Crop

Production

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

USDA

Washington, D.C.

Released June 12, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For

information on “Crop Production” call at (202) 720-2127, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Forecasts refer to June 1, 1998.

Winter Wheat Production Up 2 Percent

Winter wheat production is forecast is at 1.74 billion bushels, up 2 percent

from May 1,but down 7 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of June 1,

the U.S. yield is forecast at 42.9 bushels per acre. This is up a bushel from

the last forecast, but still down from last year’s record high average. Grain

area totals 40.6 million acres, slightly less than last month.

 

Hard Red Winter wheat production is up 4 percent from last month to 1.03 billion

bushels. White Winter production is up 3 percent to 263 million bushels, due to

improved Pacific Northwest yields. Soft Red is down 2 percent from last month

to 454 million bushels.

All oranges production for the 1997-98 season is forecast at a record large 

14.0 million tons, down less than 1 percent from the May 1 forecast but up 

11 percent from last season’s previous record large production of 12.7 million

tons. Florida's production forecast remains at 248 million boxes (11.2 million

tons), 10 percent above last season. Florida’s early-midseason forecast is 

140 million boxes (6.30 million tons), the same as the previous forecast and 

4 percent above last year’s record large production. The Florida Valencia

forecast remains unchanged from last month and is a record large crop of 

108 million boxes (4.86 million tons), 17 percent above a year ago. The all

orange forecast for Texas is 1.53 million boxes (65,000 tons), down 3 percent

from the May 1 forecast but up 8 percent from the 1996-97 season.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield for the 1997-98 season is

projected at 1.58 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, the same as last month. 

The forecast projects the final yield as reported by the Florida Citrus

Processors Association. The early and midseason portion of the yield for 1997-

98 is final at 1.50 gallons per box, up slightly from a month ago. Valencia

yield is projected at a record high 1.72 gallons per box, up from May’s 

1.70 projection.

Cr Pr 2-2 (6-98)
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 2 NASS, USDA

This report was approved on June 12, 1998.

 Secretary of Agricultural Statistics Board

 Agriculture Chairperson

 Dan Glickman Rich Allen
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 3 NASS, USDA

Contents

 Page

 Tables Narratives

Report Highlights .......................................... -- 1

Wheat, Winter .............................................. 4 27

Wheat, by Class ............................................ 5 --

Wheat, Durum ............................................... 5 27

Cherries, Sweet ............................................ 6 27

Peaches .................................................... 6 26

Citrus Fruits .............................................. 7 28 

Pears, Bartlett ............................................ 8 30

Miscellaneous Fruits ....................................... 9 28

Papayas .................................................... 9 29

Hops ....................................................... 10 30

Sugarbeets ................................................. 11 30

Sugarcane .................................................. 12 30

Sweet Potatoes ............................................. 13 30

Maple Syrup ................................................ 14 30

Crop Summary (Domestic Units)

 Area Planted and Harvested ............................ 16 --

 Yield and Production .................................. 17 --

Fruits and Nuts Production (Domestic Units) ................ 18 --

Crop Summary (Metric Units)

 Area Planted and Harvested ............................ 19 --

 Yield and Production .................................. 20 --

Fruits and Nuts Production (Metric Units) .................. 21 --

Crop Moisture Maps ......................................... -- 22

May Weather Summary ........................................ -- 24

General Crop Comments ...................................... -- 26

Reliability ................................................ -- 32

Report Features ............................................ -- 33
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 4 NASS, USDA

 Winter Wheat: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State 

 and United States, 1997 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Harvested : Yield : Production 

 :----------------------------------------------------------------------

 State : : : : 1998 : : 

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 :-------------------: 1997 : 1998 

 : : : : May 1 : Jun 1 : : 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Acres -- ----- Bushels ----- -- --- 1,000 Bushels -- 

 : 

AL : 100 90 42.0 45.0 45.0 4,200 4,050 

AZ 1/ : 9 9 85.0 80.0 80.0 765 720 

AR : 820 890 48.0 52.0 51.0 39,360 45,390 

CA : 400 370 75.0 70.0 65.0 30,000 24,050 

CO : 2,850 2,750 32.0 36.0 36.0 91,200 99,000 

DE 1/ : 73 73 73.0 65.0 65.0 5,329 4,745 

FL 1/ : 15 13 39.0 41.0 41.0 585 533 

GA : 360 240 44.0 45.0 45.0 15,840 10,800 

ID : 870 770 80.0 80.0 82.0 69,600 63,140 

IL : 1,150 1,200 61.0 54.0 53.0 70,150 63,600 

IN : 660 670 58.0 60.0 60.0 38,280 40,200 

IA 1/ : 27 30 42.0 42.0 42.0 1,134 1,260 

KS : 11,000 10,100 46.0 37.0 39.0 506,000 393,900 

KY : 530 500 54.0 53.0 50.0 28,620 25,000 

LA 1/ : 115 90 37.0 34.0 34.0 4,255 3,060 

MD 1/ : 215 220 68.0 63.0 63.0 14,620 13,860 

MI : 540 570 62.0 56.0 55.0 33,480 31,350 

MN 1/ : 60 55 32.0 32.0 32.0 1,920 1,760 

MS : 175 135 43.0 42.0 42.0 7,525 5,670 

MO : 1,040 1,120 55.0 45.0 46.0 57,200 51,520 

MT : 1,450 1,300 39.0 34.0 31.0 56,550 40,300 

NE : 1,900 1,850 37.0 37.0 39.0 70,300 72,150 

NV 1/ : 11 6 100.0 100.0 100.0 1,100 600 

NJ 1/ : 34 44 60.0 54.0 54.0 2,040 2,376 

NM 1/ : 285 265 35.0 27.0 27.0 9,975 7,155 

NY 1/ : 135 135 56.0 58.0 58.0 7,560 7,830 

NC : 670 650 52.0 47.0 45.0 34,840 29,250 

ND 1/ : 55 65 21.0 30.0 30.0 1,155 1,950 

OH : 1,090 1,160 63.0 62.0 60.0 68,670 69,600 

OK : 5,400 5,400 33.0 32.0 34.0 178,200 183,600 

OR : 840 790 67.0 65.0 66.0 56,280 52,140 

PA 1/ : 175 190 52.0 53.0 53.0 9,100 10,070 

SC : 300 255 50.0 40.0 38.0 15,000 9,690 

SD : 1,050 1,350 30.0 35.0 35.0 31,500 47,250 

TN : 370 400 45.0 44.0 41.0 16,650 16,400 

TX : 4,100 4,000 29.0 30.0 33.0 118,900 132,000 

UT 1/ : 160 150 49.0 50.0 50.0 7,840 7,500 

VA 1/ : 250 240 68.0 60.0 60.0 17,000 14,400 

WA : 2,150 2,100 67.0 64.0 67.0 144,050 140,700 

WV 1/ : 9 10 54.0 55.0 55.0 486 550 

WI 1/ : 135 135 58.0 55.0 55.0 7,830 7,425 

WY 1/ : 235 225 32.0 30.0 30.0 7,520 6,750 

 :

US : 41,813 40,615 45.0 41.9 42.9 1,882,609 1,743,294 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 5 NASS, USDA

 Durum Wheat: Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State 

 and United States, 1997 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 1/ 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Harvested : Yield : Production 

 :----------------------------------------------------------------------

 State : : : : 1998 : : 

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 :-------------------: 1997 : 1998 

 : : : : May 1 : Jun 1 : : 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Acres ----- Bushels ----- 1,000 Bushels 

 : 

AZ : 89 140 90.0 90.0 92.0 8,010 12,880 

CA : 144 156 95.0 95.0 100.0 13,680 15,600 

MN : 5 34.0 170 

MT : 280 26.0 7,280 

ND : 2,570 22.0 56,540 

SD : 19 27.0 513 

 :

US : 3,107 27.7 86,193 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Harvested area for U.S. and northern States available in "Acreage" released

 June 30, 1998. Yield and production for U.S. and northern States to be

 published in "Crop Production" released July 10, 1998.

 Wheat: Production by Class, United States, 1996-1997 

 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 1/ 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Winter : Spring : 

 :-------------------------------------------------------------: 

 Year : Hard : Soft : : Hard : : : Total 

 : Red : Red : White : Red : Durum : White : 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Bushels 

 : 

1996 : 761,412 422,019 293,627 630,866 116,090 61,119 2,285,133 

1997 :1,120,891 483,890 277,828 500,643 86,193 57,107 2,526,552 

1998 :1,026,848 453,695 262,751 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Wheat class estimates are based on varietal acreage survey data available

 for all wheat producing States. Unless unusual situations dictate, the

 previous end-of-season class percentages are used throughout the forecast

 season.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 6 NASS, USDA

 

 Sweet Cherries: Total Production by State, and Total, 

 1996-97 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Total Production 

 State :-----------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Tons 

 : 

 CA : 24,600 49,200 15,000 

 OR : 32,000 50,000 50,000 

 WA : 69,000 92,000 91,000 

 : 

 Total : 125,600 191,200 156,000 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ The first production forecast for sweet cherries in ID, MI, MT, NY, PA, and 

 UT and tart cherries in CO, MI, NY, OR, PA, UT, WA, and WI will be published

 in "Cherry Production" on June 18, 1998. 

 

 

 Peaches: Total Production by Crop, State, and United States, 

 1996-97 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Total Production 

 State :-----------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Million Pounds 

 : 

CA - Freestone : 674 739 650 

GA : 10 160 70 

SC : 8 160 140 

 : 

Total Above : 692 1,059 860 

 : 

CA - Clingstone 1/ : 1,093 1,148 990 

 : 

Total : 1,785 2,207 1,850 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ CA Clingstone is over-the-scale tonnage and includes culls and cannery 

 diversions. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 7 NASS, USDA

 

 Citrus Fruits: Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States, 

 1995-96, 1996-97, and Forecasted June 1, 1998 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Utilized Production : Utilized Production 

 : Boxes : Ton Equivalent 

 Crop and State :-----------------------------------------------------------

 : 1995-96 : 1996-97 : 1997-98 : 1995-96 : 1996-97 : 1997-98 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : ------ 1,000 Boxes 2/ ----- ------- 1,000 Tons ------- 

Oranges : 

 Early Mid & : 

 Navel 3/ : 

 AZ 4/ : 700 400 450 27 15 17 

 CA 4/ : 38,000 40,000 44,000 1,426 1,500 1,650 

 FL : 121,200 134,200 140,000 5,454 6,039 6,300 

 TX : 830 1,300 1,350 35 55 57 

 US : 160,730 175,900 185,800 6,942 7,609 8,024 

 Valencia : 

 AZ 4/ : 950 600 550 36 23 21 

 CA 4/ : 20,000 24,000 30,000 750 900 1,125 

 FL : 82,100 92,000 108,000 3,695 4,140 4,860 

 TX : 110 120 180 4 5 8 

 US : 103,160 116,720 138,730 4,485 5,068 6,014 

 All : 

 AZ 4/ : 1,650 1,000 1,000 63 38 38 

 CA 4/ : 58,000 64,000 74,000 2,176 2,400 2,775 

 FL : 203,300 226,200 248,000 9,149 10,179 11,160 

 TX : 940 1,420 1,530 39 60 65 

 US : 263,890 292,620 324,530 11,427 12,677 14,038 

Temples : 

 FL : 2,150 2,400 2,250 97 108 101 

Grapefruit : 

 White Seedless : 

 FL 5/ : 23,200 23,500 18,250 986 999 776 

 Colored Seedless : 

 FL 5/ : 28,100 31,400 30,600 1,194 1,334 1,301 

 Other : 

 FL : 1,050 900 650 45 38 28 

 All : 

 AZ 4/ : 1,200 900 800 40 30 27 

 CA 4/ : 8,100 8,200 9,000 271 275 302 

 FL 5/ : 52,350 55,800 49,500 2,225 2,371 2,105 

 TX : 4,550 5,300 4,800 182 212 192 

 US : 66,200 70,200 64,100 2,718 2,888 2,626 

Tangerines : 

 AZ 4/ : 1,000 550 500 38 21 19 

 CA 4/ : 2,600 2,600 2,400 98 98 90 

 FL : 4,500 6,300 5,200 213 299 247 

 US : 8,100 9,450 8,100 349 418 356 

Lemons 4/ : 

 AZ : 5,100 2,600 2,600 194 99 99 

 CA : 21,000 20,000 22,000 798 760 836 

 US : 26,100 22,600 24,600 992 859 935 

Tangelos : 

 FL : 2,450 3,950 2,850 110 178 128 

K-Early Citrus : 

 FL : 160 150 40 7 7 2 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See footnotes on next page. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 8 NASS, USDA

 

 Citrus Fruit Footnotes 

1/ The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with 

 the completion of harvest the following year. 

2/ Net lbs. per box: oranges-AZ & CA-75, FL-90, TX-85; grapefruit-AZ & CA-67,

 FL-85, TX-80; lemons-76; tangelos, K-Early Citrus & Temples-90; 

 tangerines-AZ & CA-75, FL-95. 

3/ Navel and miscellaneous varieties in AZ and CA. Early (including Navel) and

 midseason varieties in FL and TX. Small quantities of tangerines in TX. 

4/ Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast. 

5/ Excludes economic abandonment in 1995-96 of 3,000,000 boxes of Colored 

 Seedless; in 1996-97 of 3,000,000 boxes of White Seedless and 3,000,000 

 boxes of Colored Seedless. 

 

 Bartlett Pears: Total Production by State and Total, 

 1996-97 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Total Production 

 State :--------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Tons 

 : 

CA : 287,000 282,000 270,000 

OR : 45,000 75,000 60,000 

WA : 105,000 205,000 150,000 

 : 

Total : 437,000 562,000 480,000 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 9 NASS, USDA

 

 Miscellaneous Fruits: Total Production by Crop and State, 

 1996-97 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Total Production 

 Crop and State :-----------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Tons 

 : 

Prunes (Dried Basis) : 

 CA : 223,000 214,000 170,000 

 : 

Apricots : 

 CA : 76,000 132,000 125,000 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

1/ 1997 revised. 

 

 Papayas: Area and Fresh Production by Month, Hawaii, 1997-98 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area : Fresh Production 

 :-------------------------------------------------------------------

 Month : Total in Crop : Harvested : : 

 :---------------------------------------------: 1997 : 1998 

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : : 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : ---------------- Acres ---------------- 1,000 Pounds 

 : 

Apr : 4,310 3,200 2,120 2,140 2,720 3,015 

May : 4,335 3,220 2,125 2,160 2,730 3,150 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 10 NASS, USDA

 

 Hops: Area Harvested by Variety, State, and United States, 

 1996-97 and Forecasted June 1, 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 State : Area Harvested :Strung for Harvest 

 and :-----------------------------------------------------------

 Variety : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Acres 

 : 

ID : 

 Banner : 77 73 * 

 Chinook : 343 342 327 

 Cluster : 815 797 443 

 Galena : 649 666 728 

 Mt. Hood : 20 10 10 

 Nugget : 37 65 96 

 Willamette : 190 211 229 

 : 

 Other Varieties : 1,866 1,706 1,803 

 : 

 Total : 3,997 3,870 3,636 

 : 

OR : 

 Fuggle : 481 423 189 

 Golding : * 245 235 

 Mt. Hood : 238 238 225 

 Nugget : 3,101 3,063 2,415 

 Perle : 181 329 385 

 Tettnanger : 796 649 154 

 Willamette : 3,259 3,070 2,290 

 : 

 Other Varieties : 430 335 268 

 : 

 Total : 8,486 8,352 6,161 

 : 

WA : 

 Cascade : 1,045 1,037 992 

 Chinook : 2,234 1,692 1,007 

 Cluster : 4,853 3,625 2,617 

 Columbus/Tomahawk : * * 4,106 

 Eroica : 183 * * 

 Galena : 7,984 6,960 5,782 

 Golding : 87 161 80 

 Horizon : * * 129 

 Liberty : 94 * * 

 Mt. Hood : 955 540 356 

 Nugget : 5,539 5,492 4,816 

 Olympic : 126 126 126 

 Perle : 233 256 296 

 Tettnanger : 1,991 1,564 252 

 Willamette : 3,520 4,297 3,929 

 : 

 Other Varieties : 2,834 5,330 2,085 

 : 

 Total : 31,678 31,080 26,573 

 : 

US : 44,161 43,302 36,370 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Included in Other Varieties to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 11 NASS, USDA

 

 Sugarbeets: Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, Production, 

 Price, and Value by State and United States, 1996-97 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Planted : Area Harvested : Yield 

 State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 2/ : 1996 : 1997 2/ : 1996 : 1997 2/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : --------------- 1,000 Acres --------------- ------ Tons ------ 

 : 

CA : 84.0 101.0 82.0 99.0 29.5 30.0 

CO : 54.8 67.9 51.1 66.4 20.2 19.7 

ID : 187.0 198.0 184.0 197.0 24.8 26.4 

MI : 153.0 163.0 130.0 160.0 15.1 19.0 

MN : 441.0 453.0 438.0 446.0 18.2 18.5 

MT : 57.7 59.9 57.5 58.3 22.6 21.0 

NE : 55.8 67.3 51.2 60.3 17.8 16.8 

NM : 1.1 1.6 0.9 1.6 29.8 30.6 

ND : 226.6 231.4 225.3 227.5 18.7 18.5 

OH : 4.9 0.9 4.6 0.9 18.8 19.0 

OR : 17.4 17.6 16.3 17.4 25.5 28.4 

TX : 14.1 16.4 12.6 15.0 19.2 18.0 

WA : 13.0 18.3 13.0 18.0 35.5 33.1 

WY : 58.0 63.0 56.8 60.9 18.9 20.4 

 : 

US : 1,368.4 1,459.3 1,323.3 1,428.3 20.2 20.9 

 :-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Production : Price per Ton : Value of Production 

 :-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 2/ : 1996 : 1997 3/ : 1996 : 1997 3/ 

 :-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 : --- 1,000 Tons --- ---- Dollars ---- 1,000 Dollars 

 : 

CA : 2,419 2,970 43.00 104,017 

CO : 1,032 1,308 41.20 42,518 

ID : 4,563 5,210 46.10 210,354 

MI : 1,963 3,040 41.60 81,661 

MN : 7,971 8,251 47.10 375,434 

MT : 1,300 1,224 48.10 62,530 

NE : 913 1,013 44.40 40,537 

NM : 27 49 31.70 856 

ND : 4,213 4,205 46.10 194,219 

OH : 86 17 42.00 3,612 

OR : 416 494 42.50 17,680 

TX : 242 270 32.50 7,865 

WA : 461 595 42.90 19,777 

WY : 1,074 1,240 46.50 49,941 

 : 

US : 26,680 29,886 45.40 1,211,001 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Relates to year of intended harvest except for overwintered spring planted 

 beets in CA. 

2/ Revised. 

3/ Estimates are not available. U.S. marketing year average price, value of 

 production, and parity price will be published in "Agricultural Prices", 

 released July 31, 1998. State estimates will be published in "Crop Values" 

 to be released February 1999. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 12 NASS, USDA

 

 Sugarcane: Area Harvested, Yield, Production, Price, 

 and Value by State and United States, 1996-97 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Harvested : Yield 1/ : Production 1/ 

 State :-------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 2/ : 1996 : 1997 2/ : 1996 : 1997 2/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Acres ----- Tons ---- --- 1,000 Tons --- 

 : 

For Sugar : 

 FL : 417.0 421.0 33.1 36.9 13,803 15,535 

 HI : 42.9 32.0 82.6 91.4 3,544 2,925 

 LA : 335.0 380.0 27.9 28.2 9,347 10,700 

 TX : 34.6 27.3 28.7 30.3 992 827 

 : 

 US : 829.5 860.3 33.4 34.9 27,686 29,987 

 : 

For Seed : 

 FL : 21.0 19.0 33.1 36.9 695 701 

 HI : 3.1 2.2 30.6 38.2 95 84 

 LA : 35.0 30.0 27.9 28.2 976 846 

 TX : 0.3 2.5 33.3 30.0 10 75 

 : 

 US : 59.4 53.7 29.9 31.8 1,776 1,706 

 : 

For Sugar : 

 and Seed : 

 FL : 438.0 440.0 33.1 36.9 14,498 16,236 

 HI : 46.0 34.2 79.1 88.0 3,639 3,009 

 LA : 370.0 410.0 27.9 28.2 10,323 11,546 

 TX : 34.9 29.8 28.7 30.3 1,002 902 

 : 

 US : 888.9 914.0 33.1 34.7 29,462 31,693 

 :-------------------------------------------------------------------

 : For Sugar : For Sugar and Seed 

 :-------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Price per Ton : Value of Production : Value of Production 3/ 

 :-------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 :1997 4/ : 1996 : 1997 4/ : 1996 : 1997 4/ 

 :-------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Dollars ------------- 1,000 Dollars ------------- 

 : 

FL : 29.40 405,808 426,241 

HI : 30.50 108,092 110,990 

LA : 26.20 244,891 270,463 

TX : 25.50 25,296 25,551 

 : 

US : 28.30 784,087 833,245 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Yield and production refer to net weight. 

2/ Revised. 

3/ Price per ton of cane for sugar used in evaluating value of production for 

 seed. 

4/ Estimates are not available. U.S. marketing year average price, value of 

 production, and parity price will be published in "Agricultural Prices" 

 released July 31, 1998. State estimates will be published in "Crop Values" 

 to be released February 1999. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 13 NASS, USDA

 

 Sweet Potatoes: Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, 

 and Production by State and United States, 1996-97 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Planted : Area Harvested 

 State :---------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Acres 

 : 

AL : 4.4 4.1 4.3 3.8 

CA : 9.6 9.7 9.6 9.7 

GA : 2.1 1.7 2.0 1.6 

LA : 22.0 21.0 21.0 20.0 

MS : 8.3 8.6 8.1 8.4 

NJ : 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 

NC : 33.0 32.0 31.0 31.0 

SC : 1.9 1.5 1.6 1.3 

TX : 5.9 6.3 5.5 5.8 

VA : 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.6 

 : 

US : 89.1 86.7 84.8 83.3 

 :---------------------------------------------------------------

 : Yield : Production 

 :---------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 

 :---------------------------------------------------------------

 : ------- Cwt ------- ------ 1,000 Cwt ----- 

 : 

AL : 170 150 731 570 

CA : 225 205 2,160 1,989 

GA : 200 150 400 240 

LA : 160 170 3,360 3,400 

MS : 160 130 1,296 1,092 

NJ : 130 105 156 116 

NC : 140 160 4,340 4,960 

SC : 125 120 200 156 

TX : 135 155 743 899 

VA : 140 150 70 90 

 : 

US : 159 162 13,456 13,512 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ 1997 revised. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 14 NASS, USDA

 

 Maple Syrup: Production, Price, and Value 

 by State and United States, 1997-98 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : : Average Price : Value of 

 : Production : per Gallon : Production 

 State :-----------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Gallons ---- Dollars --- 1,000 Dollars 

 : 

CT : 9 9 41.70 43.00 375 387 

ME : 185 170 19.80 19.00 3,663 3,230 

MA : 44 47 37.20 37.50 1,637 1,763 

MI : 75 55 31.50 29.40 2,363 1,617 

NH : 76 67 40.20 41.00 3,055 2,747 

NY : 269 231 25.10 25.50 6,752 5,886 

OH : 95 78 30.80 28.40 2,926 2,215 

PA : 63 72 26.00 24.30 1,638 1,750 

VT : 395 360 27.60 28.50 10,902 10,260 

WI : 87 70 21.90 23.10 1,905 1,617 

 : 

US : 1,298 1,159 27.10 27.20 35,216 31,472 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ 1997 revised. Price and value for 1998 are preliminary and based on grower

 expectations during April and May 1998. 

 

 

 Maple Syrup: Percent of Sales by Type and State, 1996-97 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Retail : Wholesale and Bulk 

 State :-----------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Percent 

 : 

CT : 70 75 30 25 

ME : 8 10 92 90 

MA : 80 70 20 30 

MI : 64 48 36 52 

NH : 70 65 30 35 

NY : 50 48 50 52 

OH : 65 71 35 29 

PA : 48 49 52 51 

VT : 35 40 65 60 

WI : 37 27 63 73 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ 1996 revised.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 15 NASS, USDA

 

 Maple Syrup: Price by Type of Sales and Size of Container 

 by State, 1996-97 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Type : Gallons : 1/2 Gallons : Quarts : Pints : 1/2 Pints 

 and :---------------------------------------------------------------------

 State : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Dollars 

 : 

Retail : 

 CT :35.40 34.40 20.50 19.90 11.00 11.80 6.95 6.90 4.25 4.20 

 ME :32.30 31.80 17.50 16.70 9.35 9.25 5.55 5.35 3.70 3.85 

 MA :32.40 31.60 18.30 18.50 10.60 10.70 6.65 6.55 4.05 4.35 

 MI :27.70 29.00 17.00 16.50 9.17 9.41 5.81 5.69 3.47 4.18 

 NH :32.10 33.10 17.80 19.10 10.50 10.90 6.20 6.45 3.80 3.70 

 NY :28.20 27.20 16.50 16.45 10.00 9.65 6.05 5.95 3.65 3.70 

 OH :26.50 28.40 15.00 16.30 9.20 9.50 5.70 5.80 4.30 4.50 

 PA :28.70 27.70 16.10 16.00 9.00 9.00 5.40 5.60 3.70 3.50 

 VT :28.30 28.30 16.50 17.00 10.10 10.00 6.15 6.25 4.20 4.05 

 WI :24.80 26.40 13.10 13.90 7.09 7.10 4.45 4.40 2.67 3.00 

 : 

Wholesale : 

 CT 2/ : 34.30 17.40 17.40 8.85 8.90 6.50 5.10 3.20 3.15 

 ME :25.40 27.80 13.60 14.50 7.50 8.30 4.50 5.00 2.80 3.15 

 MA :25.70 25.20 16.00 16.20 8.60 8.80 5.05 5.30 3.25 3.20 

 MI :25.75 26.60 13.75 16.10 7.60 7.68 4.17 4.36 2.24 2.99 

 NH :24.90 25.60 14.80 15.50 8.40 8.55 4.90 5.40 3.10 2.90 

 NY :25.70 22.90 14.70 14.15 8.00 8.05 4.80 5.00 3.40 3.15 

 OH :22.50 21.40 13.00 14.90 7.50 8.20 4.50 4.70 3.40 3.30 

 PA :26.80 26.10 14.60 14.30 7.90 7.80 4.80 4.80 3.00 3.10 

 VT :24.30 24.70 13.90 14.50 8.10 8.20 4.80 4.55 3.05 3.10 

 WI :23.90 26.60 13.10 12.90 6.65 8.10 3.81 4.90 2.51 2.70 

 :---------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Bulk All Grades : Bulk All Grades : All Sales 

 :---------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 

 :---------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Dollars per Pound Dollars per Gallon Equivalent per Gallon 

 : 

Bulk : 

 CT 2/ : 1.31 14.40 42.70 41.70 

 ME : 1.55 1.40 17.10 15.40 20.10 19.80 

 MA : 1.38 1.48 15.20 16.30 38.90 37.20 

 MI : 1.77 1.76 19.45 19.40 31.10 31.50 

 NH : 1.36 1.40 15.00 15.50 37.20 40.20 

 NY : 1.35 1.45 14.90 15.80 25.50 25.10 

 OH : 1.60 1.60 17.50 17.20 28.50 30.80 

 PA : 1.30 1.40 13.50 15.10 24.60 26.00 

 VT : 1.48 1.58 16.30 17.40 26.50 27.60 

 WI : 1.42 1.50 15.60 16.30 22.70 21.90 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ 1996 revised. 

2/ Data not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 16 NASS, USDA

 

 Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1997-98 1/ 

 (Domestic Units) 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Planted : Area Harvested 

 Crop :-----------------------------------------------

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : 1,000 Acres 

 : 

Grains & Hay : 

 Barley : 6,910.0 6,780.0 6,425.0 

 Corn for Grain 2/ : 80,227.0 80,781.0 73,720.0 

 Corn for Silage : 5,758.0 

 Hay, All : 60,815.0 60,735.0 

 Alfalfa : 23,673.0 

 All Other : 37,142.0 

 Oats : 5,169.0 5,154.0 2,911.0 3,058.0 

 Rice : 3,056.0 3,085.0 3,034.0 

 Rye : 1,433.0 1,551.0 341.0 

 Sorghum for Grain 2/ : 10,108.0 9,015.0 9,391.0 

 Sorghum for Silage : 310.0 

 Wheat, All : 70,989.0 67,027.0 63,577.0 

 Winter : 48,342.0 46,637.0 41,813.0 40,615.0 

 Durum : 3,250.0 4,075.0 3,107.0 

 Other Spring : 19,397.0 16,315.0 18,657.0 

 : 

Oilseeds : 

 Canola : 728.0 698.0 

 Cottonseed : 

 Flaxseed : 146.0 280.0 135.0 

 Mustard Seed : 74.4 72.8 

 Peanuts : 1,431.0 1,474.5 1,410.8 

 Rapeseed : 1.7 1.5 

 Safflower : 249.0 235.0 

 Soybeans for Beans : 70,850.0 72,000.0 69,884.0 

 Sunflower : 2,949.0 3,148.0 2,852.0 

 : 

Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : 

 Cotton, All : 13,808.0 13,215.0 13,270.0 

 Upland : 13,558.0 12,948.0 13,021.0 

 Amer-Pima : 250.0 267.0 249.0 

 Sugarbeets : 1,459.3 1,496.7 1,428.3 

 Sugarcane : 914.0 

 Tobacco : 811.5 733.8 

 : 

Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : 

 Austrian Winter Peas : 8.1 7.6 

 Dry Edible Beans : 1,851.8 1,940.3 1,720.2 

 Dry Edible Peas : 293.6 276.6 

 Lentils : 181.0 172.0 

 Wrinkled Seed Peas : 

 : 

Potatoes & Misc. : 

 Coffee (HI) : 5.6 

 Ginger Root (HI) : 0.3 

 Hops : 43.3 36.4 

 Peppermint Oil : 136.3 

 Potatoes, All : 1,362.0 1,325.5 

 Winter : 15.6 15.5 15.4 15.0 

 Spring : 88.3 93.2 86.2 89.8 

 Summer : 68.6 65.9 

 Fall : 1,189.5 1,158.0 

 Spearmint Oil : 24.5 

 Sweet Potatoes : 86.7 85.7 83.3 

 Taro (HI) 3/ : 0.5 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or 

from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 1998 crop year. 

2/ Area planted for all purposes. 3/ Acreage is total acres in crop, not 

harvested acreage. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 17 NASS, USDA

 

 Crop Summary: Yield and Production, United States, 1997-98 

 (Domestic Units) 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : : Yield : Production 

 Crop :Unit :-------------------------------------------

 : : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : : ------- 1,000 ------ 

 : : 

Grains & Hay : : 

 Barley : Bu : 58.3 374,478 

 Corn for Grain : " : 127.0 9,365,574 

 Corn for Silage : Ton : 16.0 91,903 

 Hay, All : " : 2.50 152,120 

 Alfalfa : " : 3.35 79,242 

 All Other : " : 1.96 72,878 

 Oats : Bu : 60.5 176,104 

 Rice 2/ : Cwt : 5,896 178,896 

 Rye : Bu : 26.1 8,912 

 Sorghum for Grain : " : 69.5 653,106 

 Sorghum for Silage : Ton : 12.5 3,885 

 Wheat, All : Bu : 39.7 2,526,552 

 Winter : " : 45.0 42.9 1,882,609 1,743,294

 Durum : " : 27.7 86,193 

 Other Spring : " : 29.9 557,750 

 : : 

Oilseeds : : 

 Canola : Lb : 1,310 914,385 

 Cottonseed : Ton : 6,935 

 Flaxseed : Bu : 16.1 2,171 

 Mustard Seed : Lb : 816 59,405 

 Peanuts : " : 2,507 3,537,050 

 Rapeseed : " : 1,300 1,950 

 Safflower : " : 1,830 430,050 

 Soybeans for Beans : Bu : 39.0 2,727,254 

 Sunflower : Lb : 1,320 3,763,428 

 : : 

Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : : 

 Cotton, All 2/ : Bale: 680 18,793.0 

 Upland 2/ : " : 673 18,245.0 

 Amer-Pima 2/ : " : 1,056 548.0 

 Sugarbeets : Ton : 20.9 29,886 

 Sugarcane : " : 34.7 31,693 

 Tobacco : Lb : 2,201 1,786,065 

 : : 

Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : : 

 Austrian Winter Peas 2/ : Cwt : 1,513 115 

 Dry Edible Beans 2/ : " : 1,695 29,156 

 Dry Edible Peas 2/ : " : 2,103 5,816 

 Lentils 2/ : " : 1,390 2,391 

 Wrinkled Seed Peas : " : 682 

 : : 

Potatoes & Misc. : : 

 Coffee (HI) : Lb : 1,610 9,000 

 Ginger Root (HI) : " : 44,000 12,100 

 Hops : " : 1,729 74,872.1 

 Peppermint Oil : " : 75 10,256 

 Potatoes, All : Cwt : 347 459,912 

 Winter : " : 203 199 3,124 2,980

 Spring : " : 252 217 21,749 19,455

 Summer : " : 272 17,951 

 Fall : " : 360 417,088 

 Spearmint Oil : Lb : 98 2,403 

 Sweet Potatoes : Cwt : 162 13,512 

 Taro (HI) 3/ : Lb : 5,500 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or 

from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 1998 crop year. 

2/ Yield in pounds. 3/ Yield is not estimated. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 18 NASS, USDA

 

 Fruits and Nuts Production, United States, 1996-98 

 (Domestic Units) 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : : Production 

 Crop : Unit :-----------------------------------------------

 : : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : : 1,000 

 : : 

Citrus 2/ : : 

 Grapefruit : Ton : 2,718 2,888 2,626 

 K-Early Citrus (FL) : " : 7 7 2 

 Lemons : " : 992 859 935 

 Oranges : " : 11,427 12,677 14,038 

 Tangelos (FL) : " : 110 178 128 

 Tangerines : " : 349 418 356 

 Temples (FL) : " : 97 108 101 

 : : 

Non-Citrus : : 

 Apples : Lb : 10,392.0 10,226.6 

 Apricots : Ton : 79.3 138.0 

 Bananas (HI) : Lb : 13,000.0 13,700.0 

 Grapes : Ton : 5,554.3 6,836.4 

 Olives (CA) : " : 166.0 104.0 

 Papayas (HI) : Lb : 41,800.0 38,800.0 

 Peaches : " : 2,116.3 2,651.1 

 Pears : Ton : 820.8 1,044.0 

 Prunes, Dried (CA) : " : 223.0 214.0 170.0 

 Prunes & Plums (Ex CA): " : 20.0 29.0 

 : : 

Nuts & Misc. : : 

 Almonds (CA) : Lb : 510,000 757,000 550,000 

 Hazelnuts : Ton : 18.5 44.1 

 Pecans : Lb : 221,500 272,100 

 Pistachios (CA) : " : 105,000 180,000 

 Walnuts (CA) : Ton : 208.0 269.0 

 Maple Syrup : Gal : 1,567 1,298 1,159 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or 

 from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 1998 crop 

 year. 

2/ Production years are 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 19 NASS, USDA

 

 Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1997-98 

 (Metric Units) 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Area Planted : Area Harvested 

 Crop :-----------------------------------------------

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Hectares 

 : 

Grains & Hay : 

 Barley : 2,796,410 2,743,800 2,600,130 

 Corn for Grain 2/ :32,467,060 32,691,260 29,833,750 

 Corn for Silage : 2,330,210 

 Hay, All : 24,611,230 24,578,850 

 Alfalfa : 9,580,230 

 All Other : 15,031,000 

 Oats : 2,091,840 2,085,770 1,178,050 1,237,540 

 Rice : 1,236,730 1,248,470 1,227,830 

 Rye : 579,920 627,670 138,000 

 Sorghum for Grain 2/ : 4,090,610 3,648,280 3,800,440 

 Sorghum for Silage : 125,450 

 Wheat, All :28,728,530 27,125,160 25,728,970 

 Winter :19,563,520 18,873,530 16,921,300 16,436,480 

 Durum : 1,315,240 1,649,110 1,257,370 

 Other Spring : 7,849,770 6,602,520 7,550,300 

 : 

Oilseeds : 

 Canola : 294,610 282,470 

 Cottonseed : 

 Flaxseed : 59,080 113,310 54,630 

 Mustard Seed : 30,110 29,460 

 Peanuts : 579,110 596,720 570,940 

 Rapeseed : 690 610 

 Safflower : 100,770 95,100 

 Soybeans for Beans :28,672,290 29,137,680 28,281,360 

 Sunflower : 1,193,430 1,273,960 1,154,180 

 : 

Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : 

 Cotton, All : 5,587,960 5,347,980 5,370,240 

 Upland : 5,486,790 5,239,930 5,269,470 

 Amer-Pima : 101,170 108,050 100,770 

 Sugarbeets : 590,560 605,700 578,020 

 Sugarcane : 369,890 

 Tobacco : 328,410 296,950 

 : 

Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : 

 Austrian Winter Peas : 3,280 3,080 

 Dry Edible Beans : 749,400 785,220 696,150 

 Dry Edible Peas : 118,820 111,940 

 Lentils : 73,250 69,610 

 Wrinkled Seed Peas : 

 : 

Potatoes & Misc. : 

 Coffee (HI) : 2,270 

 Ginger Root (HI) : 110 

 Hops : 17,520 14,730 

 Peppermint Oil : 55,160 

 Potatoes, All : 551,190 536,420 

 Winter : 6,310 6,270 6,230 6,070 

 Spring : 35,730 37,720 34,880 36,340 

 Summer : 27,760 26,670 

 Fall : 481,380 468,630 

 Spearmint Oil : 9,910 

 Sweet Potatoes : 35,090 34,680 33,710 

 Taro (HI) 3/ : 180 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or 

from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 1998 crop year. 

2/ Area planted for all purposes. 3/ Area is total hectares in crop, not 

harvested hectares. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 20 NASS, USDA

 

 Crop Summary: Yield and Production, United States, 1997-98 

 (Metric Units) 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Yield : Production 

 Crop :-----------------------------------------------

 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Metric Tons 

 : 

Grains & Hay : 

 Barley : 3.14 8,153,300 

 Corn for Grain : 7.97 237,896,540 

 Corn for Silage : 35.78 83,373,000 

 Hay, All : 5.61 138,000,940 

 Alfalfa : 7.50 71,887,130 

 All Other : 4.40 66,113,810 

 Oats : 2.17 2,556,140 

 Rice : 6.61 8,114,590 

 Rye : 1.64 226,380 

 Sorghum for Grain : 4.37 16,589,660 

 Sorghum for Silage : 28.09 3,524,410 

 Wheat, All : 2.67 68,761,480 

 Winter : 3.03 2.89 51,236,220 47,444,690 

 Durum : 1.87 2,345,790 

 Other Spring : 2.01 15,179,470 

 : 

Oilseeds : 

 Canola : 1.47 414,760 

 Cottonseed : 6,290,960 

 Flaxseed : 1.01 55,150 

 Mustard Seed : 0.91 26,950 

 Peanuts : 2.81 1,604,380 

 Rapeseed : 1.44 880 

 Safflower : 2.05 195,070 

 Soybeans for Beans : 2.62 74,223,690 

 Sunflower : 1.48 1,707,060 

 : 

Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : 

 Cotton, All : 0.76 4,091,690 

 Upland : 0.75 3,972,380 

 Amer-Pima : 1.18 119,310 

 Sugarbeets : 46.91 27,112,120 

 Sugarcane : 77.73 28,751,410 

 Tobacco : 2.47 810,150 

 : 

Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : 

 Austrian Winter Peas : 1.69 5,220 

 Dry Edible Beans : 1.90 1,322,490 

 Dry Edible Peas : 2.36 263,810 

 Lentils : 1.56 108,450 

 Wrinkled Seed Peas : 30,940 

 : 

Potatoes & Misc. : 

 Coffee (HI) : 1.80 4,080 

 Ginger Root (HI) : 49.91 5,490 

 Hops : 1.94 33,960 

 Peppermint Oil : 0.08 4,650 

 Potatoes, All : 38.89 20,861,260 

 Winter : 22.74 22.27 141,700 135,170 

 Spring : 28.28 24.28 986,520 882,460 

 Summer : 30.53 814,240 

 Fall : 40.37 18,918,790 

 Spearmint Oil : 0.11 1,090 

 Sweet Potatoes : 18.18 612,890 

 Taro (HI) 2/ : 13.83 2,490 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or 

from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 1998 crop year. 

2/ Yield is not estimated. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 21 NASS, USDA

 

 Fruits and Nuts Production, United States, 1996-98 

 (Metric Units) 1/ 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Production 

 Crop :-----------------------------------------------------

 : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 : Metric tons 

 : 

Citrus 2/ : 

 Grapefruit : 2,465,730 2,619,950 2,382,270 

 K-Early Citrus (FL) : 6,350 6,350 1,810 

 Lemons : 899,930 779,270 848,220 

 Oranges : 10,366,400 11,500,380 12,735,060 

 Tangelos (FL) : 99,790 161,480 116,120 

 Tangerines : 316,610 379,200 322,960 

 Temples (FL) : 88,000 97,980 91,630 

 : 

Non-Citrus : 

 Apples : 4,710 4,640 

 Apricots : 71,940 125,190 

 Bananas (HI) : 5,900 6,210 

 Grapes : 5,038,780 6,201,880 

 Olives (CA) : 150,590 94,350 

 Papayas (HI) : 18,960 17,600 

 Peaches : 960 1,200 

 Pears : 744,570 947,100 

 Prunes, Dried (CA) : 202,300 194,140 154,220 

 Prunes & Plums (Ex CA) : 18,140 26,310 

 : 

Nuts & Misc. : 

 Almonds (CA) : 231,330 343,370 249,480 

 Hazelnuts : 16,780 40,010 

 Pecans : 100,470 123,420 

 Pistachios (CA) : 47,630 81,650 

 Walnuts (CA) : 188,690 244,030 

 Maple Syrup : 7,830 6,490 5,790 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or 

 from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 1998 crop 

 year. 

2/ Production years are 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98. 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 22 NASS, USDA

June 6, 1998

NOAA/USDA JOINT AGRICULTURAL WEATHER FACILITY Based on preliminary reports

CROP MOISTURE

(SHORT TERM, CROP NEED VS. AVAILABLE WATER IN 5-FT. SOIL PROFILE)

UPDATED WEEKLY

EXCESSIVELY

DRY

EXCESSIVELY

DRY

EXCESSIVELY

DRY

SEVERELY

DRY

SEVERELY 

DRY

SEVERELY

DRY EXTREMELY

DRY

FAVORABLY

MOIST

SLIGHTLY

DRY

SLIGHTLY

DRY

ABNORMALLY

DRY

FAVORABLY

MOIST

SLIGHTLY

DRY

SLIGHTLY

DRY

ABNORMALLY

MOIST

FAVORABLY

MOIST

FAVORABLY

MOIST

ABNORMALLY

MOIST

ABNORMALLY

MOIST

ABNORMALLY

MOIST

ABNORMALLY

DRY

ABNORMALLY

MOIST

FAVORABLY

MOIST

SLIGHTLY

DRY

FAVORABLY

MOIST

ABNORMALLY

DRY

Crop Moisture

Depicts short term (up to about 4 weeks) abnormal dryness or wetness affecting

Agriculture, responds rapidly, can change considerably week to week, and

indicates normal conditions at the beginning and end of the growing season.

Uses...applicable in measuring the short term, week-to-week, status of dryness

or wetness affecting warm season crops and field operations.

Limitations...may not be applicable to germination and shallow rooted crops

which are unable to extract the deep or subsoil moisture from a 5-foot profile,

or for cool season crops growing when temperatures are averaging below about 55

degrees fahrenheit. It is not generally indicative of the long term (months,

years) drought or wet spells which are depicted by the drought severity index.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 23 NASS, USDA

June 6, 1998

NOAA/USDA JOINT AGRICULTURAL WEATHER FACILITY Based on preliminary reports

DROUGHT SEVERITY

(LONG TERM PALMER)

UPDATED BIWEEKLY

MOIST MOIST

MOIST

MOIST

SEVERE

SEVERE

MODERATE

MODERATE

MOIST

MODERATE

Drought Severity

Drought severity index (Palmer): Depicts prolonged (months, years) abnormal

dryness or wetness; responds slowly; changes little from week to week; and

reflects long term moisture runoff, recharge, and deep percolation, as well as

evaportranspiration.

Uses...applicable in measuring disruptive effects of prolonged dryness or

wetness on water sensitive economies; designating disaster areas of drought or

wetness and reflecting the general long-term status of water supplies in

aquifers, reservoirs, and streams.

Limitations...is not generally indicative of short-term (few weeks) status of

drought or wetness such as frequently affects crops and field operations (this

is indicated by the crop moisture index).
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 24 NASS, USDA

May Weather Summary: A late-spring heat wave developed across Texas early in

 the month, expanding to encompass areas from New Mexico to

the Southern Atlantic States by month's end. In addition to the heat, which

pushed monthly temperatures 2 to 6 degrees F above normal, a dry spell across

the region stretched to 10 weeks by the end of May, stressing dryland crops. 

Smoke from Mexican and Central American wildfires also cloaked the region,

particularly before mid-month in southern Texas, where visibilities were locally

reduced to less than 1 mile. Similar temperature departures (generally +2 to +6

degrees F) were noted in other areas east of the Rockies, but warmth in many

locations was accompanied by abundant rainfall. In contrast, exceptionally cool

weather (as much as 10 degrees F below normal) gripped California, including the

San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, hindering planting and crop development.

Monthly rainfall was less than 25 percent of normal from the southern Rockies to

northern Florida and southern Georgia. Several locations in Texas and Louisiana

reported record-low May totals:

Record-Low May Rainfall (Inches)

 Location Total Previous Record/Year

 Corpus Christi, TX 0.00 trace in 1961

 Laredo, TX 0.00 0.00 in 1945

 Brownsville, TX trace trace in 1899 and 1978

 Victoria, TX trace 0.11 in 1913

 Midland, TX 0.02 0.06 in 1945

 Beaumont, TX 0.08 0.10 in 1978

 New Orleans, LA 0.43 0.95 in 1992

Except for scattered late-month thunderstorms, several other locations would

have set rainfall records. May 26-27 rainfall accounted for the month's only

measurable rainfall in the Texas cities of San Angelo (1.75 inches), Austin

(0.73 inches), and San Antonio (0.34 inches). San Angelo's rain ended a 59-day

dry spell, their longest such spring-season streak on record. All of New

Orleans' rain fell on May 29. Monthly totals in Florida were as low as 0.16

inches (5 percent of normal) in Daytona Beach and 0.54 inches (11 percent) in

Tallahassee. The mercury reached or exceeded 90 degrees F on 21 days during the

month in Tallahassee, tying their May record set in 1962.

The region's dry spell began to develop in mid-March, allowing rainfall deficits

to accumulate for 10 weeks by the end of May. April-May rainfall was also the

lowest on record in several cities, including:

Record-Low April-May Rainfall (Inches)

 Location Total Previous Record/Year

 Midland, TX 0.02 0.08 in 1945

 San Antonio, TX 0.39 0.49 in 1961

 Shreveport, LA 0.94 2.21 in 1925

In contrast, monthly rainfall topped 200 percent of normal in a broad belt from

California to the northern Rockies. Totals exceeded 800 percent of normal in

parts of California. At least 30 weather stations across California and the

interior Northwest established May rainfall records, a few of which are listed

below:

Record-High May Rainfall (Inches)

 Location Total Previous Record/Year

 Colville, WA 7.05 5.48 in 1942

 Sandpoint, ID 6.80 6.13 in 1941

 Republic, WA 6.26 6.07 in 1990

 Portland, OR 5.55 4.88 in 1996

 Salem, OR 5.55 4.58 in 1942

 Boise, ID 4.40 4.07 in N/A

 Lewiston, ID 3.78 3.74 in 1991

 Stockton, CA 3.74 2.77 in 1915

 Winnemucca, NV 3.57 3.38 in 1987

 Oakland, CA 3.05 2.92 in 1974

 Salinas, CA 2.39 2.32 in 1957
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 25 NASS, USDA

The Northwestern wetness culminated with a barrage of rain on May 27-28. On the

27th, single-day rainfall records for May were broken in Sandpoint, ID (2.95

inches) and at Boundary Dam, WA (2.02 inches). A day later, 1.88 inches pelted

Red Bluff, CA. 

According to California's Department of Water Resources, the water equivalent of

the Sierra Nevada snow pack stood at an astounding 32 inches on May 31, 321 percent of normal for the date. In the Sierra Nevada foothills, May precipitation

totaled 9.74 inches at Blue Canyon, and in southern California, Mt. Wilson

netted 10.84 inches.

The month began with several daily-record highs across the Northwest, including

maxima of 85 degrees F in Olympia, WA and 87 degrees F in Lewiston, ID on May 1. 

Consistently cool air plagued California and eventually overspread the Northwest. On May 26, Lewiston's high reached only 48 degrees F. For the month, the

average temperature of 61.0 degrees F in Bakersfield, CA broke their May record

of 61.7 degrees F, set in 1911. Also in California, Fresno's average maximum

temperature of 72.5 degrees F shattered their former record of 74.8 degrees F,

set in 1953. May maxima were the lowest on record for Bakersfield (84 degrees F

on the 31st) and Fresno (85 degrees F on the 31st). The only other years May

maxima failed to reach 90 degrees F in those two cities were 1917 and 1961.

In sharp contrast, a nearly unbroken string of hot days across the South Central

States boosted average temperatures to May-record levels in several locations,

including:

Highest May Average Temperature (degrees F)

 Location Average Previous Record/Year

 Del Rio, TX 84.2 not available

 Abilene, TX 79.2 78.8 in 1896

 New Orleans, LA 78.8 78.3 in 1955

 Little Rock, AR 76.2 75.8 in 1987

On the last day of the month, high-temperature records for May were established

in Monroe, LA (104 degrees F), Shreveport, LA (102 degrees F), and Tyler, TX

(100 degrees F). Monroe's May record was shattered by 5 degrees F, and

Shreveport's record had stood since May 31, 1886. Earlier in the month, Austin,

TX notched 102 degrees F on May 7, only 3 days later than their earliest tripledigit heat on record (May 4, 1984). Amarillo, TX recorded 101 degrees F on 

May 29, their first 100-degree reading since July 7, 1996. For the first time

on record, Dallas-Ft. Worth tallied 3 days of 100-degree heat during May. In

southern Texas, Laredo's high temperatures averaged 102.2 degrees F, 9.7 degrees

above normal, despite persistent smoke and haze from Mexican and Central

American wild fires that often reduced visibilities in the region to as little

as 1 to 3 miles. In contrast, Phoenix, AZ escaped the January-May period

without triple-digit heat for the first time since 1971.

May started on a very wet note across the Northeast. Williamsport, PA notched 

13 consecutive days with measurable rain (April 30 to May 12), breaking their

all-time record set in May 1960. Measurable rain also fell in Baltimore, MD on

the first 12 days of the month. In Hartford, CT, rainfall totaled 6.48 inches

during the first 11 days of the month, but only 1.35 inches thereafter. 

Similarly, only 0.17 inches fell in Washington, DC after May 12, lifting their

monthly total to 4.06 inches. Late in the month, a small, slow-moving

thunderstorm complex cross the Arklatex region, dumping torrential rainfall. On

May 28, 10.48 inches inundated Texarkana, AR, shattering their single-day

rainfall record.

In Indianapolis, IN, rain fell on 18 days during the month, totaling 

6.13 inches. That precipitation was part of a pattern that deposited beneficial

rainfall across most of the Corn Belt, with unfavorably dry weather confined to
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 26 NASS, USDA

areas to the northeast or southwest. Pockets of dryness persisted on the

northern Plains, however, as monthly rainfall was well below normal in locations

such as Miles City, MT (0.81 inches; 36 percent of normal) and Bismarck, ND

(1.10 inches; 50 percent)

In Hawaii, drought continued in some areas despite significant improvement in

others. On the island of Hawaii, Hilo netted 15.65 inches (158 percent of

normal), boosting their 7-month (November-May) rainfall to 47.52 inches 

(55 percent of normal). On Oahu, however, Honolulu's 7-month total stood at

2.99 inches (17 percent of normal).

General Crop Comments: As the month began, dry weather settled into the western

 Corn Belt, allowing planting activity to accelerate to a

near-record pace. Farmers in the central and northern Great Plains also made

rapid progress planting corn and small grains. Frequent rains in the eastern

Corn Belt limited planting progress until mid-month. As farmers finished

planting corn, they immediately began planting soybeans, which also progressed

well ahead of the normal pace in the western Corn Belt. Crop emergence and

development were aided by above-normal temperatures and timely showers. Some

isolated crop damage was caused by hail, high winds, and soil erosion that

occurred during heavy downpours.

The winter wheat crop developed ahead of normal as the month began. In the

southern Great Plains, hot weather caused the crop to rapidly mature, but also

caused conditions to steadily decline as the month progressed, especially in

Texas. From the central Great Plains northward, above-normal temperatures,

ombined with timely rains, kept development well ahead of normal and conditions

remained mostly good. Warm weather also promoted rapid growth in the eastern

Corn Belt, but crop conditions declined slightly due to diseases caused by

excessive rainfall early in the month. In Montana, excessively dry weather for

most of the month caused conditions to decline.

Unlike the East, the Southwestern States recorded below-normal temperatures

during most of the month, slowing many field operations. In California, farmers

struggled to plant cotton and rice during brief dry periods. By month’s end,

most of the cotton was planted in the Southwest despite the poor planting

weather. However, emergence was slow due to cool soils and crusting that

occurred after frequent rains. 

Cotton planting in the Mississippi Delta and Southeastern States was delayed by

rains early in the month. Drier weather allowed progress to accelerate near midmonth, with many areas moving ahead of the 5-year average. Nationally, the crop

was rated mostly good as the month ended, but hot, dry weather in Texas and

cool, wet weather in California were detrimental to conditions in those States.

Peaches: The 1998 peach crop in California, Georgia, and South Carolina is

 forecast at 1.85 billion pounds, down 16 percent from last year but 

4 percent above the 1996 crop. Peach production, excluding the California

Clingstone crop, is projected at 860 million pounds, 19 percent below last year

but 24 percent above 1996. The spring frosts in the Southeast which destroyed

many of the early varieties were responsible for most of the decline. 

The California Freestone crop is forecast at 650 million pounds, down 

12 percent from last year. The spring weather has been mild with above average

rains. Fruit has been little affected, but fruit quality may suffer if rains

continue .

South Carolina's peach crop, forecast at 140 million pounds, is down 13 percent

from last year’s production. Early varieties were hit hard by a couple of late
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 27 NASS, USDA

frosts. However, growers are optimistic that later varieties will be

exceptionally good.

The first forecast of the Georgia peach crop is 70.0 million pounds, down 

56 percent from the 1997 crop. The crop suffered from a heavy freeze in March

and hail damage in early May. Most of the 1998 production is expected to come

from mid- to late-season varieties from the central production area.

Winter Wheat: Area for grain harvest this year is forecast at 40.6 million

 acres, down fractionally from May 1 and down 3 percent from 1997.

Hard Red Winter Objective Yield head counts have improved in Kansas and Texas

and are well above average levels. The Oklahoma head count forecast numbers

have dipped below average; Colorado’s compares to 1995. Nebraska’s head counts

are at a record high while Montana’s are the highest since 1990. The California

wheat harvest is about two weeks behind average except for the desert areas;

disease problems have been worse than normal.

Well above average head count populations are forecast from Washington’s

Objective Yield survey. May rains have improved dryland expectations in both

the Idaho and Oregon crops.

Yields in the Delta and Southeastern Soft Red Winter States are generally equal

to or lower than last month. Hot, dry weather has sped Alabama’s harvest to 

27 percent complete. The Georgia harvest started at mid-May and is also 27 percent complete. Disease problems and lodging have Kentucky growers less optimistic than a month ago. The March freeze has apparently hurt Tennessee wheat more

than was thought. This, coupled with disease pressures, has lowered yield

prospects. Rains have caused ponding in some southwest Indiana wheat fields; a

very good crop is expected in the northeast. The South Carolina harvest is well

underway; early yields have been disappointing. Objective Yield survey head

count forecasts are near average in Illinois and Missouri but are the highest

since 1985 in Ohio.

Durum Wheat: Durum production in Arizona and California is forecast at 

 28.5 million bushels, up 4 percent from May 1 because of improved

yields. As of May 31, the Arizona harvest was running about two weeks behind

schedule. California’s Imperial Valley harvest was active through May and was

about 75 percent complete by June 1; yields were above average. The San Joaquin

Valley harvest started around mid-May. 

Sweet cherries: U.S. sweet cherry production is forecast at 156,000 tons, down

 18 percent from 1997 but up 24 percent from 1996. California

and Washington expect declines, but Oregon will stay even with a year ago.

The Washington crop, at 91,000 tons, is 1 percent less than last year. A large

crop is expected this year along with good quality. Weather was favorable for

growing conditions in Washington. Growing conditions in Oregon were also

favorable during bloom and pollination this year. Production in Oregon is

forecast at 50,000 tons, unchanged from last year.

The sweet cherry crop in California is forecast at 15,000 tons, down 70 percent

from 1997 and down 39 percent from 1996. Rains over a large portion of the

State during the bloom period, and continuing through the production period,

resulted in less fruit produced and very poor quality for much of that which was

produced.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 28 NASS, USDA

Dried Prunes: California’s 1998 production is forecast at 170,000 tons, 

 21 percent below last year and 24 percent below 1996. Cool

temperatures and rain during the bloom period adversely affected production.

Apricots: California's 1998 apricot production is forecast at 125,000 tons,

 down 5 percent from last year but up 64 percent from 1996. Fruit set

was good as a result of a break in heavy rains. The crop is 10 to 14 days later

than average, allowing the fruit to mature in size.

Florida Citrus: May was one of the hottest, driest months on record for

 Florida's citrus belt. There were only a few days of rain in

most areas with totals up to only 2.5 inches for the month. Growers and

caretakers were using all types of irrigation to help maintain tree condition. 

New crop fruit has generally stopped dropping as trees adjust to the number of

fruit to carry for next season. New foliage growth was slow during the past

month due to hot temperatures. Harvesting labor was very scarce the last few

weeks of May as some fruit pickers had moved to harvest vegetables and other

crops. Virtually all of the fruit harvested during the past month has been

processed and most of the fresh fruit packing houses have closed for the season. 

Caretakers were very active during May cutting cover crops and applying

herbicides. Most post bloom nutritional spraying has been completed. Some

growers and caretakers continue hedging, topping, and cutting up debris.

Texas Citrus: All packing sheds have completed their shipments of this season’s

 citrus crop. May was another very dry month in the Rio Grande

Valley, and the shortage of irrigation water remains a big concern for next

season’s crop. The bloom was good, but fruit set may be erratic depending on

water availability.

California Citrus: Navel orange harvest was virtually over by the end of May.

 Valencia orange picking gathered momentum during the month. 

Lemon harvest was active, primarily in the South Coast area. Harvest of the

tangerine crop was complete. Grapefruit picking was near the end in the desert

area and beginning in other areas.

California Fruits and Nuts: Maturity of fruit and nut crops was delayed by wet,

 cool weather in May. Cherry growers lost most of

their fruit due to splitting. Fresh grape picking finally began in the

Coachella Valley in the last half of the month. In other areas, grape growers

applied sulfur for mildew control. Early varieties of apricots, nectarines,

plums, and freestone peaches were picked but growth cracks and brown rot were

reported. The cool nights were beneficial for color but not for size. Almond

growers were concerned about anthracnose showing up in their orchards. Some

yellow leaves appeared, suggesting waterlogged roots. Strawberries also

suffered from the wet weather with fungal diseases causing crop losses. Many

strawberries that were salvaged went to juice. Avocado and olive trees bloomed.

Grapefruit: The June 1 forecast of the 1997-98 U.S. grapefruit crop is 

 2.63 million tons, up 1 percent from last month but down 9 percent

from last season.

Florida’s all grapefruit forecast, at 49.5 million boxes (2.11 million tons), is

1 percent higher than the May 1 forecast but 11 percent less than a year ago. 

The white seedless forecast is expected to total 18.3 million boxes, down 
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 29 NASS, USDA

1 percent from May 1. The colored seedless forecast is 30.6 million boxes, a 

2 percent increase from a month ago. 

Weekly utilization of both white seedless and colored seedless varieties has

declined rapidly for both fresh and processed usage. White seedless fresh

utilization is the lowest since the 1989-90 freeze-affected season. Economic

conditions in the primary markets and poor quality have contributed to the

decline. Processing utilization is also very low, reflecting the lack of demand

by processors due to large inventories of frozen concentrated grapefruit juice. 

Fresh utilization of colored seedless varieties is the lowest in several seasons

but processing utilization is the highest on record, reflecting the strong

demand for colored juice, especially for not-from-concentrate usage.

The forecast for Florida’s seedy grapefruit crop is 650,000 boxes, up 8 percent

from the previous month. Estimated utilization to June 1 is 615,000 boxes with

weekly amounts declining rapidly. All seedy grapefruit are processed and this

year’s crop will represent the lowest utilization in history.

The Texas grapefruit forecast is 4.80 million boxes (192,000 tons), up 4 percent

from last month but down 9 percent from the 1996-97 season. The California

grapefruit forecast of 9.00 million boxes (302,000 tons), is carried forward

from an earlier forecast. Arizona’s grapefruit forecast, also carried forward,

is 800,000 boxes (27,000 tons).

Tangerines: The 1997-98 U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 356,000 tons, down 

 1 percent from the May 1 forecast and down 15 percent from the

previous season’s utilized production. Florida’s utilization is 5.20 million

boxes (247,000 tons), down 1 percent from last month’s forecast and down 

17 percent from the 1996-97 season. The early portion of the tangerine forecast

(Robinson, Fallglo, Sunburst, and Dancy) was final in April, but the Honey

tangerine forecast is decreased from a month ago. Small amounts of late bloom

fruit are available, but harvest of most regular bloom crops is complete. 

California and Arizona tangerine forecasts were carried forward at 2.40 million

boxes (90,000 tons) and 500,000 boxes (19,000 tons), respectively.

Tangelos: Florida’s 1997-98 forecast of tangelos is final at 2.85 million boxes

 (128,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast. The forecast

is down 28 percent from last season’s production of 3.95 million boxes, the

largest recorded crop since 1987-88. The route survey indicated some fruit is

still available and will be used mostly as pollinators in tangerine blocks.

Temples: The 1997-98 forecast of Florida Temple production is final at 

 2.25 million boxes (101,000 tons), unchanged from last month but down

6 percent from a year ago. Utilization during the past seven seasons has

averaged 2.39 million boxes, ranging from 2.15 to 2.55 million boxes.

Papayas: Fresh papaya production from Hawaii is estimated at 3.15 million

 pounds for May, 4 percent higher than April and 15 percent higher than

a year ago. Area devoted to papaya production totaled 3,220 acres in May, 

1 percent more than last month but 26 percent lower than May 1997. Area

harvested, at 2,160 acres, was 1 percent higher than a month ago and 2 percent

higher than last year.

May weather conditions were a mix of sunshine and showers over major papaya

producing orchards. Areas previously affected by dry conditions had smaller

size fruit for harvest.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 30 NASS, USDA

Bartlett Pears: Production in California, Washington, and Oregon is forecast at

 480,000 tons, down 15 percent from last year but 10 percent

above 1996. 

California’s expected production of 270,000 tons is 4 percent less than 1997. 

The growing areas have experienced an unusually wet and cool spring. Maturity

has been delayed with picking not expected to begin in the Sacramento area until

mid-July. In Oregon, growers expect to harvest 60,000 tons, down 20 percent

from 1997. In Washington, problems with pollination resulting from cool, wet

weather may reduce the size of the crop. Expected production is 150,000 tons, 

27 percent below 1997.

Hops: Acreage for harvest in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho is forecast at 

 36,370 acres, a sharp acreage reduction from 1997 resulting from the

powdery mildew situation in Washington and unfavorable hop market conditions in

general. Current acreage for harvest is 16 percent below last year and 18 percent less than 1996.

In Washington, growers were actively pruning and flaming hop yards before

trellising and spraying for powdery mildew. Plants are in good condition with

some downy mildew showing up as a result of the cool, wet spring. The major hop

varieties with the greatest acreage reductions were Cluster, Galena, Nugget, and

Tettnanger. Oregon growers were busy training hops during the favorable weather

in April. The wet weather during May was a concern to growers but hop condition

appears to be average at this time. Idaho’s hop crop is progressing slowly as

conditions have been cool and wet.

Sugar Crops, 1997 Revised: Sugarbeet production in 1997 totaled 29.9 million

 tons, 12 percent above 1996 due to increased

harvested acres and a higher average yield. Area harvested totaled 1.43 million

acres, up 8 percent from the previous year and the average yield per acre was

20.9 tons, compared with the previous year’s average of 20.2 tons. 

Total sugarcane production in 1997 totaled 31.7 million tons, 8 percent above

1996 output. The increase in production resulted from a combination of higher

average yields and an increase in harvested acres. Area harvested totaled

914,000 acres, 3 percent above 1996 and the average yield of 34.7 tons per acre

was 5 percent greater than the previous year.

Sweet Potatoes, 1997 Revised: The final estimate of sweet potato production for

 1997 is 13.5 million cwt, less than 1 percent

above 1996 and 5 percent above 1995. The revised estimate is 4 percent above

the preliminary estimate published in the Crop Production 1997 Summary. This

increase came from higher than expected yields in Louisiana, North Carolina, and

South Carolina which more than offset lower yields in Texas. Harvest came from

83,300 acres, down 2 percent from a year earlier and less than 1 percent below

two years ago. The average yield, at 162 cwt per acre, equals the previous

record high set in 1994. The 1997 yield was 3 cwt above 1996 and 8 cwt above

1995.

Maple Syrup: The 1998 U.S. maple syrup production totaled 1.16 million gallons,

 down 11 percent from last year and 26 percent below 1996. The

forecasted value of production is $31.5 million, a decrease of 11 percent from

1997. The U.S. estimate consists of the ten major producing States.

Vermont led the U.S. in production with 360,000 gallons of syrup but decreased

9 percent from last season and 35 percent from 1996. New York's production

declined 14 percent to 231,000 gallons. Maine was the third leading state with

production of 170,000 gallons, 8 percent less than 1997.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 31 NASS, USDA

Maple syrup production decreased in all States except Connecticut, Massachusetts

and Pennsylvania. In Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, weather conditions were

not favorable for tapping due to warmer than normal temperatures. This caused

the sap to begin running in early February and to end by early April. New York

saw a major decline in the number of taps due to an ice storm in January. In 

7 major counties in the northern part of the State, over half of the taps were

lost. New York’s trees which were tapped yielded well despite mild weather

during March. The tapping season in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin started

earlier than normal, and the mild temperatures caused a poor flow of sap. 

Pennsylvania’s weather during tapping went from warm to cold and back to warm,

but produced a good flow of sap.

All States except Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania averaged a lower

yield per tap. Overall, the tapping season was the same length as last season,

but it started more than a week earlier. Many producers in Wisconsin missed the

start of the season and did not tap this year.

Syrup color was medium to light amber. The sap’s sugar content was slightly

higher than last year for the nation but a little lower in New England. 

Wisconsin had the highest sugar content, followed by Maine. Preliminary prices

for 1998's syrup are up from last year in most states, except Maine, Michigan,

Ohio, and Pennsylvania. These preliminary prices are based on the expectations

of producers when surveyed in April and May.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 32 NASS, USDA

Reliability of June 1 Winter Wheat Production Forecast

Survey Procedures: Objective yield and farm operator surveys were conducted

 between May 23 and June 5 to gather information on expected

yield as of June 1. The objective yield survey was conducted in the 10 States

that accounted for 72 percent of the 1997 production. Farm operators were

interviewed to update previously reported acreage data and seek permission to

randomly locate two sample plots in selected winter wheat fields. The counts

made within each sample plot depended upon the crop's maturity. In early

fields, counts such as number of stalks, heads in late boot, and number of

emerged heads were made to predict the number of heads that would be harvested. 

A 5-year historical average head weight is used until the crop matures to the

point that heads can be clipped, threshed, and weighed. The number of heads

times the weight of the heads in a sample plot can then be combined to an

estimate of yield per acre. The 5-year average harvesting loss is subtracted to

obtain a net yield. The plots are revisited each month until the crop reaches

maturity and are harvested on the final visit.

The farm operator survey included a sample of approximately 6,500 winter wheat

producers representing all major production areas. These producers were

selected from an earlier acreage survey and were asked about the probable winter

wheat yield on their operation. These growers will be surveyed throughout the

growing season to provide indications of average yields as the season

progresses. 

Estimating Procedures: National and State level objective yield and grower

 reported data were reviewed for reasonableness and

consistency with historical estimates. The survey data were also reviewed

considering weather patterns and crop progress compared to previous month and

previous years. Each State Statistical Office submits their analysis of the

current situation to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB). The ASB uses the

survey data and the State analyses to prepare the published June 1 forecasts.

Revision Policy: The June 1 production forecast will not be revised; instead, 

 a new forecast will be made each month throughout the growing

season. End-of-season estimates are made after harvest. At the end of the

marketing season, a balance sheet is calculated using carryover stocks,

production, exports, millings, feeding, and ending stocks. Revisions are then

made if the balance sheet relationships or other administrative data warrant

changes.

Reliability: To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the June 1

 winter wheat production forecast, the "Root Mean Square Error”, a

statistical measure based on past performance, is computed. This is done by

expressing the deviation between the June 1 production forecast and the final

estimate as a percentage of the final estimate, and averaging the squared

percentage deviations for the 1977-1997 20-year period; the square root of the

average becomes statistically the "Root Mean Square Error”. Probability

statements can be made concerning expected differences in the current forecast

relative to the final end-of-season estimate, assuming that factors affecting

this year's forecast are not different from those influencing recent years. 

The "Root Mean Square Error" for the June 1 winter wheat production forecast is

5.9 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the current production

forecast of 1.74 billion bushels will not be above or below the final estimate

by more than 5.9 percent or approximately 103 million bushels. Chances are 

9 out of 10 (90 percent confidence level) that the difference will not exceed

10.2 percent or approximately 178 million bushels. Differences between the June

1 winter wheat production forecast and the final estimate during the past 

10 years have averaged 84 million bushels, ranging from 8 million to 279 million

bushels. The June 1 forecast has been below the final estimate 4 times and

above 6 times. This does not imply that the June 1 winter wheat forecast this

year is likely to understate or overstate final production.
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 33 NASS, USDA

Report Features

The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on

July 10, 1998.

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Crops Branch of the National

Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information.

C. Ray Halley, Chief (202) 720-2127

 Field Crops Section

 Bill Dowdy, Head (202) 720-3843

 Kevin Barnes - Soybeans, Minor Oilseeds (202) 720-7369

 Rhonda Brandt- Corn (202) 720-7621

 Doug Hartwig - Hay (202) 720-8843

 Mark E. Miller - Oats, Sugar Crops, Weekly Crop Weather (202) 720-7621

 Roger Latham - Cotton, Cotton Ginnings (202) 720-5944

 Jerry Ramirez - Barley, Sorghum (202) 690-3234

 - Peanuts, Rice (202) 720-7688

 Vaughn Siegenthaler - Wheat, Rye (202) 720-8068

 

 Fruit, Vegetable & Special Crops Section

 Vince Matthews, Head (202) 720-3843

 Arvin Budge - Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes (202) 720-4285

 Dave DeWalt - Citrus, Tropical Fruits (202) 720-5412

 Howard Hill - Cherries, Berries, Prunes, Plums, 

 Cranberries, Grapes, Maple Syrup (202) 720-7235

 Elizabeth Wallingsford - Fresh and Processing Vegetables,

 Onions (202) 720-2157 

 Dave Ranek - Nuts, Floriculture (202) 720-4215

 Linda Simpson - Noncitrus Fruits, Mint, Dry Beans & Peas,

 Mushrooms, Hops (202) 690-0270

 Debbie Williams - Apples, Strawberries, Tobacco (202) 720-4288
Crop Production Agricultural Statistics Board

June 1998 34 NASS, USDA

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basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or

family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means

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To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building,

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