In the Corn Belt, Plowing Was about So percent complete; mostly done during the fatz,
Plowing in Ohio Was 55 percent complete, trailing Jast year’s 69 Percent put equal to the average,
Towa Plowing reached 49 Percent, Farmers Were able to Spread manure and fertilizer but do little
else. Gp the Great Plains, SOilsS were dry in Northern areas but had adequate Moisture in Centra}
and Southern areas. RSas farmers Planted 25 Percent of the oats and barley acreage during
feck, half the average pace and 5 Points behing last year. North Dakota growers began some
Fieldwork,

In the South, Sdils remained too Wet, the result of frequent rains during March, Plowing
advanced Slowly, Tagging both last year ang average, Mississipp; Plowing Was 25 Percent complete
at the end OF March compared with 45 percent last year and the 44 Bercent average, Tennessee

a |
Corn Planting Tagged wel} behing recent years. Georgia corn Planting reached 19 Percent, trailing
79's 6] rn and ty ina corn planting Was only 4 Percent
complete at the end of March, compared With ast year's 29 Percent and the 31 Percent average,
Early March Freezes damaged Some corn stands ang made some replanting necessary but wet, cold
SOTTS were Mostly responsible for holding Southern corn Planting in check. Catton Planting ad~
d i x

iy .
Which Spring fieldwork ran on Schedule, op better, except for rice Seeding along the Gulf Coast,
late March rains delayed rice Seeding in both Texas and Louisiana, Texas grain Sorghum Seeding
reached 54 Percent, Surpassing last year's 33 Percent ang the 40 Percent average,

Winter wheat generally rated fair te good and showed improvement where above-normay tempera
tures Prevai leg by the beginning Of Apri, Freeze burn was evident in the Southeast but Produced
RO serious effects, Winterkiq7 in the Northwest became More evident aS Stands greened and losses
appeared to be more than originally anticipated. Early Stands began heading on the extreme
SOutherp Plains, Late in March, the centra} Plains received Substantjay amounts oF Precipitation
in the form of both snow and rain, Soi} Moisture was adequate where raing fell and SNOW should
Provide adequata Soi] moisture as it melts, Onty the Rorthern Great Plains area has low Sof]

re,

temperatures limited response ‘aS Crap genera}} ‘ated goog to excellent other than i

© central ang South centray districts wh Cor stands were obtained last falt, exas wheat
Td not fare VW di ng March because OF dry Soils and eavy greenbug infestatio « March winds
damaged some Great Plains wheat Field Recent rains alleviated Ss Y Stands byt
Moisture Would be helpful, ate Mar, and arly Apri Sows fel} throughout the western central
Plains Slows heat growth in Parts of Ok] oma, Colora O, and x, regon and Washington
winter wheat Showed re winterkji] than w, iginalty thought RSiderable reseeding took
Place when Fieldwork a11-seedeg winter eat in e tern Oregon grew slow? because of

Subnormal temperatures. Southwestern Winter Wheat Stands were heading from California to parts
OF Texas. Elsewhere in the South wheat began Jointing

ORANGES; The Nation's Orange Crop is expected to total record high 265 mV ion boxes (10.4 mile
jon metric tons). This is } Percent more than last Month's forecast and 26 Percent
above the 1978-79 crop, Production in Florida is up 3 milTion boxes from the March 1 forecast
and is now Placed at 293 "I Tion boxes, up 24 Percent from last season, The increase over
March } results from a better Pickout in the early and mid-season varieties, This Portion of the
crop is estimated at 118 milion boxes, The Valencia Crop is forecast at 85.9 million boxes, 16
Percent above the 1978.79 Crop, Harvest of early and Mid~season Oranges is Virtually complete
while harvest of Valencias is 7 Percent Complete, Foliage and bloom Showed little damage from
the March 3 freeze.

Crop Prospects in California remain unchanged at 55.9 Million boxes, 4g Percent More than was
harvested last Season. The Navel Crop at 30.0 mW ion boxes js 44 percent above 1978.79, The
Valencia Crop at 25.9 niNion boxes is 52 percent greater than last Season's Output. Eating
Quality of Navels is excellent, Quality Of the Valencia crop is also excellent, with high juice

cRop PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 5 CRop REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


PAPAYAS - HAWAII

ARE: 5 z FRESH UTILIZATION
NONTH TOTAL IN_CROP 3 HARVESTED at togo FORECAST
1979; 1980; 19791980 : : 1980
: , ACRES 1,000 POUNDS
FEB : 3,170 2,840 2,335 1,925 2,372 2,170
MAR 3,255 2,915 2,360 1,930 2,239 2,050
APR 3,215 2,340 2,415 2,800
MAY 3,245 2,305 2,698 3,150
UN 3,285 2,370 3,452 3,000
JUL 3,305 : 2,390 2,895 3,200
CUMULATIVE FRESH PRODUCTION JAN-MAR 8,102 6,915
PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITION 1/
stare: ANERASE = 10791980 : AERAGE 1979 1980
: - PERCENT : . PERCENT.
ALA : 73 61 70 : 81 92 94
ARIZ : 77 91 80 : 80 86 83
ARK 79 75 79 > 70 2 7
CALIF : 76 1 95 : 3 80 82
coLo : 72 76 86 ry) 81 63
DEL : 8] 76 88 : BO 78 85
FLA : 73 79 76 5 66 72
GA : 79 75 74 a4 91 92
TOAHO : oy 90 92 78 75 81
TLL : 78 75 2) 2 5
IND : 84 7 7 : 8 74 7
TOWA Bf 85 86 : 66 66 55
KANS : 79 79 85 > WB a2 39
‘KY : 82 81 80 > Bd 84 85
tA 75 67 7 > 83 85 87
0) : 78 76 73 : 75 78 76
MISS H 73 65 75 : 2/ 87 82
MO > 7B 74 80 :
MONT ar 87 : 76 75 76
NEBR : ‘A 81 86 :
: 7 7

GOOD TO EXCELLENT ‘80 AND OVER; POOR TO FAIR, 65-70; VERY POOR, 50-64; 495, EX-
ENE DROUGHT, UNDER 35° * SEVERE DROUGHT, 35-49; EX:
2/ DATA NOT AVAILABLE.

y STATES FOR WHICH COMPARABLE DATA ARE AVAILABLE,

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 10 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


LEMONS: The U.S. lemon crop is expected to total 21.6 million boxes (743 thousand metric tons),

virtually the same as last month's forecast, but 11 percent above last season's output.
Production in California at 18.5 million boxes is 33 percent above the 1978-79 season. Central
Valley lemons, which are very good quality, are about 80 percent harvested. In the Southern Cali~
fornia area, picking is moving at a rapid pace and quality is good. The Desert crop is harvested.
Harvest of Arizona's 3.05 million box production is complete, This is 45 percent less than last
season.

TANGELOS: The Florida tangelo crop is placed at 6.40 million boxes (261 thousand metric tons),
52 percent above last season. Harvest is complete.

TANGERINES: U.S. production of tangerines, at 6.25 million boxes (248 thousand metric tons), is
2 percent above last month's forecast and 16 percent above last year's production,
Harvest is complete.

TEMPLES: Florida's temple crop is estimated at 6.00 million boxes (245 thousand metric tons), 11
percent more than forecast on March 1 and 28 percent more than was harvested last
season. Harvest is 97 percent complete.

PAPAYAS: Hawaii fresh papaya production for March is estimated at 2.05 million pounds (930 metric
tons), a decrease of 6 percent from February. March production was lower than previous-

ly anticipated as heavy rainfall impeded harvest operations in the major growing areas. The out-

look for the coming months shows production rapidly recovering with 2.80 miltion pounds (1270

metric tons) forecast for April, followed by May production 13 percent larger than April. A 5 per-

cent downturn is expected for June, but production is forecast to reach 3.20 million pounds

(1450 metric tons) in July.

Area in crop totaled 2915 acres (1180 hectares) in March, of which 66 percent was harvested.
Compared with a year ago, total area was down 10 percent and harvested area was down 18 percent.

Cumulative fresh production totals for the first quarter of this year are 15 percent below
the same period last year. The low quarterly production level was primarily the result of adverse
weather conditions during those months.

POTATOES: The first forecast of the Nation's 1980 spring potato crop places production at a
record low 16.8 million cwt (763 thousand metric tons). This is off 21 percent

from last season and 6 percent below the 1978 crop, the previous record low. Growers slashed

Plantings this year to an estimated 75.7 thousand acres (30.6 thousand hectares), of which 72.7

thousand acres (29.4 thousand hectares) are expected to be harvested, 13 percent below last year's

harvested acreage and a record low. Yield prospects, at an average of 231 cwt per acre, compare

with 255 cwt per acre produced last year.

The California crop is forecast at 8.66 million cwt, down 22 percent from last season. Some
planting continued into March as a result of earlier wet weather delays. In Florida's Hastings
area, production is forecast at 26 percent below last year's crop. Plants have made a good re-
covery from early March freezes, although abandonment will be above normal and yields are pro-
jected well below 1979's record high. Harvest is expected to begin in early May. In other areas
of Florida, potatoes are in good condition except for those damaged by freezes. Digging is al-
ready underway in west central areas, while in the Panhandle fields are just emerging.

North Carolina planting schedules were set back 2-4 weeks by prolonged rains. Few fields
have emerged and some early plantings may suffer from seed rot because of the excessive soil
moisture. In Texas, some potatoes in the Lower Rio Grande Valley were nipped by freezes, but
most are in good condition with the first diggings expected in late April. Harvest should begin
in the Winter Garden area in early May and in the Knox-Haskell area in June. Heavy rains in
Alabama during the last half of March may lead to disease problems, but plants are currently in
excellent condition.

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED: Pasture and range feed condition in the 37 States reporting on April 1
averaged 77 percent, equal to a year earlier. Conditions improved from
last year in 22 States, decreased in 14 States and was unchanged in 1 State. Conditions in
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were considerably below last April's unusually
good conditions. Grazing conditions in these States deteriorated last fall because of dry _
weather but a mild winter and wet snows this spring have improved prospects. Some areas still
need more moisture. In Texas, dry conditions have affected most of the State and condition, at
55 percent, is 11 points below 1979. In nearly all other areas of the Nation, precipitation
has replenished soil moisture supplies. Cool weather in some areas has delayed grass develop-
ment.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 7 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


The Texas crop is now expected to total 4.00 million boxes, up 100 thousand boxes from the
March 1 forecast but 37 percent less than the 1978-79 crop. Harvest ts nearly 95 percent com-
plete. Bloom has been favorable on most trees.

Prospects in Arizona are unchanged from March 1 at 3.45 million boxes, 19 percent above last
season. Navel harvest is complete while the Valencia crop is 15 percent harvested. Changes in
the U.S. production between the April 1 forecast and final production have averaged 4.29 million
boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 160 thousand boxes jn 1972-73 to 12.6 million boxes
in -77.

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD: The all orange juice yield for the 1979-80 crop is pro-
jected at 1.31 gallons of 45 degree brix concentrate
per box, down .02 gallon from the March 1 projection. The yield from the 1978-79 crop was 1.34
gallons per box.

CITRUS HARVEST AND UTILIZATION: By April 1, there were 149 million boxes of oranges harvested or

56 percent of the crop, the same as on April 1, 1979. Processors
had used 82 percent of the oranges harvested by April 1 this year, the same percentage used to
April 1 last year.

Grapefruit harvest was 73 percent complete by April 1 compared with 78 percent on the same
date last year. Of the crop harvested by April 1, processors had used 62 percent compared with
61 percent by April 1, 1979.

Lemon harvest as of April 1 was 53 percent complete compared with 81 percent for the same

period last season. Processors have utilized 46 percent of the crop compared with 42 percent
through April 1 last year.

CITRUS CROP - HARVEST AND UTILIZATION TO APRIL 1

1978-79 : 1979-80
UTILIZATION TREMAINING:_ UTILIZATION : REMAINING
CROP 5 : : FOR: 7 seo? TOTAL: FOR
FRESH ; PROCESSED . TOTAL : HARVEST : FRESH : PROCESSED « TOTAL ! HARVEST
THOUSAND BOXES
ORANGES 21,432 97,191 118,623 91,877 26,214 122,825 149,039 116,411
GRAPEFRUIT 20,527 31,742 52,269 14,751 19,284 31,055, 50,339 18,861
LEMONS 9,116 6,638 15,754 3,646 6,232 5,227 11,459 10,091

GRAPEFRUIT: The U.S. grapefruit crop is estimated at 69.2 million boxes (2.56 million metric
tons), one percent more than the last forecast and 3 percent above last season's
harvest.

In Florida, prospects are unchanged at 51.0 million boxes, 2 percent more than the 1978-79
crop. Harvest is 80 percent complete. The March 3rd freeze caused insignificant damage to the
remaining grapefruit on trees and there was little foliage or bloom damage. The Texas crop fore-
cast was increased 5 percent to 7.90 million boxes, but is 12 percent below last season. Harvest
has passed the 95 percent mark, The California crop at 7.40 million boxes is unchanged from the
March 1 forecast, but is 28 percent above last season's crop. A fourth of the Desert Valley crop
has been harvested and quantity and color are good. Harvest is expected to begin in other areas
in early May. The Arizona crop at 2.90 million boxes is unchanged from last month's forecast,

29 percent above the 1978-79 crop.

Changes in the U.S. grapefruit production estimate between the April 1 forecast and final

production have averaged 1.69 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 40.0 thousand
boxes in 1972-73 to 4.60 million boxes in 1976-77.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


+ INOICATED
1978 979: 1980
2,000 ACRES
1L.0 8.0 6.0 35
6.0 6.2 aa 6.0
239.0 30.0 225 2.0
20.8 20.0 20.0 20.6
2.0 1.0 1.0 1.8
2.6 2.4 21 23
L3 1.2
33.1 13.8 33.2 13.0
1.6 75 6.5 7.5
93.8 88.9 75.7 90.9
10.0 8.0
7 19
ma 6.8
5.0 53
2.0 1e
Lg 2.0
Towa ‘ Ls LS
i) : 15 15
MICH : a9 a3
MINN : 6.4 7.0
NEBR : 1.7 Le
NO : 8.8 8.2
N MEX 3 4s 3.8
NC : al 4.0
oHIO t 5 1.6
TENN : 43 re
TEX : wi 1-0
vA : 25.5 27.0
TOTAL : 113.5 ug
: YIELD 3
: SINDICATED +
1978: 1979: 1980:
cur
100 140 150 950 1,022 900
265 210 250 1,590 1,302 1,100
205 395 385 8,265 12,060 8,663
370 230 175 3,502 4,255 3,150
125 180 170 225 162 us
5 70 75 1B 147 13
30 108
150 165 136 1,950 2,261 1,690
160 160 170 1,200 1,136 1,054
TOTAL : (198 255 Bl 17,963 21,305 16,819
SUMER 2/ :
ALA 150 170 3,200 1,530
CALIF 360 350 2,844 2,695
coo 255 275 1,734 1,898
OeL 210 220 1,3 1,056
TL 200 235 447
IND #170 160 320 288
TOMA + 200 20 Zl
0 : 150 165 225 208
MICH 5 160 1,453 1,548
MINN 2 280 285 1,960 1,796
NEBR 2 le 180 270
No : 255 250 2,091 2,125
N MEX + 205 275 1,210
No 325 320 500 468
oHIO 190 210 308 294
TENN 90 30 396 387
TEX : 210 240 2,310 2,616
va : ho 130 2,970 3,185
TOTAL 2 19 205 21,167 22,292
1/ ESTIMATES OISCONTINED AFTER 1978 CROP, 2/ 1979 REVISED. 3/ ESTIMATES

DISCONTINUED AFTER 1978 CROP.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1960 9

CROP REPORTING SOARD, ESCS, USDA


CROP PRODUCTION (Qi

Released:

April 10, 1980 Economics, Statistics, &
3:00 PLM. ET Cooperatives Service

US. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

SPRING POTATO production is forecast at a record Jow 16.8 million cwt

3 thousand metric tons), down 21 percent from last season and
6 percent smaller than the 1978 crop.

CITRUS production is expected to total 16.0 million tons (14.5 million
Metric tons), 1 percent above last month, and 20 percent more than
the 1978-79 crop.

ORANGE production is forecast at a record high 265 million boxes (10.4
i Tion metric tons), 1 percent above March 1 and 26 percent more
than last season. Harvest of the orange crop was 56 percent com-
plete on April 1.

GRAPEFRUIT production forecast at 69.2 million boxes (2.56 million metric
tons), is 1 percent above the March 1 forecast and 3 percent greater
than the 1978-79 crop. About 73 percent of the crop had been har-
vested by April 1.

LEMON production is expected to total 21.6 milion boxes (743 thousand
“~~~metric tons), virtually the same as last month's forecast but 11
percent above the 1978-79 crop.

CrPr 2-2 (4-80) For Information Call: (202) 447-2127




PEANUT PRODUCTION VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED: Production of peanuts during 1979, estimated at 3.98 bil-
lion pounds (1.81 million metric tons) net weight,
declined fractionally from the 1978 record production of 3.99 billion pounds (1.81 mil}ion metric
tons). Peanut farmers planted 1.55 million acres (627 thousand hectares) for all purposes during
1979. Acreage harvested totaled 1.52 million acres (617 thousand hectares). The harvested yield
per acre at 2612 pounds dropped 28 pounds below the 1978 record high yield.

1979 AREA REVIEW:
Southeast: The 1979 peanut crop totaled 2.52 billion pounds, virtually unchanged from a year ear-

lier. The average yield per acre at 3085 pounds decreased 14 pounds from 1978. Area
harvested for nuts at 818 thousand acres increased 1100 acres from the previous year.

Virginia-North Carolina: The 1979 production of 633 milion pounds declined 20 percent from the
1978 production. The average yield per acre at 2364 pounds dropped
566 pounds below the 1978 yield. Area harvested at 268 thousand acres was 1000 acres below 1978.

southwest: The 1979 peanut crop totaled 822 million pounds, 23 percent above the. 1978 production.
The average yield per acre at 1877 pounds increased 308 pounds from the previous year.

AREA PLANTED

ALA 2,630 2,795 589,100 562,820 595,335
FLA 3,380 3,270 170,500 182,520 179,850
cA 3,300 3,235 1,499,100 1,735,800 1,704,845
MISS 2,000 1,850 11,550 16,000 15,355
NN MEX 2,560 2,750 25,380 24,064 25,300
nc 2,825 2,280 444,050 468,950 378, 480
OKLA 21,800 2,200 267,600 207,000 264,000
$c 2,350 2,950 31,200 29,250
TEX 1,450 1,725 394,500 $33,025
va 3,100 2)500 293,035 255,000
us 2,639 2,612 3,726,015 3,988,624 3,980,440

ALA : 1 30 a

8
FLA 1 45 53 1
GA 1 43 55 1
N MEX 100
NC 66 30 3 1
OWA 7 35 a 7
TEX i 12 30 2 2 iw
vA 66 29 3 2
US 1 26 50 14 6 3



CITRUS FRUIT v

PRODUCTION z PRODUCTION
crop BOXES 3 TON EQUIVALENT
AND UTILTZED FINDICATED? UTILIZED NOICATED
STATE 1977-78 = 1978-79 % 1979980 2 1977-78 3 1978-79 + 1979-80
1/00) UNITS 27 1,000 UNITS
ORANGES, EARLY MID & NAVEL 3/
ARIZ ars azo 700 850 31 26 32
CALIF 20,000 20,800 30,000 750 740 1,125
FLA 88,300 91,000 118,000 3,974 4,095 5,310
TEX 3,850 4,300 2,300 164 163 98
us 2 1126970 116,800 = 151,150 4,919 5,084 6,565
ORANGES, VALENCIA :
ARIZ 2,800 2,200 2,600 10S 83 98
CALIF 22,600 16,900 25,000 848 615 938
FLA 794500 73,000 85,000 3,578 3,285 3,825
TEX 2,250 2,100 1,700 % a9 72
us 107,150 93,700 114,300 4,627 4,072 4,933
ALL ORANGES
ARIZ 34620 2,900 3,450 136 109 130
CALIF 42,600 37,200 55,000 1,598 1,395 2,063
FLA 167,800 164,000 203,000 7,552 7,380 9,135
TEX 67100 67400 4,000 260 ate 170
us 220,120 210,500 265,450 9,546 9,156 11,498
TEMPLES
FLA 4,900 4,700 000 a1 aie 270
GRAPEFRUIT, WHITE SEEDLESS
FLA 28,700 29,400 29,000 1,220 1,250 1,233
GRAPEFRUIT, PINK SEEOLESS
FLA 14,300 134300 14,000 608 565 sos
OTHER GRAPEFRUIT
FLA 8,400 74300 8,000 357 310 3a0
ALL GRAPEFRUIT
ARIZ 3,000 2,250 2,900 % 72 93
CALIF
DESERT 44200 3,270 34900 134 105 125
OTHER AREAS 44160 2,500 3,500 139 8a M17
TOTAL 8,360 5,770 7400 273 189 aae
FLA 31,400 50,000 51,000 2,185 2.125 2,168
TEX 11-900 9,000 77900 476 360 316
us 747660 67,020 69,200 3,030 2,746 2,819
TANGERINES
ARIZ 600 450 750 23 17 28
CALIF 1,400 14950 1/600 s3 s4 60
FLA 3,200 3,500 3,900 152 166 185
us 5,200 5,400 64250 228 237 273
Lemons
ARIZ 51800 5,500 3,050 220 209 116
CALIF 20,300 13,900 18,500 77h 528 703
us 26,100 19,400 21,550 993 737 819
TANGELOS
FLA 4,900 4,200 67400 ar 189 288

1/ THE CROP YEAR BEGINS KITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR
SHOWN AND ENDS WITH YEAR HARVEST IS COMPLETED.

2/ NET LBS PER BOX? ORANGES@CALIF & ARTZ*75,FLA=90¢
TEX=853 GRAPEFRUITSCALIF DESERT & ARIZ*64, CALIF
OTHER=67, FLA=BS, TEX*80} LEMONS@767 TANGELOS &
TEMPLES*907 TANGERINES= CALIF & ARIZ“75, FLA=95.

3/ NAVEL AND MISCELLANEOUS VARTETIES IN CALIFORNIA AND
ARIZONA, EARLY AND MIOSEASON VARIETIES IN FLORIOA AND
TEXAS, INCLUDING SMALL GWUANTITIES OF TANGERINES IN
TEXAS.

G/ ESTIMATES FOR CURRENT YEAR CARRIED FORWARD FROM EARLIER FORECAST,

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 8 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


MARCH WEATHER SUMMARY

The dominant feature of March weather centered on the southeastern United States. As March
began, very cold air moved into the Southeast and by the third day of the month had enveloped all
of Florida. Freezing temperatures reached all the way to Miami. Immediately after the freeze,
rain set in and accumulated excessive amounts for each week of the month. Much of the Southeast
had well over double the normal rainfall. The northern Plains, northern Mississippi Valley and
the western Great Lakes areas experienced a dry March. The area from southeastern Oklahoma to
southern New Mexico and southward inta Mexico was also very dry.

The month of March began cold and snowy for much of eastern United States. On the first day,
snow eased in the midwest but spread a mantle of white from the southern Appalachians to the
Atlantic Coast. Very cold air moved in with the storm. A record snowfall left one to two feet
in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The morning temperature at Raleigh, N.C.
was 11° and the cold air was pushing southward, On the third, freezing temperatures reached al
the way to Miami, Fla., and much of the Southeast was in the low teens.

Gradual warming took place during the succeeding week and by Friday, March 7, springlike
weather prevailed in the East. Showers and thunderstorms deluged the Southeast. Elsewhere
moderate rain fell in most of California and spread eastward to the Rockies in lesser amounts.

Early in the period of March 10-16 another cold airmass moved rapidly southward through the
Plains and eastward. New England recorded light to moderate snow in the mountains and rain on
the coast as the front moved through. The cold air stalled in the South and caused another week
of very heavy rain--keeping southern farmers out of their fields. Another storm system moved
into the Pacific Northwest and on to the Rockies. Rain, with snow at higher elevations, covered
the entire West. Average temperatures for the week of March 10-16 were normal or warmer in all
but the northern Mississippi Valley through New England.

The third week of the month, March 17-23, showed some precipitation falling in nearly all
of the Nation. Exceptions were parts of the north central Plains and in southwest Texas. Again
the area of greatest rainfall was from the lower Mississippi Valley through the Southeast and
into New England. As much as eight inches of rain accumulated in parts of northern Georgia and
Alabama, Flooding ensued along the already swollen rivers. No severely cold temperatures were
reported during the week except near the western Great Lakes but the freeze line did reach into
southwestern Texas.

March went out Tike a lion in parts of the Nation. Excessive rain, thunderstorms and even
tornadoes were reported from east Texas to the Florida Panhandle and North Carolina. It was the
fourth week of excessive rain in the Southeast. A series of storms originating in the central
Rockies caused near blizzard conditions in the west central Plains. Parts of western Kansas
and Nebraska accumulated over 15 inches of snow. Temperatures hovering near freezing and periodic
high winds compounded the problems. Again, nearly all of the Nation recorded some precipitation.
Average temperatures for the week were cooler than normal except in the northern Plains, New
England, and parts of the Southeast

MARCH FIELDWORK

Wet fields, particularly in the south central States, and Tow soil temperatures throughout
most of the Nation held land preparation and planting in check during March. Heavy rains
saturated soils from the Mississippi Delta across the South to the Atlantic Coast. Late in
March, storms brought snow to the western central Plains and rain eastward through the Plains
and into the Corn Belt. This precipitation proved beneficial for winter grains in some areas,
but prevented an early start for spring plowing. At the end of March, soil temperatures ranged
from 3 to 5 degrees below normal in the eastern half of the Nation and as much as 9 degrees
subnormal in the Southwest. Texas planting and land preparations were on schedule or ran a little
ahead of average but elsewhere fieldwork lagged. Plowing for spring planted crops in northern
areas was not a great concern yet because significant acreage was plowed last fall.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 4 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA



PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS*

APRIL 1,1980

1 Good to excetient
[5 Poor to fair

Very poor

Severe drought
§EB Extreme drought
WB Not estimated

AS REPORTED BY
CROP CORRESPONDENTS

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

USDA NEG. ESCS 225-8014)

PASTURE AND RANGE FEED CONDITIONS*
P APRIL 1, 1979

© Good to excatient
[2D Poor to towr

1 very poor

ED severe drought
GHD Exrreme drought
BB sox estimated

“*AS REPORTED BY
‘CROP CORRESPONOEDTS

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

USDA NEG. ESCS 58.79(4)

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 3 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(DOMESTIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

INDICATED 1979-80

1978-79
car ae RT z RET
T,000 BOXES
ORANGES 210,500 262,350 265,450
GRAPEFRUIT 67,020 68,800 69,200
LEMONS 19,400 21,500 21,550
IARVES’
The YEA
PoTHTOES BREA FARVESTED.
AREA PLANTED a
Ror 1979 3 INDICATED : 1979 : INDICATED
: TOOT RORES
88.9 75.7 83.8 72.7
SPRING
TE ERE z PRODUCTION
INDICATED: 1979 H TNOTEATED
979 1980 : 9 i 1980
T;050 THT
255 231 21,345 16,819
PASTURE AND RANGE
AVERAGE ¢ 5
ren 1969-78 : 1979 : 1980
~ PERCENT “

CONDITION :
APR VV z 76 75 76

U/W STATES.

UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1

TRDICATED 1979-80

cROP 1978-79 : wR 1 PRT
- FETRIC TONS
ORANGES 8 306 180 10 304 710 10 430 B10
GRAPEFRUIT 2 491 120, 2 542 840 2 957 350,
LEMONS 668 600 741 170 742 980
oH HORN a R
iG YEAR.
POTATOES FR
7 "AREA PLANTED EA HARVESTED
SeasoNAL 1379 5 THDYCATED : 1579 5 TROICATED
: : 1980 : : 1980
> TECTARES
£ 35 980 30 640 33 910 29 420
SPRING : TEM PERHECTRRE z FROOUTTON
t t TNOTCATI 3 : OICATED
i is7s 1960 i 1978 i 1980
? METRIC TONS
H 28.55 25.93 968 190 762 890

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 Reporting
Board which consists of commodity statisticians from the field offices and Washington headquarters.

APPROVED: CROP REPORTING BOARD:

J. L. Olson, Chairman,
P. A. Walsh, Secretary,
D. W. Barrowman, — F. E. Rolf,
R. P. Small, W. R. Blackson,
D. 2. Buckner, H. 3, Delong,
R. 0. Fenley, WW. Witken,
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE S. 0. Wilson.

CROP PRODUCTION, APRIL 1980 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA