288 285
Mass 6.4 5.6 198 190 185 1,329 1,216 1,036
RI 6.0 5.6 227 190 225 1,249 1,240 1,260
Conn. 6.3 5.7 227 215 220 1,496 1,354 1,258
N. Y.-L. I. : 31.6 27.8 270 235 270 7,614 7,426 7,506
~Upstate : 36.0 35.5 218 245 225 8,726 8,820 7,988
Pa. : 38.0 37.0, 185 — 2hO 205 7,121 9,120 _7,585_
8 Eastern-Fall : = 285.1 “274 7_ "239" — 236 ~ 233 — 65,690_ 67,280" BY, 03
Ohio : 79 12.3 ~ T1T9 “201” ~ B05 ~ B16 ~ “2,396 “25227 “24597
Ind. 3 6 6.5 5.7 253 300 215 1,667 1,950 1,226
Mich. : 4 33.0 29.0 203 215 215 6,996 7,095 6,235
Wis. : 5 39.5 37.0 214 238 225 7,606 9,401 8,325
Minn. : 2 98.0 87.0 127 120 140 11,974 11,760 12,180
N. Dak. 8 8 120.0 108.0 126 119 «145 «13,717 14,280 15,660
S. Dak. : 4 5.9 5.4 109 100 «115 59k 590 621
Nebr. s_ 8.1 _ 7.8 _ _7.0_ _189_ _ 230 _ 260_ 1,524 2,794 __ 1,820
8 central-Pall +3049” ~ 323.0 Tero” “age 7 353 ~ Ter ~ Tea W392 Wes5b6-
Mont. ae Agcy “169 ~ T8O ~ Iso ~ “133827 STS" ~yiss-
Ideho-S.W. Co. : 22.1 31.0 29.0 277 300 270 6,319 9,300 7,830
“Other Co. ; 243.4 273.0 265.0 1 200 195 47,675 3600 51,675
Wyo. 2344 3.4 3.8 i147 170 160 506 578 608
Colo. : 34.0 33-6 34.5 242 275 225 8,209 9,2h0 7,762
Utah + 8.2 7-7 6.7 152 190 160 1,231 1,463 1,072
Nev. : 1.2 7 +5 188 «275875 222 192 138
Wash. + 25.7 43.0 41.5 333 355 390 8,756 15,265 16,185
Oreg.-Malheur Co.: 11.6 20.5 16.5 263 285 255 3,036 5,842 4,208
-Other Co. : 25.6 28.5 30.5 2h0 260 265 6,154 7,410 8,082
Calif. 1_ 26.2 _ 30.7 _ 28.0 261 — 300 300 _6,837_ 9,210 8,400
9 Western-Pall +1021" WBO-3 “gu.” “PU9 ~ 233 ~ 23k a Lege
+ 9887 Yj0eg7 212 202,
Totatcrett 086 Poh ah pao

i Estimates revised. Same data will be published in Crop Production Annual
Summary to be released December 19, 1968.

-l-


CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

MOLE PRODUCTION: November milk production is estimated at 8,793 million
pounds, almost the seme as a year earlier but 5 percent

below average for the month, Average daily production was down about 1

percent from October, the same decrease as from October to November {4 1967.

For 1968 through November, U.S, milk production was 1,3 percent less then

a@ yeer earlier,

Monthly milk luction, November 1968 with comparisons
In millions of pounds

: 125 126 12

: 180 473 205 178
t 15k 154 174 155

: 71 67 68

: 86 86 87 85

: 56 52 55 5h

: 8 82 83

2 104 103 109 105

2 232 252 ehl 236

2 28 27 28 26
: 108 103 nh 106

: 12.4 12.0 12,0 11.6
: 66 65 69

2 23 26 27 26
: be uh 48 Ay
: 58 57 62 60

: 10.2 10.300 1h 10.7
: 150 146 164 149
2 72 & 3 ue
: 665 686 159 ng

: 1,6 1.36 1,40 1.36
tak _ 12.8 _ 10.7 _ 10.8.

$3208 8,814 9,159 8,793

CROP REPORTING BOARD

-&-


CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

By the end of November, seeding of small grains end winter pastures was

complete, except for acreage to be planted following corn and soybeans.

Condition of small grains was good to excellent except in parts of North
Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama,

Wheat is generally in good condition in the Pacific Northwest. A
small acreage is still to be planted,

Grazing Prospects Good

Above normal precipitation during November over most of the Central
and Southern Great Plains improved prospects for grazing of winter wheat
except western Kansas, eastern Colorado and New Mexico. By the end of the
month increasing numbers of cattle were being moved into wheat fields in
Kensas, Okleshoma and Texas. Range and pasture condition declined seasonally
during the month, However, ranges were open and the weather was favorable

for grazing.

Pastures remained good in the Corn Belt because of ample moisture and
above normal temperatures in most areas, Stubble fields, cut over meadows
and crop residues were also being utilized,

In most South Atlantic and South Central States pastures were poor to
feir at the beginning of the month because of earlier dry weather. With
above normal precipitation during November pastures were improving by
Decembor 1,

Ranges and pastures remained open during the month over much of the
West and weather was favorable for grazing, Central and southern Utah and
Nevada end mich of New Mexico were quite dry, Rain and snow improved range
@rasses in California, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest,

Supplemental, feeding of hay and other roughage started in many areas
during November.

More Winter Potatoes smd Fresh Vegetables

Production of 1969 winter potatoes is expected to be 3 percent more
than last year.

Winter production of exrtichokes, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery,
lettuce, shallots, and spinach is expected to be above last year, but output
of kale will be down from a year ago,

GITRUS: The Nation's 196869 orange crop is forecast at 183.2 million
oxes, 47 percent more than lest season and nearly equal to the
record crop-~183,6 million boxes=~in 1966-67. Florida growers are expected
to harvest 131.0 million boxes of oranges, 30 percent more than last season
put 6 percent below the record 139.5 million boxes picked in 1966-67,
California's prospects are for the largest crop since 1952-53.
Arizona's crop of 4,1 million boxes is expected to be record high. The
Texas 1968-69 orange crop forecast of 4.2 million boxes is expected to be
the largest since the 1947-48. seagon, Early and midseason and Navel
varieties account for 52 percent of the Natiorls orange crop and Valencias
make up the rest,

whe




CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

In most Western States, harvest of late crops was completed under
nearly ideal conditions, Some cotton remained to be picked in the far west,
but progress was about normal, Rains and wet fields delayed harvest in the
Pacific Northwest, and some potatoes, corn, and winter vegetables remained
to be harvested.

November Generally Wet

November was a wet month over most of the Nation. Precipitation was
above normal, except in scattered areas of Rocky Mountain States and across
the North, from Montana to the Great Lakes. Generous rains were most wel~
come in the New England, South Atlantic and most South Central States.
Moisture had been short, particularly in the Gulf States and in Georgia and
the Carolinas, However, heavy rains the last week of the month caused flash
flooding along a few small streams in Tennessee and Mississippi. At the end
of the month, topsoil moisture supplies were generally adequate for current
needs, except in parts of the Great Plains and in central and southern Utah
and Nevada. The dry area in eastern Wyoming, western Kansas and eastern
Colorado extends into southeastern Montana, and most of New Mexicos.

November temperatures averaged below normal over much of the Great
Plains, southwestern portions of the Corn Belt, the Southern Great Plains
eastward to South Carolina, end in New England. Elsewhere temperatures
generally averaged above normal. A storm November 11~]12 dumped a foot or
more of snow in the Carolina mountains and spots in Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, New York and New England.

Fall-seeded small grains are entering the winter in good to excellent
condition throughout most of the country. In the Great Plains, stands are
good, root systems well-developed, and top growth is good, except for a
dry area in New Mexico, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, and southwestern
Nebraska, ‘This dryness has retarded top growth and resulted in some thin
stands. Light to moderate snow in late November improved prospects in
northeastern Colorado, but more moisture is badly needed throughout the
area, Prospects, high at the beginning of the month, declined slightly in
Oklahoma because extensive rain was causing rust and retarding growth.
Recent rains in Texas improved prospects in that State.

Ample moisture and above normal temperatures in most of the Corn Belt
favored development of wheat. Most fields were showing good stands and
color. Winter wheat was in good condition in Pennsylvania and New York.

Dry weather in October delayed seeding in the South Atlantic and
southern parts of the Gulf States~-northwest Florida to Louisiana. General
rains enabled planting to proceed in most of the South Atlantic States,
but dry conditions persisted in the Gulf States util early Novembere
The area benefited greatly from above normal precipitation in November.


CROP PRODUCTION, December 1968 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA
GENERAL CROP REPORT AS OF DECEMBER 1}, 1968

Harvest of the Nation's crops was well along, except in parts of the
West North Central and South Central States, according to the Crop Report-
ing Board. Precipitation, above normel in many areas, relieved shortages
of soil moisture in New England, South Atlantic and South Central States.
Because of light rains, parts of the Central and Southern Great Plains need
additional moisture to stimulate growth of fall-seeded small grains.

The Nation’s 1968-69 citrus crop ia expected to be a record, 39 per-
cent more than last season and slightly above the previous record in 1966-
67. Output of winter potatoes and fresh vegetables also is expected to
be above last year.

November egg production was 3 percent less than a year earlier, but
milk production was down slightly from a year earlier.

Record Citrus Production

The Nation's 1968-69 citrus crop is expected at a record high, 39 per-
cent more than last season and slightly above previous record in 1966-67.
Of the 11.6 million tons expected to be produced this season, 68 percent
are oranges, 20 percent grapefruit, 6 percent lemons and the remaining 6
percent are Temples, tangerines, tangelos and limes. All citrus fruits are
expected to be more plentiful than last season. Florida's crop of 8.3
million tons accounts for 72 percent of the Nation's total citrus, and
California's 2.5 million tons accounts for 21 percent, Arizona and Texas
make up the remaining 7 percent.

Harvest Well Advanced in Most Areas

Harvest operations slowed somewhat in November because of frequent
rains and snows. However, by the end of the month, harvest neared comple-
tion in most regions, except perts of the West North Central and South
Central States. Progress was rapid in October over most of the country.

Despite below-normal precipitation in November in Minnesota and parts
of Iowa, fields dried slowly after heavy rains in October. Heavy November
rains in eastern Kansas and in Missouri slowed crop work. To the south,
fall harvest operations lagged in Louisiana, Oklahoms, and Texas because

rains hampered field work,

Harvest except for corn and soybeans in the South, was well along in
most States east of the Mississippi River. Conditions favored stripping
of burley tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee. Fall plowing for 1969 crops
progressed rapidly in the eastern Corn Belt and on December 1 was well
ahead of most recent years.

‘Effective January 1, 1969, the Statistical Reporting Service plans to
discontinue calculation and publication of 5-year averages that appear
in this report. The report will contain data for the current and the
two preceding years. It is believed that changes in agriculture have
decreased the value of the five-year averages for making comparisons."

~2-




\

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20250

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

4 U,S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1968 1-754 (SR8-112)