Texas orange prospects, at 6.3 million boxes, are unchanged from last month but are 9
percent lower than the 1976-77 season total. The Arizona crop is placed at 4.1 million boxes
unchanged from last month but 4 percent above last season.

Changes in U.S. orange production between the February 1 forecast and final production have
averaged 2 million boxes over the past ten seasons, ranging from 1.5 million boxes in 1971-72
to 18.5 million boxes in the 1970-71 season.

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

projected at 1.25 gallons of 45 deqree brix compared
concentrate per box, compared with the January projection of 1.28 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 forecast at a record 75.7 million boxes (2.8
million metric tons), unchanged from last month but 2 percent above last season.

The Florida grapefruit crop is expected to total 54.0 million boxes, 5 percent above last

season. The Texas crop at 10.7 million boxes is 14 percent less than Tast season. In California

the crop is placed at 7.9 million boxes, 4 percent above the 1976-77 crop. The Arizona crop

of 3.1 million boxes is 3 percent above last season

Grapefruit harvest was 29 percent complete on February | compared with 37 percent on the
same date last year. Picking in Florida was 32 percent complete compared with 45 percent on
February 1 a year ago. Harvest is also lagging in California and Arizona but is ahead of last
year in Texas where 34 percent of the crop has been picked.

Changes in the U.S. production between the February 1 forecast and final production have

averaged 2.2 million boxes over the past ten seasons, ranging from 0.3 million boxes in 1975-76
to 4.6 million in 1976-77

LEMONS: California's 1977-78 lemon crop is expected to total 20.0 million boxes, unchanged from

last month's forecast but 3 percent less than the 1976-77 crop. Prospects for the
Arizona crop at 5.1 million boxes are unchanged from a month earlier but 2 percent above last
season. Picking in both States is lagging behind last season. Arizona with harvest 80 percent
complete is 2 percentage points behind last season. California's harvest at 31 percent comple-
tion has fallen 9 percentage points behind last season.

TANGELOS: Florida's tangelo crop is now forecast at 4.8 million boxes, down 4 percent from last
month but the same as last season. Harvest is 94 percent complete.

TANGERINES: The U.S. tangerine crop is expected to total 5.8 million boxes (226 thousand metric

tons) 2 percent less than last month but slightly more than last season. Florida
growers expect to utilize 3.2 million boxes of this year's crop, 200,000 boxes less than the fore-
cast crop. California prospects improved and the crop is now expected to total 1.9 million boxes,
4 percent above last season. The Arizona crop is forecast at 0.7 million boxes, unchanged from
last month but 8 percent above the 1976-77 season.

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





Kansas winter wheat rated good. Strong winds swept through the State during the first half
of the month but damage was light and limited to the western areas. A thin snow blanket afforded
Kansas wheat only limited protection from subzero temperatures during the latter half of
January; most fields were dormant but some stress was noted on unprotected southwestern fields.
Oklahoma winter wheat rated fair to good. Dry soils persisted through most of January but
snowfall remedied some of the dry conditions leaving only the west short of moisture. Texas
wheat was nearly dormant in most areas because of low temperatures during the last part of
January. Dryland stands on the High Plains were drought stressed with very little precipitation
during January to relieve the situation. Irrigated High Plains stands rated fair to good. A
light snow covered the Plains area at the end of January but was not sufficient to provide
moisture relief to dryland fields. South central and east Texas have enough moisture for growth
when temperatures rise. New Mexico irrigated wheat rated fair to good and was providing moderate
grazing; dryland stands scored poor to fair. Wyoming wheat rated fair to good. Montana's crop
had adequate to excellent snow cover and was in good condition. In the Pacific Northwest,

Oregon wheat rated fair to good and Washington's crop had a protective snow cover. Mild
temperatures and ample rainfall helped growth of California's wheat,

Low temperatures slowed wheat growth in the Southeast. Along the Atlantic Coast,
North Carolina's wheat rated fair to good and Virginia's good to excellent. In the north central
States, Illinois wheat rated good.

FLORIDA CITRUS FREEZE REPORT

Much of the Florida citrus was exposed to sub-freezing temperatures on two nights in
January. Temperatures in the coldest citrus locations dropped to the mid-twenties for sufficient

duration to cause some freezing of fruit, but most of the citrus crop escaped any serious damage.

Freezing effects to the orange crop are expected to show up primarily in reduced juice
yields. Grapefruit were unaffected

Fruit most susceptible to freezing, primarily temples and tangerines, received the most
damage although much of this fruit escaped any freezing. Early and Mid-season oranges in
historically cold spots received some damage which necessitated acceleration of harvest in

affected blocks.

ORANGES: This season's U.S. orange crop is forecast as of February 7 at 221.4 million boxes

(8.7 million metric tons), unchanged from last month but 9 percent less than was
harvested in 1976-77. Florida's crop at 166.0 million boxes is 11 percent less than last season.
The early and mid-season crops in Florida are expected to produce 88.0 million boxes, 23 percent
less than last year. The Valencia crop prospects are unchanged from last month at 78.0 million
boxes, 9 percent above last season.

In California, prospects for the crop are unchanged from last month at 45.0 million boxes,
but are 3 percent below last season. The Navel crop at 20.0 million boxes is down 22 percent
from last season. The Valencia crop is expected to total 25.0 million boxes, up 19 percent from
last season.

In California, some Navel oranges are dropping because of the warm rains. The losses are
expected to be minimal. The California Valencia crop is in good condition except for wind
scaring in areas affected by recent storms.

As of February 1 the U.S. orange crop was 29 percent harvested compared with 48 percent on

the same date last year. Harvest of the early mid-season and Navel crop is 58 percent complete
compared with 79 percent on February 1 last year. Valencia harvest has not begun in volume yet

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


TEMPLES: Production of temples in Florida is forecast at 4.7 million boxes, down 0.5 million
boxes from last month, but 24 percent above the freeze reduced 1976-77 crop. The crop

was 31 percent harvested by February 1 compared with 39 percent on the same date last year.

POTATOES: Production of winter crop potatoes in California and Florida is now forecast at 2.8
million cwt,, (128 thousand metric tons) 2 percent below the January 1 forecast but
6 percent above the 1977 crop.

California's production is estimated at 750,000 cwt., down 6 percent from the January 1 fore-
cast and 29 percent below the 1977 crop. Harvested acres are below last month's anticipated
level. Expected yields are up from the January t forecast to 250 cwt. per acre. About 40 per-
cent of the State's acreage has been harvested. Yields are variable but averaging above normal.

The Florida crop is forecast at 2.1 million cwt., unchanged from the January 1 forecast but
29 percent above the 1977 crop. Light harvest continues with most of the activity centered in the
Everglades. In the southwest area of the State, vine killing was active at the end of January.
Harvest of red varieties is expected to begin the second week of February. In Dade County, where
most of the winter potatoes are grown, harvest is expected to begin during the middle of February
and increase rapidly into March. Yield prospects are very good at this time. There has been
some cold weather but the crop has not suffered damage.

POTATOES

sere t AREA HARVESTED ' YIELO : PRODUCTION
AND : : 3 IND ¢ : : IND ¢ 3 3 IND
TATE. 31976 + 1977 3 3978 3 1976 3 1977 3 1978 3 1976 3 1977 ¢ 1978

: 19000 ACRES cw 12000 CWT
. :

WORE 542 4.5 360 220 235 250 1s14e 19058 750
FLA 1 92 8.9 9.6 200 180 215 14840 15602 24064
TOTAL _t 1404 1364 1266 207 199 223 25984 2660 29814

CROP PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1978 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


CROP PRODUCTION (Qe

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

US. Department
of Agriculture

Washington, D.C.
20250

HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS production is expected to total 14.3 million tons (13.0 million metric
tons), virtually the same as the January 1 level and 6 percent below
the 1976-77 season.

ORANGE output is forecast at 221.4 million boxes (8.7 million metric tons), un-
changed from the month earlier level, but 9 percent less than last
season's total.

GRAPEFRUIT production is placed at 75.7 million boxes (2.8 million metric tons),
unchanged from last month but 2 percent above the 1976-77 total.

LEMON production is estimated at 25.1 million boxes (865 thousand metric tons),
unchanged from January 1 prospects but 2 percent below last season.

POTATO production for the 1978 winter season is forecast at 2.8 million cwt.

(128 thousand metric tons), 2 percent below January 1 but 6 percent
above a year earlier.

CrPr 2-2 (2-78) For Information Call: (202) 447-2127


CITRUS FRUIT Vv
' PRODUCTION ' PRODUCTION
cROP t BOXES i TON EQUIVALENT
AND : UTILIZED INDICATED? UTILIZED SINDICATED
STATE 3.11975=76 3 1976-77 3 1977-78 8 1975-76 1 1976"77 3 1977-78
f) 19000 UNITS 2/7 19000 UNITS
ORANGES sEARLY MID & NAVEL 3/8
ARIZ : 730 800 820 27 30 31
CALIF ' 289300 255600 209000 15061 960 750
FLA ’ 98800 1159000 889000 49446 59175 39960
TEX ’ 36700 40400 39900 157 187 166
US $ 1319530 1455800 1129720 51691 69352 40907
ORANGES » VALENCIA iy
ARIZ ’ 15950 35150 39300 13 118 124.
CALIF ' 249500 215000 259000 919 788 938
FLA b 824400 715800 789000 39708 39231 39510
TEX ? 29400 25500 29400 102 106 102
us t 1119250 989450 1089700 49802 49243 4674
ALL ORANGES t
ARIZ 1 29680 35950 49120 100 148 155)
CALIF ’ 529800 469600 459000 19980 19748 19688
Fla 3 1810200 186,800 1669000 89156 89406 79470
TEX ‘ 69100 65900 64300 259 293 268
us $ 2625780 2449250 2219420 109493 100595 9958)
TEMPLES '
Fla ' 59500 39800 49700 248 171 212
GRAPEFRUIT»WHITE SEEDLESS t
Fla 2B8+300 29,900 319000 19203 1927) 19318
GRAPEFRUITsPINK SEEDLESS t -
Fla ' 139000 129500 159000 553 531 638
GRAPEFRUIT sOTHER %
FLA ' 79800 99100 8000 332 387 340
ALL GRAPEFRUIT 1
ARIZ + 39080 3,000 39100 99 96 99
CALIF ’
DESERT s 49100 4,500 49400 131 144 141
OTHER AREAS ' 35100 39100 39500 104 104 117
TOTAL Uy 79200 79600 79900 235 248 258
Fla 4 499100 51.500 54*000 29088 29189 29296
TEX s 109700 125400 109700 428 496 428
us + 709080 74,500 759700 29850 39029 35081
TANGERINES '
ARIZ : 660 650 700 2s 24 26
CALIF ' 19300 19820 19900 49 68 7
Fla ' 39400 36300 39200 162 157 152
us ' 59360 S770 5800 236 249 249
LEMONS ’
ARIZ ‘ 29420 52000 S100 92 190 194
CALIF ’ 159200 209600 209000 578 783 760
us = 179620 255600 259100 670 973 954.
TANGELOS ’
FLA t S500 49800 49800 248 216 216

1/ THE CROP YEAR BEGINS WITH THE BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR
SHOWN ANO ENOS WITH YEAR HARVEST IS COMPLETED.

2/ NET LBS PER BOX! ORANGES=CALIF & ARIZ=75sFLA~909
TEX*@5$ GRAPEFRUIT@CALIF DESERT & ARIZ-64» CALIF
OTHER=679 FLA=85¢ TEX=80$ LEMONS=765 TANGELOS &
TEMPLES*903 TANGERINES®© CALIF & ARIZ=75— FLA=95.

3/ NAVEL AND MISCELLANEOUS VARIETIES IN CALIFORNIA AND
ARIZONA. EARLY AND MIOSEASON VARIETIES IN FLORIDA AND
TEXAS INCLUDING SMALL QUANTITIES OF TANGERINES IN

TEXAS,

CROP PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1978

CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USDA


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

INDICATED 1977-78

cRoP : 976- :
: 1976-77 : JAN 1 3 FEB 1
: 1,000 BOXES
ORANGES : 244,250 221,420 221,420
GRAPEFRUIT : 74,500 75,700 75,700
LEMONS : 25,600 25,100 257100

7 SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.

- POTATOES
EA HARVESTED. : A
sexgome ER ET “PRODUCTION
GROUP : 1978 77g 977
T,000 ACRES CWT 7,000 CHT
WINTER 134 12.6 199 223 2,660 2, 864 2,814
UNITED STATES CROP_SUHMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/
: : TNOICATED 1977-76
crap : 1976-77 : Tr 7 FEB 1
METRIC TONS
ORANGES : 9 611 620 8 691 740 8 691 740
GRAPEFRUIT : 2 747 860 2 795 040 2 795 040
LENONS : 382 690 865 450 865 450
7 SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF “THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.
POTATOES
7__AREA HARVESTED YIELD PER HECTARE PRODUCTION
SEASONAL G97 «::XINDICATED : —qg77 = INDICATED : 977 2 __ INDICAT
: 1978: 21978 SUN: FEB T
FECTARES METRIC TONS
WINTER : 5 420 5 100 22.26 25.03 120650129. 910-127 640

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 Washington headquarters and the State
Statistical Offices.

CROP REPORTING BOARD:
APPROVED: J. W. Kirkbride, Acting Chairman,
M. L. Koehn, Secretary,

a Te P.M. Williamson, F. E. Rolf,
4 R. P. Small, HL 9. DeLong,
OM | SLL W PN 9) a! Buckner, J. R. Garrett,

C. Drain, W. W. Wilken,
ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE C. d. Koines.

CROP PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1978 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, ESCS, USOA



JANUARY WEATHER SUMMARY

January was a severe winter month for all of the Nation east of the Rocky Mountains. Surges
of cold air from central Canada came one behind the other causing temperatures to drop further
and further below normal. The average temperature for January was 10 to 13 degrees colder than
normal in most of the Plains and Midwest. Precipitation was above normal from east Texas to
New England. Low pressure systems forming as cold air flowed over the warm Gulf of Mexico and
moved northeastward causing heavy rain and some sleet or snow in the South and heavy snow north-
ward. Record low barometer readings were noted, as a low off the East Coast merged with one
moving up the west side of the Appalachians. The accompanying blizzard in the Ohio Valley and
eastern Great Lakes paralyzed the area.

West of the Rockies, the opposite condition prevailed with warm temperatures persisting
throughout the month. Some almond trees were in premature bloom in the lower San Joaquin Valley.
Rain with snow at higher elevations was well above norma) in all of the West.

A welcome return to normal or better precipitation began the year on a pleasant note for
the West. During the first week of the month moderate rain fell along the West Coast, but only
light amounts were recorded in the central and southern Plateau region. Elsewhere, little or no
rain fell in the dry area of west Texas and Oklahoma, Kansas and eastern Colorado. A low pres-
sure system formed at midweek in Missouri and rain moved through the South and was borne north-
ward to New England. Cold air moved southward behind the low pressure to usher in the first
cold outbreak east of the Rockies. Temperatures remained well above normal west of the Conti-
nental Divide.

Most of the Nation measured some precipitation during the second week. Rain or snow per-
sisted in the West and spread inland across the Plateau to the Rockies. Some heavy amounts were
added to northern California and the Sierras. Cold air enveloped the area east of the Rockies
early in the week. A Tow pressure system formed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved eastward and
then northeastward. Moderate rain fell in east Texas and Arkansas and all along the East Coast.
Temperatures were warm in the West and very cold east of the Rockies.

Cold air continued to flow southward from Central Canada during the third week of January
and caused the formation of two massive winter storms which originated in the Gulf of Mexico.
The first moved northward west of the Appalachians and dumped heavy snow in the Ohio Valley and
northward. The second storm charged up the Atlantic Coast and produced heavy snowfall from the
mid-Atlantic area through New England. Freezing rain and/or snow reached into the Deep South
where cold temperatures touched the Florida citrus. Precipitaiton continued west of the Rockies
providing welcome runoff for the streams and reservoirs.

The last week of January brought some respite from the persistent rain in California
although the last day of the month saw rain in southern California and the southwest. Generally
light but welcome precipitation fell in west Texas. Elsewhere one of the most intense storms of
record blitzed the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region with blizzard conditions. Heavy rain fell
in the South. Ten inches flooded areas around Mobile, Alabama. The rain or snow extended into
New England. Another outbreak of cold afr continued the deep freeze east of the Rockies while
unusually warm weather persisted from the Plateau westward.

WINTER WHEAT

The United States winter wheat crop rated fair to good during January in most major
production areas. Near the end of the month, poor ratings cropped up in parts of the cold
South and ondrylands stands in the southern Great Plains. At the beginning of January, snow
blanketed the northern third of the Nation. Snow cover extended into parts of the South as
midmonth approached including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee. At the end of
January, the only wheat exposed was from the southern Great Plains, across the South and along
the Atlantic Coast to Virginia. Areas which bore the brunt of late January's cold weather had
the most snow cover.

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