ORANGES: U. S. orange production is expected to total 231.8 million boxes, up slightly from the

February 1 forecast but 3 percent below last season. In Florida, prospects continue
to indicate a crop of 172.0 million boxes, unchanged from last month and 1 percent below last
season. Early and mid-season oranges are expected to total 98.0 million boxes, 1 percent above
a year earlier. The Valencia crop, at 74.0 million boxes, is 4 percent below last season.
Harvest of early and mid-season oranges was active during February and was about 94 percent com-
plete as of March 1.

In California, orange crop prospects increased from February 1 and a total crop of 50.0
million boxes is now expected. The Navel crop is now forecast at 27.0 million boxes, up 4 per-
cent (1.0 million boxes) from a month ago but 4 percent below last season. Harvest of Navel
oranges was 42 percent complete as of March 1, Fruit has good color and flavor. Some drop is
occurring in the Central Valley as a result of earlier frost damage. Valencia prospects at
23,0 million boxes are unchanged from February 1 and are 15 percent below a year earlier
Valencia development continues about normal with some early harvesting now underway.

The Texas crop is now expected to total 6.1 million boxes, 5 percent more than last month's
forecast and 34 percent above the 1974-75 season. Production of early and mid-season varieties
is estimated at 3.8 million boxes, unchanged from the February 1 forecast. The Valencia orange
estimate at 2,3 million boxes is up 15 percent (0.3 million boxes) from last month. Harvest of

early and mid-season varieties was in the final stages on March 1 while the Valencia harvest
was active,

Prospects in Arizona at 3.7 million boxes declined 5 percent (0.2 million boxes) from
February 1 due to a smaller expected crop of Valencias. Harvest was nearly compelte for Navels
and just getting underway for Valencias.

Changes in U. S, production between the March 1 forecast and final production have averaged
4.2 million boxes over the past 10 seasons, ranging from 0.5 million boxes in 1972-73 to 10.5
million boxes in 1968-69,

FLORIDA FROZEN CONCENTRATED JUICE YIELD: The all orange juice yield for 1975-76 is projected

at 1.30 gallons of 45 degree brix concentrate per
box. Final yield from the 1974-75 crop was 1.31 gallons per box.

GRAPEFRUIT: U.S. production of grapefruit is expected to total 69,8 million boxes, unchanged
from last month, but 14 percent above last season. Prospects in Florida, at 50.0

million boxes, are 12 percent above last season. The Texas crop at 11.0 million boxes, is 51

percent above last season's short crop. The California crop is expected to total 5.7 million

boxes, 15 percent below last season. Arizona prospects indicate a crop of 3.1 million boxes,
12 percent above last season.

Harvest of U.S. grapefruit was about half complete by March 1, slightly behind 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 years, ranging from 1.4 in 1967-68 to 4.2
million boxes in 1966-67.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1976 5 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


AVERAGE CORN AND GRAIN SORGHUM PRICES FOR UNITED STATES,
OCTOBER 1975 - FEBRUARY 1976

CORN :
MONTH AND : : GRAIN SORGHUM
YEAR : AVERAGE PRICE :AVERAGE PERCENT: AVERAGE PRICE :AVERAGE PERCENT
1 PER BU_1/_: OF SALES 2/ : PER CWE 1/_: OF SALES 2/
: DOLLARS PERCENT DOLLARS PERCENT
oct 1975 : 2.62 11.2 4.43 12.6
NOV 1975 : 2.33 13.9 4.05 14.5
DEC 1975 : 2.37 10.3 4.00 12.5
JAN 1976 : 2.44 12.3 4.06 13.0
FEB 1976 : 2.48 7.6 4.09 4.9
5 MONTHS: 3/: 2.44 4/4.13

1/ PRICES PUBLISHED IN AGRICULTURAL PRICES, OCTOBER, 1975 THROUGH
FEBRUARY 1976.

2/ WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF PERCENT SOLD FOR YEARS 1972-74 AS SHOWN IN
FIELD CROPS-PRODUCTION, FARM USE, VALUE, SALES, MAY 12, 1975 AND
CROP PRODUCTION, DECEMBER 10, 1975. WEIGHTS USED TO COMPUTE WEIGHTED
AVERAGE WERE TOTAL SALES FOR 1972, 1973, AND 1974 AS SHOWN IN FIELD
CROPS-PRODUCTION, FARM USE, VALUE, SALES, MAY 10, 1974 AND MAY 12,
1975.

3/ FIVE MONTHS WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICE USING AVERAGE PERCENT OF SALES AS
WEIGHTS.

4/ $2.31 PER BUSHEL.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1976 8 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


In Kansas the winter wheat crop outlook continued to deteriorate. Topsoil and subsoil mois-
ture was short across most of the State. Dry soils with subnormal wheat growth in southwestern
Kansas are extremely vulnerable to soil erosion, The most serious soil blowing was in the south-
west but some damage occurred in central and south central areas.

By the end of February almost all of the topsoil in Oklahoma was dry, and over half the
State's area was short of subsoil moisture. A good supply of subsoil moisture maintained much of
the wheat through the winter but now wheat in the Panhandle is in poor condition with some dryland
acreage abandoned, The main wheat producing area in north central Oklahoma is under stress.
Considerable late planted acreage did not develop good ground cover or root systems, making it
very susceptible to blowing dust and sand and unable to reach subsoil moisture supplies. Mild
temperatures promoted rapid growth in the southwest quickly consuming precious subsoil moisture.
Principal wheat areas have been hit hard by greenbugs and armyworms and, although losses from
insects were light, control sprays were expensive.

In Texas wheat condition declined from the effects of drought and wind erosion, The crop
greened up in response to warm temperatures but most growth was restricted to irrigated stands.
A few abandoned dryland stands were plowed up on the Northern High Plains to reduce wind erosion.
Upright growth started in South Texas where some early stands are in the boot stage. Greenbug
numbers remained high but beneficial insects should hold the infestations in check.

The Colorado winter wheat crop was turning green where soil moisture was available. Top
growth was short, making the crop vulnerable to wind damage. Moisture is needed soon to promote
growth to protect the acreage from further loss. In New Mexico dryland wheat was in poor condi-
tion and irrigated wheat was fair to good. Some dryland wheat was abandoned. Nebraska winter
wheat was fair to good but soil moisture was short. In South Dakota the crop greened up improv-
ing slightly as melting snows provided some moisture but was poor to fair in the west and south
and fair to good elsewhere.

In Idaho and Washington the winter wheat condition was good to excellent. The wheat crop in

the Corn Belt generally was in good condition. Along the Atlantic Coast wheat condition was good
except in Florida where short soil moisture limited growth.

FEBRUARY FIELDWORK AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Springlike temperatures and the absence of excessive soil moisture produced good conditions
for an early start on spring fieldwork. Chopping old crop residue, fertilizing, and plowing were
all major activities nationwide except in western Washington where wet fields prevented use of
heavy equipment. Orchard maintenance, including pruning and spraying, was progressing well
throughout the country. Tobacco plant bed preparation and seeding moved rapidly in Kentucky and
Tennessee. Along the Atlantic Coast, tobacco plants sized rapidly in response to mild tempera-
tures.

On March 1, seedbed preparation for spring grains was far ahead of normal in Oklahoma, Kansas
and Washington. Spring grain planting extended northward into South Dakota. Corn and sorghum
planting was underway in Texas from the Blacklands southward to the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Cotton planting was active in the Coastal Bend and Lower Rio Grande Valley. In Arizona and New
Mexico small grain planting was virtually complete. Irrigation and insect control of established
fields had begun,

In the northern Mountain States land preparation was active. In the Columbia Basin, many
growers were plowing, disking, and fertilizing but only limited spring wheat acreage had been
seeded. Pruning and tree removal in Washington orchards was interrupted early in the month by
extremely cold temperatures and later by local snowfalls..

Corn Belt farmers shredded stalks, fertilized and plowed where soil conditions permitted.
In the North Atlantic States mild weather melted snow, and some plowing and fertilizing was done
where soil conditions permitted, Pennsylvania and New England farmers prepared for the maple sap
run and started some early tapping the third week of February.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1976 4 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


LEMONS: The California and Arizona lemon crop is expected to total 18.8 million boxes, 36 per-

cent below last season's record high production but 6 percent above the 1973-74 season.
California production at 16.5 million boxes is 26 percent below last season while Arizona output
at 2.3 million boxes 1s down 68 percent from last season's record crop.

Harvest is over 60 percent complete in Central California, where recent rains started fruit
growth and delayed coloring. The Arizona crop is virtually all harvested.

$ Florida's record high tangelo crop ig estimated at 5.5 million boxes, “ache free
last month, but 17 percent above the previous record set last season. .
vir

y complete.

TANGERINES: Tangerine production is expected to total 5.6 million boxes, 6 percent above last

season. The Florida production estimate of 3.4 million boxes is for that portion of
the crop that was utilized. (The total crop that reached 210 size or larger was 5.3 million
boxes.) Harvest is nearly complete in Florida. The California and Arizona crops at 1.5 million
and 0.7 million boxes respectively, are unchanged from last month, The Minneola variety, which
accounts for the bulk of California's volume, is currently being harvested.

TEMPLES: Florida's temple crop is forecast at 5.5 million boxes, unchanged from last month but
4 percent above the 1974-75 season. Harvest is about two-thirds complete.

POTATOES: The final forecast of winter potatoes in California and Florida is 3.0 million cwt.,

5 percent above the 2.9 million cwt. harvested in 1975, Forecasted yield in both
States declined slightly from the previous month, Quality of California's crop remains variable.
Harvest is well along with moderate supplies expected this month and into early April. Harvest of
reds in the Ft. Myers area of Florida will continue until mid-month, Whites will begin in early
March. In Dade County digging is expected to increase sharply during March.

Producers of spring potatoes are expected to harvest 97.6 thousand acres, up 16 percent from
the 84,5 thousand acres harvested in 1975, but 6 percent less than in 1974, Planting in Alabama
is nearly complete, California planting will continue until about March 15, Early fields are in
good condition. Early plantings in Florida are in good condition with planting nearly complete
in the Hastings‘area. Planting in north and west Florida should be complete by mid-March.
Planting in North Carolina was approximately one-fourth complete by March 1, Most of the plant-
ing in Texas was complete by the end of February. A light frost in the lower Rio Grande Valley
in late February caused some light damage, but no acreage is expected to be abandoned.

POTATOES
SEASONAL GROUP: AREA HARVESTED, A YIELD PER ACRE z PRODUCTION
AND : : : INDICATED: p INDICATED: z INDICATED
STATE 2 1974 1975 1976: 1974 =: 1975s 976: * 1974 =, 1975 1976
: 1,000 ACRES CWI 1,000 CWr
WINTER: t
CALIF 2 4h 4.9 5.2 265 245 220 1,166 1,054 1,144
FLA 2 943 9.4 9.4 190 195 200 1,767 1,833 1,880
TOTAL : 13.7 14.3 14.6 214 202 207 2,933 2,887 3,024
SPRING: 1/ :
ALA : 125 10.6 11.0 145 130 1,813 1,378
ARIZ : 8.6 6.2 6.7 260 245, 2,236 1,519
CALIF : 35.5 27.6 33.5 385 380 13,668 10,488
FLA - HASTINGS ;: 18.8 16.2 19.0 175 195 3,290 3,159
- OTHER > 2.8 1.9 2.7 170 185 476 352
LA 1 2.8 2.6 2.9 90 70 252-182
MISS 2 2.0 1.9 2.6 95 90 190 171
NC : 13.0 12.0 13.0 165 160 2,145 1,920
TEX 1 74 5.5 6.8 130 150 962 825
TOTAL : 103.4 84.5 97.6 242 237 25,032 19,994

1/7 YIELD AND PRODUCTION FOR 1976 TO BE RELEASED APRIL 9, 1976.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1976 6 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA


crop production

r

Released:
March 9, 1976
3:00 P.M. ET

HIGHLIGHTS

CITRUS--Production is expected to total 14.3 million tons, up
slightly from last month but 2 percent below the 1974-75
crop.

ORANGES--Production.is forecast at 231.8 million boxes, up 1.1 mil-
lion boxes from February 1, but down 3 percent (6.2 million
boxes) from last season. Prospects improved in California
and Texas but declined in Arizona. By March 1, harvest of
the U.S. crop was 47 percent complete.

GRAPEFRUIT--Production is forecast at 69.8 million boxes, unchanged
from February 1 and 14 percent (8.4 million boxes) above the
1974-75 crop. About one-half of the crop had been harvested
by March 1.

LEMONS--Prospects at 18.8 million boxes are down 3 percent (0.5
million boxes) from last month's forecast and are 36 percent
below the previous season's record high production.

WINTER POTATOES--Production is forecast at 3.0 million cwt., a 3
percent decline from last month but 5 percent above the 2.9
million cwt. harvested in 1975.

SPRING POTATOES--Acreage for harvest is estimated at 97,600 acres,
16 percent above the 84,500 acres harvested in 1975 but 6
percent less than 1974,

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT CF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE CROP REPORTING GOARD

CrPr 2-2 (3-76) WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250



CITRUS FRUIT lv

2 PRODUCTION t PRODUCTION
t BOXES t TON EQUIVALENT
TILTZED SINDECATED? UTILIZED INDICATE

cROP
AND

STATE 1 [973-74 + 1974275 4 1935-76 & 1973-74 ¢ 1976-75
: 16000 UNITS 27 14000 UNITS
ORANGES sEARLY MID & NAVEL 3/2
ARIZ : 450 920 750 17 35 28
CALIF # 214900 28,000 27.000 821 1,050 1,013
FLA 920100 964600 98.000 4914S 49347 4410
TEX : 44200 29930 34800 179 125 162
us 1 1184650 128,450 1294550 50162 5+557 55613
ORANGES» VALENCIA :
ARIZ . 29960 4,050 29900 pO e} 182 109
CALIF t 185500 27,100 = 234000 694 1,016 863
FLA 3 734700 769700 744000 30317 30452 39330
TEX t 24400 1,610 24300 102 68 98
us 2 979560 109,460 1024200 49226 41688 44400
ALL ORANGES. :
ARIZ : 39410 4,970 34650 128 187 137
CALIF t 404400 55.100 504000 1,515 24066 1,876
Fla t 1659800 173,300 1724000 7462 74799 74740
TEX : 64600 4.540 69100 281 193 260
us $ 2169210 2374910 231,750 94386 1002465 = 10,013
TEMPLES :
FLA : 5300 54300 59500 239 239 248
GRAPEFRUITeWHITE SEEDLESS =?
FLA t 254900 25,900 284000 1,101 14102 14190
GRAPEFRUIT+PINK SEEOLESS +
F 3 124200 11.500 134000 $19 489 553
GRAPEFRUIT sQTHER +
FLA #106000 79200 99000 425 306 383
ALL GRAPEFRUIT :
ARIZ t 29050 29770 35100 66 89 99
CALIF :
DESERT + 29360 34750 35200 76 120 102
OTHER AREAS 3 29290 25950 29500 7 99 84
TOTAL : 49650 69700 50700 153 219 186
FLA $ 484100 44,600 504000 25065 1,896 29126
TEX t 104700 74300 114000 428 292 440
us t 654500 614370 694800 2,692 29496 24851
TANGER INES :
ARIZ : 680 610 650 26 23 24
CALIF + 14360 19540 1,500 51 58 56
FLA t 2800 39100 34400 133 147 162
us : 44840 5,250 5.550 210 228 242
LEMONS fy .
ARIZ ’ 24900 74200 24300 130 2m a7
CALIF 3 144900 224200 16,500 566 844 627
us t 17-800 29400 18,800 676 19118 714
TANGELOS t
FLA t 3,700 44700 5500 167 a2 248

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

2/ NET LBS PER BOX? ORANGES= CALIF & ARIZ=75+ FLA=905
TEX=353 GRAPEFRUZT= CALIF DESERT & ARIZ=64+ CALIF
OTHER=679 FLA=85—9 TEX=80% LEMONS~76% TANGELOS &
TEMPLES-90% TANGERINES= CALIF & ARIZ=15, FLAS95.

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

CROP PRODUCTION , MARCH 1976 7 CROP REPORTING BOARD» SRS» USDA


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

~. A INDICATED 1975-76
CROP 1974-75 : Fen 1 ? TART
1,000 BOXES
ORANGES 237,910 230,650 231,750
GRAPEFRUIT 61,370 69,800 69,800
LEMONS 29,400 19,300 18,800

1/ SEASON BEGINS WITH BLOOM OF THE FIRST YEAR SHOWN AND ENDS WITH THE COMPLETION OF HARVEST THE FOLLOW-
ING YEAR,

POTATOES

AREA HARVESTED YIELD PER ACRE PRODUCTION

SEASONAL INDICATED 1976

* INDICATED * + INDICATED ?
GROUP 1975 CATED 1975 : 1975 FEB: MAR
* 197%? is76 i? : T : 1
“1,000 ACRES CWT 7,000 GT
WINTER 14,3 14.6 202 207 2,887 3,123 3,024
SPRING 84.5 97.6 237 APR 9 19,994 APR 9
UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY
(METRIC UNITS)
CITRUS FRUITS, PRODUCTION
5 B INDICATED 1975-76
4-75
CROP : 197 : FEB z WRT
3 1,000 METRIC TONS
ORANGES : 9,294 9,044 9,084
GRAPEFRUIT : 2,264 2,586 2,586
LEMONS : 1,014 665 648
POTATOES
___AREA HARVESTED = YIELD PER HECTARE: PRODUCTION
SEASONAL 3 : 2 + IND: t INDICATED 1976
GROUP : 1975, TNDECATED 2 g75 0, =TNDICATED | 1975: FEB
: * 1976 : 1976 : : 1 1
: 1,000 HECTARES QUINTALS 1,000 METRIC TONS
WINTER : 5.8 5.9 226 232 131 142 137
SPRING 2 34.2 39.5 265 APR 9 907 APR 9

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 Statistical Reporting Service's field offices and Washington headquarters.

CROP REPORTING BOARD:
APPROVED: B. M. Graham, Chairman,
M, L. Koehn, Secretary,

' & 1.0/4 J. W. Kirkbride, F. E. Rolf,
Kebank . R. S. Crickenberger, D. J. Fedewa,
W. G. Hamlin, R. H. Hettinger,
ACTING SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE D. H. Johnson, P.M. Williamson.

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1976 2 CROP REPORTING BOARD, SRS, USDA



FEBRUARY WEATHER

The outstanding feature of February weather was the above normal temperature which enveloped
all but the extreme northwest portion of the Nation. The cold air that normally moves south in
the western U. S. and then spreads to the rest of the country stayed north and only occasionally
dipped into the Great Lakes area and then eastward. The average temperature for the month
was as much as 10 to 12° above normal in the central U. S., up to 15° above in Montana and 10°
above normal extending to east central U.S. Precipitation was below normal over much of the
country and was less than.10 percent of normal in some areas of the already dry southern and
central Great Plains. Much-needed rain finally came to California, especially the southern
portion where irrigation water was rapidly being used up. Above normal February precipitation
in the major corn producing States from Ohio to eastern Nebraska should assure adequate soil
moisture for spring planting. Southern Minnesota and the northern Great Plains remained some—
what dry.

The month began on a dry note. Significant precipitation was confined to the area east of
the Appalachians but during the week ending February 8th a semi-stationary storm system in the
Pacific off southern California began pouring moisture-laden air into the Southwest. Rain fell
in all of California except the extreme northern section. Some areas of southern California
recorded more than 4 inches of rain. Three or more feet of snow were added to some mountain
areas during the week. Elsewhere rain skipped the High Plains and was scarce in most areas.
Much of the U. S. was cold except for the Southwest. Temperatures in the Midwest were as much
as 9° below normal but warming began in the Plains late in the week as Chinook winds boosted
temperatures.

In the following week, rain continued in California and spread throughout the West. Though
some very light precipitation fell in winter wheat areas of the southern Great Plains, little
benefit resulted as high winds rapidly evaporated surface moisture and eroded many fields.
Texas, the southern part of the Gulf States, the Southeast and Florida recorded no precipitation.
Precipitation was less than one inch in all areas east of the Rockies. The week was very warm
with some areas in the Plains averaging as much as 18 to 20° above normal. Above normal temper-
atures enveloped most of the Nation.

The week following midmonth continued warm over nearly all of the U. S. The exception was
the Plateau area of the West where temperatures averaged near normal to 3° below. In the
vicinity of the Ohio River Valley and the middle eastern States, temperatures averaged 15 to 20°
above normal. Precipitation was concentrated in the lower Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley
and the eastern Lakes area: where more than 2 inches fell, Up to 1/2 inch fell in Kansas in the
form of snow, but high winds swept the snow from wheat fields and left the crop vulnerable to
wind erosion.

The last week in the month was very dry and very warm. The only significant areas of
precipitation were in the Northwest where 2 inches were recorded along the coast from northern
California up through Washington, and the southern tip of Florida where the area around Miami
had over 2 inches. Lesser amounts fell in the northern Rockies and along the northern border
States. No precipitation was recorded in at least 3/4 of the country. Nearly all of the Nation
had above normal temperatures, and up to 18° above normal was experienced by many areas of the
Midwest. Many record high temperatures for late February were recorded.

WINTER WHEAT

Winter wheat prospects deteriorated during February in the dry southern and central Great
Plains, but in other wheat areas mild temperatures and adequate soil moisture put the crop in
good condition, Unseasonably high temperatures and the absence of a protective snow blanket in
the northern Great Plains dried topsoils making some localities susceptible to wind erosion.
Winter wheat broke dormancy earlier than normal as most of the United States except the Pacific
Northwest enjoyed above normal temperatures, Precipitation was below normal through most of the
major Great Plains wheat area.

Non-irrigated winter wheat acreage in the Oklahoma Panhandle, Texas High Plains, southwest
Kansas and adjacent areas of Colorado and New Mexico is in poor condition, Some dryland wheat
germinated poorly last fall, received little winter precipitation and has been subjected to
serious wind erosion, Some acreage has already been abandoned with farmers concentrating their
efforts on limiting soil blowing losses. Other dryland wheat has fairly uniform stands but little
growth. March precipitation is essential to maintain growth and to limit further acreage aban-

lonment..

CROP PRODUCTION, MARCH 1976 3 CROP REPORTINGBBOARD, SRS, USDA