HDR1012000110010311970830CROP PRODUCTION                                        
HDR2012000110010311970830HIGHLIGHTS & SUMMARY                                   
Crop                                                                            
Production                                                                      
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released March 11, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information 
on "Crop Production" call (202) 720-2127, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   
ET.                                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                  Record Large Orange Production                                
                                                                                
All oranges production for the 1996-97 season is forecast at a record large     
12.5 million tons, up 1 percent from the previous forecast in February and up   
7 percent from a year ago.  This year's crop is 6 percent larger than the       
previous record of 11.8 million tons set in the 1979-80 season.  Florida's      
production amounts to 222 million boxes (9.99 million tons), 1 percent more than
February's forecast and 9 percent above last season.  Early and mid-season      
varieties are expected to produce 135 million boxes (6.08 million tons),        
2 percent above last month and 11 percent above last year.  Florida's Valencia  
crop forecast remained 87.0 million boxes (3.92 million tons), 6 percent above  
last season's crop.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield for the 1996-97 season is 
forecast at 1.54 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from February. 
The forecast projects the final yield as reported by the Florida Citrus         
Processors Association.  The final 1995-96 yield for all fruit used in FCOJ was 
1.52 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix.  The projected average yield for     
1996-97 early and midseason varieties is 1.52 gallons per box, up from last     
month's forecast of 1.50 gallons per box and from last season's final of 1.45.  
Valencia yield is projected at 1.60 gallons per box, unchanged from last month  
and down from 1.67 last season.                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cr Pr 2-2 (3-97)                                                                
             Crop Summary: Production, United States,                           
                  1995-96 and Forecasted 1996-97                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                Utilized Production                   
                         :----------------------------------------------------  
          Crop           :                :       Feb 1,     :     Mar 1,       
                         :                :        1997      :      1997        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      Crop Year 1/       :    1995-96            1996-97          1996-97       
                         :                                                      
                         :                     1,000 Tons                       
Citrus Fruits            :                                                      
  Oranges                :      11,723            12,452            12,542      
  Grapefruit             :       2,718             3,064             3,056      
  Lemons 2/              :         992               988               988      
  Tangerines             :         348               424               428      
  Temples (FL)           :          97               113               113      
  Tangelos (FL)          :         110               180               180      
  K-Early Citrus (FL)    :           7                 7                 7      
                         :                                                      
                         :                    Metric Tons                       
                         :                                                      
  Oranges                :  10,634,930        11,296,260        11,377,910      
  Grapefruit             :   2,465,730         2,779,610         2,772,360      
  Lemons 2/              :     899,930           896,300           896,300      
  Tangerines             :     315,700           384,650           388,280      
  Temples (FL)           :      88,000           102,510           102,510      
  Tangelos (FL)          :      99,790           163,290           163,290      
  K-Early Citrus (FL)    :       6,350             6,350             6,350      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Crop year begins with the bloom of the first year and ends with the          
   completion of harvest the following year.                                    
2/ Estimates for 1996-97 carried forward from January 1.                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
This report was approved on March 11, 1997, by the Secretary of Agriculture and 
the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Agricultural Statistics Board.   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Secretary of                     Agricultural Statistics Board       
           Agriculture                               Chairperson                
           Dan Glickman                              Rich Allen                 
Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1995-96                
                         (Domestic Units)                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :       Area Planted       :     Area Harvested        
          Crop           :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :     1995    :    1996    :    1995    :    1996      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                     1,000 Acres                      
                         :                                                      
                         :                                                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :                               932.3        887.5     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production, United States, 1995-96            
                         (Domestic Units)                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                         :     Yield per Acre    :        Production            
      Crop and Unit      :---------------------------------------------------   
                         :    1995   :   1996    :    1995    :     1996        
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                         :   ----- Tons -------       ----- 1,000 Tons -----    
                         :                                                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :    33.0       32.9         30,796         29,224     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
 Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1995-96               
                          (Metric Units)                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :       Area Planted     :     Area Harvested          
         Crop            :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :     1995    :     1996    :     1995    :    1996    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                        Hectares                      
                         :                                                      
                         :                                                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :                             377,290      359,160     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Crop Summary:  Yield per Hectare and Production, United States, 1995-96         
                          (Metric Units)                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :  Yield per Hectare  :          Production            
          Crop           :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :   1995  :   1996    :    1995      :    1996         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                   Metric Tons                        
                         :                                                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :   74.05     73.82       27,937,660     26,511,570    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
HDR2012000110010311970830STATE TABLES                                           
     Citrus Fruits:  Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States,     
                     1995-96 and Forecasted March 1, 1997 1/                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :     Utilized Production     :     Utilized Production     
                    :            Boxes            :       Ton Equivalent        
   Crop and State   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : 1994-95 : 1995-96 : 1996-97 : 1994-95 : 1995-96 : 1996-97 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    : ------ 1,000 Boxes 2/ -----   ------- 1,000 Tons -------  
Oranges             :                                                           
  Early Mid &       :                                                           
   Navel 3/         :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :     400       700       550       15        27        21  
    CA 4/           :  35,000    38,000    39,000    1,313     1,426     1,463  
    FL              : 119,700   121,200   135,000    5,387     5,454     6,075  
    TX              :     950       830     1,300       40        35        55  
    US              : 156,050   160,730   175,850    6,755     6,942     7,614  
  Valencia          :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :     650       950       850       24        36        32  
    CA 4/           :  21,000    28,000    26,000      788     1,051       975  
    FL              :  85,800    82,000    87,000    3,861     3,690     3,915  
    TX              :     105       110       150        4         4         6  
    US              : 107,555   111,060   114,000    4,677     4,781     4,928  
  All               :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,050     1,650     1,400       39        63        53  
    CA 4/           :  56,000    66,000    65,000    2,101     2,477     2,438  
    FL              : 205,500   203,200   222,000    9,248     9,144     9,990  
    TX              :   1,055       940     1,450       44        39        61  
    US              : 263,605   271,790   289,850   11,432    11,723    12,542  
Temples             :                                                           
  FL                :   2,550     2,150     2,500      114        97       113  
Grapefruit          :                                                           
  White Seedless    :                                                           
    FL              :  25,700    23,200    26,500    1,092       986     1,126  
  Colored Seedless  :                                                           
    FL              :  28,700    28,100    31,500    1,220     1,194     1,339  
  Other             :                                                           
    FL              :   1,300     1,050     1,000       55        45        43  
  All               :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,400     1,200     1,000       47        40        34  
    CA 4/ 5/        :                                                           
      Desert        :   3,300                          111                      
      Other Areas   :   6,000                          201                      
      Total         :   9,300     8,100     9,000      312       271       302  
    FL              :  55,700    52,350    59,000    2,367     2,225     2,508  
    TX              :   4,650     4,550     5,300      186       182       212  
    US              :  71,050    66,200    74,300    2,912     2,718     3,056  
Tangerines          :                                                           
  AZ 4/             :     650     1,000       750       25        38        28  
  CA 4/             :   2,500     2,600     2,700       94        97       101  
  FL                :   3,550     4,500     6,300      168       213       299  
  US                :   6,700     8,100     9,750      287       348       428  
Lemons 4/           :                                                           
  AZ                :   3,600     5,100     4,000      137       194       152  
  CA                :  20,000    21,000    22,000      760       798       836  
  US                :  23,600    26,100    26,000      897       992       988  
Tangelos            :                                                           
  FL                :   3,150     2,450     4,000      142       110       180  
K-Early Citrus      :                                                           
  FL                :     120       160       150        5         7         7  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             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 and mid-season       
    varieties in FL and TX, including small quantities of tangerines in TX.     
                                                                                
4/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
5/  California Desert and Other Areas Grapefruit forecasts combined to All      
    Grapefruit beginning in 1995-96.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
  Papayas:  Area and Fresh Production, by Month, Hawaii, 1996-97                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                    Area                    :   Fresh Production    
           :--------------------------------------------------------------------
   Month   :     Total in Crop      :      Harvested      :          :          
           :----------------------------------------------:   1996   :    1997  
           :   1996     :    1997   :   1996   :   1997   :          :          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :   --------------- Acres --------------      -- 1,000 Pounds --     
           :                                                                    
 Jan       :   3,765         3,435      2,365      1,495      3,575       3,280 
 Feb       :   3,720         3,530      2,265      1,495      3,530       3,145 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
              Sugarcane:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production                 
                  by Use, State, and United States, 1995-96                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------    
    Use   :   Area Harvested    :      Yield 1/       :    Production 1/        
    and   :-----------------------------------------------------------------    
   State  :   1995   :   1996   :   1995   :   1996   :   1995   :   1996       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------    
          :     1,000 Acres         ----- Tons ----      --- 1,000 Tons --      
          :                                                                     
For Sugar :                                                                     
  FL      :  417.0      420.0       34.6       34.0      14,445     14,280      
  HI 2/   :   48.5       40.0       81.5       81.9       3,953      3,276      
  LA 2/   :  368.0      335.0       25.6       27.0       9,421      9,045      
  TX 2/   :   41.2       34.2       32.4       26.6       1,336        910      
          :                                                                     
  US      :  874.7      829.2       33.3       33.2      29,155     27,511      
          :                                                                     
For Seed  :                                                                     
  FL      :   20.0       20.0       33.9       34.0         677        680      
  HI 2/   :    4.5        3.0       26.0       26.0         117         78      
  LA 2/   :   32.0       35.0       25.6       27.0         819        945      
  TX 2/   :    1.1         .3       25.5       32.0          28         10      
          :                                                                     
  US      :   57.6       58.3       28.5       29.4       1,641      1,713      
          :                                                                     
For Sugar :                                                                     
 and Seed :                                                                     
  FL      :  437.0      440.0       34.6       34.0      15,122     14,960      
  HI 2/   :   53.0       43.0       76.8       78.0       4,070      3,354      
  LA 2/   :  400.0      370.0       25.6       27.0      10,240      9,990      
  TX 2/   :   42.3       34.5       32.2       26.7       1,364        920      
          :                                                                     
  US      :  932.3      887.5       33.0       32.9      30,796     29,224      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------    
1/  Net tons.                                                                   
2/  Current estimates carried forward from earlier forecast.                    
                                                                                
HDR2012000110010311970830NARRATIVE                                              
February Weather Summary:  A string of dynamic storms traversed the southern    
                           branch of a split jet stream, resulting in February- 
record rainfall in parts of Texas and giving the West Coast a much-needed break 
from heavy precipitation.  Significant precipitation virtually eliminated       
dryness that developed during December from southern Nebraska to central Texas, 
boosting prospects for winter wheat.  The North Central States, bracing for     
near-record to record flooding during the spring, gained a reprieve from more   
than 3 months of bitterly cold, windy, snowy weather.  In fact, temperatures    
ranged from normal to above normal east of the Rocky Divide, with departures    
reaching +6 to +8 degrees F from the Ohio Valley to the Middle Atlantic States. 
Monthly temperatures averaged within a few degrees of normal across the West.   
                                                                                
Soil conditions across most of Texas quickly changed from dry to saturated.  For
example, the Trinity River at Dallas crested at 7.51 feet above flood stage on  
February 13, 7.19 feet above on February 21, and 5.19 feet above on February 26.
The month's final two major storms (February 18-22 and 23-27) charted similar   
courses out of the Southwest, crossing Texas before lifting toward the Great    
Lakes States.  The first system dumped 2 to 4 inches of rain from central Texas 
to lower Michigan, including a February-record, 24-hour total of 3.05 inches in 
Grand Rapids, MI.  In the Midwest, the rain fell on partially frozen soils,     
enhancing runoff.  As a result, the Rock River at Joslin, IL crested at an all- 
time-record 6.77 feet above flood stage on February 23.  On February 26-27, the 
latter system dumped 1 to 3 inches of rain from the middle Mississippi Valley to
the northern Middle Atlantic States, including the north side of the Ohio River 
drainage basin.  At month's end, yet another powerful storm took form over the  
Southwest, ensuring a stormy, flood-ridden start to March in the Ohio Valley.   
                                                                                
As mentioned, several February rainfall records were broken in Texas:           
                                                                                
Location             Total (Inches)                 Former Record/Year          
                                                                                
Waco                    7.91                          6.92 in 1992              
Dallas-Ft. Worth        7.40                          6.96 in 1945              
San Angelo              4.54                          4.45 in 1987              
                                                                                
For the third consecutive month, a monthly precipitation record was established 
in Alpena, MI, where the 3.88-inch total included a February-record 50.3 inches 
of snow.  Alpena's season-to-date snowfall reached 149.0 inches by month's end, 
less than 20 inches shy of their all-time record.  February snowfall topped     
30 inches at a few other locations from the Great Lakes States to northern New  
England, including Gaylord, MI (39.4 inches) and Caribou, ME (30.2 inches).     
Farther west, only light snow fell across the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
Monthly snowfall included 8.0 inches in Fargo, ND and 2.9 inches in St. Cloud,  
MN.  In Iowa, however, totals approached 20 inches in Dubuque (19.3 inches) and 
Cedar Rapids (18.5 inches).  Late in the month, very heavy snow blanketed the   
Southwest, lifting monthly totals to 22.9 inches in Flagstaff, AZ and           
14.6 inches in Alamosa, CO.  On February 27-28, 49 inches buried southern       
Arizona's Mt. Lemmon in 48 hours.  In contrast, a nearly snow-free winter       
continued in the Northeast, although monthly snowfall of 4.4 inches in Newark,  
NJ and 7.1 inches in Baltimore, MD more than doubled season-to-date totals.     
                                                                                
Due to the prevailing storm track, the South and East experienced more than     
100 daily-record highs, most after mid-month.  February-record warmth dotted the
East on February 21, 22, and 27:                                                
                                                                                
Location          Temperature (degrees F)/Date           Former Record/Year     
                                                                                
Rochester, NY         73 on February 21                70 on February 11, 1932  
Buffalo, NY           70 on February 21                68 on February 11, 1932  
Vero Beach, FL        89 on February 22                88 in 1994 and earlier   
Albany, NY            68 on February 22                67 in 1976               
Florence, SC          86 on February 27                85 on February 27, 1996  
Harrisburg, PA        78 on February 27                75 in 1954 and 1985      
Bridgeport, CT        67 on February 27                67 on Feb. 26 & 28, 1976 
In addition, the high of 67 degrees F (on the 22nd) in Concord, NH was their    
warmest in February since a reading of 68 degrees F on February 27, 1880.       
Temperatures failed to dip below 20 degrees F during the month in Philadelphia, 
PA, their first such occurrence in February since 1957.                         
                                                                                
Arctic air almost completely disappeared, locked over eastern Canada by the     
northern branch of the jet stream.  On February 13, daily-record cold brushed   
Michigan, where Houghton Lake noted -22 degrees F; 4 days later, Caribou, ME    
also notched -22 degrees F.  Toward month's end, cool air overspread the West in
the wake of the major storms, lowering readings below 0 degrees F in some high- 
elevation locations.  In Nevada, Ely logged a daily-record low (-9 degrees F) on
February 28.                                                                    
                                                                                
In California and Nevada, recovery from the New Year's flood progressed under   
favorably dry conditions.  In the Sierra Nevada foothills, only 1.77 inches     
(18 percent [%] of normal) fell at Blue Canyon, CA.  Blue Canyon had received   
75.35 inches (329% of normal) in December and January, and 90.66 inches (263% of
normal) since October 1, 1996.  Little or no moisture was added to the Sierra   
Nevada's high-elevation snowpack, leaving the snow's water equivalent at about  
115% of normal by month's end.  Dry weather also prevailed across most of       
Florida, where totals included 0.46 inches in Daytona Beach and 0.66 inches in  
Tampa.  Farther west, however, monthly rainfall topped 8 inches in locations    
such as Montgomery, AL (8.04 inches) and Shreveport, LA (8.09 inches).  On the  
Plains, monthly precipitation reached 2.11 inches in Oklahoma City, 2.18 inches 
in Wichita, KS, 2.86 inches in Wichita Falls, TX, accounting for more than 80%  
of the respective December 1, 1996, to February 28, 1997, totals.               
                                                                                
                                                                                
General Crop Comments:  February conditions were more favorable for farm        
                        activities than in January.  Weather conditions         
moderated somewhat in the north central area of the Country.  Warmer            
temperatures and a let-up in the heavy snowfall allowed producers to continue   
their dig-out and combat further losses from winter stress on livestock.  High  
water has been reported in local areas and there is a fear of severe flooding   
when the heavy snow pack begins to melt.                                        
                                                                                
The central and southern Plains received beneficial moisture and conditions of  
winter wheat improved.  Generally, the winter wheat crop was reported to be in  
good to excellent condition.  Very little winter kill and wind damage has been  
reported.  Most winter wheat areas ended the month with little snow cover.  In  
Kansas the winter wheat crop is ready to break dormancy.                        
                                                                                
An area covering most of the southeast and extending north through the Ohio     
Valley received extensive rainfall causing heavy flooding in the Ohio Valley.   
Field work in preparation for spring planting was delayed in many areas.        
Significant delays are also expected in Arkansas.  By the end of the month some 
spring field crops had been planted along the Gulf Coast and in Florida.  Peach 
trees were in bloom in the deep South.                                          
                                                                                
Field activities in California returned to full swing in most areas.  Some      
localized areas remained flooded, but the open, warm weather allowed soils to   
dry and field operations to resume.  Some Sacramento Valley wheat fields still  
showed signs of stress from the earlier flooding.  In Florida the sugarcane     
harvest was winding down.  Growers were preparing to start tobacco trans-       
planting.  Field preparations for spring planting crops were active.  Harvest of
early and mid-season oranges was about over.  Freeze damaged Valencias were     
going to processors rapidly.  Grapefruit harvest was very active on the lower   
east coast.                                                                     
                                                                                
During the month, livestock remained under stress in many areas due to the      
weather and unusually wet conditions.  Muddy conditions and the winter          
temperatures made lambing and calving difficult.  Losses were running above     
normal.  Demand for feed remained high adding pressure to an already short feed 
supply.                                                                         
Grapefruit:  The March 1 forecast of the 1996-97 U.S. grapefruit crop is a      
             record large 3.06 million tons, down less than 1 percent from last 
month's forecast but 12 percent larger than last year.  This year's crop exceeds
the previous record of 3.032 million tons in the 1976-77 season.                
                                                                                
The Florida all grapefruit forecast is a record large 59.0 million boxes        
(2.51 million tons), unchanged from the last forecast but 13 percent more than  
last season.  The all seedless grapefruit forecast is 58.0 million boxes.  The  
seedy (Duncan) grapefruit forecast is continued at 1.0 million boxes.           
                                                                                
Fruit size increased from last month but at a very slow rate.  Average fruit    
sizes for all varieties are near the historic mean but are much smaller than the
extremely large sizes seen in the past two seasons.  Fruit drop from unharvested
trees in the Indian River area continues to be the lowest in many seasons.      
However, fruit drop in the interior is increasing in groves affected by the     
January 19, 1997 freezing weather.  The March 1 row count survey, conducted     
February 26-27, indicated the lowest percent of rows fully harvested in many    
seasons.   Recorded utilization, including an allocation for gift fruit, is     
lagging the previous seasons to March 1 with only an estimated 8.70 million     
boxes of white seedless harvested.  Last season, about 12.0 million boxes were  
utilized.  Colored varieties utilization is estimated at 17.3 million boxes     
compared to over 18.0 million last year.                                        
                                                                                
The Florida forecasts are based on objective fruit counts and measurement       
surveys in relationship to the harvest patterns and utilization of the past two 
seasons.  All citrus forecasts project certified utilization including a        
preseason allocation of less than two percent for unrecorded usage.             
Certifications include only fruit actually shipped in fresh pack or recorded at 
a processing plant.                                                             
                                                                                
The Texas grapefruit forecast is 5.30 million boxes (212,000 tons), 4 percent   
below last month's forecast but 16 percent above last season's production.      
California's forecast is carried forward from January at 9.00 million boxes     
(302,000 tons), 11 percent above last season.  Arizona's forecast is also       
carried forward at 1.00 million boxes (34,000 tons), 17 percent below last year.
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tangelos:  Florida's 1996-97 tangelo forecast is 4.00 million boxes             
           (180,000 tons), unchanged  from last month's forecast, but 63 percent
more than last season's crop.  Harvest was near completion with more than       
3.90 million boxes utilized.  This is the largest harvested tangelo crop since  
1987-88.                                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tangerines:  The 1996-97 U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at a record large      
             428,000 tons, up 1 percent from February and 23 percent higher than
last season.  The 1995-96 crop of 348,000 tons was the previous record large    
crop.  Florida's tangerine forecast is up 2 percent from last month to          
6.30 million boxes (299,000 tons), 40 percent more than 1995-96.  Droppage has  
been extremely low even with the freezing temperatures of January 19, 1997.     
Early tangerine harvest was virtually complete, and almost 1.10 million boxes of
the later Honey tangerines were used through February.  The Arizona and         
California tangerine forecasts were carried forward from January 1.             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Temples:  The 1996-97 forecast of Florida temples remains at 2.50 million boxes 
          (113,000 tons), 16 percent above last season.  Through February,      
almost 1.70 million boxes were picked.  February surveys indicate fruit sizes   
are near average and droppage is low.  Droppage has increased following the     
January 19, 1997 freezing weather.  Most utilization is to processing plants.   
Florida Citrus:  Groves in Florida were in very good condition through most of  
                 February.  Rainfall generally was below normal except for the  
east coast counties where there were regular weekly rains.  Growers in most of  
the citrus belt depended on all types of irrigation to maintain good tree       
condition as new growth and bloom buds formed on trees of all ages the last part
of the month. Most of the trees that lost foliage following the January 19, 1997
freeze produced new growth, and some of those trees began blooming.  Harvest of 
early and mid-season oranges was very active the first three weeks of February  
and then declined as supplies ran low.  Movement of cold damaged Valencias to   
the processors was limited to the isolated areas affected by the January freeze.
Grapefruit harvest during February was very busy on the lower east coast.       
Temple and Honey tangerine harvest was steady in all areas of the citrus belt   
during the month for both fresh and processed use.  A little more than          
132 million boxes of early and mid-season oranges, including Navels, were       
utilized through February.  Valencia harvest totaled a little more than         
6 million boxes.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Texas Citrus:  Harvest moved ahead with little interruption during February.    
Growers needed rainfall to alleviate a shortage of irrigation water.  Orange    
trees showed a good bloom across the Rio Grande Valley.                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
California Citrus:  Harvest of citrus gained momentum during February with the  
                    mild weather.  Picking of grapefruit in the desert area     
continued with good grades.  Lemon harvest was active throughout the state.     
Packing grades were fair to good.  Wind scar, brown rot, and sunburn were among 
the problems reported.  The navel orange harvest continued slightly behind      
normal with approximately half of the crop picked by March 1.  Sizes were large 
with good to excellent grades.  Some scar, brown rot, thrips, and puff were     
reported.  Valencia orange harvest began in the desert area in mid-February with
smooth texture and good color.  Tangerine picking continued with good to        
excellent quality.                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
California Fruits and Nuts:  Rains from January left some orchards and vineyards
                             under water through the first part of February.    
Dry weather throughout February permitted cultural activities including pruning,
controlling weeds, and dormant spraying.  Almond blossom peaked in late         
February.  Other fruits and nuts were in various stages of bloom.               
                                                                                
                                                                                
Papayas:  Hawaii fresh papaya production is estimated at 3.15 million pounds for
          February, 4 percent lower than January and 11 percent lower than a    
year ago.                                                                       
                                                                                
Weather conditions during February were mixed. Mostly favorable conditions      
during the first three weeks were followed by gusty winds in the last week. The 
gusty winds caused leaf shredding and some trees to snap or uproot.  Isolated   
pockets of heavy damage were reported.  Papaya ringspot virus continued to lower
yields in infected fields.                                                      
                                                                                
Area devoted to papaya production totaled 3,530 acres, 3 percent higher than    
January, but 5 percent lower than February 1996.  Harvested area, totaling      
1,495 acres, was unchanged from last month, but 34 percent lower than a year    
ago.                                                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sugarcane:  The 1996 production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is expected to  
            total 29.2 million tons.  This is unchanged from the last forecast  
published in the February "Crop Production" report, but represents a 5 percent  
decrease from last year's output.  The Florida forecast was evaluated and       
resulted in no change in production.  The forecast for Hawaii, Louisiana, and   
Texas were carried forward from previous reports.                               
Dry weather during the sugarcane harvest allowed 3 Florida mills to finish on   
schedule in early March.  Some cane was planted later than normal in early      
March.  The previous freeze scorched the top leaves in some fields, but in other
areas killed the entire top stopping any further growth.  It was too early to   
determine if the freeze caused any permanent damage to next seasons crop. Some  
sugarcane that was  just coming-up was killed back to the ground.  Most mills   
reported that sugar content was high, but juice content tapered off at the end  
of the season, possible due to the previous freeze.                             
                          Report Features                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on           
April 11, 1997.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
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
      Dan Kerestes - Corn                                         (202) 720-9526
      Roger Latham - Cotton, Cotton Ginnings                      (202) 720-5944
      Joel Moore - Barley, Hay, Sorghum                           (202) 690-3234
      Greg Preston - Sugar Crops, Weekly Crop Weather, Oats       (202) 720-7621
      Barbara Rater - Peanuts, Rice, Tobacco                      (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
      Howard Hill - Cherries, Berries, Prunes, Plums,                           
                    Cranberries, Grapes, Maple Syrup              (202) 720-7235
      Linda McMillan - Nuts, Floriculture                         (202) 720-4215
      Dave Mueller - Fresh and Processing Vegetables, Onions      (202) 720-2157
      Linda Simpson - Noncitrus Fruits, Mint, Dry Beans & Peas,                 
                      Mushrooms, Hops                             (202) 690-0270
      Blair Smith - Citrus, Tropical Fruits                       (202) 720-5412
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
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disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an equal
employment opportunity employer.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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