CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Boerd, SRS, USDA

CITRUS: ‘The March 1 forecast of the 1964-65 orange crop is.114.1 million

boxes, 23 percent larger than last year, but 7 percent below the
1958-62 average. Most of the increase is in the Florida crop; however, @
larger crop than last year is also being harvested in Texas. Production
in California and Arizona is expected to be below last season's crop. As
of the end of February, about 51 percent of the. total orange crop had been
harvested, compared with 45 percent at the same time last year. Of the
total orange crop, an estimated 62 million boxes are Early, Midseason, and
Navel varieties, up 40 percent from last year. About 87 percent of the
Early, Midseason, and Nevel varieties wes harvested by March 1. Those
still to be harvestéd are mostly California Nevels. A Valencia orange
erop of 52.1 million boxes is expected, up 7 percent from last year, but
12 percent below average. Larger crops in Florida, Arizona, and Texas
more than offset a smaller crop in California. Florida growers had
picked sbout 10 percent of their crop by March 1. Harvest for most of the
California crop will not start until after mid-April and will continue
through early fall.

The forecast of grapefruit production is 40.1 million boxes, 17 per-
cent more than last year, but 3 percent below average. Florida and Texas
have larger crops then last year, while California and Arizona expect
smaller crops. About 58 percent of the crop had been harvested by March 1
compared with 65 percent et the same time last year.

A lemon crop of 14,1 million boxes is forecast, 22 percent less than
last year and 11 percent below average. All of the Arizona crop and 18
percent of the California crop had been harvested by March 1.

The tangerine crop in Florida is expected to total 3.9 million boxes,
8 percent larger than last year and 7 percent above average. Harvest of
the crop was nearly completed by March 1.

Florida orange trees are in excellent condition, with abundant growth.
Recent rains brought moisture conditions up to a good level. Most trees
are covered with buds and a few have open blossoms. With continued warm
weather the peak of the bloom should be reached about March 15. ‘The un~
banking of young trees is general throughout most of the lower and central
areas and pre-bloom fertilizer has been applied. Harvest of Early and
Midseason oranges is nearing completion. Valencia harvest has been slow,
and is not expected to be heavy until mid-April. Splitting of Valencias
has decreased substantially. ‘The harvest of Temple oranges, Tangelos,
Tangerines end old crop limes is virtually complete. Rainfall has been
below normal in part of the central Californie citrus area and most of
the southern districts. However, the oranges have remained in good
condition and some southern areas are on a summer irrigation schedule to
naintein moisture levels in the groves. Quality end size of Navels
have beep good this season in California despite the dry weather.

By March 1, a little more than two-thirds of the Navel crop
had been picked in the central: district and in-the southern district
about three-eighths of the crop wes harvested. Valencia harvest
has begun on a small volume in the Imperiel and Coachella


‘CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

California, All
Fell and Winter 3/

Spring and Sumer 4/
Florida

United States

we

Crop year begins with bloom of the year shown end ends with completion of
harvest the following year.

@

Includes quantities unharvested on account of economic conditions and excess
cullage of harvested fruit.

3/ Includes "Fuerte" and other fall and winter varieties.
uf Includes "Hass" and other spring and summer varieties.
5/ Not available.
(i First forecast for Californie "Spring and Summer'' varieties and California,
"A11" to be released April 9.
“Sheer 7 Sa a
group 3 3 sIndi- +
and “tosses! 1964 :cated A
— Stele. 2 tL PD St | 808 8 1900
1,000 1,000 1,000
Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. cwt. cwt, cwt.
WINTER: wy
Fla. ~~ 1,378 1,184 1,600
Calir. © 2,675 2,507 _ 2,162
Totel . 3,893 3,762
EARLY SPRING: .
Fla.~Hastings 155 160 April 9 3,441 3,808 April 9
188"

1280-25" hak



CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

1964 (leap year) had one more day. The March 1 rate of lay is estimted
at 61.0 eggs per 100 layers compared with 60.9 a year earlier, Culling

of layers was heavy during February because of unusually low egg prices.
March 1 layer numbers totaled 299.1 million, 1 percent below March 1, 1964.
This is the first time since My 1, 1964 that layer numbers have been below
a year earlier. ,

Compared to February 1964, egg production was down 10 percent in the
West North Central, 5 percent in the East North Central, 3 percent in the
North Atlantic, and 1 percent in the South Atlantic States. Production
was a record high for February in the South Central and the West, but the
lowest since 1941 in the East North Central and the West North Central regions,

Production per layer averaged 16.86 eggs during February. On a rate
per day basis, this is one percent above February 1964. ‘The adjusted rate
of lay during February, compared with a year earlier, was unchanged in the
West North Central region and down one percent in the East North Central.
Increases were 1 percent in the South Atlantic, 2 in the North Atlantic,

3 in the South Central, and 4 in the West.

Numbers of layers averaged 300.8 million birds during February, down
slightly from a year earlier. Increases in February layers were 2 percent
in the South Atlantic, 4 percent both in the South Central and the West.
Decreases in February layers were 1 percent in the East North Central, 2
percent in the North Atlantic and 7 percent in the West North Central.

On March 1, the Nation's laying flock totaled 299.1 million birds, 1
percent ‘below both a month and a year earlier. layers were fewer than a month
earlier in all regions, ranging from slightly below in the East North Cental
to 2 percent in the North Atlantic States, The March 1, 1965 rate of lay
was 61.0 eggs per 100 layers compared with 60.9 a year earlier.

HENS AND PULLETS OF LAYING AGE, AND EGGS LAID

Year

HENS AND PULLETS OF LAYING AGE ON FARMS, MARCH 1

Thousands
1959-63 (Av+) 348,030 51,053 73,777 41,161 50,332 41,097 305,450 -==
196k 4,798 43,758 58,945 47,961 57,693 47,175 300,331 301,200

1965 3,955 43,615 54,722 48,261 59,370 48,326 298,2h9 299,114
EGGS LAID PER 100 LAYERS ON FARMS, MARCH 1
lumber
1959-53 (Av.): 58.3 60.3 62.0 59. 56.0 62,0 59.8 ---
1964 58.8 61.5 64,2 60.5 59.1 61.2 60.9 6.9
1965 59-7 6.7 63.3 6.7 59.5 61.9 61.0 61.0

Prices received by producers for eggs averaged 30.5 cents per dozen in
mid-February 1965, 0.3 cent below 8 month earlier and 4.3 cents below mid-
February 1964. ‘Producers of commercial broilers received 14.9 cents per pound live
weight during February, up 0.4 cent from a month earlier end 0.7 cent above a year earlier.


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

Valleys but harvest in the central district is not expected to start until
mid-April. Arizona's Navel and sweet orange harvest is complete and
Valencia harvest is underway on a limited basis.

Florida's grapefruit trees are in excellent condition. Most trees
are covered with buds and a few have open blooms. High winds on
February 25 and 26 caused a relatively heavy grapefruit drop. However,
with the lull in the orange harvest it is anticipated that harvest soon
will be concentrated on grapefruit and much of this fruit will be salvaged.
Harvest of California's Desert Valley grapefruit has been slow with a
little more than 22 percent of the crop harvested by March 1. Fruit sizes
have been small in some groves and cullage has been heavy due to wind scars
and other defects. Development of grapefruit in other areas of California
has been slow because of dry conditions and volume movement is not expected
until the Desert Valley crop is picked, Quality of the Arizona crop has
been good but sizes have been running smaller than last year. -Picking’
has continued on a rather limited basis and volume movement ‘is not éxpected
until after April 1. Harvest of the Texas crop was nearly completed by
the end of February, Light freeze damage occurred on February 25 to tender
new growth, Buds are swelling and a heavy bloom is expected about the
middle of March,

AVOCADOS: The estimated production of California's fall and winter
varieties of avocados for the 1964-65 season remains at 11,000
tons, about a third as large as last year.

POTATOES: Winter potato production is forecast at 3, 762,000 hundredweight,

up Slightly from a month earlier and 2 percent above 1964. In
the Ft. Myers-Immokelee area of Florida, digging of red skinned varieties
was well advanced by March 1 and light harvest of white skinned varieties
had started, Harvest in Bade County reached volume proportions in early
March and shipments are expected to continue into April. Digging in
California continues active in the Perris-Hemet district of Riverside
County and in some of the later districts of the San Joaquin Valley.
Harvest is expected to decrease sharply by the end of March,

There are 34,800 acres of early spring potatoes for harvest compared
with 27,000 acres in 1964. The Hastings area of Florida has 27,500 acres,
a record high and 16 percent more than a year earlier. Acreages in other
Florida areas and in Texas are more than double those of 1964, In the
Hastings area, vines on earlier potatoes were frozen back to the ground in
January but recovery was good. Most planting was completed by February 10
and growth in February was satisfactory until winds late in the month
severely whipped larger plants. Harvest is expected to start about April 1.
In other Florida areas, potatoes in the Everglades were well advanced
when frost and cold winds in late February did some damage. In the
Gainesville and western Florida sections, planting was delayed by excess
soil moisture, In Texas, a cold wave accompanied by high winds the last
week of February demaged vines, slightly retarding the crop.

POULTRY AND EGG PRODUCTION: The Nation's laying flock produced 5,070
million eggs during February, down 2 percent

from February last year but up 5 percent from February

1963. The decrease in egg production from last year was because February

~6-


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 . Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

Varieties _ :_ 63,900_ _W4,195 _ _ 6,010_ 2, 782,559 _ 1,867,3°5 _ 2,675,650
VALENCIA: $
Calif. : 17,180 16,700 14,500 644, LOO 626,000 544, 000
Fla, : 40,520 30,500 36,000 1,823,000 1,372,000 1,620,000
Texas : 300 36,115 4,050 1B? 809
~ ait. s_— ATH _ 2,270 _ _ 1,300_ _ 27,900 _ _ _#7,600 _ _ _}8,500
Total :
Valencia 2. B224T_ 48,560 _ _ $2,190 2,532,415 _ 2,049,650 _ 2,226,300
ALL ORANGES: :
Calif. : 29,100 32,000 29,000 1,091,400 1,200,000 1,088,000
Fle. : 90,4290 58,300 82,200 4,068,800 2,623,000 3,698,000
Texas : 23168 Bho 900 7,519 10,800 fo;
Ariz, * 3,254 = 2,200 2,000 > 82,500 75,000
fan PL L908 TL
UL 8,, ar 3

~ 3,218,975 _ 4,902,950

31, 500 1, 919. 600 1,127,000 1,339,000

19,700 20, 500 73, 000 837,000 ‘71.5 000
7,220 7,600 8,000 306, 800 323,000 340,000

> 13,320 12,100 12,500 566,200 51h, 000 531, 000
21,920 6,600 11,000 506, 600 280,000 468,000

3, 794 500 2,100 151, 760 20,000 84,000

. : 2,8 5210 25800 5, io 103,000 89; 600
Calif., All > 2, 200 3,700 7, 400 137, 000 120, 600
Desert Valleys: 1,202 2,500 2,200 38,480 80,000 70, 400

v. anyother, Arees. me 460_ _ 1,700 _ _ _2,500_ _ 48,920 _ _ 57,000 _ _ _50,200
Grapefrast ___ 2 My2Th _3h,210 _ _ 40,100 2,694,380 _ 1,371,900 _ 1,653,200

13,000 573,800 620,000 49h ,000
iin _ 788; 680 _ _ “ee t00 tas 300
4S TT PyrLoT 7 Gok, WO T — B86, 300

The crop year begins with the bloom of the year shows and ends with completion of harvest the following year.
ludes quantities not harvested, or harvested but not utilized, on account of economic conditions, and quantities

donated to charity. 2/ Net content of box varies. Approximate averages are as follows: Oranges-California and

Arizona, 75 Ibs. ; Florida and other States, 90 Ibs. ; Grapefruit-California, Desert Valleys and Arizona, 64 Ibs.;

other California areas, 67 lbs. ; Florida 85 Ibs. and Texas 80 Ibs, ; Lemons~76 lbs.; Limes-80 Ibs.; Tangelos~

$0 Ibs, and Tangerines-95 Ibs. 3/ Navel and Miscellaneous varieties in California and Arizona, Early and Mide

Season varieties in Florida and Texas. All varieties in Louisiana, For all States except Florida, includes small

quantities of tangerines.

-9-


° Release:
March 10, 1965
3:00 P.M. (E,S.T.)

UNITED STATES CROP SUMMARY AS OF MARCH 1, 1965

CITRUS FRUITS 1/

po ROD UETI
Crop : Average >
__ : 1958-62 2 192
t 1,000 1,000
: boxes boxes
Oranges : 123,147 104,915 92,755 114,110
Grapefruit 2 41,274 34,740 34,210 40,100
Lemons 215,908 | 12,990 18,040 14, 110

iv “Season begins with the bloom of the year shown and ends with the completion ~
‘Of harvest the following year,

POTATOES, IRISH

Seas onal *

t Average: _ : Average
A EERNP __£.1959-63 + 11965 :1959-63 ; 194
1,000 1,000 1,000 1,060 17600

! acres acres acres Cwt, Cwt. Cwt. cwt. cwt.
Winter : 22,6 18,3 19.4 180,1 201.7 193.9 4,052 3,691
E. Spring: 26.4

Million Million
pounds pounds Millions Millions Millions
1

10,148 10,342 5,312 5,336 3 O70
37 9,7 se

7 Monthly totals may not add to coraletiee y totals due to differences in oe
2 Data for Alaska and Hawaii not availavle for inclusion in average,

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Statistical Reporting Service Crop Reporting Board
CrPr 2-2 (3-65) Washington, D. C.


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20250

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

1 During Februery_:2 mos._Jan.tfeb. "17

TO 19652 196s 19S
Mire mae Mit, Mail.
I T.
B & 3 %
12.5 11.8 a5
49 45 103 oT
6.8 6.4 wy uw
62 Z 128 122
wT u 307 328
129 oats 262 238
253 251 516 533
763 _ _ _T39. +213 me
3 393
2 171 372 3
157 wa 31 B95
cy 108 Bu
Wo 29 293TH
Tet = 7 ie BR BE
oe 215 at
3 311 1 652
108 104 axe 210
33 29 5 60
126 13 255 238
125 1 3 33
55,085 ~ ~U8Te iB: I a7 "9657 TO 218 7a a7
30. 3 wt fe
I 93 E 197
ae 2 2
2 U
2 521 0
7 ba TTT Tei TT 1,656 T T6935"
ee) FF g “t
2
i , i 337 323
185 320
i 17’ 3h
py & ae
4 ho 80
20h _ _ _197 408 na
98 77 % 3,859 © 2,000" 7
al 21 Fe
5 47 10 10
al ho h3
11.8 11.0 ak 23
14.7 15.0 30 z&
22 20 46 2
: 45th =k 867 «1,807 1,782 a3 er 1 us
Wash. : ,
ore. tht 35 815 18 4s 2 92 &
Calif. :_ _ 33,105 _ _3,781 _ 1,723 1,728 _ 570_ 601 _s,170_ 1,262
West. 27 ace = Re “Be te ~ ie = “839. ~~ Leer — ae =
48 states: — 300, 6: Bah 299, <a “ee 1,686 5,180 W037 716, co To, am =
Alaska 450 T, 0 ~
Hawaii adn Lv 5, “ee es _di =
Dm e TB ~ 300,771 “1,723 7,686 5,195 - 5 eote 20,534 30,618

-le-


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 : Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

Farm chicken prices in mid-February averaged 8.7 cents per pound Live
weight, the same as a month earlier but 1.1 cent below a year earlier.
Farm prices of turkeys in mid-February averaged 22:2 cents per pound
live weight, 0.5 cent above a year earlier.

The average cost of farm poultry rations in mid-February was $3.43
per 100 pounds, compared with $3.57 in mid-February a year earlier.
Broiler grower feed average cost was $4.83 per 100 pounds, en increase
of 1 cent from a year earlier. Turkey grower feed in mid-February aver-

- aged $4.76 per 100 pounds, 12 cents below a year earlier. The egg-feed
and farm-chicken feed price ratios were less favorable to producers than
a@ year earlier. The broiler-feed and turkey-feed price ratios were more
favorable.

MILK PRODUCTION: February milk production in the United States is esti-

mated at 9,796 million pounds, 1 percent less than in
February 1964, but 3 percent above the 1959-63 average for the month.
The. decreased production from a year earlier results from the extra day
in February last year. On a daily average basis, February production was
2 percent above a year earlier.

MONTHLY MILK PRODUCTION, FEBRUARY 1965, WITH COMPARISONS

(In millions of pounds)

N.Y.
NJ.
Pa.
Ohio
Ind.
Tl.
Mich.
Wis.
Minn.
Iowa
Mo.
N.Dak.
S.Dak.
Nebr.
Kens.
Del.
Ma...
Va.
W.Va.
N.C.

43 wg 14

65 6 63

632 682 649
2.81 1.86 1.61

10.3. 12.9 10.9

5,196


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

In the Corn Belt, the condition of winter wheat is generally good
with soil moisture supplies much improved by above normal February pre-
cipitation. Alternating thawing and freezing has caused some damage
because of soil heaving. There are also some reports of ice cover damage
as a result of snow melting and then freezing. Small grains in the
southeast wintered well. Many fields were being top-dressed with ferti-
lizer and growth has been good.

Field Work Lags

Wet soils restricted field activities during much of February in
the eastern half of the U. S. In the Northeast and Corn Belt, field
work was largely confined to spreading fertilizer and manure and seeding
grasses and legumes. Tobacco seeding had advanced as far north as West
Virginia. Considerable tobacco has been set in Florida and would be
nearly complete if not delayed by rain. Sugarcane harvest continues in
Florida at near mill capacity. Early varieties of peaches began blooming
in Georgia. Cold, wet weather slowed cotton, corn, and sorghum planting
in south Texas.

Spring grain seeding extended into southeast Kansas, but was slow
because of wet soil. In Kansas, about 1 percent of the expected spring
oats acreage and virtually no spring barley was seeded by March 1, well
behind the usual progress. Oklahoma reports about 60 percent of the oats
acreage seeded,

In the North Central and most Western States, farm work has been
Limited to the usual winter chores. Pacific Northwest farmers were re-
seeding fall wheat and barley that had been flooded or eroded beyond
recovery. Planting of sugar beets and onions was starting along the
Snake River in southeast Oregon. In Califormia, sugar beets, safflower,
and alfalfa planting progressed rapidly.

Livestock in Satisfactory Condition

Snow cover and wet soils limited the grazing of ranges, crop residue,
and winter pastures but livestock were in generally satisfactory con-
dition by liberal supplemental feeding. In the Corn Belt and Northeast,
some local hay shortages are reported but feed grains are adequate. In
the Southeast small grains and clovers are growing well but grazing has
been limited by wet soils. ©

Grazing conditions improved somewhat during February over much of
the Western Range area, although supplies of old feed are limited.
Supplemental feeding continues heavy with hay shortages reported in
portions of the northern and central Plains and local areas elsewhere.


CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

Damage to crops from low temperatures was generally light, Freezing
temperatures occurred as fer south as the Florida Everglades and the
Rio Grande Valley of Texas causing spotted damage to tender vegetables.
Below freezing temperatures in the Salt River Valley of Arizona about
mid-month froze back alfalfe and damaged potatoes. In the Corn Belt
and Eastern States, intermittent freezing and thawing caused some
heaving of small grains.

February Precipitation Above Normal in Most Areas

Frequent rain and snow brought above normal precipitation to much
of the Nation during February. From the Great Plains eastward February
precipitation added to already good soil moisture supplies that
accumulated in previous months. In some areas, the rain and melting
snow raised water tables which were already high causing local
flooding. Rain and snow improved soil moisture supplies in the Central
and Southern Plains areas but additional moisture is needed to provide
reserves for spring planting.

Soil moisture supplies are generally adequate in Montana and areas
west of the Rocky Mountains. In eastern Wyoming, Colorado, and New
Mexico, February precipitation brought some relief but did little to
replenish accumulated moisture deficits. Prospects for irrigation
water supplies are favorable with snow pack in most Western Mountain
areas well above normal.

Winter Grain Prospects Variable a

Prospects of fall-seeded small grains were quite variable on March 1,
In the critically dry areas of eastern Colorado, western Kansas and the
Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, February precipitation was light but
sufficient to keep hopes alive that the wheat crop might yet survive if
enough moisture is soon forthcoming. High winds in late February caused
some damage and precipitation will be needed shortly to avoid additional
losses. Wheat in the eastern two-thirds of Kansas southward through
Oklahoma into Texas is in generally good condition with most farmers
optimistic about this year's prospects. By the end of February, wheat
was "greening up" as far north as Kansas and it appears that winterkill
was light. In Nebraska, snow cover offered protection during mach of
the month and the crop remains dormant.

Soil moisture supplies in Montana improved during the month ‘and
small grains should make good growth as soon as weather warms
sufficiently to bring the crops out of dormancy. In the Pacific North-
west, winter grains at low elevations were starting to grow with a
plentiful supply of soil moisture. Fields were being reseeded that
had been flooded or eroded beyond recovery.

-3-



CROP PRODUCTION, March 1965 Crop Reporting Board, SRS, USDA

GENERAL CROP REPORT AS OF MARCH 1, 1965

Frequent rain and snow in February brought above normal precipitation
to much of the Nation, but did little to replenish accumlated moisture
deficiencies in the Central and Southern Plains, according to the Crop
Reporting Board. Wet soils restricted field activities in the eastern
half of the Nation but progress was about normal in the West.

February temperatures averaged above normal west of the Rocky Mountains
and below normal from the Rockies eastward. Freezing temperature during
the month penetrated as far south as the Florida Everglades and the Rio
Grande Valley of Texas causing spotted damage to tender vegetables. Pro~
duction of winter vegetables is indicated 4 percent larger than last year.
Total prospective planted acreage of green peas, tomatoes, and winter
spinach for commercial processing in 1965 is down slightly from 1964.
Winter potato production is expected to be 2 percent more than last year
and early spring potato acreage is more than one-fourth larger than a
year ago.

Livestock were maintained in generally good condition with heavy
supplementel feeding required in northern areas. February milk produc-
tion was 1 percent less than last year and egg production declined 2 per-
cent. The decrease in milk and egg production from last year resulted
from the extra day for February 1964 (leep year).

Citrus Production Up from Last Year

Citrus production for 1964-65 is expected to be 18 percent above
last year. Production of all citrus crops, except lemons, is forecast
at a higher level than last year. By March 1, 51 percent of the orange
erop and 58 percent of the grapefruit had been harvested. Orange harvest
is running shead of last year at this time but picking of grapefruit is
lagging behind last season. California's deciduous fruit and nut crops
are starting their new season now with almonds, apricots, peaches, and
plums in various stages of bloom by March 1. In most other parts of
the country deciduous fruits had not advanced beyond the bud stage.

Temperatures Fluctuate During February

Much of the Nation witnessed alternating freezing and thawing
weather during February. For the month, temperatures generally averaged
above normal west of the Rocky Mountains and below normal east of the
Rockies.