Prospects in Arizona at 4.12 million boxes are unchanged from last month, but 4 percent above
last year's crop. The Navel harvest is virtually complete while Valencia harvest has just started.

Changes between the March IT U. S. orange production forecast and final production have
averaged 4.2 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 0.3 million boxes in 1976-77
to 11.0 million boxes in the 1975-76 season.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD; The all orange juice yield for the 1977-78 crop is pro-

jected at 1.24 gallons of 45 degree brix concentrate
per box, compared with the February projection of 1.25 gallons. Final freeze-reduced yield from
the 1976-77 crop was 1.07 gallons per box.

GRAPEFRUIT: The 1977-78 U. S. grapefruit crop is expected to total 73.8 million boxes (2.7 mil-
lion metric tons), 3 percent below last month's forecast and 1 percent less than
last season. Prospects in Florida declined 2 million boxes during February to 52.0 million
boxes, 1 percent above last season's output. The crop outlook in Texas improved during the month
and is now expected to total 11.0 million boxes, 11 percent less than last season's crop
Quality of the fruit is excellent. California growers expect to harvest 7.7 million boxes, a de~
cline from last month of 200,000 boxes in the Desert Valley. The Arizona crop of 3.1 million
boxes is unchanged from last month, but is 3 percent above last season.

Harvest of the U. S$. grapefruit crop was 43 percent complete by March 1 compared with 40
percent on March 1 last year.

Changes in the U. S. production estimate between the March 1 forecast and final production
have averaged 2.4 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 280,000 boxes in 1975-76
to 4.6 million boxes in 1976-77.

LEMONS: The California and Arizona lemon crop is expected to total 24.5 million boxes (845,000

metric tons), 2 percent less than laSt month and 4 percent less than in 1976-77. The
California crop forecast at 19.0 million boxes declined 1.0 million boxes during the month be-
cause of brown rot and wind damage in the central district. The Arizona crop at 5.5 million
boxes is up 8 percent from last month and is 10 percent above last season.

Harvest is 53 percent complete, slightly ahead of last season.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo crop is set at 4.9 million boxes, 2 percent above both last month
and the 1976-77 crop. Harvest is virtually complete.

TANGERINES: Production is expected to total 5.8 million boxes (226,000 metric tons) unchanged

from last month and about the same as last season. The crop in Florida at 3.2
million boxes is 3 percent below last year's crop. The California crop at 1.9 million boxes
is 4 percent above last season. The Arizona crop is placed at 700,000 boxes, 8 percent above
1976-77.

TEMPLES: Production in Florida is estimated at 4.7 million boxes, unchanged from last month
but 24 percent above last season. Harvest is about 70 percent complete.

POTATOES: The final forecast for the 1978 winter potato crop in California and Florida of 2.8

million cwt. (125 thousand metric tons) is 4 percent above the 1977 production, The
March 1 forecast is off slightly from a month ago because of a drop in the yield per acre. Most
of the California winter acreage has been harvested in Kern County while digging is active in
Riverside County. Florida harvest was active in late February in the Everglades, Martin County
and the Ft. Myers area. Dade County harvest, interrupted by rains in late February, is expected
to increase rapidly in March and continue active through April. Quality of the Florida crop is
very good.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1978 5 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA



CITRUS FRUIT Vv
PRODUCTION t PRODUCTION
crop fs BOXES t TON EQUIVALENT
AND 1 UTILIZED tINOICATEDS. UTILIZED tINDICATED
STATE 31975=76 t 1976-77 ¢ 1977-78 ! 1975-76 t 1976=77 3 1977-78
t 19000 UNITS 2/ 1+000 UNITS
ORANGES yEARLY MID & NAVEL 3/3
ARIZ t 730 800 820 27 30 31
CALIF : 284300 254600 209000 1061 960 750
FLA 1 968800 1154000 88¥000 49446 S175 3960
TEX ’ 39700 44400 49000 157 187 170
us + 1315530 1459800 1429820 5691 69352 4091)
ORANGES » VALENCIA t
ARIZ ’ 14950 35150 3300 73 118 124
CALIF t 249500 219000 25000 919 788 938
FLA $ 824400 719800 789000 39708 39231 36510
TEX ’ 29400 29500 25400 102 106 102
u t 111,250 985450 = 1084700 49802 49243 49674
ALL ORANGES :
ARIZ ' 29680 34950 49120 100 148 155
CALIF t 52+800 461600 459000 19980 19748 19688
FLA $ 1810200 1869800 1669000 86154 89406 79470
TEX ’ 69100 6+900 69400 259 293 272
Us t 2424780 2444250 2214520 101493 10.595 94585,
TEMPLES '
FLA t 5.500 34800 49700 248 71 212
GRAPEFRUITsWHITE SEEDLESS .
FLA ' 284300 295900 309000 19203 19271 19275
GRAPEFRUIT»PINK SEEDLESS '
FLA t 132000 126500 145000 $53 $31 595
GRAPEFRUIT» OTHER '
FLA ’ 7+800 99100 82000 332 387 340
ALL GRAPEFRUIT t
ARIZ t 34080 34000 39100 99 96 99
CALIF .
OESERT i) 49100 4500 49200 131 144 134
OTHER AREAS 1 3100 34100 39500 104 104 117
TOTAL ! 74200 79600 79700 235 248 251
FLA + 499100 51,500 524000 29088 20189 29210
TEX t 109700 124400 114000 428 496 440
us ' 709080 749500 739800 29850 39029 32000
TANGERINES ’
ARIZ ry 660 650 700 2s 26 26
CALIF t 14300 14820 14900 49 68 71
FLA ! 39400 39300 39200 162 157 152
us : 51360 59770 5800 236 249 249
LEMONS :
ARIZ : 29420 59000 56500 92 190 209
CALIF ‘ 159200 204600 199000 S78 783 722
us # 179620 254600 249500 670 973 931
TANGELOS :
FLA U 5,500 4800 45900 248 216 221

1/ THE CROP YEAR BEGINS WITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR
SHOWN ANO ENDS WITH YEAR HARVEST IS COMPLETED,

2/ NET LBS PER BOX! ORANGES=CALIF & ARIZ*7S5sFLA=909
TEX=-85% GRAPEFRUIT=CALIF DESERT & ARIZ-649 CALIF

LEMONS=76% TANGELOS &
TEMPLES=903 TANGERINES* CALIF & ARIZ=75s 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

OTHER@675 FLA~85» TEX=80

TEXAS.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1978

CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


Kansas winter wheat rated good to excellent. Snow protected most of the crop from bitter
cold and wind. Toward the end of February melting snow provided temporary topsoil moisture which
was especially needed in western areas. Oklahoma wheat was in fair condition. Snow covered the
State at midmonth and by the end of February higher temperatures melted the snow and wheat began
greening in some localities. Texas High and Low Plains winter wheat prospects improved at mid-
month with much-needed moisture. Heavy snows broke the prolonged precipitation-free period which
had sent dryland stands into a drought-stressed condition. Elsewhere, Texas fields had adequate
soil moisture but subnormal temperatures virtually stopped growth. The effects of dry soils on
the Plains and unusually cold weather cannot be assessed until warm temperatures encourage new
growth. New Mexico irrigated wheat rated fair to good, providing moderate grazing, while dryland
wheat rated fair, yielding limited grazing. By the end of February, Arizona's wheat reached the
jointing stage; a few early fields headed.

Wheat lay dormant under a heavy layer of snow in Eastern North Central States. Generally,
crop conditions rated good. In the Southeast, winter wheat began growing slowly after a warming
trend near midmonth, although temperatures continued subnormal. Farmers fertilized open fields
as far north as Virginia.

In the Pacific Coast States, surplus water in low-lying fields yellowed wheat stands
Growers applied fertilizer and herbicides.

COLD AND SNOW DELAY FIELDWORK

Snow accumulations and subnormal temperatures held field activity to a minimum during
February. Wintery weather confined fieldwork to the extreme South, the Pacific Coast States
and along the Atlantic Coast as far north as Virginia. Heavy snow cover kept farmers out of
fields in the northern Great Plains, the Corn Belt, and the Northeast. Wet fields delayed land
preparation to some degree and low soil temperatures discouraged planting in southern Texas _
where earliest row crop planting usually begins. Farmers plowed fields as far north as Virginia
but progress lagged; Mississippi plowing reached 13 percent, well below the 34 percent last year
and the 19 percent average. Fruit growers pruned trees and in southern areas set peach trees.
Tobacco producers tended plant beds in Florida and Georgia, seeded beds in South Carolina and
prepared beds in Virginia. Vegetable planting and harvesting was confined to extreme southern

areas.

Arizona and Texas cotton producers prepared fields for planting but low soil temperatures
delayed seeding. Normally, a few fields have been planted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley by
March 1. Texas growers began planting sorghum in the Lower Valley the last week of February,
but normally, 6 percent has been planted by this time. Corn planting was underway in Texas,

Florida, and Georgia.

ORANGES: The U. S. orange production is expected to total 221.5 million boxes (8.7 million metric

tons), virtually unchanged from last month's forecast but 9 percent below the 1976-77
crop. Florida prospects remain unchanged at 166.0 million boxes, but are 11 percent below last
season. Early and mid-season varieties are expected to total 88.0 million boxes, 23 percent less
than last year's harvest. The Valencia crop is forecast at 78.0 million boxes, 9 percent above
last season's crop. Harvest of early and mid-season oranges is about 90 percent complete while
harvest of Valencias is just beginning. Most of Florida's groves are in excellent condition for
the next bloom period.

In California, crop prospects continue the same at 45.0 million boxes, 3 percent less than
last season. The Navel crop is expected to be 20.0 million boxes compared with 25.6 million boxes
jin the previous season. The Valencia crop is forecast at 25.0 million boxes, 19 percent above
last season. Harvest of the Navel crop is over % complete and harvest of the Valencia crop has
begun in the Coachella Valley on a limited scale.

The Texas orange crop is expected to total 6.4 million boxes, 2 percent above last month's
forecast but 7 percent below the 6.9 million boxes harvested in 1976-77. Overall quality of the
fruit is excellent. Harvest of early season oranges is nearing completion while Valencia movement
continues to increase.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1978 4 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA



Producers of spring potatoes in the 8 producing States are expected to harvest 87,700 acres
(35,490 hectares), down 4 percent from the 1977 harvest. Most of the fields in the spring grow-
ing areas of California which were damaged by rains have been replanted. Some further plantings
are expected to continue until mid-March. Harvest from early planted fields is expected to begin
about April 1. Plantings in the Hastings area of Florida are finished except for a few fields
that have been too wet because of February rains. Very little damage was caused by the February
cold weather but a dry period is needed. Early planted potatoes in other Florida areas are
making good growth.

Planting in North Carolina is underway but was delayed by wet fields. Rains in Arizona de-
layed the start of potato planting, but by the first of March, most fields were in, Planting is
completed in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and continues in the Winter Garden area. Planting
is underway but progress is running behind schedule in central and east Texas because of cold,

wet weather.

CROP-PROOUCTION, MARCH 1973 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA



CROP PRODUCTION —_ {Gz

Board
Released: March 8, 1978 Economics, Statistics, 8
3:00 P.M. ET Cooperatives Service

US. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS--Production is expected to total 12.9 million metric tons, down | per-
cent from last month and 7 percent below the 1976-77 crop.

ORANGES--Production is forecast at 221.5 million boxes (8.7 million metric
tons), virtually the same as February 7, but 9 percent below last season.
By March 1, harvest of the U. S. crop was 43 percent complete.

GRAPEFRUIT--Production is forecast at 73.8 million boxes (2.7 million metric
tons), 3 percent less than February 1 and 1 percent below the 1976-77
crop. About 43 percent of the crop was harvested by March 1.

LEMONS--Prospects at 24.5 million boxes (845 thousand metric tons) are 2 percent
below last month's forecast and 4 percent below the previous season.

WINTER POTATOES--Final production is estimated at 2.8 million cwt. (125 thousand
metric tons), 2 percent below Jast month's forecast but 4 percent above the
2.7 million cwt. (121 thousand metric tons) harvested in 1977.

SPRING POTATOES--Acreage for harvest is estimated at 87,700 acres (35,490 hec-
tares), 4 percent below the 91,400 acres (36,990 hectares) harvested in
1977 and 11 percent less than in 1976.

Access to Data Via Computer Network —

Selected major reports of the Crop Reporting Board, the World Food
and Agricultural Outlook and Situation Board, and related information
are now being distributed through a nationwide computer network
system. Crop Reporting Board data, within minutes of official
Washington, D.C. release, are available via telephone to data users
who have access to an interactive terminal or compatible computer.
For further information write the Secretary, CRB, Room 0233, South
Building, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250.

CrPr 2-2 (3-78) For information call: (202) 447-2127


POTATOES,

z AREA
SEASONAL GROUP; PLANTED HARVESTED,
: 7 INDICATED {INDICATED
STATE 1976 1977 1978 : 1976 1977 : 1978
T,000 ACRES
WINTER
CALIF 5.2 4.5 13.0 5.2 4.5 3.0
FLA 9.4 9.1 9.6 9.2 8.9 9.6
TOTAL 14.6 13.6 112.6 14.4 13.4 12.6
SPRING :
ALA 11.5 11.0 11.0 11.6 10.5 1.0
ARIZ 6.8 6.5 6.0 6.8 6.5 6.0
CALIF : 34.8 30.8 25.5 34.2 30.8 25.5
FLA-HASTING : 19.5 19.7 20.5 19.3 19.5 20.5
OTHER 3.0 1.7 1.9 2.5 1.7 1.9
LA 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.3
MISS 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.2
ne 13.1 13,5 13.3 13.0 13.4 13.0
TEX 7.3 5.6 6.5 71 5.4 6.3
TOTAL 100.4 92.8 88.4 98.4 9.4 87.7
YIELO : PRODUCTION
1976 1977 INDICATED =~: 4976 1977 Oe
CHT Y,000 CHT
WINTER
CALIF 220 235 250 1,144 1,058 750
FLA 200 180 210 1,840 1,602 2,016
TOTAL 207 199 220 2,984 2,660 2,766
SPRING 2/
ALA 140 120 1,610 1,260
ARIZ 270 270 1,836 1,755
CALIF : 395 385 13,509 11,858
FLA-HASTING : 210 220 4,053 4,290
~OTHER 160 185 400 315
LA : 75 75 195 173
MISS : 95 90 133 7
NC : 145 165 1,885 2,211
TEX 155 165 1,101 891
TOTAL 251 250 24,722 22,870
T7 REVISED.

2/ YIELD AND PRODUCTION FOR 1978 TO BE RELEASED APRIL 7, 1978.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1978 7 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA



WNITED STATES CROP SUNMARY
(DOMESTIC UNITS)

CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

cROP 1976-77 INDICATED 1977-78
FEET. A PART
T,000 BOXES’
ORANGES 244,250 221,420 221 ,520
GRAPEFRUIT 74,500 75,700 73,800
LEMONS: 25,600 25,100 24,500

T7_ SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHORW AND ENOS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE FOLLOW-
ING YEAR.

POTATOES
‘AREA PLANTED H AREA VARVESTED
SEASCHAL : E :
GROUP 1977 THBTEATED : 1977 ed
T7000 ACRE
WINTER 13.6 12.6 13.4 12.6
SPRING 92.8 88.4 ote 87.7
YIELO_PER ACRE PRODUCTION
> INDICATED INDICATED 1978
1977 : 1978 1977 Feo A
cuT 1,060 CHT
WINTER : 199 220 2,660 2,814 2,766
SPRING : 250 APR 7 22,870 PRT
UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1
crop : 1976-77 7 INDICATED 1977-78
: FEST z TART
METRIC TONS
ORANGES 9 611 620 8 691 740 8 695 370
GRAPEFRUIT 2 787 860 2-795 040 2 72) 550,
LENONS 882 690 B65 450 844 590

T/_ SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST VEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE FOLLOW
ING YEAR,

POTATOES
AREA PLANTED TREK HARVESTED
Being 1? 5 THOTCATED 1877 INDICATED
: 1978 : : 1978
TECTARES
WINTER 5 500 5 100 5 420 5 100
SPRING 37 560 35 770 36 990 35 490
YIELD PER HECTARE PROOUCTION
7 INDICATED THOTCATED 1978
1977 A 1978 1977 FEB : FART
HETRIC TONS
MINTER : 22.26 24.60 120 660 127 640 125 460
1 037 360

SPRING : 28.04 APR 7

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 Re-
porting Board which consists of commodity statisticians from Washington headquarters and the
State Statistical Offices.

CROP REPORTING BOARD:

APPROVED: B. M, Graham, Chairman,
M.-L. Koehn, Secretary,
° J. 4. Kirkbride, F. E. Rolf,
Wi) R. P. Small, R. W. Britton,
ed ‘ D. J. Buckner, H.-J. DeLong,
t- J. R. Garrett, C.J. Koines.

ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1978 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA



FEBRUARY WEATHER SUMMARY

February 1978 was a cold winter month. For many cities east of the Rockies, the month was
one of the coldest February's on record. Unlike last year, when sudden warming took place at
mid-month, this February continued to be colder than normal from the continental divide to the
Atlantic and, typical of the entire winter, warmer than normal in the West. Fruit trees in
California are blooming much earlier than usual.

Precipitation for the month was well above normal and last year from the Great Plains
westward. Snow pack in the mountains and previously depleted reservoirs approached normal levels.
There were some exceptions in the West; parts of Washington and Oregon measured much less than
normal precipitation.

vearly all of the area from the Mississippi Valley eastward had much below normal precipi-
tation although the amount of snow was generally above normal. This area had previously been
very wet so the departure was, for the most part, welcome. The exception was the extreme south-
eastern U. S. where rainfall was well above normal.

Precipitation was generally light over most of the Nation during the first week of February.
Exceptions were the central Gulf Coast where rain measured a little over an inch, and the North-
west where rain totaled up to an inch on the mountain slopes and 2 to 5 inches on the coast line.
Snow was widespread but the snow-on-ground line receded along its southern boundary. Much colder
than normal temperatures continued over the area east of the Rockies while the west was unusually
warm,

The second week of February showed no signs of easing the severe winter. The Rocky Mountains
and areas eastward to the Atlantic were much colder than normal. The southern Plains and parts
of the Midwest averaged as much as 15 to 18° colder than normal for this time of year. Pre-
cipitation was also excessive in many parts of the U. S. Early in the week, the Northeast was
inundated with heavy snow. At midweek the central and southern Plains and from New Mexico into
Mississippi experienced a mixture of precipitation; snow, sleet, and rain. Amounts in excess of
2 inches fell in eastern Oklahoma and Texas. Later, heavy rain fell in Florida. After midweek,

a storm system dumped heavy rain throughout California and moved eastward into the Plateau and
the Southwest.

Precipitation was widespread around the U. S. during the week of mid-February. More snow
fell in the southern Plains, heavy rain washed Florida. The Plateau and Southwest had some
heavy showers of snow or rain. In the central Mississippi Valley and parts of the Ohio Valley,
significant amounts of snow cover were added,

The cold weather became even more widespread at mid-February and below normal temperatures
extended a1] the way to the Sierra and Cascade mountains. The central Plains averaged as much
as 22° colder than normal.

Unlike the final ten days of February last year when all of the area east of the Rockies
experienced a dramatic warming, the same period this year continued the pattern of being much
colder than normal east of the Rockies and warmer to the west. The zero degree Fahrenheit
temperature line remained far south in the Plains to Oklahoma. Fortunately snow covered most
of the winter wheat providing a welcome blanket against the bitter cold.

Precipitation was light over most of the country during the last ten days until the end of
the period when rain began in southern California and Arizona. The lower Mississippi and
Tennessee Valleys measured significant precipitation during the period.

WINTER WHEAT

Winter wheat rated fair to good with the exception of some poor areas in the Deep South
where subnormal temperatures prevented the growth normally expected by March 1. Oryland stands
in the southern Great Plains were drought-stressed most of February but late in the month snow
and ice brought temporary relief. Most of the Nation's winter wheat lay under an insulating
blanket of snow for at least part of the month, giving protection from persistent low tempera~
tures. Snow extended into the Texas Panhandle as only the southern States had no snow cover
during February. Wheat greened in the South and into parts of Oklahoma. Last year at this time
winter wheat showed color as far north as Montana.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1978 3 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA