Fieldwork Stalled By Wet Weather In North Central And South

Fieldwork progress in the Southern States on April 1 was far behind normal due to frequent
rains and flooding during March. Very little land preparation and almost no planting of major
crops was accomplished in most Southern States. South Texas farmers were about 2 weeks behind
schedule in planting cotton, corn, and sorghum. Only limited corn acreage was planted in South
Carolina. Tobacco plant bed seeding started early in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina,
and tobacco transplanting was active in Georgia but was just getting underway in South Carolina.
Excessive soil moisture brought fieldwork to a virtual standstill in Arkansas, Louisiana, and
Mississippi. Most farmers used the time to put equipment in top working order and get supplies
of seed, fertilizer and chemicals ready to use when the land becomes tillable. Many farmers
were concerned that flooded lowland acreage would not dry out in time to plant cotton.

In the North Central States, fieldwork was restricted by rains and muddy fields. Only in
North Dakota, Minnesota, end Wisconsin were farmers able to get an early start on tilling and
small grain seeding. Spring plowing and small grain seeding were behind normal in all other Corn
Belt States. Only limited fieldwork on higher elevation soils was evident in the eastern Corn
Belt. Spring oat and barley seedings were greatly delayed in Kansas--only 14 percent of the oat
acreage was seeded, compared with a 10-year average of 61 percent.

Farmers in the North Atlantic States got an early start on fieldwork with most activities
running two weeks earlier than normal. Early month mild temperatures promoted maple sap flow
and sugaring began two to three weeks earlier than usual. The warm weather pushed fruit tree
budding into a stage of vulnerability to a late cold snap. Fieldwork also started early in the
Northwestern States with considerable progress made in seeding small grains in Washington, Oregon,
and Idaho. Progress with fieldwork in the Central and Southwestern States was generally behind
normal from cold, wet weather. Rain delayed land preparation and planting in California and
hampered field activity in Arizona.

Winter Wheat Growing -- Moisture Mostly Ample

Warm weather along with plentiful moisture supplies spurred growth of the Nation's winter
wheat crop in March. Although the crop is in mostly good to excellent condition, some acreage
losses are expected from flooding of lowlands, mostly in the Mississippi and Missouri River
drainages. In other areas, the crop was under stress from too much rain and some yellowing was
occurring. Application of fertilizer was delayed because fields were too soft to support
machinery in many areas, Grazing was also hampered by soft fields. Montana and the Pacific
Northwest were the only major growing areas where soil moisture was below normal,

Wheat in the Southern Plains was in mostly good to excellent condition around April 1,
following considerable growth in March. Soil borne mosaic was observed in central and eastern
Kansas and some wheat was damaged by standing water or flooding. Over half the Oklahoma crop had
reached the jointing stage by April 1. Mosaic was reported in scattered areas. On the High and
Low Plains of Texas, wheat was jointing and some fields were in the early boot stage. The con-
dition of Nebraska wheat was above average around April 1 although some winterkill and mosaic
were reported, South Dakota's fall seedings were generally in good condition but stands were
highly variable. Soil moisture supplies in Colorado were the best in years, and conditions point
to a very good crop of winter wheat. The crop was greening up in all areas east of the Rocky
Mountains.

The Pacific Northwest and Montana got below normal precipitation again in March, continuing
the general pattern of recent months. Montana's winter wheat varied from fair to good condition
with some greening in March. Winter grains in Idaho were mostly in good condition. Farmers in
Washington were busy reseeding as winterkill of fall planted grains became more evident, At
month's end, wheat areas undamaged by winter weather were greening up and stands were thickening.
Some light soil areas of the State were showing moisture stress. Fall seeded grain crops in
Oregon were starting spring growth. California's fall seeded grains showed good developemnt with
fields heading in the South. In northern areas, grains on poorly drained fields and heavy soils
were showing stress and yellowing from excess moisture,

Most of the wheat in Missouri was in fair to good condition. However, some low-lying fields
were flooded in late March. Winter wheat was reported in good condition in Illinois with no re-
ports of severe winterkill but flooding occurred on some acreage. Indiana wheat greened up
earlier than usual. Ohio wheat varied considerably with early seeded fields showing most promise.
Elsewhere east of the Mississippi River, warm temperatures spurred growth, Topdressing of fer-
tilizer progressed when fields were dry enough to support machinery. Some lowland areas, mostly
in the South, were flooded in late March,

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1973 5 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

3 _ ~J2: «INDICATED : a : INDICATED
CROP AND STATE ; 1970~71 : 1971-72 : 1972-73: 1970-71 : 1971-72 1972-73
3 1,000 BOXES 2/ EQUIVALENT TONS
ORANGES: ¢
EARLY, MIDSEASON & :
NAVEL VARIETIES: 3/ :
CALIF. : 17,900 22,300 19,000 671,000 836,000 713,000
FLA, t 82,100 68,800 91,000 3,695,000 3,096,000 4,095,000
TEXAS t 4,000 3,800 5,100 180,000 171,000 230,000
ARIZ. : 760 900 1,100 28,500 33,800 41,300
TOTAL ABOVE VARIETIES : 104,760 95,800 116,200 4,574,500 4,136,800 5,079,300
VALENCIAS: :
CALIF. : 19,600 21,000 25,000 735,000 788,000 938,000
FLA. : 60,200 68,200 77,000 2,709,000 2,069,000 3,465,000
TEXAS : 2,200 2,000 2,300 99,000 90,000 104,000
ARIZ. : 2,800 4,000 4,000 105,000 150,000 150,000
TOTAL VALENCIAS : 84,800 95,200 108,300 3,648,000 4,097,000 4,657,000
ALL ORANGES: :
CALIF. : 37,500 43,300 44,000 1,406,000 1,624,000 1,651,000
FLA. : 142,300 137,000 168,000 6,404,000 6,165,000 7,560,000
TEXAS : 6,200 5,800 7,400 279,000 261,000 334,000
ARIZ. : 3,560 4,900 5,100 133,500 183,800 191,300
U, S., ALL ORANGES : 189,560 191,000 224,500 8,222,500 8,233,800 9,736,300
GRAPEFRUIT: :
FLA. , ALL : 42,900 47,000 47,000 1,824,000 1,998,000 1,998,000
SEEDLESS : 31,100 36,200 37,000 1,322,000 1,535,000 1,573,000
PINK : 10,900 12,300 12,000 463,000 523,000 — 510,009
WHITE : 20,200 23,800 25,000 859,000 1,012,000 1,063,000
OTHER : 11,800 10,900 10,000 502,000 463,000 425,000
TEXAS : 10,100 9,200 11,000 404,000 368,000 440,000
ARIZ. : 2,520 2,540 2,400 80,600 81,300 76,800
CALIF,, ALL 2 5,040 5,100 5,200 163,600 165,700 169,700
DESERT VALLEYS : 3,260 3,200 3,000 104,000 102,000 96,000
OTHER AREAS : 1,780 1,900 2,200 59,600 63,700 73,700
- S.9 ALL GRAPEFRUIT =: 60,560 63,840 65,600 2,472,200 2,613,000 2,684,500
EMONS: :
CALIF, : 13,300 13,600 16,300 505,000 517,000 619,000
ARIZ. : 3,150 3,080 4,900 120,000 117,000 186,000
UL S. LEMONS : 16,450 16,680 21,200 625,000 634,000 805,000
‘TANGELOS: :
FLA. : 2,700 3,900 3,500 122,000 176,000 158,000
TANGERINES: :
FLA. : 3,700 3,200 3,000 176 ,000 152,000 143,000
ARIZ. 3 390 570 700 14,600 21,400 26 ,300
CALIF, : 1,140 600 700 42,800 22,500 26 ,300
TOTAL TANGERINES : 5,230 4,370 4,400 233,400 195,900 195,600
TEMPLES: :
FLA. : 5,000 5,300 5,300 225,000 239,000 239,000

1/ THE CROP YEAR BRGINS 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 ARFAS, 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 1973 10 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE YIELD:

Florida's April 1 maturity and juice yield tests suggest a yield of 1.32 gallons of 45°
Brix frozen concentrated orange juice per box in the 1972-73 season. This is the same as
projected last month and compares with last season's final yield of 1.2857 gallons per box.
Indicated yield can differ from the final yield because of weather and decisions within the
citrus industry.

CITRUS CROP - HARVEST AND UTILIZATION TO APRIL 1

t. 1971-72 H 1972-73
: Utilization : Utilization
Crop : > Remaining A : ?Remaining
: Fresh Total : For Fresh :Processed: Total : For
H z 2 : Harvest. : i : Harvest
: Thousand Boxes
Oranges : 21,725 73,031 94,756 96,244 23,406 91,432 114,838 109,662
Grapefruit : 17,698 28,206 45,904 17,936 -=—«17,991 «23,723 41,714 23, 886
Lemons : 5,639 4,926.10, 563 6,117 6,166 7,035 «13,201 7,999

By the end of March 114.8 million boxes of oranges or about 51 percent of the U. S. crop
had been harvested. This compares with 94,8 million boxes or about one-half the crop harvested
by this time a year earlier. Processors had used 80 percent of the oranges harvested by April 1,
compared with 77 percent a year earlier.

Grapefruit harvest was 64 percent complete by April 1, somewhat behind last season's late
harvest when 72 percent had been harvested by April 1. To date, 57 percent of the crop harvested
has been utilized by processors, compared with 61 percent a year earlier,

About 62 percent of the lemons had been picked by April 1, while at this time last year,
63 percent had been picked. Thus far, processors have utilized 53 percent of the crop, compared
with 47 percent by April 1 last year.

GRAPEFRUIT: The U.S. 1972-73 grapefruit crop is expected to total 65.6 million boxes, up 2.0

million from the March 1 forecast and 3 percent more than last season's output.
Changes in the U.S. production between April 1 forecasts and final production have averaged 1.8
million boxes over the past eight seasons, ranging from 0.3 to 4.1 million boxes.

The Florida crop is forecast at 47.0 million boxes, 2.0 million above last month, and equal
to the 1971-72 crop. Production changes in Florida between April 1 forecasts and the final
harvest over the past eight seasons have averaged 1.4 million boxes—-ranging from 0.4 to 3.6
million boxes. Picking during March remained near the 2.0-million-box-per-week level. Trees are
in excellent condition because adequate March moisture provided good growing conditions. Uniform
peak bloom was reached during the first week of April.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1973 7 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Fewer Spring Fresh Vegetables and Melons but More Potatoes

Production for 14 crops (excluding melons) estimated for the spring quarter 1973 (April, May
and June), based on average yields, is projected at 37,861,000 cwt., 2 percent less than the high
yielding 1972 spring crop output. Acreage for these crops totaled 248,920 acres, up 2 percent from
the 244,070 acres harvested last spring. Smaller crops are expected for broccoli, cauliflower,
celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce and green peppers. Larger crops are expected
for snap beans, cabbage, carrots, escarole, spinach and tomatoes.

Potential production of spring quarter melons, based on average yields, is placed at
13,733,000 ewt., 13 percent below spring 1972. Smaller production is expected for watermelons
and cantaloups, while a slight increase in production of honeydew melons is anticipated. Melon
acreage for harvest during the spring quarter is placed at 120,300, down 20 percent from the
1972 spring acreage.

Prospective acreage of asparagus for harvest in 1973 is estimated at 119,400 acres, up
fractionally from 1972. The 1973 acreage of strawberries for harvest is set at 40,460 acres in
the spring States, down 4 percent from a year earlier.

The second forecast of the spring onion crop for Texas is placed at 2,925,000 cwt., which is
2 percent less than the 1972 crop.

Spring potato production is forecast 6 percent above last year, but 6 percent below 1971
production. Cool, wet March weather throughout most producing areas slowed crop development.

ORANGES: The Nation's 1972-73 orange crop, as of April 1, is forecast at 224.5 million boxes,

700,000 boxes less than on March 1, but 18 percent above the 1971-72 season. Over
the past eight seasons, the April 1 orange forecasts have differed from actual production an
average of 3.5 million boxes, ranging from 0.7 to 8.5 million boxes.

Prospective production of oranges in Florida is placed at 168.0 million boxes, unchanged
from the March 1 forecast, but 23 percent above last season's output. Over the past eight
seasons, Florida's April 19°.aige'forecasts have differed from actual production an average of
3.9 million boxes, ranging from 0.7 to 7.7 million boxes. Harvest of early and midseason
oranges was very active during March and will continue into April. Movement of Valencias has
been light to date. Orange trees and remaining fruit are in excellent condition, March rain-
fall was adequate, providing good growing conditions. Peak bloom occurred during the last week
of March and was uniform. New growth is flushing on trees of all ages.

California's orange production is placed at 44.0 million boxes, 1.0 million boxes less than
last month, but 2 percent above the 1971-72 crop, Harvest of Navel oranges in the San Joaquin
Valley continued when weather permitted. Quality of the packed fruit has been good, but cullage
continues high due to winter freezes and wet weather. Picking of Navels was active in southern
areas but overmaturity has been a problem. Coachella Valley Valencia harvest was progressing
slowly on April 1. Harvest of Vajeuciasin southern California and the San Joaquin Valley was
just getting underway on April 1. Picking is expected to increase sharply as warm weather
advances maturity.

Production of Texas oranges is forecast at 7.4 million boxes, up 300,000 boxes from March 1
and 28 percent more than last season. Picking of early and midseason varieties was virtually
complete by April 1 with only light remaining supplies going to processors. Valencia harvest
became active as the early and midseason harvest neared completion. Soil moisture is adequate
and trees are in good condition. Trees began blooming in early March and reached peak bloom by
mid-month, However, the bloom was erratic in some groves. An adequate supply of irrigation
water is available.

Arizona's orange crop estimate at 5.1 million boxes is unchanged from last month and 200,000
boxes more than last season's output. Navel harvest is complete. Valencia harvest was reaching
full volvme proportions by April 1 in both the Yuma area and the Salt River Valley. Harvest was
slowed or delayed at times during March by heavy rains. Trees have put on new growth and bloom
has begun despite the below normal spring temperatures.

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1973 6 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


PASTURE AND RANGE FEED

The condition of pasture and range feed in 37 States reporting on April 1 averaged 86 per-
cent, compared with 80 percent a year earlier. For the 30 States with comparable records, the
condition average was also 86 percent, which was 8 percentage points above April 1, 1972 and 11
points over the 1962-71 average for that date. Pasture and feed condition is reported consider-
ably improved in California and Arizona.

Pasture and range feed growth showed a response to better temperatures in late March across
most of the Nation. Soil moisture was ample, except in some areas of the Pacific Northwest and
Montana.

APRIL 1 PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITION, BY STATES
35-50, SEVERE DROUGHT; 50-65, VERY POOR; 65-80, POOR TO FAIR; 80 AND OVER, GOOD TO EXCELLENT

: AVERAGE = 3 : AVERAGE : :
STATE iter. 1972} 1973 STATE  yea-71, 1972; 1973
PERCENT : PERCENT
N. J. 80 73 78 TENN. : 76 79 86
ALA. > 67 78 84
OHIO 82 78 86 MISS, t 66 75 78
IND. 86 88 91 ARK. 1 73 82 86
ILL. 86 86 89 LA. : 69 80 78
OKLA, : 74 80 86
IOWA 1/ 87 89 TEXAS 1 67 76 83
MO. 79 79 85 :
N. DAK. 1/ 83 82 MONT. 1/ : 82 76
S. DAK. 1/7 84 88 IDAHO 1/ 3 94 84
NEBR. 1/ 82 91 WYO. 1/ : 88 80
KANS.. 78 81 91 COLO. Hy 77 72 80
DEL. 83 75 84 N. MEX, 1 72 75 93
MD. 81 75 80 ARIZ. : 78 70 96
VA. 80 86 91 UTAH > 82 83 76
W. VA. : 78 79 84 NEV. : 80 84 89
N.C. > 82 8S 88 WASH. : 83 87 83
S.C. : 77 83 84 OREG. > 81 88 82
GA, 76 82 86 CALIF. : 79 $8 94
FLA. 73 80 81 :
KY. 78 86 93 30 STATES 2/: 7s 78 86
ih 37_STATES i 80 86

1/ COMPARABLE DATA PRIOR TO 1972 NOT AVAILABLE.
2/ STATES FOR WHICH COMPARABLE DATA ARE AVAILABLE.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1973 9 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


crop production

(— Release: >

April 9, 1973
3:00 P.M. EST

HIGHLIGHTS OF U. S. CROP REPORT AS OF APRIL 1, 1973

Citrus production is 0.5 percent more than last month and is expected to
be 14 percent above the 1971-72 season. Expected production since March 1
has increased for Texas oranges, Florida grapefruit and Florida temples
but prospects for California oranges and Florida tangelos have declined.

Orange production is forecast at 224.5 million boxes, down 700,000 boxes (0.3
percent) from last month, but 33.5 million boxes (18 percent) above last
season. Prospects are unchanged in Florida, down from last month in
California, and up slightly in Texas.

Grapefruit production is placed at 65.6 million boxes, 2.0 million boxes (3.1
percent) more than on March 1, and 1.8 million boxes (2.8 percent) above
last season, Expected production is up in Florida, but unchanged in
all other States,

Lemon production, at 21.2 million boxes, is unchanged from March 1, but 4.5 mil-
lion boxes (27 percent) more than last season.

Spring potato production of 22.2 million cwt. is 6 percent more than last year
but 6 percent less than 1971.

Potential production of 14 fresh market vegetable crops during the spring quarter
of 1973 (April, May and June) is projected at 37.9 million cwt., 2 percent
less than the spring of 1972. Harvested acreage for the spring quarter
crops is up 2 percent.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
\ STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE CROP REPORTING BOARD

CrPr 2-2 (4-73) WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250 )



PEANUTS: The revised estimate of the peanut crop for 1972 is 3,275 million pounds (net weight),

9 percent above the 1971 record large crop. A record high yield per harvested acre of
2,203 pounds in 1972 exceeded the 1971 yield by 137 pounds. The 1972 revised production is down
14 million pounds from the estimate released in the Annual Crop Summary in January 1973.

A total of 1,532,800 acres, up 3,900 acres from a year earlier, were planted for all purposes
in 1972. Acreage harvested for nuts totaled 1,486,400 acres in 1972, 31,900 acres more than in
1971, Less abandonment coupled with an increase in acres planted raised harvested acreage.

In the Virginia-North Carolina area, production was 636 million pounds, 17 percent above
1971 but 16 percent below the record 758 million pounds produced in 1970. Yield was 2,373 pounds
per acre, 175 pounds more than 1971. Acreage harvested for nuts in 1972 totaled 268,000 acres,
up 20,000 acres from a year earlier. After a late start, the crop developed well until harvest
time when rain and flooding delayed digging and combining. A freeze on October 20 and 21 damaged
peanuts on the ground and killed vines of undug fields.

Peanut production in the Southeast area is estimated at a record 1,895 million pounds, 2
percent above the record established in 1971. A record high yield of 2,404 pounds exceeded the
1971 record by 30 pounds. In the southeast area, South Carolina and Georgia had record yields.
Acreage harvested totaled 788,500 acres, 6,000 above the previous year. The increase in harvested
acres, greater use of higher yielding varieties, plus favorable weather and innovations of new
field equipment contributed to the record crop for the area.

The Southwestern peanut crop, at 744 million pounds, was 23 percent larger than 1971. The
1972 yield per acre at 1,730 pounds was a record high, up 309 pounds from a year earlier, Acreage
harvested for nuts totaled 429,900 acres compared with 424,000 acres in 1971, All three States
in the Southwest area had record high yields and production.

PEANUTS HARVESTED FOR NUTS

“ACREAGE PLANTED g ACREAGE HARVESTED
STATE AND AREA 7970 z 1971 7217: 1970: ~—«AS7L— ss AT
t 1,000 ACRES
vA. : 103 103 103 102 93 102
N.C. : 170 170 169 167 155 166
TOTAL VA. :

N.C, 2 273 273 272 269 248 268
S.C. ce 1S.3 15.8 13.8 1S 15.5
GA. : 518 518 520 507 510 $12
FLA. > 74 74 na 53 34 34
ALA. : 195 199 201 190 194 197
MISS. : 4 9.5 10 4 9.5 70
TOTAL S$. E, > 805 815.8 817.8 767.8 782.5 788.5
OKLA. = 122 122 122 116 119 115
TEXAS + 307 310 313 306 297 307
N. MEX. 3 8.3 8.1 8 8.2 8 7.9
TOTAL S. W. + 437.3 440.1 443, 430.2 424 429.9
U.S. 1,515.3 1,528.9 1,532.8 1,467.0 1,454.5 1,486.4

E “YIELD _ PER ACRE t PRODUCTION
+ 1970 ¢ 4yg72 F972. a4 F970 * 1979 1972
: ‘POUNDS 1,000 POUNDS
vA. : 3,060 2,360 2,605 312,120 219,480 265,710
N.C. : 2,670 2,100 2,230 445,890 325,500 370,180

TOTAL VA.~

N.C. 2,818 2,298 2,373 758,010 544,980 635,890
S.C. 1,880 2,000 2,050 25,944 30,000 31,775
GA. 2,220 2,490 2,620 1,125,540 1,269,900 1,341,440
FLA, 2,075 2,590 2,550 209,975 139,860 137,700
ALA. 1,660 2,070 1,870 315,400 401,580 368,390
MISS. 1,100 1,735 13600 4,400 16,483 16,000

TOTAL S. E. 2,059 2,374 23404 1,581,259 1,857,823 1,895,305
OKLA, 1,655 1,840 2,110 191,980 218,960 242,650
TEXAS 1,405 1,235 1,565 429,930 366,795 480,455
N. MEX, 2,230 2,070 23590 18,286 16,560 20,461

TOTAL S. W. 1,488 1,422 1,730 640,196 602,315 743,566
uv. S. i: 2,031 2,066 2.203 2,979 465 3,005,118 3,274,761

1/ REVISED.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1973 12 CROP REPORTING 80ARD, SRS, USDA



IRISH POTATOES

SEASONAL z ACREAGE

GROUP : TC ARESTEp For: YIELD PER ACRE : PRODUCTION
AND : 3 ; HARVEST H : 3 5 5
STATE : w7l } 1972 2 1973 1971; 1972 | 1973 { 1971 | 1972 | 1973
: 1,000 ACRES CWT. 1,000 Cwr.
WINTER, TOTAL : 18.0 15.4 13.6 172 151 183 3,088 2,327 2,495
SPRING; :
N.C. Uf : LL.B 11.0 4.2 M46, 146 145 1,726 1,606 624
FLA.-HASTINGS : 23.0 21.1 18.8 132 142 165 3,036 2,996 37102
OTHER 2 2.4 1.8 2.0 125 140 18S 300 252 310
ALABAMA : 8.7 9.0 11.0 115 155 145 1,001 1,395 1,595
MISSISSIPPI 2 2.0 2.0 2.0 90 385 80 180 370 160
ARKANSAS : 1.4 1.4 2 65 65 2v 91 ga 2
LOUISIANA 2 29 2.9 2.6 70 7s 65 203 218 169
TEXAS 1/ > 8.8 7.6 6.7 102 108 11s 899 822 77
ARIZONA 2 1.2 8.0 8.4 280 300 255 2,828 2,400 2,142
CALIFORNIA 2 36.2 31.2 33.8 370 355 365 3/13,394 11,076 12,337
TOTAL 2 107.3 96.0 96.5 220 219 230 23,658 21,026 22,210

1/ SEE THE TABLE BELOW FOR PREVIOUSLY USED SEASONAL GROUPING AND AREA CLASSIFICATION.
2/ ESTIMATES DISCONTINUED.
3/ DOES NOT INCLUDE 1,369,000 CWT. NOT HARVESTED BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

POTATOES: ACREAGE, YIELD AND PRODUCTION BY SEASONAL GROUPS, 1971 AND 1972 1/

SEASONAL 7. CROP OF 1971 A CROP OF 1972
Grove 3 2 YIELD : 3 YTELD 2
AND + HARVESTED = PER PRODUCTION : HARVESTED : PER: PRODUCTION
STATE ‘ 5 ACRE : : ACRE:
? 1,000 ACRES CHT. 1,000 Cwr. 1,000 ACRES CHT. 1,000 CWT.
SPRING: :
N. CAROLINA 2
8 N. E. CO. (LSB: 9.6 150 1,440 8.8 150 1,320
OTHER (LSP) 2.2 130 286 2.2 130 286
N. C. TOTAL : 11.8 146 1,726 11.0 146 1,606
TEXAS :
(ESP) : 3.8 105 399 2.8 105 294
(LSP) : 5.0 100 500 4.8 220 528
TEXAS TOTAL 8.8 102 899 7.6 108 822

1/ THE TABLE ABOVE SHOWS THE SEPARATE SEASONAL AND AREA ESTIMATES PREVIOUSLY USED FOR ESTIMATING THE
NORTH CAROLINA AND TEXAS LATE SPRING (LSP) AND EARLY SPRING (ESP) POTATO CROPS FOR 1971 AND 1972.

UNDER THE MODIFIED PROGRAM OF ESTIMATES ADOPTED IN 1972, THE SEPARATE AREA ESTIMATES FOR NORTH CAROLINA
AND THE EARLY AND LATE SPRING CLASSIFICATIONS FOR TEXAS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1973 11 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


The Texas crop is forecast at 11.0 million boxes, unchanged from March 1, but 1.8 million
boxes more than last season's pick out. Harvest was moderately active during March. Soil
moisture is adequate following heavy rains in January and February. Trees are in good condition
and began blooming in early March and reached peak about mid-month, although the bloom was erratic
in some groves. °

Arizona's grapefruit prospects remain unchanged at 2.4 million boxes, 140,000 boxes fewer
than harvested last season. Moderate harvest activity continued during March, but had not
reached full volume by month’s end. Fruit quality is generally good} however, sizes are running
smaller than average. Trees have put on new growth and many groves were in full bloom by
April 1 despite the cool spring.

California's grapefruit crop is placed at 5.2 million boxes, the same as last month, and
100,000 boxes more than the 1971-72 crop. Harvest of the Desert Valleys crop increased during
March and is expected to peak during April. The fruit is in good condition with favorable color
and flavor. Harvest of the crop in “other areas" was getting underway April 1. Although below
normal temperatures have slowed maturity, fruit is expected to be of large size and good quality.

LEMONS: Lemon production in California and Arizona is forecast at 21.2 million boxes, unchanged
from last month, but 27 percent more than last season, Harvest is complete in Arizona,
In California, the rains slackencd and groves dried out, permitting active picking operations.

The fruit size in larger than normal. The crop is more mature than normal for this time of
the year, ranging from silver to tree ripe, with some overripe., Packing houses continue to cut
fruit to sort out frost damaged fruit lots,

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo production is now set at 3.5 million boxes, down 100,000 boxes fron
last month and 400,000 boxes less than were produced during the 1971-72 season, Harvest

was completed during March,

TANGERINES: The U. S. tangerine crop estimate remains at 4,4 million boxes, slightly more than
the 1971-72 crop. fiarvest operations were in the clean-up stage during March.

TEMPLES: In Florida, a crop filling 5.3 million boxes is expected, up 300,000 boxes from March 1

and now equal to last season's output. During March, the harvest level was steady at
300,000 to 400,000 boxes per week, Supplies are now running short and volume will soon decline.
Trees were in full bloom the last week of March,

POTATOES: The 1973 spring potato crop is forecast at 22,210,000 cwt., 6 percent more than the
1972 outturn of 21,026,000 cwt., but 6 percent less than 1971 production, Producers

in 1973 are expected to harvest 96,500 acres, compared with 96,000 acres in 1972 and 107,300 acres

in 1973,

In most spring crop States, March rains delayed field work and slowed development. Planting
was laterthan usual in California, North Carolina, and Mississippi. In the Lafourche-Terrebonne
area of Louisiana, early planted fields were up to good stands, but excessive moisture supplies
caused mostly poor stands on late plantings. The California crop is, forecast at 12,337,000 cwt.,
ll percent larger than 1972 production of 11,076,000 cwt., but & percent below 1971 production
of 13,394,000 cwt. Cool, wet weather during March slowed field work and early development of the
33,800 acre crop which growers expect to harvest this year, Last year 31,200 acres of spring
potatoes were harvested in California and in 1971, 36,200 acres. Production in the Hastings,
Florida, area is forecast at 3,102,000 cwt., which compares with a 1972 crop of 2,996,000 cwt, and
a 1971 crop of 3,036,000 cwt, Generally, there is a good set of tubers and early development has
been satisfactory, although March rains kept fields too wet in some localities, Digging is ex-
pected to get underway about mid-April.

The Alabama crop in the Baldwin-Mobile-Lscambia areas is forecast at 1,595,000 cwt., up 14
percent from the 1972 production of 1,395,000 cwt, The increased production is coming from 11,000
acres for harvest this yearcompared with 9,000 acres in 1972. The yield per acre for the 1973
crop is placed at 145 cwt,, compared with 155 cwt., last year. Digging is expected to get underway
about May 1.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1973 8 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


CROP REPORT SUMMARY APRIL I, 1973

March was generally warm and very wet across the Nation. Only in the northern States from
the Pacific to northern Wisconsin, the North Atlantic States and in southern Texas was pre-~
cipitation below normal. Fieldwork progress was limited throughout most of the country by the
frequent rains and saturated soils.

The Nation's winter wheat crop is in mostly good to excellent condition with the warm weather
and plentiful moisture supplies, although the crop is under stress in some areas from too much
rain. The Pacific Northwest and Montana are the only major producing areas with below normal
soil moisture, Spring seeding of small grains is behind normal, except in northern portions of
the country which received below normal March precipitation.

Total citrus production is expected to be 14 percent more than a year earlier and 0.5 percent
above last month, The increase from March 1 is due to larger crop forecasts for grapefruit and
temples, which more than offset slightly smaller crops for oranges and tangelos.

March Warm and Wet

March brought unusually warm, wet weather over much of the Nation, Winter lost its grip early
in the month except in the southern Mountain States of the West. Late month weather was violent
over the South, Midwest and Atlantic Seaboard. Tornadoes struck from Oklahoma to the Washington,
D, C. area. Flooding occurred in the Central Plains, middle and lower Mississippi River Valley,
east Gulf Coast and South Atlantic States.

Temperatures averaged warmer than normal over the Nation except in the Southwest. Most of
the northern Corn Belt averaged from 9° to 120 above normal while the South and the Atlantic
Coast States generally averaged from 30 to 69 above normal. Moderately cooler than normai tem-
peratures prevailed over California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and southern Utah, Mild tem-
peratures were recorded consistently during March over the East and northern Western States, but
the southern Rocky Mountain States experienced blizzards and changeable temperatures after mid~
month, Violent weather stormed across the South, Midwest and South Atlantic States Frequently
during March bringing thunderstorms, hail, strong winds and torrential rains,

Almost the entire Nation received well above average precipitation during March. This was
in striking contrast to the drought conditions prevailing one year ago in the Southwest and
southern Plains, Areas receiving less than normal precipitation included the Pacific Northwest,
Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, much of the North Atlantic Region and southern Texas.
From two to four timesthe normal March precipitation fell on the southern portion of the western
Corn Belt, the southern Great Plains, the Southwest and portions of the South, Rains were frequent
and heavy in many areas setting new monthly precipitation records or tying old ones in several
Corn Belt States. Most rain fell on soils already saturated from wet weather prevailing since
last fall, By April 1 many tributaries of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were spilling out of
banks and flooding farmland from fowa, Nebraska, and Illinois to the Gulf Coast. Major flooding
also occurred in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama,

CROP PRODUCTION, April 1973 4 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS*
Apeil 1, 1973

Good to exceilent
Poor to fair

FEB Very poor

EBB Sovere drought
([) 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. 5, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Nog. SAS 161-73(4) STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS *
April 1, 1972

Good to excellent
ZZ Poor to fair

Rl very poor

GB Severe drought
CJ Not estimated

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

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NEG. SRS 287-7204) STATISTICAL REPORTING  RVICE

‘*AS REPORTED BY
CROP CORRESPONDENTS

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1973 3 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY AS OF APRIL 1, 1973

CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

INDICATED 1972-73

crop : 970-71} 1971-72

3 MARCH 1 5 APRIL 1

: 1,000. BOXES
ORANGES $ 189,560 191,000 225,200 224,500
GRAPEFRUIT : 60,560 63,840 63,600 65,600
LEMONS : 16,450 16,680 21,200 21,200

1/ SEASON SEGINS WITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COM-
PLETION OF HARVEST THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

IRISH POTATOES

SEASONAL | “ACR a YIELD PER ACRE : PRODUCTION -
GROUP a7, 157F «1973 1971 [1972 | tg7g , 1971 | 1972 | 1975
: 1,000 ACRES CHT. 1,000 CWi.
SPRING : 107.3 96.0 96.5 220 219 230 23,658 21,026 22,210
PASTURE AND RANGE
‘AVERAGE A B
ITEM 1962-71 : 1972 : 1973
PERCENT
CONDITION 1/
7S 78 86

1/ AVERAGE FOR 30 STATES.

CROP REPORTING BOARD:

APPROVED: B. M. Graham, Chairman,
M. L. Koehn, Secretary,
J. W. Kirkbride, J. L. Olson,
J. E. Mullin, W. Britton,
D. J. Fedewa, J. R. Standley,
ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE H. F. Prindle.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1973 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA