Florida's citrus trees are mostly in excellent condition considering
the four days of freezing and below temperatures the first week of Jan~
uary. Northern fringe locations and marginal land groves have experienced
some minor leaf loss. In the major citrus producing counties there was
neither significant foliage loss nor significant damage to twigs or limbs.
Heavy rains just prior to the cold weather left the groves with a high
moisture level, contributing further protection to the trees. Warm days
following the cold brought a good growth of new foliage and embryo bud
blooms to young trees and those partly defoliated.

During January, fruit drop on early and midseason oranges ranged
from normal to heavy. Fast harvest, combined with clean picking practices
has minimized fruit loss. Droppage of other types of fruit has not been
excessive.

The special Florida cold damage survey conducted about February 1
shows damage to fruit on trees to be about the same as a year ago, but
not nearly as severe as the damage caused by the December 13, 1962
freeze.

Florida Oranges: Cold Damage of Fruit on Trees, 1969-70
Crop, with Comparisons

Fruit Type and Date oT
of Cold Damage Minor | Major
Early and Midseason
December 13, 1962 see 1/8 8 B oh uz
January 30-31, 1966 .. 2 2, 2, 2 2
December 16-17, 1968 . z af a o of
January 8-11, 1979 cessseee 48 1q 19 iL 5

Valencias

December 13, 1962 .

January 30-31, 1966 ..
December 16-17, 1968 .
January 8=11, 1979 ...

Yield factors for Florida oranges continue at levels well above
the previous year. However, juice per box shows a seasonal decline.

Florida Oranges: Average yield of juice and pounds solids
per box February 1, 1979 with comparisons

January 1, 1969 ... 4h .99

February 1, 1969 W155) 45.71 46.90 5.08
January 1, 1970 . 50.85 52.28 52.91 5h
February 1, 1970 46.76 51.87 5.63

Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA




Prospective plantings of early summer potatoes are estimated at
83,000 acres, 4 percent lower than the 86,200 acres planted last year
and the 86,900 acres planted in 1968, On the Eastern Shore of Vir-
ginia, in Tennessee, and in California, growers expect to plant the
seme acreage as in 1969, A slight increase is expected in Alabama.
In all other States, decreases from a year ago are indicated,

CROP REPORTING BOARD

CROP PROLUCTION, February 1970 -T- Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Latest tests support a yield of 1.28 gallons of 45° Brix frozen con-
centrate orange juice per box for all Florida oranges for the 1969-70
season. This is down from the 1.33 gallons forecast a month earlier.

California citrus production is down from last month for all types
except lemons. Some damaged fruit, caused by freezing temperatures in
early January, has been showing up in the central and southern orchards.
However, the overall damage does not appear serious.

Harvest of Navel oranges continued to pick up during January, with
about 30 percent picked by February 1. The crop in central and northern
areas is in good condition and the fruit has excellent color. In southern
California rain and fog during January slowed picking.

Valencias in southern California have grown slowly and are small-size
due to the dry winter and heavy Santa Ana winds. But, development to date
has been good in the central area.

Harvest of the Desert Valleys grapefruit continues to lag behind a
year ago, but crop quality is generally good. Prospects point to a good
erop elsewhere. Lemon harvest is nearly complete in the desert areas and
is more than half completed in the San Joaquin Valley. Picking is in-
creasing in the more important South Coastal counties, where most of the
February supplies will originate.

In Arizona, orange prospects are down, because of the earlier freeze.
Most affected groves are in the Yuma area. There will be some shift from
fresh market to processing for the fruit that escaped severe damage. Grape-
fruit harvest is in full swing in the Yuma area but only limited picking
is underway in the Salt River Valley. Freeze damage to grapefruit was
minimal. Lemon harvest continues in full swing in the Yuma area and is
now about 85 percent complete.

In Texas, citrus harvest was hampered by cold weather during early
January but became active again by late January. Movement of early and mid-
season oranges is lagging behind a year ago but grapefruit harvest is run-
ning ahead of last year. Light harvest of Valencias got underway in early
February.

POTATOES: The winter potato crop is estimated at 3,598,000 cut.
6 percent below 1969 production of 3,828,000 ewt.

In the Ft. Myers area of Florida, peak harvest is expected before
mid-February on "red" varieties. "White" varieties are growing well. In
Dade County, the acreage has generally recovered well from the adverse
weather in early January. Harvest is expected to get underway later than
usual--in late February or early March. In California, harvest has been
generally slow, and digging is expected to be light to moderate in
February.

CROP PRODUCTION, February 1970 -6- Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


POTATOES, IRISH 1970 CROP

Seasonal
group and
State
WINTER: :
Fla. 1 114 11.0 10.8 175 180 160 1,995 1,980 1,728
calif. : 10.5 8.8 8.5 _ 180 _ 220 _ 1,890 _ 1,848 1,870
_ Total = 20-9 7 19.8 186 — 3,885 ~ 3,828 ~ 3,598
Seasonal :
group and :
State .
E. SPRING: :
Fla. t
Hastings t
Other t
Texas t
Total i
L.OSPRING? ~~ y T
N. Carolina t
8 N.E. Counties ; 9.5 8
Other Counties ; 2.2 1
Ala. : 12.0 9
Miss. 2 2.5 4
Ark. : 1.8 7
La. 2 2.3 )
Texas : 5.2 8
Ariz. : 10.1 6
calif. + 38.6_ .0
—fotal_ _ ___s 83.27 Toh 3
E.” SUMMER: 3
Mo. 2 2.2 2 8 109 100 2ho 110 June 10
Kans. 2 1.65 1.4 1.3 83 77 12k 108 "
Del. : 82 8.0 6,2 i188 210 1,539 1,680 "
Md. 1 1.9 1.8 1.6 170 160 aoe 323 288 "
Va. 2
Eastern Shore : 28.0 29.0 29,0 143 12h --- 4,002 3,607 "
Other : 2.5 2.3 221 100 100 --- 250 230 "
N.C. 2:18 20 19 95 U5 --- 17 230 "
ky. : 3.0 2.7 2.5 65 T3 nae 195 197 "
Tenn. : 3.7 3.8 3.8 85 93 =e 314 353 "
Ala. : 82 9.0 9.3 120
Texas 219.5 19.6 19.0 185
Calif. : 6.4 — 5.5 525_ _350_
Total : 36.9 86.2 ~ BIO 161

CROP PRODUCTION, February 1970 -9- Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Release:
February 10, 1970
3:00 P.M, EST

Crge Production

HIGHLIGHTS OF U.S, CROP REPORT AS OF FEBRUARY 1}, 1970

Citrus production is expected to be 2 percent more than last season. De-
creases in January for oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and temples more
than offset an increase in tangerines.

Orange production is forecast at 187, 8 million boxes, down 1.9 million boxes
{1 percent) from January | but 2 percent above last season, Prospects
in Florida are unchanged from last month but the forecast in California,
Arizona, and Texas is down,

Grapefruit production is forecast at 52,8 million boxes, down 0,1 million
boxes (0.2 percent) and is 3 percent below the 1968-69 crop.

Lemon production at 17,5 million boxes is down 0,2 million boxes (1 percent)
from the January 1 forecast because of reduced prospects in Arizona,
but 11 percent more than last season's crop.

Winter potato production is expected to total 3.6 million cwt., 6 percent less
than last year. Intended early summer potato plantings of 83,000 acres
are down 4 percent from 1969.

Winter wheat is in fair to good condition but surface moisture is becoming
short in much of the Great Plains,

Internal Damage Report on
Florida oranges on page 5.

|

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Statistical Reporting Service Crop Reporting Board
CrPr 22 (2-70) Washington, D.C. 20250


UNITED STATES DEPARTHENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
WASHINOTON, D. C. 20250

QFFICIAL BUSTNESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

POSTAGE & FEES PAD
United Seases Onpartnent of

4 U.S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1970 394-231 (Sk5~135)




{opm er Bere | veo Sete ae
ORANGES : t cs J -- - 1969270 _ _
EARLY, MIDSEASON & :

NAVEL VARIETIES: 3/:

Calif, : 9,150 18,600 22,000 343,000 698,000 825,000
Fla, : 51,400 69,700 75,000 2,313,000 3,136,000 3,375,000
Texas : 970 2,800 3,200 43,600 126,000 ~ ikh, 000
Ariz. : 880 1,270 1,100 33,000 47,600 41,200

calif. 25,700 22,000 375,000 964,000 825,000
60,000 59,000 2,210,000 2,700,000 2,655,000
1,700 1,500 37,400 76,500 67,500
2N0 4,110 _ 4,000_ __84,000 _ _154,000__ 150,000,
12500 2,706,400 ~ 3,894,500 3,697,500. _

Ariz.

{

44,300 44,000 718,000 1,662,000 1,650,000
129,700 134,000 4,523,000 5,836,000 6,030,000

4,500 4, 700 81,000 202,500 211,500
120 _ 5,380. ge 100_ _ 117,000 __201,600_ 191,200 _
370 _ 183,880 “187,800 ~ 5,439,000 "7,902,160" §, 082, 700. —

Fla., All 39,900 37,000 1,399,000 1,695,000 1,572,000
Seedless 27,700 27,000 1,008,000 1,177,000 1,147,000
Pink 10,700 10,000 400,000 455,000 25,000
White 17,000 17,000 608,000 722,000 722,000
Other 12,200 10,000 391,000 518,000 425,000

Texas 6,700 7,500 112,000

Ariz. 2,510 3,100 120,000

5,060 5,200 150,400

Calif., All
3,260 3,100 93 ,400

Desert Valleys

mq Quher Areas_ _ _1,700__ _ 1,800__ 2,100 __ _57,000_ _ 60,300 _ 7
U.S., Ali 4170 1,781,400
Grapefruit 54,170 52,800 1,781, -

12,300 14,500 517,000
3,510. 3,000 _ 124,000

16,850 ~ — 15,810" “17,500 — ~ BUI,000 _ "602,000 "66

133,000

5,620
21,000

159,620

1/ The orop year begins with the bloo- of the first year shown and ends with oampletion of har-
‘Vest the following year, 2/ Net content of box varies. Approximate averages are as follows:
Oranges — California and Arizona, 75 1bs.; Florida and other States, 90 1bs.; Grapefruit — Cali-
fornia, Desert Valleys, and arizona, 64 lbs.; other California areas, 67 lbs.; Florida 65 lbs. and
Texas 80 lbse; Lemons — 76 1bs.; Tangelos — 90 1bs.; Tangerines ~ California and Arizona, 75 1bse;
Florida, 95 1bs.; 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, February 1970 -8- Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


Montana winter wheat is in fair condition considering the short growth
achieved last fell. Much of Montana has a protective snow cover and wind
damage has been light. January was a vet month in Oregon, Washington, and
Idaho, and fall seeded grain crops are progressing satisfactorily. California
had above normal temperatures, stimulating growth, although some fields show
poor stands.

Warm temperatures and ample soil moisture late in the month promoted
new growth of small grains in the South ‘Gentral Region. Minor freeze damage
from earlier cold weather is evident. Corn Belt winter grains are believed
in satisfactory condition with adequate soil moisture. Most of the Corn
Belt had snow cover during the extreme cold temperatures; but small grain
fields are now free of snow.

Livestock and Feed Supplies

Livestock are in satisfactory condition and wintering well across most
of the country, although extreme cold early in January placed heavy demands
on supplemental feed. The eastern half of the Nation continued cold through
most of the month but, except for local areas, feed supplies are expected
to be adequate for the rest of the winter. Warming temperatures and reduced
snow cover toward the end of January wes allowing some utilization of winter
ranges, fall-seeded small grains, and crop residues. However, cold temper~
atures have minimized growth of winter grains. Ample soil moisture and
favorable temperatures resulted in winter pasture growth in Californie.

Livestock losses were minimal during January, because most areas escaped
any serious winter storms. Cold weather caused some problems in lambing,
calving, and farrowing, and feedlots muddied in the Northwest and Corn Belt
area toward the end of the month.

CITRUS: ‘The Nation's citrus crop prospects as of February 1 were down slight-

ily from January 1 because of reduced prospects for oranges, grape-
fruit, lemons and temples. Citrus production is expected to be 2 percent
above last season.

The U. S. orange crop is forecast at 187,800,000 boxes, down 1 percent
from the January 1 forecast, but 2 percent above last season. Florida's
forecast is unchanged but California, Texas, and Arizona declined a total of
1,900,000 boxes.

United States grapefruit production is estimated at 52,800,000 boxes, 3
percent below the 1968-69 crop. Prospects declined slightly from January 1
in the Desert Valleys of California but were unchanged elsewhere.

Lemon prospects for Calfornia and Arizona are: placed at 17,500,000
boxes, 11 percent larger than last season's crop. This is down 200,000 boxes
from last month because of reduced expectations in Arizona.

Tangerine production is forecast at 4,270,000 boxes, 1 percent above
last year's output.

CROP PRODUCTION, February 1970 -h- Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


GENERAL CROP REPORT AS OF FEBRUARY 1, 1970

Cold, wintry weather prevailed during Jamary, according to the Crop
Reporting Board, Temperatures during the month varied widely, ranging
from bitter cold early in the month to moderating temperatures moving
eastward and covering the Nation by February 1. Topsoil moisture varies
from surplus in the Pacific Northwest to short in the Central Plains.
Agricultural activity was at a low level during the month. Despite
freezing temperatures the first part of January, citrus harvest was ac~
tive, especially the latter half of the month. Supplemental feeding and
additional care were needed to maintain livestock condition during the
eold stress periods of January.

January-“Mostly Cold and Dry

Temperatures during Jamary were cold from the Great Plains east-
ward to the Atlantic Coast. Average monthly temperatures were mostly
3 to 12 degrees below normal. Precipitation was minimal in the Great
Plains and Corn Belt with most of the area receiving less than one
inch total. The Northeast was dry~-Boston had the driest January in 100
years of official records. Extreme cold gripped the entire Nation in
early Jamary, but a warming trend moved slowly from West to East and
by the last week of the month above average temperatures blanketed the
Nation, January temperatures averaged above normal from the Rocky
Mountains westward. Considerable precipitation fell in the Pacific
Northwest with some Oregon and Idaho stations reporting record January
totals,

Severe snow storms were largely absent and livestock are wintering
well with adequate feed supplies. Very little field work was accomplished
during January as cold temperatures limited activity. Some late cotton
harvest continued in Texas and Arizona. Citrus harvest was very active
the latter half of January. A late January ice storm struck parts of
Washington and Oregon causing limb breakage and tree losses in several
orchard areas. Most Rocky Mountain and Northwest areas had snow cover.
The snow cover extended eastward in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and New England with other ground areas
bare,

et & to

Winter wheat is in fair to good condition, but surface moisture is
becoming short in much of the Great Plains, January precipitation was
only 18 percent of normal in Kansas and topsoil has become quite dry in
the west and south-central part of the State. Soils are loose and
vulnerable to wind erosion in these areas--especially where wheat fields
made little growth. Great Plains wheat was mostly dormant in January
except in a portion of Texas. Snow cover was completely gone as far
north as Nebraska, and open fields extended into western South Dakota.
Topsoils are dry in much of eastern Colorado, Erosion during January
was light to moderate, but many fields in northeast Colorado are sub-
ject to wind erosion.

CROP PRODUCTION, February 1970 -37 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA


CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION 1/

m7 27 - - 1,000 boxes oe - ~~ - =

124,570 183, 880 189,700 187, 800
44,058 54,170 52,900 52,800
16, 850 15,810 17,700

of harvest the following year.

POTATOES, IRISH

Seasonal
group

nana Sa pg  1970 ~-—— 219702 1970
Cwt. = - -~--1,000 cwt. ~~~

Winter 19.8 19,3 177 193 186 3,885 3,828 3,706 3,598

ield per planted acr

1969 : cated :

1968 =: 1969
70 : H

Early :

spring 34,4 33.0 30.8 146 172 5,019 5,687 Apr. 10
Late

spring 83.2 91,1 79,3 246 234 20,450 21,290 May il
Early
Summer: 86.9 86,2 8300 161 156____ 13,992 __13,487_ Sune 10,

CROP PRODUCTION, February 1970 -2- Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA