Prospective production of oranges in Florida, at 136.0 million boxes, is unchanged from the
February 1 forecast, 4 percent less than last season, and 1 percent below the 1969-70 season.
In the past seven seasons, Florida's March 1 forecasts have differed from actual production an
average of 4.8 million boxes, ranging from 1.5 to 6.7 million boxes. Florida's trees are in
excellent condition, flushed with new growth and with swelling buds of all sizes. Early February
rains regtored soil moisture, improving prospects for a favorable bloom period. Harvest of early
and midseason varieties is declining. Some Valencia harvest is underway, but peak movement is a
few weeks away.

California's orange production is placed at 43.0 million boxes, 1.0 million boxes below
the February 1 forecast but 11 percent above last season's production and 10 percent more than
the 1969-70 crop. Harvest of the Navel crop in the Central Valley continues to make good pro-
gress, In the Southern District frost damage has been minimal but some wind damaged fruit is
showing up. The Valencia crop particularly in the Central Valley has not sized well due to lack
of rainfall.

Production of Texas oranges is forecast at 6.0 million boxes, unchanged from last month and
0.2 million boxes less than last season. Trees are in good condition and fruit sizes are larger
than last year. Trees began blooming in early March with the peak expected about mid-March.
Light rains in February provided only limited moisture and irrigation continues, Picking of
early and midseason varieties declined during February and was nearly complete by March 1.
Harvest of Valencias became active during February and should be in full swing during March.
Arizona's 1971-72 crop is forecast at 4.7 million boxes, up 0.7 milion from February 1. This is
nearly one-third more than harvested last year and 2 percent more than the 1969-70 crop. Trees
have fully recovered from last year's freeze and, due to the warm weather, are flushed with new
gtowth, Harvest of Navels was nearly complete by the end of February. ‘The Valencia crop which
is sizing rapidly is expected to be larger than estimated earlier.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE YIELD: Florida's February 1 maturity and juice yield
tests suggest a yield of 1.31 gallons of 45°
Brix frozen concentrated orange juice per box in the 1971-72 season. This compares with 1.29
gallons last month and last season's final yield of 1.21 gallons per box. This indicated yield
can differ from the final yield because of weather and decisions within the citrus industry.

GRAPEFRUIT: The Nation's 1971-72 grapefruit crop is expected to total 61.8 million boxes, up

0.2 million boxes from the February 1 forecast. At thie level, production is 2 per~
cent above last season's harvest and 15 percent above 1969-70 crop. Changes in U. S. production
between the March 1 forecast and final production have averaged 2.5 million boxes over the past
seven seasons—ranging from 0.9 to 4.4 million boxes.

Florida's crop is forecast at 44.0 million boxes, unchanged from the February 1 forecast.
Thie is 3 percent more than was harvested last season and 18 percent above the 1969-70 output.
Changes in Florida'a production between March 1 forecasts and final production have averaged 1.8
million boxes over the past seven seasons--ranging from 0.4 million to 4.1 million boxes.
Grapefruit trees are in excellent condition following the extremely mild winter weather. General
rains during early February restored soil moisture. Flush of new growth and awelling of buds of
all sizes are general in all areas. As picking of early and midseason oranges tapers off, the
harvest of grapefruit is increasing. About 60 percent of the crop was off the trees by March 1.

The Texas crop is forecast at 10.2 million boxes, up 0.2 million from a month earlier. This
is 1 percent above last season and more than one-fourth larger than the 1969-70 crop. Trees are
in good condition although light rains during February provided only limited moisture and irriga-
tion continues. Trees began blooming in early March with peak bloom expected to occur about
mid-March. Grapefruit harvest is at peak with good movement to both fresh and processing channels.
Harvest was about two-thirds complete by March 1.

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 5 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


IRISH POTATOES

Seasonal Acreage + Yield per acre : Production
aes :__Harvested For : : : Indi- : : Indi-
2 3 arvest: 1970 : 1971 : cated : 1970 1971 : cated
State 2 1970 | 1971 T1972: A 31972: 3 : 1972
: 1,000 acres Gwe. 1,000 cwt.
Winter: :
Fla. 110.3 10.9 10,0 158 140 145 1,627 1,526 1,450
Calif. : 8.5 721 5.7 230 220 180 1,955 1,562 1,026
Total 118.8 18.0 15.7 191 172 158 3,582 3,088 2,476
Early Spring:

Fla, -Hastings : 24.5 23.0 21.0 165 132 Apr. 10 4,043 3,036 Apr. 10

Other =: 1.9 2.4 2.2 140 125 Apr. 10 266 300 Apr. 10
Texas : 3.2 3.8 2.9 140 105 Apr. 10 448 399 Apr. 10
Total 129.6 29.2 26.1 161 128 Apr. 10 4,757 3,735 Apr. 10

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 8 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Wheat growth varied in Texas. On the High Plains, irrigated wheat made excellent progress while the
dryland crop was beginning to show the effecte of surface moisture shortages. Grazing was fair to good
as livestock move off wheat and into feedlote.

In Colorado, the crop was beginning to green by the firat of March, Wheat was in good to very good
condition throughout the eastern Plains. Topsoil moisture was becoming short but subsoil moisture was
adequate. Generally the plants have a good root system which will enable them to utilize the available
moisture. While high winds affected many areas of the State during the month, they did little damage to
fall-seeded grains. Snow cover in Nebraska was confined to the northern areas, leaving fall-sown crops
exposed elsewhere, Winds caused minor erosion in western localities. Some wheat fields were starting
to green up. Many winter wheat fields in South Dakota were bare and dry.

Montana's winter wheat was protected by snow cover during much of February. Winter wheat appears
to have wintered well in Washington, Some fields in the southeastern section of the State suffered
freeze damage and erosion was reported severe. In Oregon rains were general throughout the month. Fall
seeded crops look good with little winter kill reported.

In Missouri, fall seeded crops were in good to excellent condition but soil moisture supplies were
below normal, Snowfall occurred frequently in the northern portion of Illinois with the ground having
some snow cover during most of the month. In southern sections, snow cover was light to absent. Soil
moisture was reported mostly adequate throughout the State and winter damage should be light. In
Indiana, snow cover was generally confined to northernmost counties although other areas had short periods
of light cover. Only in southern counties has vegetation begun to green up. Snow cover for fall-seeded
crops in Ohio was adequate during early February, and no severe temperatures occurred late in the month
when the snow had melted away. Elsewhere east of the Mississippi River, prospects brightened late in the
month as soi) moisture was plentiful.

Fieldwork Limited During February

In the North Atlantic States, field activities were curtailed by cold and stormy weather during
February. The major activity was tapping maple trees in southern areas of New England near the end of
the month.

Farmvork was limited largely to winter chores in the North Central States. Maple trees were being
tapped in Ohio and sap flow was reported good.

Wet soils curtailed field activity in the South Atlantic and eastern South Central States during
most of the month. Farmers in Delaware, Maryland, and the Virginias are behind schedule in such winter
jobs ae spreading lime, topdressing grain fields, and seeding tobacco beds. Peach tree pruning was
active in South Carolina when weather permitted. Pruning was essentially complete at the end of the
month.

Spring grain seeding was getting off to a good start in the central and southern Great Plains.
Planting of small grains in Oklahoma was nearing completion. Seeding oats in Kansas was about 6 percent
completed, about usual for this date. In Texas, sorghum and corn have been planted as far north as the
Blacklands, Planting of cotton and sorghum was delayed in the Coastal Bend, South Texas, and the Upper
Gulf Coast by moderate to heavy rains late in the month. Cotton planting has progressed in the lower
Rio Grande Valley with about two-fifths of the crop planted.

Virtually no progress was made in seedbed preparation for early spring cropsin the central and
northern Rocky Mountain States. Fieldwork in irrigated arees of Colorado was underway by March 1.
Seeding of the emall grain crop will start as soon as soil temperatures warm to acceptable levels. Land
preparation and pre-planting activities were in full swing in Arizona and New Mexico during the month,
Plantings of safflower and small grains were generally completed by mid-month in central and southwest
areas of Arizona, Spring field preparation was started on the lighter, well-drained soils in Washington
and Oregon. Pruning and training of caneberries was active after mid-month. Planting sugarbeeta,
alfalfa and safflower was active in southern counties of California.

a ee ee ee 2

ORANGES: As of March 1, the Nation's 1971-72 orange crop was forecast at 189.7 million boxes, 0.3

million lese than a month earlier, slightly less than last season but 2 percent above 1969-70
crop, Over the past seven seasons, the March 1 orange forecasts have differed from actual production an
average of 6.2 million boxes, ranging from 1,1 to 10.6 million boxes.

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 4 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Arizona's grapefruit prospects remain at 2,4 million boxes, 120,000 boxes less than last
season and nearly one-fourth less than harvested in 1969-70. Trees are in good condition and
putting on an abundance of new growth. About one~fifth of the fruit had been harvested by March 1
but peak movement is not expected until near April 1.

California's grapefruit crop is placed at 5.2 million boxes, unchanged from February 1 and
1 percent more than last season. In the Desert Valleys movement was very active during the first
2 weeks of February, particularly to processing outlets. Harvest tapered off during the last half
of the month. The very active period occurred as growers were trying to remove frost damaged
fruit from the trees before injury became apparent. About 28 percent of the Desert Valleys crop
had been harvested by March 1. Fruit growth of grapefruit in other areas has been hindered by
lack of rain, However, prospects continue good for a nearly normal crop and harvest should get
underway this month.

LEMONS: Lemon production in California and Arizona is expected to total 17.3 million boxes, down

0,2 million boxes from February 1 but 5 percent more than last season and 14 percent
above the 1969-70 crop. Prospects are down 0.5 million boxes from lest month in California but
increased 0.3 million boxes in Arizona. Harvest in Arizona is virtually complete but less than
half the crop has been harvested in California. Fruit development in California is below normal
due to lack of rainfall and small sized fruit is predominant in many groves.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo crop is now forecast at 3.8 million boxes, up 0.1 million boxes from
last month and 1.2 million more than was picked last season, Harvest is nearing
completion,

TANGERINES: The U. S. tangerine crop is placed at 4.2 million boxes, down 0.2 million from last

month and 14 percent less than last season. All of the reduction from last month
occurred in Florida where harvest is nearly complete. In Arizona, harvest is finished. Harvest
in California is making good progress with some fruit remaining in both the Desert Valleys and
the Central district.

TEMPLES: In Florida, a crop of 5.5 million boxes is expected, down 0.5 million from February 1
but 0.5 million boxes more than lest season. Due to a large amount of late bloom fruit

harvest has been slow and less than half the crop had been picked by March 1. With the completion

of harvest of early and midseason oranges more labor will be available and picking should increase.

POTATOES: Winter crop production is estimated at 2,476,000 cwt., 2 percent less than the

February 1 forecast and 20 percent less than the 1971 production of 3,088,000 cwt.
Florida prospects were lowered to 1,450,000 cwt., which compares with 1,500,000 cwt. a month ago
and the 1971 crop of 1,526,000 cwt. California's production is estimated at 1,026,000 cwt., un-
changed from a month ago but a third leas than the 1971 crop of 1,562,000 cwt.

Early March harvesting of the Florida crop was curtailed by wet fields but digging is expect-
ed to increase by March 10. Volume supplies of reds and moderate supplies of whites are expected
during most of March and April. In the Ft, Myers-Immokalee area, reds are in decreasing supply but
harvesting of white types is increasing. The Martin County harvest of the winter crop is complet-
ed. The California harvest moved slong rapidly during February under favorable weather conditions
and good volume supplies are expected through early April.

The early spring crop is estimated at 26,100 acres for harvest this year, compared with
29,200 acres in 1971 and 29,600 acres harvested in 1970. In the Hastings Florida area, the
21,000 acres for 1972 compares with 23,000 last year and 24,500 acres harvested in 1970, Compar-
able “other” Florida acreages are 2,200 acres for harvest in 1972, 2,400 in 1971, and 1,900 in 1970.
Plantings were delayed in the Hastings area by recurring rains but were generally completed by
March 1. There was some replanting of poor stands and some frost burning, which may delay the
start of harvest, The Texas plantings were completed in January and crop development has been
good. Harvest ia expected to get underway in early April.

CROP REPORTING BOARD

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 6 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


crop production

(— Release:

March 10, 1972
3:00 P.M. EST

HIGHLIGHTS OF U. S. CROP REPORT AS OF MARCH 1, 1972

Citrus production, down 0.3 percent from a month earlier, is expected to be
0.3 percent more than last season. Prospects are down from last month
for oranges, lemons, tangerines, and temples, Prospects increased during
February for grapefruit and tangelos.

Orange production is forecast at 189.7 million boxes, down 0.3 million boxes
(0.2 percent) from February 1 and 0.5 percent (1.0 million boxes) below
last season. Prospects declined in California, were unchanged in Texas
and Florida, and increased in Arizona,

Grapefruit production is placed at 61.8 million boxes, up 0,2 million boxes
(0.3 percent) from last month and 1,1 million boxes (1.8 percent) above
the 1970-71 crop. Prospects increased in Texas but were unchanged in
the other States,

Lemon production, at 17,3 million boxes, is 0.2 million boxes (1 percent)
below a month earlier but 0.9 million boxes (5 percent) more than last
season. Poorer prospects in California more than offset an increase in
Arizona,

Winter potato production is forecast at 2.5 million ewt., 2 percent less than
a month ago and 20 percent under 1971 production of 3.1 million cwt.

Early spring potato acreage for 1972 is estimated at 26,100 acres for harvest,
11 percent less than 29,200 acres harvested in 1971,

Winter wheat in the Great Plains received little precipitation during the
month but subsoil moisture was generally adequate.

po
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE CROP REPORTING BOARD
LL Cr Pr 2-2 (3~72) WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250 SD



CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

: : 3 Indicated ; 3 : Indicat
Crop and State 1 169-70; ITO-TL_ 2“ ag7i~7o _; 19-70 2 1970-71: wee
? 1,000 boxes 2/ Equivalent tons
ORANGES: :
EARLY, MIDSEASON & 3
NAVEL VARIETIES: 3/ :
calif. : 21,200 17,900 22,000 795,000 671,000 825,000
Fla. : 72,900 82,100 69,000 3,281,000 3,695,000 3,105,000
Texas 2 2,800 4,000 3,800 126,000 180,000 172,000
Ariz. : 990 760 800 37,100 28,500 30,000
Total Above Varieties =: 97,890 104,760 95,600__ 4,239,100 _ 4,574,500 _ 4,132,000
VALENCIAS: 3
Calif. 3 17,800 20,700 21,000 668,000 776,000 788,000
Fle. : 64,800 60,200 67,000 2,916,000 2,709,000 3,015,000
Texms : 1,400 2,200 2,200 63,000 99,000 99,000
Ariz. : 3,640 2,800 3,900 137,000 105,000 146,000
Total Valencias A 87,640 85,900 94,100 3,784,000 _ 3,689,000 __ 4,048,000
ALL ORANGES: :
Calif. : 39,000 38 , 600 43,000 1,463,000 1,447,000 1,613,000
Fla. : 137,700 142,300 136,000 6,197,000 6,404,000 6,120,000
Texas : 4,200 6,200 6,000 189,000 279,000 270,000
Ariz. : 4,630 3,560 4,700 174,100 133,500 176,000
U. Se, All Oranges s___185 530 190,660 __189,700 _ 8,023,100 _ 8,263,500 __ 8,179,000
GRAPEFRUIT: :
Fla., All : 37,400 42,900 44,000 1,590,000 1,824,000 1,870,000
Seedless 2 27,900 32,100 34,000 1,186,000 1,322,000 1,445,000
Pink : 10,200 10,900 12,000 434,000 463,000 510,000
White : 17,700 20,200 22,000 752,000 859,000 935,000
Other : 9,500 11,800 10,000 404,000 502,000 425,000
Texas : 8,100 10,100 10,200 324,000 404,000 408,000
Ariz. : 3,160 2,520 2,400 101,000 80,600 76,800
Calif., ALL : 5,250 5,160 5,200 171,500 168,700 169,000
Desert Valleys : 2,950 33260 3,200 94,400 105,000 102,000
Other Areas : 2,300 1,900 2,000 77,100 63,700 67 000
U. 8., ALL Grapefruit ¢ 53,910 69,680 61,800 2,186,500 __ 2,477,300 _ 2,523,800
Lenons: 4/ :
Calif. (Nov. 1-Oct. 32) : 12,700 13,500 483,000 513,000
calif. (aug. 1-duly 31) : 12,300 13,300 14,000 468,000 506,000 532,000
Ariz. : 2,820 3,150 3,300 107,000 120,000 125,000
Us S. Lemons A 15,120 16,450 17,300 575,000 626,000 ___ 657,000
TANGELOS: :
Fla. t 2.500 2.700 3,800 213,000 122,000 ___171.,000
TANGERINES: :
Fla. : 3,000 3,700 3,300 143,000 176,000 157,000
Ariz. : 350 390 300 13,100 14,600 11,300
Calif. t 760 800 600 28,500 30,000 22,500
Total Tangerines A 4,110 4,890 4,200 184,600 220,600 190,800
TRPLES: :
Fla. : 5,200 5,000 5,500 234,000 225,000 248,000

T/ The crop year begins 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 Californie areas, 67 lbs.; Florida, 85
Ibs. and Texas, 80 lbs.3 Lemons - 76 lbs.; Tangelos ~ 90 lbs.; Tangerines ~ California and
Arizona, 75 Ibs.; 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 smal)
quantities of tangerines in Texas. 4/ Beginning with the 1971-72 crop, the crop year for
California lemons was changed from (November 1-October 31) to (August 1-July 31) of each year.
Data, for prior years are presented on both the new and old basis.

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 7 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY AS OF MARCH 1, 1972

CITRUS FRUITS PRODUCTION 1/

: : 3 Tndicated I971-72
Crop : 1969-70 : 1970-71 February 1 = March 1
: : 1,000 boxes -
Oranges : 185,530 190,660 190,000 189,700
Grapefruit > §3,910 60,680 61,600 61,800
Lemons : 1,120 16,450 17,500 17,300

I7 Season begins with bloom of the first year shown and ends with the
completion of harvest the following year,

IRISH POTATOES

3 Acreage 3¥ield per, harv acre: Production
Seasonal : Harvested : For ¢ : : Ind- : ‘Indicated 1972
group: + tharv. 21970 :1971 ieated 21970 11971 ip 1
1970 1971 2.1972 : 7 +1972: eb.
3 1,000 acres Cwt. “T; 00 cwt,
Winter 7 18,8 18.0 15,7 191 172 158 3,582 3,088 2,526 2,476
E, Spring 329.6 29.2 26.1 161 128 Apr. 10 4,757 3,735 Apr. 10

APPROVED:

CROP REPORTING BOARD:
. M. Graham, Chairman,

B
9 FOE vf M. L. Koehn, Secretary,
A B. W. Kelly, Cc, E. Burkhead,
TA 5 Cat ThE _ TE Mullin, | R. R. Hancock,
H, F

. Prindle, J. R. Standley,

ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE J. F. Riggs.

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 2 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


GENERAL CROP SUMMARY AS OF MARCH 1, 1972

A mild February brought very little precipitation to the western two-thirds of the Nation,
Topsoil moisture is becoming short from southern California to the southern Great Plsins, al~
though subsoil moisture is generally adequate. Spring planting is off to a fast start in this
region as fields are in workable shape. Wet soils are slowing fieldwork in the South and
Atlantic Coast States,

Warmer late month temperatures and the absence of widespread severe storms (except in the
East) favored Livestock, Calving, lambing, and farrowing increased on many farms with the ap-
proach of spring, Ranchers in the Southwest began feeding heavier rations of hay and grain to
their herds as dry pastures provided scantier grazing.

February Extremely Dry

Extremely light precipitation fell over the Nation in February. For the second straight
month, the Southwest received less than 0.25 inches of moisture. Some localities in the South-
west have received only a few sprinkles of rain since late December, Less than 50 percent of
normal precipitation fell south of a line from northern California to central Illinois during
February. Subsoil moisture is adequate in most areas and partially alleviates the shortage of
surface moisture, However, farmers will be waiting for March rains to replenish topsoil moisture.
Only States along the Atlantic Coast and Canadian border (Idaho to Minnesota) received above-
average precipitation. Frequent rains have slowed potato planting in Alabama. A large storm
brought miserable weather to the eastern third of the Nation shortly after mid-month, Blizzards
raged in many northeastern areas, blocking roads and barnyards, The heavy snow caused extra
work on farms as far south as Virginia, Dairymen were hard hit by electric power shortages,
especially at milking time, Some milk was dumped,

Less snow cover than usual has allowed frost to penetrate to its deepest depth since 1968
in Wisconsin, Central New York snowfall was near record levels,

While the Washington, Oregon, and northern California coast received generous rains during
February, soils are becoming extremely dry in southern California, The entire Pacific Coast
was frequently battered by high winds.

As of February 1 the irrigation water outlook was well above average in most of the 11
Western States, However, a dry spring could create some shortages in Arizona, New Mexico,
and southern California,

February Temperatures Variable

Cold weather gripped most of the Nation in early February but by February 28 and 29 record-
highs were registered in many States, Early March brought arctic air pouring back into the
country. February temperatures averaged cooler than normal north of a diagonal line from upper
Idaho to Florida, and warmer than nomnal in most areas south of that line, The first frost of
the season hit central and south Florida on February 21, causing some losses to vegetable
acreage. Winter wheat started greening on the southern and central Great Plains as growth was
stimulated by the warm temperatures in late February.

Winter Wheat in Plains Needs Moisture

The Plains wheat area received only light precipitation during February but on March 1 sub-
soil moisture supplies were generally adequate, Outside the Plains most major wheat growing
areas had adequate soil moisture. Some greening of winter wheat occurred as far north as south-
eastern Nebraska as a result of unusually warm weather after mid-February.

The Kansas winter wheat crop received no appreciable moisture during February, Some green~
ing and growth took place in fields seeded at about the normal time last fall and with good root
development. Some late planted fields and those that were heavily grazed during the winter
months suffered light to moderate soil blowing on several windy days during the last 2 weeks of
February, Subsoil moisture remained generally adequate, Wheat in Oklahoma was in good condition
throughout the State, The crop was dormant until the latter part of the month when it responded
to warmer temperatures, Growing conditions were good around March 1 but additional surface soil
moisture would be beneficial, Moisture supplies were becoming short in many western localities
but subsoil moisture remained mostly adequate, Farmers were busy topdressing fall seeded grains,

CROP PRODUCTION, March 1972 3 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA