Citrus Fruit Footnotes
1/ The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with
the completion of harvest the following year.
2/ Net lbs. per box: oranges-AZ & CA-75, FL~90, TX-85; grapefruit-AZ & CA-67,
FL-85, TX-80; lemons-76, tangelos, K-Early Citrus & Temples-90;
tangerines-AZ & CA-75, FL-95.

3/ Navel and miscellaneous varieties in AZ and CA. Early and mid-season
varieties in FL and TX, including small quantities of tangerines in TX.

4/ Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.

5/ California Desert and Other Areas Grapefruit forecasts combined to All
Grapefruit beginning in 1995-96.

Papayas: Area and Fresh Production, by Month, Hawaii, 1995-96

Area z Fresh Production

Total in Crop Harvested

1995 : 1996

-- 1,000 Pounds -~

3,620 3,765 2,375 2,355 4,005 3,460
3,660 3,740 2,395 2,340 3,815 3,425

Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 5 NASS, USDA


California Citrus: Grapefruit picking in the desert area was active during

February with excellent color reported. Defects included
wind scar, sunburn, and sheepnose. Lemon harvest was completed in the desert
area and active in the Central Valley and southern California. Grades were good
with only a few defects. Over half the Navel oranges were picked by March 1
with heavy gradeout due to puff and crease. Some fruit drop was also reported
along with rind breakdown. Valencia orange picking began in the desert area in
February with good quality reported. Valencias matured well elsewhere. Tangerine
and Minneola were actively picked in February.

Papayas: Hawaii fresh papaya production is pegged at 3.43 million pounds for
February. This is 1 percent lower than January and 10 percent lower
than a year ago.

Gusty winds and showers, which were at times heavy, hampered farm operations
during February. Spraying for insect and disease control was interrupted and
delayed. Strong winds generated rough seas disrupting inter-island barge
service, the major mode of transport for agricultural commodities between
islands. Papaya ringspot virus continued to be a serious problem depressing
yields and destroying some orchards.

Area planted to papayas totaled 3,740 acres, a 1 percent decline from January
but 2 percent increase from last February. Harvested area, totaling

2,340 acres, was 1 percent lower than last month and 2 percent lower than
February 1995.

Sugarcane: The 1995 production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is forecast at

30.9 million tons. This is unchanged from the last forecast
published in the February crop report and virtually unchanged from last year’s
output. The Florida forecast was evaluated and resulted in no change in
production. The forecasts for Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas were carried forward
from the previous forecast.

Cold weather in the first and third weeks of the month did not slow fieldwork in
Florida's sugarcane growing region. The sugarcane harvest remained active
during February and allowed Florida's sugarcane harvest to near completion on
schedule. Two sugarcane mills finished for the season with the balance of the
harvest expected to be completed in mid-March. Sugarcane planting in Florida
was completed by mid-February.

Crop Production | Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 10 NASS, USDA


February Weather Summary: Winter wheat in the central and southern Plains

continued to be stressed by high winds; lack of
precipitation; and a severe cold snap (February 3-4), followed by monthly record
warmth (February 21-22). Cold weather again at month's end threatened
sensitive-stage tree blooms from California to Texas. Peninsular Florida
experienced its worst of the season-to-date’s three cold mornings on February 5,
damaging some ground crops, followed by a less severe freeze on February 17.
The early-month chill also spilled into the Northwest, threatening fruit trees
with bud injury, but leaving snow-covered wheat unscathed. Days later, heavy
rain, high freezing levels, and subsequent flooding--the worst in Oregon's
Willamette Valley since late-December 1964--struck the Northwest, peaking on
February 8-10. Farther south, less intense and better spaced precipitation
boosted the Sierra Nevada snowpack to normal levels by month's end, up from
about 85 percent of normal on February 1. Meanwhile in the Northeast, early-
and mid-month storms pushed seasonal snowfall to all-time records at nearly a
dozen locations.

Despite the early-February cold blast, monthly temperatures averaged up to

5 degrees F above normal across the Plains. Only the Northwest, where
departures were as low.as ~5 degrees F, held onto sub-normal February
temperatures. In contrast, neither cold air nor storm systems infiltrated the
Southwest until month's end, leaving monthly temperatures 4 to 8 degrees F above
normal.

A late-month flurry of precipitation pushed monthly totals above normal in some
areas of the Southwest and across parts of the Nation's northern tier. But a
vast area from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley received little moisture
during the month. In contrast, February-record rainfall was measured in western
Oregon, while above-normal totals were observed elsewhere in the Northwest.
Despite continued above-normal snowfall in the East~-including an early-month
storm across the Southeastern and Gulf Coast States--near- to below-normal
precipitation covered the region. Along the immediate southern Atlantic Coast,
rain fell infrequently.

Only a trace of precipitation fell at many Plains locations, including North
Platte, NE, Concordia, KS, and Wichita Falls, TX. In San Antonio, TX, the
year's first rain (0.69 inches) fell on February 29, ending their second-longest
dry spell (60 days) on record. In contrast, February-record totals were noted
in Oregon at Portland (10.03 inches), Salem (13.01 inches}, and Eugene

(16.89 inches).

In the East and Northeast, monthly snowfall of 20.6 inches in Windsor Locks, CT
and 14.2 inches in Charleston, WV helped to sweep away former seasonal records.
Toward month's end, heavy snow in the Western and Northern States helped to
boost February totals above 20 inches in locations such as Salt Lake City, UT
(22.6 inches); Butte, MT (22.0 inches); and Duluth, MN (21.3 inches). Little or
no snow, however, fell across the Plains or Midwest, with monthly totals less
than 1 inch in many locations, including Dubuque, IA, Milwaukee, WI, Omaha, NE,
and Chicago, IL.

The year's first triple-digit heat appeared in South Texas on February 20. A
day later, San Antonio marked a high of 100 degrees F nearly 2 weeks earlier
than ever recorded at that site. On February 22, monthly records were
established as far north as Oklahoma City, OK (92 degrees F) and Wichita, KS
(87 degrees F). The heat stood in stark contrast to the early-month cold wave
that tied or set all-time records in Minnesota (-60 degrees F) on February 2;
Towa (-47 degrees F) and Illinois (-35 degrees F) on February 3; and possibly
Rhode Island (-25 degrees F) on February 5.

Stormy, wet weather across Alaska abruptly ended a winter-long "snow drought."
Anchorage's 52.1-inch total, 474 percent of normal, broke their February
snowfall record. Juneau collected 8.43 inches of liquid equivalent, just

Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 7 NASS, USDA


Sugarcane: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production
by Use, State, and United States, 1994-95

Area Harvested Yield 1/ Production 1/

--- 1,000 Tons ~-
For Sugar:
FL 2 423.0 427.0 33.6 34.0 14,216 14,518
HI 2/ : 64.3 46.0 81.9 90.0 5,266 4,140
LA 2/ : 352.0 368.0 24.4 25.4 8,589 9,347
TX 2/ : 42.4 41.3 31.5 33.4 1,334 1,381
us : 881.7 882.3 33.4 33.3 29,405 29,386
For Seed 3
FL 3 21.0 18.0 34.3 34.0 721 612
HI 2/ 3 5.0 4.0 19.5 27.5 98 110
LA 2/ 3 28.0 32.0 24.4 25.4 683 813
TX 2/ 3 1.1 1.0 20.0 23.0 22 23
us 2 55.1 55.0 27.7 28.3 1,524 1,558
For Sugar
and Seed :
FL : 444.0 445.0 33.6 34.0 14,937 15,130
HI 2/ : 69.3 50.0 77.4 85.0 5,364 4,250
LA 2/ : 380.0 400.0 24.4 25.4 9,272 10,160
TX 2/ 3 43.5 42.3 31.2 33.2 1,356 1,404
us 936.8 937.3 33.0 33.0 30,929 30,944
1/ Net tons.
2/ Current estimate carried forward from earlier forecast.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

March 1996 6 NASS, USDA



Tangelos: The 1995-96 Florida tangelo crop is forecast at 2.45 million boxes

(110,000 tons), down 6 percent from last month and down 22 percent
from last year’s production. Harvest is nearly over for the year with nearly
2.45 million boxes moved.

Tangerines: The 1995-96 U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 327,000 tons,

1 percent less than last month but 19 percent more than last year.
The Florida tangerine forecast is 4.40 million boxes (209,000 tons), 1 percent
less than February but 24 percent more than last year. Early tangerine harvest,
including Dancys, is virtually complete with about 2.9 million boxes utilized.
California's tangerine forecast was carried forward from January at 2.40 mil-
lion boxes (90,000 tons), 9 percent more than last season. The Arizona forecast
was also carried forward from January at 750,000 boxes (28,000 tons), 15 percent
more than last season.

Temples: The March 1 forecast for the 1995-96 Florida temple production was
unchanged from February at 2.20 million boxes (99,000 tons), down

14 percent from last season. Temple harvest was steady through the month with

good supplies. Over 1.7 million boxes were moved by the end of the month.

Plorida Citrus: Below freezing temperatures occurred in many locations

throughout the citrus belt on Monday February 5. Temperatures
were not below 30 degrees long enough to cause much damage. A few outer leaves
aropped and ice formed in some fruit causing some juice to dry. The rest of the
Month was very dry and generally cool. By the end of February, new growth
started with pin head to pencil eraser size bloom buds. Navel orange harvest
was complete. Harvest of early and mid-season oranges was nearly complete as
very few supplies remained. Utilization of early and mid-season oranges,
including Navels, through the end of February was a little more than 121 million
boxes. There were slightly more than 2.5 million boxes of Valencias moved.
Movement of all seedless grapefruit increased steadily throughout February as
additional labor came available from the orange crews. Honey tangerine and
Temple harvest was steady through the month with good supplies. Early tangerine
and tangelo harvest was complete for the year. Caretakers were busy cutting
cover crops following fertilizations. Hedging and topping of harvested groves
was very active.

Texas Citrus: Grapefruit sizes continued to increase as the season progressed.

Harvest of early oranges and navels was completed during
February. Harvest of Valencias gained momentum. Grapefruit harvest moved ahead
without much delay. The early February freeze did not cause any significant
damage to fruit or trees. Prices remained low. Availability of irrigation
water for this spring is a major concern because of dry conditions. Normal
grove care operations continued during February.

California Fruits and Nuts: Fruit and nut trees were pruned and sprayed during

February in most orchards. Stonefruit and apple
trees began to bloom. Many orchards were treated for brown rot and shot hole
fungus. Almonds were in full bloom by late February. Rainy weather hampered
bee pollination and cold temperatures in late February may have damaged some
almond and stonefruit blossoms, A warmer than normal winter did not produce an
adequate number of chilling hours for fruit and nut trees to bloom and set
evenly. Grape growers pruned and tied vines, repaired trellises and wires,
applied herbicides, and plowed their vineyards.

Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 9 NASS, USDA


Nt) National
Agricultural
Statistical

Crop set
Production Unite States

Department of
Agriculture

Washington, D.

Released March 12, 1996, by the National Agricultural statistics Service (NASS),
Agricultural statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information
on “Crop Production” call at (202) 720-2127, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ET. For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information about
NASS, ite products or services, contact the NASS Information Hotline at 1-800-
727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV. Forecasts refer to March 1, 1996.

Orange Production Down 2 Percent

All orange production is forecast at 11.7 million tons, down 2 percent from last
month but 1 percent above last season. This forecast reflects the effects of
three periods of below freezing temperatures in Florida (December 25, 1995;
January 9, 1996; and February 5, 1996). Florida's forecast is 202 million
boxes (9.09 million tons), down 2 percent from February's forecast and also down
2 percent from last season. Early and mid-season varieties were reduced to 122
million boxes. (5.49 million tons), still a record high but 3 percent below last
month. The Valencia forecast remains at 80.0 million boxes (3.60 million tons),
down 7 percent from a year ago.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield for the 1995-96 season is
forecast at 1.48 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, up from 1.47 in
February. The final early and mid-season varieties yield is 1.45 gallons per
box, up from last month’s 1.44 gallons per box and from last year’s 1.44 gallons
per box. The Valencia crop is expected to yield 1.55 gallons per box, unchanged
from last month but down from 1.58 gallons per box a year ago. The final 1994-
95 yield for all fruit used in FCOJ was 1.50 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees
Brix. The forecast projects the final yield as reported by the Florida Citrus
Processors Association.

Cr Pr 2-2 (3-96)


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its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,
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To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or cali (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal

employment opportunity employer.

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Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 12 NASS, USDA


Report Features

The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on

April 11, 1996.

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Crops Branch of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information.

Cc. Ray Halley, Chief (202) 720-2127
Field Crops Section
Bill Dowdy, Head (202) 720-3843
Dan Kerestes - Soybeans, Minor Oilseeds, Rice (202) 720-9526
Greg Preston - Sugar Crops, Tobacco, Weekly Crop Weather (202) 720-7621
Vaughn Siegenthaler - Rye, Sorghum, Wheat (202) 720-8068
Charles Van Lahr - Barley, Corn, Oats, Pasture Condition (202) 720-7369
Fruit, Vegetable & Special Crops Section
Stephen Ropel, Head (202) 720-3843
Arvin Budge - Potatoes, Dry Beans, Onions (202) 720-4285
Roger Latham - Cotton (202) 720-5944
Linda McMillan - Nuts, Grapes (202) 720-4215
Dave Mueller - Fresh and Processing Vegetables (202) 720-2157
Blair Smith - Citrus, Tropical Fruits (202) 720-5412
Barbara Soltes - Noncitrus Fruits (202) 720-7688
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 11 NASS, USDA


0.05 inches shy of their February record. Among the series of storms to rake
the State were a powerful snow-and-wind storm across the interior on

February 17-18 and a record-setting wind storm over the south on February 22.
The former system dropped more than 14 inches of wind-driven snow on Fairbanks,
while the latter produced an all-time, record-tying gust to 83 mph in Kodiak.

General Crop Comments: February started with record low temperatures that

threatened small grains across the central Great Plains.
Throughout most of the month, dry soil conditions combined with windy weather
stressed winter wheat in the central and southern Great Plains. Inadequate snow
cover in the central Great Plains, allowed cold weather and blowing soil to
damage the unprotected wheat. Many wheat producers in the central Plains
resorted to using chisels to rough-up fields or till strips across fields to
reduce further wind erosion. Cold winds on February 4 and near~freezing
temperatures the following day forced Florida vegetable growers to harvest some
produce early to minimize damage. Protective measures were ineffective to
protect strawberries from injury, but warmer weather the following day helped
some plants to recover. Rain in California saturated fields, limited fieldwork,
and slowed wheat growth.

By mid-February, unseasonably warm weather melted the snowpack in the Pacific
Northwest and caused flooding that damaged farm buildings and machinery. Losses
to hay and livestock were widespread. Persistent dry conditions in the southern
Great Plains caused some producers to delay land preparation for planting. The
warm weather allowed wheat to break dormancy but the dry soil conditions did not
promote good development. Below freezing temperatures in Florida's citrus belt
damaged some leaves but the overall damage was not considered significant.

The above-normal temperatures at the end of February helped wheat break dormancy
in the Ohio Valley. Range fires in Texas destroyed thousands of acres of
grazing land, while temperatures climbed to record high levels in south Texas.
Some areas in central Texas had 5 months without any measurable precipitation
prior to the summer crop planting season. The heat wave in the southern Great
Plains aggravated the prolonged dry conditions. Soil temperatures warmed across
the south-central Great Plains, greening wheat where soil moisture was
available. The warm weather at the end of February allowed cotton producers to
begin planting in the California and the Southeast. Heavy rain in the
Southeastern States at month's end stopped most fieldwork.

Grapefruit: The March 1 forecast of the 1995-96 U.S. grapefruit crop is

2.64 million tons, down 4 percent from last month and down
9 percent from last season. The forecast of Florida grapefruit declined to
51.0 million boxes (2.17 million tons), down 6 percent from last month and
8 percent from last season. The decrease is indicated by the relationship of
estimated utilization to the harvest of sample tree rows. The Florida white
seedless grapefruit forecast is 22.0 million boxes (935,000 tons), a decrease of
8 percent from last month and 14 percent from the 1994-95 crop. The colored
seedless forecast is 28.0 million boxes (1.19 million tons), a decrease of
3 percent from last month and 2 percent from a year ago. The seedy grapefruit
crop is expected to be 1.00 million boxes (43,000 tons), unchanged from last
month but 23 percent fewer than last year. Nearly 30 million boxes of all
seedless grapefruit were picked through the end of February.

The Texas grapefruit forecast, at 4.60 million boxes (184,000 tons), increased

5 percent from last month but is down 1 percent from last year. Larger than
expected sizes on the later crop is the reason for the increase. The forecast
of California's crop is carried forward from January at 7.50 million boxes
(251,000 tons), 19 percent below last season. Arizona's forecast is also carried
forward from January and is expected to be 1.20 million boxes (40,000 tons),

14 percent below the 1994-95 crop.

Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 8 NASS, USDA


Citrus Fruits: Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States,
1994-95 and Forecasted March 1, 1996 1/

Utilized Production : Utilized Production
Boxes t Ton Equivalent

1993-94 : 1994-95 : 1995-96 : 1993-94 : 1994-95 : 1995-96

1,000 Boxes 2/ -----~ - 1,000 Tons -
Oranges
Early Mid &
Navel 3/
AZ 4/ 700 400 650 26 15 24
CA 4/ 36,600 35,000 40,000 1,372 1,313 1,500
FL 107,300 119,700 122,000 4,829 5,387 5,490
TX 480 950 830 21 40 35
Us 145,080 156,050 163,480 6,248 6,755 7,049
Valencia
AZ 4/ 1,200 650 800 4s 24 30
CA 4/ 27,000 26,000 28,000 1,013 976 1,050
FL 67,100 85,700 80,000 3,020 3,857 3,600
TX 70 105 130 3 4 6
us 95,370 112,455 108,930 4,081 4,861 4,686
All
“AZ 4/ 1,900 1,050 1,450 71 39 54
CA 4/ 63,600 61,000 68,000 2,385 2,289 2,550
FL 174,400 205,400 202,000 7,849 9,244 9,090
TX : 550 1,055 960 24 44 41
us : 240,450 268,505 272,410 10,329 11,616 11,735
Temples 3
FL 2,250 2,550 2,200 101 114 99
Grapefruit
White Seedless
FL 24,500 25,700 22,000 1,042 1,092 935
Colored Seedless
FL 25,500 28,700 28,000 1,084 1,220 1,190
Other 2
FL : 1,050 1,300 1,000 45 55 43
All : .
AZ 4/ 1,750 1,400 1,200 59 a7 40
CA 4/ 5/
Desert 3,400 3,300 114 111
Other Areas 5,900 6,000 197 201
Total 9,300 9,300 7,500 311 312 251
FL 51,050 55,700 51,000 2,171 2,367 2,168
TX 3 3,000 4,650 4,600 120 186 184
us : 65,100 71,050 64,300 2,661 2,912 2,643
Tangerines :
AZ 4/ 1,000 650 750 37 25 28
CA 4/ : 2,300 2,200 2,400 86 82 90
FL : 4,100 3,550 4,400 195 168 209
us 3 7,400 6,400 7,550 318 275 327
Lemons 4/ :
AZ : 5,200 3,600 5,000 197 137 190
CA : 20,700 20,500 22,000 787 779 836
us : 25,900 24,100 27,000 984 916 1,026
Tangelos :
FL 3 3,350 3,150 2,450 150 142 110
K-Early Citrus :
FL 3 210 120 160 9 5 7
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

March 1996 4 NASS, USDA


Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1994-95
(Domestic Units)

2 Area Planted 3 Area Harvested

Sugarcane for
Sugar and Seed

Crop Summary: Yield per Acre and Production, United States, 1994-95 .
(Domestic Units)

Yield per Acre Production

- 1,000 Tons -

Sugarcane for
Sugar and Seed 33.0 33.0 30,929 30,944

Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1994-95
(Metric Units)

: Hectares

Sugarcane for

Sugar and Seed 379,110 379,320

Crop Summary: Yield per Hectare and Production, United States, 1994-95

(Metric Units)

: Yield per Hectare : Production
Crop penne nen n neon 2 == ---- =~ +22 2222 == === 2 ene ee
1994 1995 1994 1935
2 Metric Tons
Sugarcane for 3
Sugar and Seed 74.01 74.01 28,058,320 28,071,920
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board
March 1996 3 NASS, USDA


Crop Summary: Production, United States,
1995 and Forecasted March 1, 1996

Crop Year 1994-95 1995-96 1995-96
: 1,000 Tons
Citrus Fruits 1/ 3
Oranges 3 11,616 11,918 11,735
Grapefruit : 2,912 2,763 2,643
Lemons 2/ 3 916 1,026 1,026
Tangerines 3 275 329 327
Temples (FL) : 114 99 99
Tangelos (FL) 3 142 117 110
K-Early Citrus (FL) : 5 7 7

Metric Tons

Oranges : 10,537,860 10,811,830 10,645,810
Grapefruit : 2,641,720 2,506,550 2,397,690
Lemons 2/ : 830,980 930,770 930,770
Tangerines : 249, 480 298,460 296,650
Temples (FL) : 103, 420 89,810 89,810
Tangeios (FL) : 128,820 106,140 99,790
K-Ea Citrus (FL) 4,540 6,350 6,350

1/ Crop year begins with the bloom of the first year and ends with the
compiction of harvest the following year.
2/ Estimates for current month carried forward from earlier forecast.

This report was approved on March 12, 1996, by the Secretary of Agriculture and
the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Agricultural Statistics Board.

la. [eh Ate

S€cretary of Agricultural Statistics Board
Agriculture Chairperson
Dan Glickman Rich Allen

Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

March 1996 2 NASS, USDA