HDR1012000110010912970830CROP PRODUCTION                                        
Crop                                                                            
Production                                                                      
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released September 12, 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.  Forecasts refer to September 1, 1997.  Index and report features 
are located at the end of this report.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Corn and Soybean Production Unchanged                             
                 Cotton Production Up 4 Percent                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Corn production is forecast at 9.27 billion bushels, virtually unchanged from   
last month and 1996.  Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected
to average 125.2 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushels from last month and         
1.9 bushels from 1996.  Acreage harvested and to be harvested for grain is      
forecast at 74.0 million acres, unchanged from last month.  Yield prospects in  
Indiana and Wisconsin decreased. Forecasted yields in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
Nebraska, and Ohio were unchanged.                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
All cotton production is forecast at 18.4 million bales, up 4 percent from      
August, but down 3 percent from 1996.  This is the fourth largest crop on       
record.  Yield is expected to average 658 pounds per acre, down 49 pounds from  
last year.  The dryland crop in the Plains of Texas received rain during the    
month, and Texas' production was increased 400,000 bales.  Cotton conditions    
also improved in Arkansas and Mississippi, which showed increases of            
110,000 bales and 80,000 bales respectively.                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Soybean production is forecast at 2.75 billion bushels, up fractionally from the
August 1 forecast and up 15 percent from 1996.  Yield is unchanged from last    
month at 39.3 bushels per acre, but 1.7 bushels above last year.  Estimated area
for harvest remains unchanged from the August 1 estimate of 69.8 million acres. 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
All wheat production is placed at 2.51 billion bushels, down 1 percent from     
the last forecast, but 10 percent more than in 1996.  The U.S. yield is now     
forecast at 39.5 bushels per acre. This is 0.4 bushels less than last month, but
equals the record high yield.                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cr Pr 2-2 (9-97)                                                                
Other spring wheat:  Production is now forecast at 562 million bushels, down    
                     4 percent from last month. The U.S. yield is forecast at   
30.0 bushels per acre. This is 1.3 bushels per acre lower than August 1. There  
were no acreage changes. Hard Red Spring production is down from last month as  
declines in Minnesota and the Dakotas more than offset improved Montana         
prospects. White Spring production is up again because of the improved          
Washington crop.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Durum wheat:  Production is forecast at 90.2 million bushels, unchanged from    
              last month, but still well below last year. As of August 31, the  
North Dakota harvest was running ahead of both last year and the 5-year average;
Montana's harvest was about half complete.                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
California Navel Oranges:  Production for 1997-98 is forecast at 44.0 million   
                           boxes, up 10 percent from last season's production of
40.0 million boxes.  This initial forecast of the 1997-98 season is based on an 
objective measurement survey conducted in the California Central Valley.  The   
crop is maturing well with fruit set up from last year, but low by  historical  
standards.  Individual fruit sizes are similar to last season, when sizes were  
large by historical standards.                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
This report was approved on September 12, 1997.                                 
            Crop Summary:  Area Planted and Harvested, United States,           
                      1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                     
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :       Area Planted        :     Area Harvested 1/     
          Crop          :-------------------------------------------------------
                        :    1996     :    1997     :    1996     :    1997     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :                      1,000 Acres                      
                        :                                                       
Corn                    :    79,487        80,227        73,147        74,049   
Sorghum                 :    13,188        10,268        11,901         9,512   
Barley                  :     7,174         6,769         6,787         6,397   
All Wheat               :    75,639        70,767        62,850        63,495   
  Durum                 :     3,620         3,270         3,546         3,208   
  Other Spring          :    20,036        19,155        19,595        18,704   
Rice                    :   2,819.0       3,065.0       2,799.0       3,037.0   
Soybeans                :    64,205        70,850        63,409        69,816   
Peanuts 2/              :   1,401.5       1,404.0       1,380.0       1,384.5   
All Cotton              :  14,633.5      13,905.0      12,868.1      13,436.5   
  Upland                :  14,375.5      13,655.0      12,612.2      13,187.5   
  Amer-Pima             :     258.0         250.0         255.9         249.0   
Potatoes                :                                                       
  Summer 3/             :      78.1          68.9          74.8          66.0   
  Fall 3/               :   1,269.9       1,198.6       1,246.7       1,181.5   
  Total 3/              :   1,455.9       1,370.8       1,426.0       1,349.0   
Tobacco                 :                                 732.7         794.8   
Sugarbeets              :   1,368.4       1,464.8       1,323.3       1,433.0   
Sugarcane for           :                                                       
 Sugar and Seed         :                                 888.9         915.0   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Harvested for principal use of each crop, ie., grain, beans, etc.           
2/  1997 area planted revised.                                                  
3/  1996 revised.                                                               
                                                                                
        Crop Summary:  Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1996-97       
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :       Area Planted        :      Area Harvested       
          Crop          :-------------------------------------------------------
                        :    1996     :  1997  1/   :    1996     :   1997 1/   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :                      1,000 Acres                      
                        :                                                       
Oats                    :     4,661         5,264         2,687         3,222   
Winter Wheat            :    51,983        48,342        39,709        41,583   
Rye                     :     1,467         1,443           347           359   
Sunflower               :     2,556         2,920         2,499         2,807   
Flaxseed                :        96           152            92           146   
All Hay                 :                                61,029        60,807   
  Alfalfa               :                                24,291        23,556   
  All Other             :                                36,738        37,251   
Dry Edible Beans        :   1,813.0       1,913.6       1,717.7       1,750.1   
Potatoes                :                                                       
  Winter                :      14.5          15.6          14.5          15.4   
  Spring                :      93.4          87.7          90.0          86.1   
Sweetpotatoes           :      89.1          87.8          84.8          84.7   
Hops                    :                                  44.2          44.0   
Ginger Root (HI)        :                                   0.2           0.3   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
          Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production, United States,          
                      1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                     
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          : Yield per Acre  :            Production             
                          :-----------------------------------------------------
       Crop and Unit      :        :        :           :  Aug 1,   :  Sep 1,   
                          :  1996  :  1997  :   1996    :   1997    :   1997    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                   ------------- 1,000 ------------- 
                          :                                                     
Corn for Grain       Bu   : 127.1    125.2    9,293,435   9,275,870   9,267,655 
Sorghum for Grain    "    :  67.5     68.7      802,974     629,299     653,208 
Barley               "    :  58.5     59.3      396,851     380,015     379,395 
All Wheat            "    :  36.3     39.5    2,281,763   2,530,534   2,507,169 
  Durum              "    :  32.7     28.1      115,840      90,155      90,155 
  Other Spring       "    :  35.1     30.0      687,875     584,905     561,540 
Rice 1/              Cwt  : 6,121    5,975      171,321     182,034     181,455 
Soybeans for Beans   Bu   :  37.6     39.3    2,382,364   2,744,451   2,745,891 
Peanuts              Lb   : 2,653    2,642    3,661,205   3,800,225   3,658,525 
All Cotton 1/        Bale :   707      658     18,942.0    17,782.5    18,417.5 
  Upland 1/          "    :   701      651     18,413.5    17,228.5    17,873.5 
  Amer-Pima 1/       "    :   991    1,049        528.5       554.0       544.0 
Cottonseed           Ton  :                     7,143.5     6,793.8     7,052.8 
Potatoes                  :                                                     
  Summer 2/ 3/       Cwt  :   261      262       19,507      16,418      17,271 
  Fall 2/                 :   364               453,436                         
  Total 2/           "    :   350               498,633                         
Tobacco              Lb   : 2,071    2,031    1,517,334   1,626,317   1,614,173 
Sugarbeets           Ton  :  20.2     20.5       26,680      29,688      29,358 
Sugarcane for             :                                                     
 Sugar and Seed      "    :  33.1     32.4       29,462      29,546      29,664 
Pecans               Lb   :                     218,900                 292,000 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Yield in pounds.                                                            
2/  1996 revised.                                                               
3/  August estimate carried forward from July 1.                                
                  Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production,                 
                             United States, 1996-97                             
                                (Domestic Units)                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :     Yield per Acre      :        Production         
       Crop and Unit      :-----------------------------------------------------
                          :    1996    :  1997 1/   :    1996     :   1997 1/   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                           --------- 1,000 --------  
                          :                                                     
Oats                 Bu   :     57.8         58.1        155,225       187,127  
Winter Wheat         "    :     37.2         44.6      1,478,048     1,855,474  
All Hay              Ton  :     2.45         2.53        149,457       153,886  
  Alfalfa            "    :     3.27         3.30         79,377        77,817  
  All Other          "    :     1.91         2.04         70,080        76,069  
Dry Edible Beans 2/  Cwt  :    1,592        1,666         27,354        29,163  
Potatoes                  :                                                     
  Winter             Cwt  :      226          205          3,273         3,157  
  Spring             "    :      249          250         22,417        21,498  
Hops                 Lb   :    1,698        1,680       74,970.5      73,838.0  
Ginger Root (HI)     "    :   47,000       44,000          9,400        12,100  
Apples, Comm'l       "    :                           10,355,000    10,648,900  
Peaches              "    :                            2,070,300     2,643,900  
Pears                Ton  :                                820.8       1,019.8  
Grapes               "    :                              5,548.2       6,644.4  
Sweet Cherries       "    :                                154.3         191.3  
Tart Cherries        Lb   :                              270,300       242,200  
Apricots             Ton  :                                 79.8         132.0  
Olives (CA)          "    :                                166.0          95.0  
Dried Prunes (CA)    "    :                                220.0         215.0  
Prunes and Plums          :                                                     
 (excl CA)           "    :                                 20.0          28.4  
Almonds (CA)         Lb   :                              510,000       680,000  
Pistachios (CA)      "    :                              105,000       170,000  
Hazelnuts            Ton  :                                 18.5          40.0  
Walnuts (CA)         "    :                                208.0         230.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
2/  Yield in pounds.                                                            
                  Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production,                 
                             United States, 1996-97                             
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :    Yield per Hectare    :        Production         
           Crop           :-----------------------------------------------------
                          :    1996    :  1997 1/   :    1996     :  1997  1/   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                     Metric Tons                     
                          :                                                     
Oats                      :    2.07         2.08        2,253,080     2,716,140 
Winter Wheat              :    2.50         3.00       40,225,870    50,497,730 
All Hay                   :    5.49         5.67      135,585,110   139,603,030 
  Alfalfa                 :    7.33         7.41       72,009,600    70,594,390 
  All Other               :    4.28         4.58       63,575,510    69,008,640 
Dry Edible Beans          :    1.78         1.87        1,240,760     1,322,810 
Potatoes                  :                                                     
  Winter                  :   25.29        22.99          148,460       143,200 
  Spring                  :   27.92        27.99        1,016,820       975,130 
Hops                      :    1.90         1.88           34,010        33,490 
Ginger Root (HI)          :   53.25        49.91            4,260         5,490 
Apples, Comm'l            :                             4,696,950     4,830,260 
Peaches                   :                               939,070     1,199,250 
Pears                     :                               744,570       925,100 
Grapes                    :                             5,033,240     6,027,650 
Sweet Cherries            :                               139,980       173,500 
Tart Cherries             :                               122,610       109,860 
Apricots                  :                                72,390       119,750 
Olives (CA)               :                               150,590        86,180 
Dried Prunes (CA)         :                               199,580       195,040 
Prunes and Plums          :                                                     
 (excl CA)                :                                18,140        25,760 
Almonds (CA)              :                               231,330       308,440 
Pistachios (CA)           :                                47,630        77,110 
Hazelnuts                 :                                16,780        36,290 
Walnuts (CA)              :                               188,690       208,650 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
            Crop Summary:  Area Planted and Harvested, United States,           
                      1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                     
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :       Area Planted        :     Area Harvested 1/     
          Crop          :-------------------------------------------------------
                        :    1996     :    1997     :    1996     :    1997     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :                       Hectares                        
                        :                                                       
Corn                    : 32,167,590    32,467,060    29,601,860    29,966,890  
Sorghum                 :  5,337,050     4,155,360     4,816,220     3,849,410  
Barley                  :  2,903,250     2,739,350     2,746,630     2,588,800  
All Wheat               : 30,610,350    28,638,700    25,434,770    25,695,790  
  Durum                 :  1,464,980     1,323,340     1,435,030     1,298,250  
  Other Spring          :  8,108,370     7,751,840     7,929,900     7,569,320  
Rice                    :  1,140,820     1,240,370     1,132,730     1,229,040  
Soybeans                : 25,983,120    28,672,290    25,660,990    28,253,840  
Peanuts 2/              :    567,170       568,180       558,470       560,290  
All Cotton              :  5,922,030     5,627,210     5,207,590     5,437,620  
  Upland                :  5,817,620     5,526,040     5,104,030     5,336,850  
  Amer-Pima             :    104,410       101,170       103,560       100,770  
Potatoes                :                                                       
  Summer 3/             :     31,610        27,880        30,270        26,710  
  Fall 3/               :    513,920       485,060       504,530       478,140  
  Total 3/              :    589,190       554,750       577,090       545,930  
Tobacco                 :                                296,510       321,630  
Sugarbeets              :    553,780       592,790       535,530       579,920  
Sugarcane for           :                                                       
 Sugar and Seed         :                                359,730       370,290  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Harvested for principal use of each crop, ie., grain, beans, etc.           
2/  1997 area planted revised.                                                  
3/  1996 revised.                                                               
                                                                                
        Crop Summary:  Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1996-97       
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :       Area Planted        :      Area Harvested       
          Crop          :-------------------------------------------------------
                        :    1996     :  1997  1/   :    1996     :   1997 1/   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        :                       Hectares                        
                        :                                                       
Oats                    :  1,886,260     2,130,290     1,087,400     1,303,910  
Winter Wheat            : 21,037,000    19,563,520    16,069,840    16,828,220  
Rye                     :    593,680       583,970       140,430       145,280  
Sunflower               :  1,034,390     1,181,690     1,011,320     1,135,960  
Flaxseed                :     38,850        61,510        37,230        59,080  
All Hay                 :                             24,697,830    24,607,980  
  Alfalfa               :                              9,830,320     9,532,880  
  All Other             :                             14,867,500    15,075,110  
Dry Edible Beans        :    733,700       774,410       695,140       708,250  
Potatoes                :                                                       
  Winter                :      5,870         6,310         5,870         6,230  
  Spring                :     37,800        35,490        36,420        34,840  
Sweetpotatoes           :     36,060        35,530        34,320        34,280  
Hops                    :                                 17,870        17,790  
Ginger Root (HI)        :                                     80           110  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
          Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production, United States,          
                      1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                     
                                 (Metric Units)                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :Yield per Hectare:            Production             
                          :-----------------------------------------------------
           Crop           :        :        :           :  Aug 1,   :  Sep 1,   
                          :  1996  :  1997  :   1996    :   1997    :   1997    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                     Metric Tons                     
                          :                                                     
Corn for Grain            :  7.97     7.86   236,064,120 235,617,950 235,409,280
Sorghum for Grain         :  4.23     4.31    20,396,480  15,984,930  16,592,250
Barley                    :  3.15     3.19     8,640,410   8,273,850   8,260,350
All Wheat                 :  2.44     2.66    62,099,410  68,869,860  68,233,960
  Durum                   :  2.20     1.89     3,152,650   2,453,620   2,453,620
  Other Spring            :  2.36     2.02    18,720,890  15,918,510  15,282,610
Rice                      :  6.86     6.70     7,770,990   8,256,920   8,230,660
Soybeans for Beans        :  2.53     2.64    64,837,320  74,691,720  74,730,910
Peanuts                   :  2.97     2.96     1,660,690   1,723,750   1,659,480
All Cotton                :   .79      .74     4,124,140   3,871,680   4,009,940
  Upland                  :   .79      .73     4,009,070   3,751,060   3,891,500
  Amer-Pima               :  1.11     1.18       115,070     120,620     118,440
Cottonseed                :                    6,480,470   6,163,230   6,398,190
Potatoes                  :                                                     
  Summer 1/ 2/            : 29.23    29.33       884,820     744,710     783,400
  Fall 1/                 : 40.77             20,567,510                        
  Total 1/                : 39.19             22,617,610                        
Tobacco                   :  2.32     2.28       688,250     737,690     732,180
Sugarbeets                : 45.20    45.93    24,203,690  26,932,500  26,633,130
Sugarcane for             :                                                     
 Sugar and Seed           : 74.30    72.67    26,727,480  26,803,680  26,910,730
Pecans                    :                       99,290                 132,450
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1996 revised.                                                               
2/  August estimate carried forward from July 1.                                
        Corn for Grain:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State         
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres       ------- Bushels -------     -- 1,000 Bushels --   
        :                                                                       
AL      :    280      260     82.0      92.0      95.0      22,960      24,700  
AZ 1/   :     40       45    175.0     175.0     175.0       7,000       7,875  
AR 1/   :    230      170    125.0     110.0     110.0      28,750      18,700  
CA      :    220      260    160.0     170.0     165.0      35,200      42,900  
CO      :    940    1,030    142.0     148.0     148.0     133,480     152,440  
CT 2/   :                                                                       
DE      :    150      146    143.0     100.0     100.0      21,450      14,600  
FL 1/   :    112       80     88.0     100.0     100.0       9,856       8,000  
GA      :    525      500     95.0     107.0     110.0      49,875      55,000  
ID 1/   :     40       40    135.0     145.0     145.0       5,400       5,800  
IL      : 10,800   11,000    136.0     127.0     127.0   1,468,800   1,397,000  
IN      :  5,450    5,850    123.0     127.0     122.0     670,350     713,700  
IA      : 12,450   11,950    138.0     140.0     140.0   1,718,100   1,673,000  
KS      :  2,350    2,700    152.0     130.0     130.0     357,200     351,000  
KY      :  1,200    1,220    124.0     108.0     108.0     148,800     131,760  
LA 1/   :    523      490    125.0     115.0     115.0      65,375      56,350  
ME 2/   :                                                                       
MD      :    465      450    139.0      85.0      80.0      64,635      36,000  
MA 2/   :                                                                       
MI      :  2,300    2,300     94.0     110.0     110.0     216,200     253,000  
MN      :  6,950    6,450    125.0     130.0     130.0     868,750     838,500  
MS 1/   :    605      470    102.0     105.0     105.0      61,710      49,350  
MO      :  2,650    2,850    134.0     108.0     112.0     355,100     319,200  
MT 1/   :     15       15    137.0     130.0     130.0       2,055       1,950  
NE      :  8,300    8,800    143.0     133.0     133.0   1,186,900   1,170,400  
NH 2/   :                                                                       
NJ 1/   :     94      102    126.0      95.0      95.0      11,844       9,690  
NM 1/   :     84       85    175.0     170.0     170.0      14,700      14,450  
NY      :    630      660    107.0     118.0     116.0      67,410      76,560  
NC      :    900      900     95.0      85.0      85.0      85,500      76,500  
ND      :    720      650     91.0      95.0      95.0      65,520      61,750  
OH      :  2,750    3,450    111.0     130.0     130.0     305,250     448,500  
OK 1/   :    170      180    145.0     150.0     150.0      24,650      27,000  
OR 1/   :     33       20    165.0     185.0     185.0       5,445       3,700  
PA      :  1,070    1,120    119.0      85.0      85.0     127,330      95,200  
RI 2/   :                                                                       
SC      :    380      335     79.0      95.0     100.0      30,020      33,500  
SD      :  3,700    3,350    100.0      95.0     100.0     370,000     335,000  
TN      :    680      650    116.0     105.0     105.0      78,880      68,250  
TX      :  1,800    1,800    112.0     135.0     135.0     201,600     243,000  
UT 1/   :     21       21    130.0     125.0     125.0       2,730       2,625  
VT 2/   :                                                                       
VA      :    310      340    126.0      83.0      83.0      39,060      28,220  
WA 1/   :    120      110    185.0     190.0     190.0      22,200      20,900  
WV 1/   :     40       45    105.0      95.0      95.0       4,200       4,275  
WI      :  3,000    3,100    111.0     128.0     126.0     333,000     390,600  
WY 1/   :     50       55    123.0     122.0     122.0       6,150       6,710  
        :                                                                       
US      : 73,147   74,049    127.1     125.3     125.2   9,293,435   9,267,655  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
2/  Not estimated.                                                              
       Sorghum for Grain:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State       
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres        ------ Bushels ------      -- 1,000 Bushels --   
        :                                                                       
AL 1/   :     10       9     55.0      60.0      60.0         550         540   
AR      :    220     150     74.0      70.0      70.0      16,280      10,500   
CO      :    260     160     51.0      35.0      40.0      13,260       6,400   
GA 1/   :     40      40     41.0      46.0      46.0       1,640       1,840   
IL      :    220     150     84.0      82.0      82.0      18,480      12,300   
KS      :  4,600   3,550     77.0      70.0      75.0     354,200     266,250   
KY 1/   :     23      13     92.0      75.0      75.0       2,116         975   
LA      :    153     107     76.0      75.0      72.0      11,628       7,704   
MS      :     72      33     70.0      65.0      65.0       5,040       2,145   
MO      :    580     430     91.0      78.0      85.0      52,780      36,550   
NE      :  1,030     800     95.0      90.0      90.0      97,850      72,000   
NM      :    225     230     33.0      42.0      45.0       7,425      10,350   
NC 1/   :     10      11     57.0      49.0      49.0         570         539   
OK      :    490     490     59.0      54.0      57.0      28,910      27,930   
SC 1/   :      5       4     50.0      50.0      50.0         250         200   
SD      :    145     170     55.0      55.0      58.0       7,975       9,860   
TN 1/   :     18      15     90.0      85.0      85.0       1,620       1,275   
TX      :  3,800   3,150     48.0      59.0      59.0     182,400     185,850   
        :                                                                       
US      : 11,901   9,512     67.5      66.2      68.7     802,974     653,208   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
            Barley:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State             
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres      -------- Bushels --------    -- 1,000 Bushels --   
        :                                                                       
AZ 1/   :     54      69     105.0     109.0     109.0      5,670       7,521   
CA 1/   :    220     180      60.0      65.0      65.0     13,200      11,700   
CO      :     92      90     108.0     115.0     115.0      9,936      10,350   
DE 1/   :     23      35      68.0      79.0      79.0      1,564       2,765   
ID      :    730     760      73.0      74.0      74.0     53,290      56,240   
KS 1/   :     11       9      33.0      45.0      45.0        363         405   
KY 1/   :     20      14      74.0      70.0      70.0      1,480         980   
MD 1/   :     49      50      61.0      77.0      77.0      2,989       3,850   
MI 1/   :     25      22      48.0      57.0      57.0      1,200       1,254   
MN      :    520     570      64.0      57.0      55.0     33,280      31,350   
MT      :  1,200   1,200      43.0      54.0      54.0     51,600      64,800   
NE 1/   :     17       8      53.0      56.0      56.0        901         448   
NV 1/   :      5       5      75.0      90.0      90.0        375         450   
NJ 1/   :      3       4      60.0      75.0      75.0        180         300   
NC 1/   :     20      20      65.0      71.0      71.0      1,300       1,420   
ND      :  2,600   2,200      55.0      47.0      47.0    143,000     103,400   
OK 1/   :      3       8      23.0      39.0      39.0         69         312   
OR      :    150     120      64.0      69.0      69.0      9,600       8,280   
PA 1/   :     75      75      67.0      69.0      69.0      5,025       5,175   
SC 1/   :      4       3      50.0      60.0      60.0        200         180   
SD      :    145     115      44.0      44.0      40.0      6,380       4,600   
TX 1/   :     11       5      34.0      49.0      49.0        374         245   
UT      :    100      95      82.0      90.0      90.0      8,200       8,550   
VA 1/   :     75      65      68.0      80.0      80.0      5,100       5,200   
WA      :    440     490      62.0      70.0      72.0     27,280      35,280   
WI      :     75      65      53.0      60.0      60.0      3,975       3,900   
WY      :    120     120      86.0      87.0      87.0     10,320      10,440   
        :                                                                       
US      :  6,787   6,397      58.5      59.4      59.3    396,851     379,395   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
           All Wheat:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State           
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres      -------- Bushels --------    -- 1,000 Bushels ---  
        :                                                                       
AL 1/   :     80      110    44.0      35.0      35.0        3,520       3,850  
AZ 1/   :    178       98    90.4      92.3      92.3       16,090       9,042  
AR 1/   :  1,240      790    54.0      45.0      45.0       66,960      35,550  
CA 1/   :    688      510    75.2      80.1      80.1       51,750      40,850  
CO 1/   :  2,268    2,912    33.3      34.0      34.0       75,500      99,010  
DE 1/   :     78       77    53.0      55.0      55.0        4,134       4,235  
FL 1/   :     10       15    38.0      39.0      39.0          380         585  
GA 1/   :    350      360    48.0      44.0      44.0       16,800      15,840  
ID      :  1,560    1,430    76.4      77.3      77.3      119,200     110,480  
IL 1/   :  1,100    1,150    38.0      60.0      60.0       41,800      69,000  
IN 1/   :    720      640    38.0      57.0      57.0       27,360      36,480  
IA 1/   :     45       25    35.0      38.0      38.0        1,575         950  
KS 1/   :  8,800   10,700    29.0      46.0      46.0      255,200     492,200  
KY 1/   :    530      500    53.0      55.0      55.0       28,090      27,500  
LA 1/   :    130      145    43.0      38.0      38.0        5,590       5,510  
MD 1/   :    227      215    52.0      60.0      60.0       11,804      12,900  
MI 1/   :    630      540    38.0      61.0      61.0       23,940      32,940  
MN      :  2,442    2,405    41.9      35.0      33.0      102,382      79,480  
MS 1/   :    230      190    49.0      42.0      42.0       11,270       7,980  
MO 1/   :  1,250    1,040    39.0      57.0      57.0       48,750      59,280  
MT      :  6,350    6,010    27.8      30.1      30.8      176,710     185,050  
NE 1/   :  2,100    1,900    35.0      37.0      37.0       73,500      70,300  
NV 1/   :     19       17    86.8      96.5      96.5        1,650       1,640  
NJ 1/   :     38       34    46.0      44.0      44.0        1,748       1,496  
NM 1/   :    110      300    37.0      34.0      34.0        4,070      10,200  
NY 1/   :    150      135    43.0      52.0      52.0        6,450       7,020  
NC 1/   :    590      670    44.0      52.0      52.0       25,960      34,840  
ND      : 12,515   11,188    31.6      26.0      24.5      395,130     274,438  
OH 1/   :  1,330    1,060    39.0      62.0      62.0       51,870      65,720  
OK 1/   :  4,900    5,400    19.0      33.0      33.0       93,100     178,200  
OR 1/   :    955      965    70.8      69.0      69.0       67,605      66,550  
PA 1/   :    190      175    48.0      52.0      52.0        9,120       9,100  
SC 1/   :    270      305    45.0      50.0      50.0       12,150      15,250  
SD      :  3,854    3,574    36.1      31.6      29.6      139,270     105,898  
TN 1/   :    400      370    44.0      43.0      43.0       17,600      15,910  
TX 1/   :  2,900    4,100    26.0      29.0      29.0       75,400     118,900  
UT 1/   :    188      189    41.3      45.8      45.8        7,760       8,650  
VA 1/   :    275      255    53.0      60.0      60.0       14,575      15,300  
WA      :  2,745    2,595    66.5      62.4      62.9      182,670     163,335  
WV 1/   :     11        9    45.0      45.0      45.0          495         405  
WI 1/   :    135      142    42.4      51.2      51.2        5,725       7,265  
WY 1/   :    269      250    26.4      32.2      32.2        7,110       8,040  
        :                                                                       
US      : 62,850   63,495    36.3      39.9      39.5    2,281,763   2,507,169  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
          Durum Wheat:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State          
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres      -------- Bushels --------       1,000 Bushels      
        :                                                                       
AZ 1/   :    164      89      90.0     93.0      93.0      14,760      8,277    
CA 1/   :    138     130     100.0     95.0      95.0      13,800     12,350    
MN      :     10       5      43.0     36.0      36.0         430        180    
MT      :    270     310      25.0     25.0      25.0       6,750      7,750    
ND      :  2,940   2,650      27.0     23.0      23.0      79,380     60,950    
SD      :     24      24      30.0     27.0      27.0         720        648    
        :                                                                       
US      :  3,546   3,208      32.7     28.1      28.1     115,840     90,155    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
      Other Spring Wheat:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State       
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres      -------- Bushels --------    -- 1,000 Bushels --   
        :                                                                       
CO 1/   :     68       62    75.0      80.0      80.0       5,100       4,960   
ID      :    700      560    72.0      73.0      73.0      50,400      40,880   
MN      :  2,400    2,350    42.0      35.0      33.0     100,800      77,550   
MT      :  4,100    4,200    26.0      28.0      29.0     106,600     121,800   
NV 1/   :     10        6    75.0      90.0      90.0         750         540   
ND      :  9,500    8,500    33.0      27.0      25.0     313,500     212,500   
OR 1/   :    105      125    61.0      62.0      62.0       6,405       7,750   
SD      :  2,250    2,400    37.0      32.0      29.0      83,250      69,600   
UT 1/   :     28       29    60.0      50.0      50.0       1,680       1,450   
WA      :    395      445    46.0      50.0      53.0      18,170      23,585   
WI 1/   :     10        7    35.0      35.0      35.0         350         245   
WY 1/   :     29       20    30.0      34.0      34.0         870         680   
        :                                                                       
US      : 19,595   18,704    35.1      31.3      30.0     687,875     561,540   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
                                                                                
             Wheat:  Production by Class, United States, 1995-1996              
                     and Forecasted September 1, 1997 1/                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      :            Winter           :             Spring            :           
      :-------------------------------------------------------------:           
 Year :   Hard  :   Soft  :         :   Hard  :          :          :   Total   
      :    Red  :    Red  :  White  :    Red  :   Durum  :   White  :           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      :                              1,000 Bushels                              
      :                                                                         
1995  :  825,042  455,568   264,043   475,046   102,280     60,612   2,182,591  
1996  :  762,402  422,019   293,627   626,753   115,840     61,122   2,281,763  
1997  :1,112,228  469,624   273,622   503,364    90,155     58,176   2,507,169  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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.                                                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Rice:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State              
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :-- 1,000 Acres --     ------- Pounds -------      --- 1,000 Cwt ---    
        :                                                                       
AR      :  1,170   1,337     6,150     5,850     5,850     71,945      78,215   
CA      :    500     513     7,490     8,200     8,200     37,459      42,066   
LA      :    533     565     4,870     4,800     4,650     25,977      26,273   
MS      :    208     268     6,000     5,500     5,600     12,480      15,008   
MO 1/   :     90      95     5,550     5,400     5,400      4,995       5,130   
TX      :    298     259     6,200     5,700     5,700     18,465      14,763   
        :                                                                       
US      :  2,799   3,037     6,121     5,994     5,975    171,321     181,455   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                   Rice:  Production by Class, United States,                   
                    1995-96 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
      Year     :   Long Grain  :  Medium Grain :  Short Grain  :      All       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
               :                           1,000 Cwt                            
               :                                                                
1995           :    121,730         51,241            900           173,871     
1996           :    113,462         56,790          1,069           171,321     
1997 1/        :    126,870         53,029          1,556           181,455     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Indicated September 1, 1997, rice class forecasts are based on a five-year  
    average of class percentages.  The class percentages are adjusted as data   
    become available through the growing season.                                
      Soybeans for Beans:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State       
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :      Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :-- 1,000 Acres --    ------- Bushels -------     -- 1,000 Bushels --   
        :                                                                       
AL      :    315      380    34.0      29.0      29.0       10,710     11,020   
AR      :  3,500    3,550    32.0      32.0      32.0      112,000    113,600   
DE      :    217      221    35.0      26.0      26.0        7,595      5,746   
FL 1/   :     33       38    32.0      30.0      30.0        1,056      1,140   
GA      :    390      420    26.0      28.0      25.0       10,140     10,500   
IL      :  9,850    9,950    40.5      43.0      43.0      398,925    427,850   
IN      :  5,360    5,350    38.0      44.0      42.0      203,680    224,700   
IA      :  9,450   10,400    44.0      49.0      49.0      415,800    509,600   
KS      :  2,000    2,300    37.0      32.0      35.0       74,000     80,500   
KY      :  1,180    1,280    38.0      36.0      36.0       44,840     46,080   
LA      :  1,080    1,350    33.0      29.0      29.0       35,640     39,150   
MD      :    480      530    37.0      29.0      25.0       17,760     13,250   
MI      :  1,640    1,890    28.5      40.0      40.0       46,740     75,600   
MN      :  5,900    6,700    38.0      42.0      41.0      224,200    274,700   
MS      :  1,750    2,050    31.0      27.0      28.0       54,250     57,400   
MO      :  4,050    4,850    37.0      34.0      37.0      149,850    179,450   
NE      :  3,010    3,450    45.0      43.0      42.0      135,450    144,900   
NJ 1/   :    119      132    37.0      30.0      30.0        4,403      3,960   
NC      :  1,200    1,330    29.0      28.0      26.0       34,800     34,580   
ND      :    845    1,290    29.0      28.0      28.0       24,505     36,120   
OH      :  4,490    4,490    35.0      42.0      43.0      157,150    193,070   
OK 1/   :    285      320    26.0      26.0      26.0        7,410      8,320   
PA 1/   :    285      365    40.0      35.0      35.0       11,400     12,775   
SC      :    540      610    25.0      26.0      24.0       13,500     14,640   
SD      :  2,670    3,450    34.0      34.0      34.0       90,780    117,300   
TN      :  1,150    1,270    35.0      32.0      34.0       40,250     43,180   
TX      :    270      400    26.0      27.0      27.0        7,020     10,800   
VA      :    480      490    34.0      30.0      28.0       16,320     13,720   
WI      :    870      960    37.0      44.0      44.0       32,190     42,240   
        :                                                                       
US      : 63,409   69,816    37.6      39.3      39.3   2,382,364   2,745,891   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
                                                                                
            Peanuts:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State            
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997 1/         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield            :     Production        
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :         :        1997       :          :            
        :  1996  :  1997  :   1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997    
        :        :        :         :  Aug 1  :  Sep 1  :          :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :-- 1,000 Acres --     ------- Pounds -------     --- 1,000 Pounds ---  
        :                                                                       
AL      :   191.0   189.0    2,355     2,300     2,300     449,805     434,700  
FL      :    82.0    82.0    2,880     3,100     3,100     236,160     254,200  
GA      :   533.0   518.0    2,690     2,800     2,650   1,433,770   1,372,700  
NM      :    16.5    17.5    2,300     2,450     2,450      37,950      42,875  
NC 2/   :   125.0   121.0    2,940     2,850     2,750     367,500     332,750  
OK 2/   :    81.0    78.0    2,410     2,500     2,500     195,210     195,000  
SC      :    10.5    10.0    3,100     2,900     3,000      32,550      30,000  
TX      :   265.0   295.0    2,600     2,750     2,700     689,000     796,500  
VA      :    76.0    74.0    2,885     2,700     2,700     219,260     199,800  
        :                                                                       
US 2/   : 1,380.0 1,384.5    2,653     2,717     2,642   3,661,205   3,658,525  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates comprised of quota and non-quota peanuts.                         
2/  1997 planted acres revised for North Carolina to 121,000 acres,             
    Oklahoma to 80,000 acres, and U.S. to 1,404,000 acres.                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cottonseed:  Production, United States, 1995-96                      
                   and Forecasted September 1, 1997                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :                          Production                                  
  State  :--------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :        1995         :         1996         :          1997  1/       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :                            1,000 Tons                                
         :                                                                      
 US      :      6,848.7                 7,143.5                 7,052.8         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Based on a 3-year average lint-seed ratio.                                  
         Cotton:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by Type, State,         
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          :   Area Harvested  :           Yield           :    Production 1/    
   Type   :-------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    and   :         :         :        :       1997       :         :           
   State  :   1996  :   1997  :  1996  :------------------:   1996  :   1997    
          :         :         :        :  Aug 1 :  Sep 1  :         :           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          : -- 1,000 Acres --   --- Pounds ---    ------ 1,000 Bales 2/ ------  
          :                                                                     
Upland    :                                                                     
  AL      :    516.0    420.0     734      503       526      789.0      460.0  
  AZ      :    314.0    329.0   1,189    1,167     1,138      778.0      780.0  
  AR      :    990.0    930.0     793      692       748    1,636.0    1,450.0  
  CA      :    995.0    875.0   1,153    1,207     1,207    2,390.0    2,200.0  
  FL 3/   :     98.2    100.0     637      720       720      130.4      150.0  
  GA      :  1,336.0  1,435.0     747      736       736    2,079.0    2,200.0  
  KS 3/   :      4.0     13.5     492      480       480        4.1       13.5  
  LA      :    885.0    625.0     697      673       637    1,286.0      830.0  
  MS      :  1,100.0    960.0     819      750       790    1,876.0    1,580.0  
  MO      :    385.0    365.0     737      618       671      591.0      510.0  
  NM      :     55.0     66.0     733      698       698       84.0       96.0  
  NC      :    710.0    675.0     677      590       590    1,002.0      830.0  
  OK      :    210.0    210.0     306      434       503      134.0      220.0  
  SC      :    282.0    285.0     774      758       741      455.0      440.0  
  TN      :    530.0    500.0     611      566       566      675.0      590.0  
  TX      :  4,100.0  5,300.0     509      453       489    4,345.0    5,400.0  
  VA 3/   :    102.0     99.0     748      601       601      159.0      124.0  
          :                                                                     
  US      : 12,612.2 13,187.5     701      628       651   18,413.5   17,873.5  
          :                                                                     
Amer-Pima :                                                                     
  AZ      :     41.9     20.0     852      792       792       74.4       33.0  
  CA      :    164.0    184.0   1,098    1,174     1,148      375.0      440.0  
  NM      :     14.0     13.0     651      665       665       19.0       18.0  
  TX      :     36.0     32.0     801      795       795       60.1       53.0  
          :                                                                     
  US      :    255.9    249.0     991    1,068     1,049      528.5      544.0  
          :                                                                     
All       :                                                                     
  AL      :    516.0    420.0     734      503       526      789.0      460.0  
  AZ      :    355.9    349.0   1,150    1,146     1,118      852.4      813.0  
  AR      :    990.0    930.0     793      692       748    1,636.0    1,450.0  
  CA      :  1,159.0  1,059.0   1,145    1,201     1,197    2,765.0    2,640.0  
  FL 3/   :     98.2    100.0     637      720       720      130.4      150.0  
  GA      :  1,336.0  1,435.0     747      736       736    2,079.0    2,200.0  
  KS 3/   :      4.0     13.5     492      480       480        4.1       13.5  
  LA      :    885.0    625.0     697      673       637    1,286.0      830.0  
  MS      :  1,100.0    960.0     819      750       790    1,876.0    1,580.0  
  MO      :    385.0    365.0     737      618       671      591.0      510.0  
  NM      :     69.0     79.0     717      693       693      103.0      114.0  
  NC      :    710.0    675.0     677      590       590    1,002.0      830.0  
  OK      :    210.0    210.0     306      434       503      134.0      220.0  
  SC      :    282.0    285.0     774      758       741      455.0      440.0  
  TN      :    530.0    500.0     611      566       566      675.0      590.0  
  TX      :  4,136.0  5,332.0     511      455       491    4,405.1    5,453.0  
  VA 3/   :    102.0     99.0     748      601       601      159.0      124.0  
          :                                                                     
  US      : 12,868.1 13,436.5     707      637       658   18,942.0   18,417.5  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Production ginned and to be ginned.                                         
2/  480-lb net weight bales.                                                    
3/  Estimates for current year carried forward from previous forecast.          
  Potatoes:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by Seasonal                  
             Group, State, and United States, 1995-97                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal Group :  Area Harvested  :     Yield     :          Production         
 and           :----------------------------------------------------------------
 State         :    1996  :  1997 :  1996 :  1997 :    1995  :   1996  :   1997 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :  - 1,000 Acres -     ---- Cwt ---   ------ 1,000 Cwt ------    
Winter  1/     :                                                                
  CA           :     5.7      6.6     250     245     1,300     1,425     1,617 
  FL           :     8.8      8.8     210     175     1,173     1,848     1,540 
  Total        :    14.5     15.4     226     205     2,473     3,273     3,157 
               :                                                                
Spring  1/     :                                                                
  AL           :     1.9      1.5     160     175       400       304       263 
  AZ           :     9.0      6.2     275     275     1,755     2,475     1,705 
  CA           :    20.1     18.6     375     385     6,230     7,538     7,161 
  FL           :    35.5     35.3     219     215     7,830     7,765     7,591 
    Hastings   :    27.5     26.5     230     230     5,940     6,325     6,095 
    Other FL   :     8.0      8.8     180     170     1,890     1,440     1,496 
  NC           :    17.0     16.5     190     195     3,053     3,230     3,218 
  TX           :     6.5      8.0     170     195       925     1,105     1,560 
  Total        :    90.0     86.1     249     250    20,193    22,417    21,498 
               :                                                                
Summer  2/     :                                                                
  AL           :     6.7      5.9     150     150     1,139     1,005       885 
  CA           :     5.8      5.9     360     360     1,760     2,088     2,124 
  CO           :     9.8      7.6     345     350     2,776     3,381     2,660 
  DE           :     5.2      4.2     240     220     1,475     1,248       924 
  IL           :     6.0      4.6     275     280     1,485     1,650     1,288 
  IA 1/        :     1.5      1.2     210     190       240       315       228 
  MD           :     2.6      3.4     215     260       360       559       884 
  MO           :     7.1      5.8     230     250     1,587     1,633     1,450 
  NE           :     5.5      4.3     270     350     1,254     1,485     1,505 
  NJ           :     2.5      2.3     265     245       702       663       564 
  NM           :     3.9      4.4     360     320     1,344     1,404     1,408 
  NC 1/        :     1.2      1.2      90      95       124       108       114 
  TX           :     9.5      7.7     240     245     1,645     2,280     1,887 
  VA           :     7.5      7.5     225     180     2,040     1,688     1,350 
  Total        :    74.8     66.0     261     262    17,931    19,507    17,271 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.                                     --continued  
  Potatoes:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production, by Seasonal                 
       Group, State, and United States, 1995-97 (continued)                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal Group :  Area Harvested  :     Yield     :          Production         
 and           :----------------------------------------------------------------
 State         :    1996  :  1997 :  1996 :  1997 :    1995  :   1996  :   1997 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :  - 1,000 Acres -     ---- Cwt ---   ------ 1,000 Cwt ------    
               :                                                                
Fall 1/ 2/ 3/  :                                                                
  CA           :    11.5     10.5     400             5,330     4,600           
  CO           :    77.8     76.8     375            23,808    29,175           
  ID           :   413.0    388.0     346           132,657   142,800           
    10 SW Co   :    28.0     27.0     425            11,340    11,900           
    Other ID   :   385.0    361.0     340           121,317   130,900           
  IN           :     5.2      5.2     260             1,196     1,352           
  ME           :    77.0     73.0     275            17,160    21,175           
  MA           :     2.6      2.7     260               858       676           
  MI           :    46.0     47.5     300            16,350    13,800           
  MN           :    82.0     75.0     300            20,790    24,600           
  MT           :    10.2     10.4     315             2,940     3,213           
  NE           :    12.4     19.1     355             3,680     4,402           
  NV           :     7.9      7.2     400             2,774     3,160           
  NM           :     6.4      6.3     400             2,394     2,560           
  NY           :    28.5     29.0     280             7,695     7,980           
  ND           :   131.0    122.0     220            25,410    28,820           
  OH           :     5.1      5.0     250             1,404     1,275           
  OR           :    61.0     56.0     494            24,788    30,124           
    Malheur    :    13.3     10.8     400             4,992     5,320           
    Other OR   :    47.7     45.2     520            19,796    24,804           
  PA           :    16.5     14.5     255             4,080     4,208           
  RI           :     0.8      0.8     270               243       192           
  SD           :     4.8      4.3     280               988     1,344           
  UT           :     4.2      3.0     280             1,224     1,176           
  WA           :   161.0    148.0     590            80,850    94,990           
  WI           :    81.0     76.5     390            26,000    31,590           
  WY           :     0.8      0.7     280               390       224           
  Total        : 1,246.7  1,181.5     364           403,009   453,436           
               :                                                                
  US           : 1,426.0  1,349.0     350           443,606   498,633           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
2/  1996 revised.                                                               
3/  Estimates for 1997 yield and production for fall potatoes will be           
    published November 10, 1997.                                                
            Potatoes:  Area Planted by Seasonal Group,                          
                State, and United States, 1996-97                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
Seasonal Group  :            :       ::  Seasonal Group  :           :          
     and        :     1996   :  1997 ::       and        :     1996  :   1997   
    State       :            :       ::      State       :           :          
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                :     1,000 Acres    ::                  :     1,000 Acres      
                :                    ::                  :                      
Winter  1/      :                    ::  Fall  1/ 2/     :                      
  CA            :      5.7       6.6 ::    CA            :     11.5      10.5   
  FL            :      8.8       9.0 ::    CO            :     78.0      77.0   
  Total         :     14.5      15.6 ::    ID            :    415.0     390.0   
                :                    ::      10 SW Co    :     28.0      27.0   
Spring  1/      :                    ::      Other ID    :    387.0     363.0   
  AL            :      2.0       1.6 ::    IN            :      5.7       5.7   
  AZ            :      9.0       6.2 ::    ME            :     78.0      74.0   
  CA            :     20.1      18.6 ::    MA            :      2.7       2.7   
  FL            :     38.0      36.0 ::    MI            :     52.0      49.0   
    Hastings    :     28.5      27.0 ::    MN            :     85.0      79.0   
    Other FL    :      9.5       9.0 ::    MT            :     10.4      10.4   
  NC            :     17.5      17.0 ::    NE            :     12.7      19.5   
  TX            :      6.8       8.3 ::    NV            :      8.0       7.3   
  Total         :     93.4      87.7 ::    NM            :      6.7       6.3   
                :                    ::    NY            :     29.0      30.0   
Summer  2/      :                    ::    ND            :    134.0     125.0   
  AL            :      6.8       6.0 ::    OH            :      5.2       5.1   
  CA            :      5.8       5.9 ::    OR            :     62.0      57.0   
  CO            :     10.0       7.8 ::      Malheur Co  :     13.6      11.0   
  DE            :      5.4       4.3 ::      Other OR    :     48.4      46.0   
  IL            :      6.3       4.8 ::    PA            :     17.0      15.0   
  IA  1/        :      1.5       1.3 ::    RI            :      0.8       0.8   
  MD            :      2.7       3.5 ::    SD            :      5.0       4.5   
  MO            :      7.8       6.4 ::    UT            :      4.3       3.1   
  NE            :      5.6       4.4 ::    WA            :    163.0     148.0   
  NJ            :      2.6       2.4 ::    WI            :     83.0      78.0   
  NM            :      3.9       4.4 ::    WY            :      0.9       0.7   
  NC  1/        :      1.2       1.2 ::                                         
  TX            :     10.5       8.5 ::    Total         :  1,269.9   1,198.6   
  VA            :      8.0       8.0 ::                  :                      
  Total         :     78.1      68.9 ::    US            :  1,455.9   1,370.8   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
2/  1996 revised.                                                               
          Tobacco:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State and          
             United States, 1995-96 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :   Area Harvested    :       Yield       :          Production           
 State:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :   1996   :   1997   :  1996   :  1997   :  1995   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      : --- 1,000 Acres --     ---- Pounds ---   -------- 1,000 Pounds -------- 
      :                                                                         
CT    :   2,260      2,250     1,679     1,572       3,524     3,795      3,538 
FL    :   7,500      7,700     2,680     2,500      17,676    20,100     19,250 
GA    :  46,000     44,000     2,470     2,000      84,000   113,620     88,000 
IN    :   7,600      8,900     1,970     2,000      13,601    14,972     17,800 
KY    : 195,700    221,100     2,021     1,934     328,581   395,542    427,650 
MD    :   8,000      8,000     1,250     1,500      11,475    10,000     12,000 
MA    :     800      1,110     1,515     1,659         918     1,212      1,842 
MO 1/ :   2,700      3,100     2,230     2,050       5,468     6,021      6,355 
NC    : 287,800    314,000     2,035     2,114     484,599   585,542    663,900 
OH    :   8,000      9,500     1,580     1,740      15,015    12,640     16,530 
PA    :   7,800      7,600     1,983     2,001      15,685    15,464     15,210 
SC    :  51,000     54,000     2,310     2,250     105,000   117,810    121,500 
TN    :  54,560     57,670     2,014     1,831      92,907   109,888    105,602 
VA    :  48,370     51,270     2,141     2,065      81,269   103,543    105,898 
WV 1/ :   1,700      1,800     1,200     1,800       2,600     2,040      3,240 
WI    :   2,900      2,750     1,774     2,130       6,220     5,145      5,858 
      :                                                                         
US    : 732,690    794,750     2,071     2,031   1,268,538 1,517,334  1,614,173 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
     Tobacco:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by Class, Type, State,     
            and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :  Area Harvested   :     Yield     :     Production      
    Class and Type    :---------------------------------------------------------
                      :  1996   :  1997   : 1996  : 1997  :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      : ----- Acres -----   --- Pounds --   -- 1,000 Pounds --  
                      :                                                         
Class 1, Flue-cured   :                                                         
 Type 11, Old Belts   :                                                         
  NC                  :  76,000    86,000   2,120   2,050   161,120    176,300  
  VA                  :  37,700    40,000   2,235   2,150    84,260     86,000  
  US                  : 113,700   126,000   2,158   2,082   245,380    262,300  
 Type 12, Eastern NC  :                                                         
  Belt                :                                                         
   NC                 : 167,000   181,000   2,025   2,150   338,175    389,150  
 Type 13, NC Border & :                                                         
  SC Belt             :                                                         
   NC                 :  37,000    38,000   1,980   2,200    73,260     83,600  
   SC                 :  51,000    54,000   2,310   2,250   117,810    121,500  
   US                 :  88,000    92,000   2,171   2,229   191,070    205,100  
 Type 14, GA-FL Belt  :                                                         
   FL                 :   7,500     7,700   2,680   2,500    20,100     19,250  
   GA                 :  46,000    44,000   2,470   2,000   113,620     88,000  
   US                 :  53,500    51,700   2,499   2,074   133,720    107,250  
 Total 11-14          : 422,200   450,700   2,151   2,138   908,345    963,800  
Class 2, Fire-cured   :                                                         
 Type 21, VA Belt     :                                                         
   VA                 :   1,100     1,200   1,580   1,500     1,738      1,800  
 Type 22, Eastern     :                                                         
  District            :                                                         
   KY                 :   3,800     3,900   2,720   2,500    10,336      9,750  
   TN                 :   7,500     7,600   2,550   2,300    19,125     17,480  
   US                 :  11,300    11,500   2,607   2,368    29,461     27,230  
 Type 23, Western     :                                                         
  District            :                                                         
   KY                 :   3,600     3,800   3,160   2,900    11,376     11,020  
   TN                 :     580       580   2,850   2,400     1,653      1,392  
   US                 :   4,180     4,380   3,117   2,834    13,029     12,412  
 Total 21-23          :  16,580    17,080   2,668   2,426    44,228     41,442  
Class 3, Air-cured    :                                                         
 Class 3A, Light      :                                                         
  Air-cured           :                                                         
 Type 31, Burley      :                                                         
   IN                 :   7,600     8,900   1,970   2,000    14,972     17,800  
   KY                 : 185,000   210,000   1,980   1,900   366,300    399,000  
   MO 1/              :   2,700     3,100   2,230   2,050     6,021      6,355  
   NC                 :   7,800     9,000   1,665   1,650    12,987     14,850  
   OH                 :   8,000     9,500   1,580   1,740    12,640     16,530  
   TN                 :  46,000    49,000   1,915   1,750    88,090     85,750  
   VA                 :   9,500    10,000   1,835   1,800    17,433     18,000  
   WV 1/              :   1,700     1,800   1,200   1,800     2,040      3,240  
   US                 : 268,300   301,300   1,940   1,864   520,483    561,525  
 Type 32, Southern MD :                                                         
  Belt                :                                                         
   MD                 :   8,000     8,000   1,250   1,500    10,000     12,000  
   PA                 :   3,200     3,000   1,900   1,850     6,080      5,550  
   US                 :  11,200    11,000   1,436   1,595    16,080     17,550  
 Total 31-32          : 279,500   312,300   1,920   1,854   536,563    579,075  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     --continued
     Tobacco:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by Class, Type, State,     
      and United States, 1996 and Forecasted September 1, 1997 (continued)      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :  Area Harvested   :     Yield     :     Production      
    Class and Type    :---------------------------------------------------------
                      :  1996   :  1997   : 1996  : 1997  :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      : ----- Acres -----   --- Pounds --  --- 1,000 Pounds --- 
                      :                                                         
Class 3, Air-cured    :                                                         
Class 3B, Dark        :                                                         
 Air-cured            :                                                         
 Type 35, One Sucker  :                                                         
  Belt                :                                                         
    KY                :   2,100     2,200   2,340   2,300      4,914      5,060 
    TN                :     480       490   2,125   2,000      1,020        980 
    US                :   2,580     2,690   2,300   2,245      5,934      6,040 
 Type 36, Green River :                                                         
  Belt                :                                                         
    KY                :   1,200     1,200   2,180   2,350      2,616      2,820 
 Type 37, VA Sun-cured:                                                         
  Belt                :                                                         
    VA                :      70        70   1,600   1,400        112         98 
 Total 35-37          :   3,850     3,960   2,250   2,262      8,662      8,958 
Class 4, Cigar Filler :                                                         
 Type 41, PA Seedleaf :                                                         
    PA                :   4,600     4,600   2,040   2,100      9,384      9,660 
Class 5, Cigar Binder :                                                         
 Class 5A, CT Valley  :                                                         
  Binder              :                                                         
  Type 51, CT Valley  :                                                         
   Broadleaf          :                                                         
    CT                :   1,220     1,250   1,840   1,710      2,245      2,138 
    MA                :     410       670   1,600   1,830        656      1,226 
    US                :   1,630     1,920   1,780   1,752      2,901      3,364 
 Class 5B, WI Binder  :                                                         
  Type 54, Southern WI:                                                         
    WI                :   1,900     1,900   1,900   2,300      3,610      4,370 
  Type 55, Northern WI:                                                         
    WI                :   1,000       850   1,535   1,750      1,535      1,488 
  Total 54-55         :   2,900     2,750   1,774   2,130      5,145      5,858 
  Total 51-55         :   4,530     4,670   1,776   1,975      8,046      9,222 
Class 6, Cigar Wrapper:                                                         
 Type 61, CT Valley   :                                                         
  Shade-grown         :                                                         
   CT                 :   1,040     1,000   1,490   1,400      1,550      1,400 
   MA                 :     390       440   1,425   1,400        556        616 
   US                 :   1,430     1,440   1,473   1,400      2,106      2,016 
All Cigar Types       :                                                         
 Total 41-61          :  10,560    10,710   1,850   1,951     19,536     20,898 
                      :                                                         
All Tobacco           : 732,690   794,750   2,071   2,031  1,517,334  1,614,173 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from an earlier forecast.        
     Citrus Fruits:  Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States,     
     1995-96, 1996-97 and Forecasted September 1, 1997 1/ 2/                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :     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 3/ -----    ------- 1,000 Tons -------  
Oranges             :                                                           
  Early Mid &       :                                                           
   Navel 4/         :                                                           
    AZ              :     700       400                 27        15            
    CA              :  38,000    40,000   44,000     1,426     1,500     1,650  
    FL              : 121,200   134,200              5,454     6,039            
    TX              :     830     1,300                 35        55            
    US              : 160,730   175,900              6,942     7,609            
  Valencia          :                                                           
    AZ              :     950       600                 36        23            
    CA              :  20,000    28,000                750     1,050            
    FL              :  82,100    92,000              3,695     4,140            
    TX              :     110       120                  4         5            
    US              : 103,160   120,720              4,485     5,218            
  All               :                                                           
    AZ              :   1,650     1,000                 63        38            
    CA              :  58,000    68,000              2,176     2,550            
    FL              : 203,300   226,200              9,149    10,179            
    TX              :     940     1,420                 39        60            
    US              : 263,890   296,620             11,427    12,827            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995-96 and 1996-97 revised.  Revised grapefruit and other citrus fruit     
    totals will be released September 23, in "Citrus Fruits, 1997 Summary".     
2/  The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with   
    the completion of harvest the following year.                               
3/  Net lbs. per box:  oranges-AZ & CA-75, FL-90, TX-85.                        
4/  Navel and miscellaneous varieties in AZ and CA.  Early (including Navel) and
    midseason varieties in FL and TX.  Small quantities of tangerines in TX.    
                                                                                
         Sugarbeets:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State and        
           United States, 1995-96 and Forecasted September 1, 1997 1/           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :   Area Harvested    :     Yield     :           Production           
  State  :----------------------------------------------------------------------
         :   1996   :   1997   : 1996  : 1997  :   1995   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         : --- 1,000 Acres --    --- Tons ---     -------- 1,000 Tons --------  
         :                                                                      
CA       :    82.0      102.0    29.5    28.0      3,192      2,419      2,856  
CO       :    51.1       67.0    20.2    21.4        715      1,032      1,434  
ID       :   184.0      196.0    24.8    25.2      4,728      4,563      4,939  
MI       :   130.0      160.0    15.1    19.0      2,970      1,963      3,040  
MN       :   438.0      445.0    18.2    17.9      7,434      7,971      7,966  
MT       :    57.5       58.5    22.6    21.2      1,193      1,300      1,240  
NE       :    51.2       59.7    17.8    19.3      1,186        913      1,152  
NM       :     0.9        1.6    29.8    23.5                    27         38  
ND       :   225.3      230.0    18.7    17.5      3,929      4,213      4,025  
OH       :     4.6        0.9    18.8    18.9        230         86         17  
OR       :    16.3       17.1    25.5    25.5        404        416        436  
TX       :    12.6       16.0    19.2    21.0        351        242        336  
WA       :    13.0       18.2    35.5    36.2                   461        659  
WY       :    56.8       61.0    18.9    20.0      1,249      1,074      1,220  
         :                                                                      
Oth      :                                                                      
 Sts 2/  :                                           484                        
         :                                                                      
US       : 1,323.3    1,433.0    20.2    20.5     28,065     26,680     29,358  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Relates to year of intended harvest except for overwintered spring planted  
    beets in CA.                                                                
2/  Includes NM and WA prior to 1996.                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Sugarcane for Sugar and Seed:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production       
      by State and United States, 1995-96 and Forecasted September 1, 1997      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :   Area Harvested    :       Yield       :         Production 1/         
 State:-------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :   1996   :   1997   :  1996   :  1997   :  1995   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :     1,000 Acres        ---- Tons ----     -------- 1,000 Tons --------  
      :                                                                         
FL    :  438.0      438.0      33.1      34.0     15,122     14,498     14,892  
HI    :   46.0       35.0      79.1      82.0      4,070      3,639      2,870  
LA    :  370.0      410.0      27.9      27.0     10,240     10,323     11,070  
TX    :   34.9       32.0      28.7      26.0      1,364      1,002        832  
      :                                                                         
US    :  888.9      915.0      33.1      32.4     30,796     29,462     29,664  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Net tons.                                                                   
          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     
            :                                                                   
Jul         :   3,600       5,280      1,740      2,330      2,875      2,900   
Aug         :   3,555       5,350      1,670      2,335      2,990      2,715   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                  Nuts:  Utilized Production by Crop and State,                 
                    1995-96 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                    Utilized Production                    
   Crop and State   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :       1995        :       1996        :       1997        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                   Tons (In-shell Basis)                   
                    :                                                           
Hazelnuts           :                                                           
  OR                :       38,800              18,400              39,800      
  WA                :          200                 100                 200      
  Total             :       39,000              18,500              40,000      
                    :                                                           
Walnuts             :                                                           
  CA                :      234,000             208,000             230,000      
                    :                                                           
                    :               1,000 Pounds (In-shell Basis)               
                    :                                                           
Pistachios          :                                                           
   CA               :      148,000             105,000             170,000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Pecans:  Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States,        
                    1995-96 and Forecasted September 1, 1997                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                 Utilized Production                 
      Crop and State      :-----------------------------------------------------
                          :      1995       :      1996       :      1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                    1,000 Pounds                     
Improved Varieties 1/     :                                                     
  AL                      :       7,000             9,000             4,000     
  AZ 2/                   :                        17,000            17,000     
  AR                      :         900               800             1,600     
  CA                      :       2,900             1,300             2,800     
  FL                      :         600               500               700     
  GA                      :      62,000            86,000            85,000     
  LA                      :       2,000             2,000             2,000     
  MS                      :       1,200             1,300             2,600     
  NM                      :      45,000            22,000            42,000     
  NC                      :       1,800               425               550     
  OK                      :       2,500               500             3,000     
  SC                      :       2,400             1,800             2,000     
  TX                      :      47,000            30,000            50,000     
  US                      :     175,300           172,625           213,250     
Native & Seedling         :                                                     
  AL                      :       3,000             5,000             4,000     
  AR                      :         700               400               800     
  FL                      :         500             1,400             1,600     
  GA                      :      13,000            14,000            15,000     
  KS                      :         500               200             3,500     
  LA                      :      11,000            14,000            11,000     
  MS                      :       1,000             1,300             1,400     
  NC                      :       1,500               375               450     
  OK                      :      16,500             1,500            15,000     
  SC                      :       1,100               700             1,000     
  TX                      :      28,000            10,000            25,000     
  US                      :      76,800            48,875            78,750     
All Pecans                :                                                     
  AL                      :      10,000            14,000             8,000     
  AZ  2/                  :                        17,000            17,000     
  AR                      :       1,600             1,200             2,400     
  CA                      :       2,900             1,300             2,800     
  FL                      :       1,100             1,900             2,300     
  GA                      :      75,000           100,000           100,000     
  KS                      :         500               200             3,500     
  LA                      :      13,000            16,000            13,000     
  MS                      :       2,200             2,600             4,000     
  NM                      :      45,000            22,000            42,000     
  NC                      :       3,300               800             1,000     
  OK                      :      19,000             2,000            18,000     
  SC                      :       3,500             2,500             3,000     
  TX                      :      75,000            40,000            75,000     
                          :                                                     
  Oth Sts 3/              :      15,900                                         
                          :                                                     
  US                      :     268,000           221,500           292,000     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Budded, grafted, or topworked varieties.                                    
2/  Estimates published separately beginning in 1996.                           
3/  AZ, MO, and TN in 1995.  No breakdown between varieties available.          
    Forecasts discontinued in 1996 for MO and TN.                               
                         Corn:  Plant Population                                
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting corn objective yield 
surveys in 7 States during 1997.  Randomly selected plots in corn for grain     
fields are visited monthly from August through harvest to obtain specific counts
and measurements.  Data in this table are rounded actual counts from this survey
and are not official estimates of the Agricultural Statistics Board, but are    
intended to show trends in corn production practices.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                   Corn for Grain:  Plant population per acre,                  
                       Selected States, 1993-97 1/                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State      :            :            :            :            :            
     and       :    1993    :    1994    :    1995    :    1996    :    1997    
    Month      :            :            :            :            :            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                       Number of Plants                         
               :                                                                
IL      Sep    :   23,400       23,300       24,000       24,350       25,000   
        Nov    :   23,300       23,200       23,650       24,200                
               :                                                                
IN      Sep    :   23,300       22,800       23,900       23,550       23,700   
        Nov    :   23,200       22,850       24,000       23,500                
               :                                                                
IA      Sep    :   23,700       24,000       24,800       25,000       25,700   
        Nov    :   23,500       23,950       24,650       24,950                
               :                                                                
MN      Sep    :   25,000       26,100       26,400       26,500       26,300   
        Nov    :   25,100       26,000       26,350       26,600                
               :                                                                
NE      Sep    :   22,600       21,900       22,600       22,750       22,850   
        Nov    :   22,200       21,700       22,500       22,700                
               :                                                                
OH      Sep    :   23,200       22,800       23,400       23,100       23,450   
        Nov    :   23,300       22,900       23,300       22,750                
               :                                                                
WI      Sep    :   23,500       24,100       24,600       24,800       24,750   
        Nov    :   23,600       23,600       24,000       24,900                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on stalk counts in plots selected for objective yield samples.        
                                                                                
                   All Spring Wheat:  Head Population                           
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting objective yield      
surveys in 3 spring wheat estimating States during 1997.  Randomly selected     
plots in wheat fields are visited from August through harvest to obtain         
specific counts and measurements. Data in this table are derived actual field   
counts.  The final number of heads will be determined when the plots are        
harvested at maturity. These data will be published in January.                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                   All Spring Wheat:  Heads per Square Foot,                    
                          Selected States, 1993-97                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
  Crop and State  :      1993 :     1994  :    1995   :   1996    :    1997     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
Other Spring:     :                           Number                            
                  :                                                             
MN   Sep          :      44.3       44.3       45.6       41.6         47.7     
     Final        :      45.3       43.9       45.6       41.6                  
                  :                                                             
MT   Sep          :      29.2       27.3       30.4       25.2         25.8     
     Final        :      29.1       27.3       30.4       25.1                  
                  :                                                             
ND   Sep          :      41.9       39.4       39.5       36.0         37.8     
     Final        :      42.7       39.4       39.5       36.1                  
                  :                                                             
Durum:            :                                                             
                  :                                                             
ND   Sep          :      27.5       25.9       24.8       24.7         22.8     
     Final        :      26.9       25.7       24.8       24.7                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                Soybeans:  Pods with Beans                                      
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service is conducting soybean objective    
yield surveys in 8 States during 1997.  Plots are randomly selected from a      
scientifically drawn sample of soybean fields, which are visited monthly        
from August through harvest, to obtain specific counts and measurements.        
Sample data and the derived percentages from the surveys presented in the       
following table are not Agricultural Statistics Board official estimates but    
are intended to show trends in soybean production practices.                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Soybeans:  Pods with Beans per 18 Square Feet                      
                    Selected States, 1993 - 1997  1/                            
-------------------------------------------------------------------------       
    State     :          :           :           :           :                  
     and      :   1993   :    1994   :    1995   :    1996   :    1997          
    Month     :          :           :           :           :                  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------       
              :               Number of Pods                                    
              :                                                                 
 AR    Sept 2/:    NA          NA          NA          NA          NA           
       Nov    :   1,399       1,782       1,755       1,521                     
       Final  :   1,327       1,673       1,609       1,481                     
              :                                                                 
 IL    Sept   :   1,937       1,745       1,816       1,505       1,828         
       Nov    :   1,712       1,639       1,764       1,573                     
       Final  :   1,701       1,636       1,764       1,581                     
              :                                                                 
 IN    Sept   :   1,938       1,850       1,755       1,416       1,622         
       Nov    :   1,703       1,574       1,677       1,470                     
       Final  :   1,703       1,570       1,677       1,457                     
              :                                                                 
 IA    Sept   :   1,336       1,887       1,739       1,654       1,889         
       Nov    :   1,340       1,820       1,611       1,463                     
       Final  :   1,340       1,820       1,616       1,463                     
              :                                                                 
 MN    Sept   :   1,037       1,678       1,613       1,543       1,585         
       Nov    :   1,106       1,496       1,501       1,487                     
       Final  :   1,105       1,496       1,501       1,487                     
              :                                                                 
 MO    Sept   :   1,493       1,470         895       1,491       1,539         
       Nov    :   1,727       1,643       1,462       1,688                     
       Final  :   1,699       1,659       1,469       1,655                     
              :                                                                 
 NE    Sept   :   1,469       1,676       1,404       1,715       1,716         
       Nov    :   1,414       1,826       1,420       1,514                     
       Final  :   1,445       1,826       1,420       1,514                     
              :                                                                 
 OH    Sept   :   1,617       1,950       1,790       1,452       1,711         
       Nov    :   1,361       1,643       1,647       1,378                     
       Final  :   1,361       1,643       1,650       1,383                     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------       
1/  Based on pod counts in plots selected for objective yield samples.          
2/  Not available due to plant immaturity.                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 Cotton:  Cumulative Boll Counts                                
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts cotton objective yield    
surveys in 5 States which account for about 63 percent of the U.S. Upland cotton
production.  Plots are randomly selected from a scientific sample of cotton     
fields.  Two sample plots per field are visited monthly from about August 1     
through harvest to obtain specific counts and measurements.  The boll counts    
shown below represent actual data collected from sampled fields and are not     
official estimates of NASS.                                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
    Cotton:  Cumulative Boll Counts, September 1993-1997, and                   
                November and Final, 1993-1996  1/                               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :            Arkansas              :            California               
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Year  :   Sep    :    Nov    :   Final   :   Sep    :    Nov    :    Final     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                        Number                                          
       :                                                                        
 1993  :    859        769         753        930         839          839      
 1994  :  1,019        813         812        828         805          806      
 1995  :    850        689         689        751         682          680      
 1996  :    857        752         741        707         772          750      
 1997  :    978                               701                               
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           Louisiana              :             Mississippi             
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                                                        
 1993  :    746        662         661        697         619          608      
 1994  :    808        747         748        864         761          760      
 1995  :    679        615         615        682         607          607      
 1996  :    659        655         623        816         770          741      
 1997  :    637                               906                               
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                Texas                                   
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :         Sep          :          Nov           :          Final         
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                                                        
 1993  :         505                     480                       489          
 1994  :         515                     484                       486          
 1995  :         423                     409                       415          
 1996  :         387                     504                       505          
 1997  :         511                                                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes small bolls (less than one inch in diameter), large unopened bolls 
(at least one inch in diameter), open bolls, partially opened bolls, and burrs, 
per 40 feet of row.  In November, excludes small bolls.                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                           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.  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          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).                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
August Weather Summary:  For the first time since 1961, no named tropical       
                         systems prowled Atlantic waters during August.  The    
combination of dominant northwesterly winds and a lack of tropical moisture left
the Southeast under an intensifying dry spell.  Farther west, a procession of   
cold fronts eased dryness across the central Corn Belt and held temperatures    
1 to 3 degrees F below normal.  The fronts also delivered drought relief to the 
northern Middle Atlantic region.  Continuing a trend that developed in mid-July,
monsoonal moisture sparked locally intense thunderstorms in the Southwest and   
contributed to above-normal rainfall on the central Plains.  Over southern      
Texas, however--beneath the center of the same high-pressure system that steered
tropical moisture into the Southwest--very hot (up to 3 degrees F above normal),
dry weather prevailed for a second consecutive month.  In northern California   
and western Oregon, the remnants of the eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Ignacio  
dropped out-of-season rainfall on August 19-20.                                 
                                                                                
Strong high-pressure systems delivered nearly three dozen daily-record lows to  
the Southeast on August 1 and 2, and another five dozen to the Central and      
Eastern States from August 5 to 9.  After a mid-month heat wave in the East,    
which included the highest reading in Washington, DC (105 degrees F) since      
July 10, 1936, another cool period resulted in an additional four dozen records 
between August 22 and 28.  The first cool wave produced the earliest            
sub-50 degree reading in Asheville, NC (49 degrees F on August 1); the last     
yielded a monthly record low in Tallahassee, FL (57 degrees F on August 23).    
                                                                                
Despite generally cool weather in the Southeast, little rain fell.  Record-low  
August totals were reported in Mobile, AL (1.04 inches) and Columbia, SC        
(0.22 inches).  Mobile's August rainfall stood in sharp contrast to July's total
of 18.52 inches, 70 percent of which fell during Hurricane Danny's passage.     
Farther west, dry weather gripped southern Texas for a second consecutive month.
Although San Antonio's 42-day dry spell ended on August 7, only 0.62 inches fell
there during the month.  Hot weather exacerbated the short-term dryness across  
southern Texas.  Corpus Christi registered 101 degrees F on August 22, their    
highest reading since August 27, 1990.  In Rio Grande City, high temperatures   
averaged 105.1 degrees F during August, a record for any month.  In addition,   
their highs reached or exceeded 100 degrees F on every day from June 29 to      
August 31, a total of 64 days, second only to a 73-day streak in 1957.          
                                                                                
Although August began dry in the central Corn Belt, much-needed  moisture       
arrived  by  mid-month.  In  Peoria, IL, where the June-July rainfall of        
2.28 inches was only 28 percent of normal, 6.11 inches (197 percent of normal)  
fell during August.  A few dry pockets lingered or developed in parts of the    
western Corn Belt, where August rainfall totaled 0.63 inches in Sioux City, IA  
and 1.37 inches in Norfolk, NE.  Across the central Corn Belt, the summer of    
1997 ended with fewer days of 90-degree heat--5 to 20 days--than the 10 to      
40 days normally observed.                                                      
                                                                                
Arizona bore the brunt of damaging flash floods during the month, including     
two that resulted in fatalities.  Farther northeast, monsoonal moisture         
interacted with cold fronts.  In Wyoming, Cheyenne's rainfall of 4.33 inches was
their third-highest August total.  On August 11, Grand Island, NE reported a    
daily-record total of 3.22 inches en route to a monthly total of 7.15 inches.   
And in Dodge City, KS, 3.09 inches fell on August 5-6, their fourth-highest     
24-hour total in August.                                                        
                                                                                
The month started out hot along the West Coast, with about three dozen daily    
records reported from August 1 to 7.  On August 6, Simi Valley, CA logged a     
monthly record high of 109 degrees F.  Although extremely hot weather abated in 
interior areas thereafter, unusually warm conditions persisted along the coast  
due to El Nin!o-warmed ocean water.  In Eureka, CA, the mercury reached or      
exceeded 70 degrees F on a record-setting 11 consecutive days at month's end.   
In Oregon, Astoria's third-longest dry spell on record ended on August 20 at    
35 days, a victim of remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Ignacio.  A day       
earlier, 0.73 inches fell in downtown San Francisco, CA, just 0.05 inches shy of
their August-record total, set in 1976 during the passage of Hurricane          
Catherine's remnants.  Rainfall more typical of the approaching autumn season   
arrived at month's end across the Pacific Northwest.  On August 26, both Eureka 
(0.47 inches) and Astoria (1.01 inches) posted daily-record rainfalls.          
                                                                                
Significant rainfall returned to the northern Middle Atlantic States during     
August, but drought persisted in many areas south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  A   
noteworthy low-pressure system moved through the region on August 20-21,        
producing locally excessive totals.  In Atlantic City, NJ, the storm dumped     
13.52 inches in 19 hours, boosting their August rainfall to an all-time-record  
(for any month) 16.12 inches.  Farther south, however, monthly rainfall totaled 
only 1.41 inches in Richmond, VA and 1.01 inches in Raleigh-Durham, NC.  An     
August 16-17 heat wave aggravated the dryness, as temperatures soared into the  
upper 90's to lower 100's across the affected areas.  Farther west, hot weather 
developed late in the month over the Intermountain West and spread onto the     
Plains.  On August 24 in North Dakota, highs peaked at daily-record levels of   
100 degrees F at both Dickinson and Williston.                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
General Crop Comments:  As August began, crop conditions declined in the Corn   
                        Belt, with scattered showers providing limited or no    
relief from persistent dryness in an area extending from Missouri northeastward 
to New York.  However, below-normal temperatures in the area moderated the      
stress somewhat and reduced evaporation rates.  As the month progressed,        
widespread rains brought relief to dry fields.  Although continued below-normal 
temperatures slowed crop development, corn and soybean progress remained ahead  
of normal in the western Corn Belt.  Progress in the eastern Corn Belt slowed to
near-normal levels.  Above-normal temperatures in the Corn Belt and Plains the  
last week of August provided much-needed heat and prompted rapid crop           
development.                                                                    
                                                                                
Despite starting the month moist, soils in the Southeast and Texas turned dry.  
Condition of cotton, soybeans, peanuts, and other late-planted crops declined   
due to lack of moisture.  Cotton progress was behind normal in the Southeast,   
but ahead of normal in the western cotton-producing States.  Likewise, rice     
fields in California progressed 2 weeks ahead of normal, while fields in the    
Southeast developed and were harvested behind the average pace.  Peanut harvest 
was just underway late in the month.                                            
                                                                                
Winter wheat harvest started late in the Northwest because of cool, wet weather 
earlier in the spring.  Once harvest started in Washington, it progressed       
rapidly under clear skies.  Harvest in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon was hampered  
by showers and progressed behind the normal pace.  Planting of the 1998 winter  
wheat crop was just underway at month's end.  Spring wheat and barley harvest   
started slowly at the beginning of the month, but very warm, dry weather over   
the northern Plains allowed progress to surpass the average by the end of       
August.  Oat harvest progressed ahead of the normal pace for all of August.     
                                                                                
Monsoonal moisture in the Rocky Mountains and central Plains provided adequate  
moisture for sorghum fields.  Fields developed ahead of normal in most major    
sorghum-producing States, especially Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri.  Mid-month 
rainfall provided some relief from drought-like conditions in the mid-Atlantic  
States, but may have come too late to save some crops.                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Corn:  Acreage harvested and to be harvested for grain is forecast at           
       74.0 million acres, unchanged from last month, but up 1 percent from     
1996.  The September 1 Corn Objective Yield data indicate a record level stalk  
count for the seven objective yield States (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, 
Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin).  The September forecasted ear count per acre is 
the highest on record, and if realized, would exceed the previous record final  
ears per acre set in 1996.  Ear measurements from the sample plots indicate a   
length equal to last year but slightly less than the average.  As of August 31, 
42 percent of the acreage was reported dented in the 17 major States.  This     
compares with 32 percent last year and 40 percent for the five-year average.    
Corn rated in the fair to good condition totaled 78 percent compared to         
71 percent for a year ago.                                                      
                                                                                
In Iowa, forecasted stalk and ear populations are both at record levels when    
compared to final counts.  Ear length is equal to the average (1992-96) but     
slightly above 1996. Forty-three percent of the corn was dented as of August 31,
compared to 18 percent in 1996 and the average of 33 percent.  Corn condition   
was 79 percent fair to good.                                                    
                                                                                
Forecasted stalk and ear counts are at a record high level for Illinois when    
compared to final levels.  Ear length is below last year and the 1992-96 time   
period average. Fifty-four percent of the corn was dented compared to 33 percent
last year and 47 percent for the five-year average. Seventy-eight percent of the
corn was rated in fair to good condition.                                       
                                                                                
Nebraska and Ohio stalk counts from objective yield data indicate record high   
levels.  Forecasted ear population is above the five-year average for both      
States.  Ear length in Nebraska is below 1996 but above the five-year average.  
In Ohio, ear length is above 1996 but equal to the average for 1992-96. Corn    
dented was ahead of the average in Nebraska but lagged behind the average in    
Ohio. Corn dented in Nebraska was 41 percent by August 31, compared to          
32 percent for 1996 and the average of 40 percent.  Ohio corn was 17 percent    
dented compared to 9 percent for last year and the average of 36 percent.  In   
Nebraska and Ohio 75 percent of the corn crop was rated in fair to good         
condition.                                                                      
                                                                                
In Minnesota, forecasted stalk counts are lower than 1996 but higher than the   
average.  The forecasted ear population is above the five-year average. Ear     
length is above last year and the average.  The corn dented in Minnesota was at 
25 percent compared to 12 percent for last year and the average of 24 percent.  
The majority (75 percent) of corn in Minnesota was rated in good to excellent   
condition.                                                                      
                                                                                
Forecasted stalk and ear counts in Indiana and Wisconsin are above the five-year
average. Ear length is above last year and the average in Wisconsin but below   
last year and the average in Indiana.  Thirty-seven percent of the corn in      
Indiana was dented compared to 28 percent in 1996 and the average of 42 percent.
In Wisconsin, 8 percent of the corn was dented compared to 11 percent in 1996   
and the average of 22 percent.  The majority (78 percent) of corn in Indiana was
rated in fair to good condition.  In Wisconsin, 84 percent of the corn was rated
in good to excellent condition.                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sorghum for Grain:  Production is forecast at 653 million bushels, 4 percent    
                    above the August forecast but 19 percent below the 1996     
total.  Area harvested and to be harvested was unchanged from August at         
9.51 million acres, down 20 percent from the previous year.  The forecasted     
yield, at 68.7 bushels per acre,  was up 2.5 bushels from last month and        
1.2 bushels above 1996.                                                         
                                                                                
Timely August rains in the major sorghum producing areas helped improve         
conditions and boost expected yields.  The crop was rated in mostly good to fair
condition as of August 31.  Coloring was seven points ahead of normal at        
58 percent, but maturity was four points behind the five-year average.  Half of 
the twelve September forecast States showed yield increases from August with    
Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado showing the largest increases.  Louisiana was the
only State to show a decline from August, dropping three bushels per acre.      
Of Kansas's late season crops, sorghum appears to have benefitted most from the 
rains during August.  Yields in the top producing State increased five bushels  
from August to 75.0 bushels per acre.  Forecasted production, however, is still 
only three-fourths of their 1996 record crop.  Recent precipitation and         
favorable weather in Colorado helped improve sorghum conditions and yield       
prospects from the previous month.  Development is slightly behind normal, but  
no disease problems have been reported.  Rainfall during August also helped     
revive the New Mexico crop and expectations are high among growers for the best 
yields in four years.  As of the last week in August, harvest had just begun in 
Arkansas and was well underway in Louisiana and Texas with 39 and 47 percent    
combined, respectively.  Grain harvest had just started along the southern      
border of Kansas.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
Barley:  Production is forecast at 379 million bushels, down slightly from      
         August and 4 percent below the 1996 production.  The expected yield    
per acre is forecasted at 59.3 bushels, down 0.1 bushels from last month but    
0.8 bushels above 1996.  Area harvested and to be harvested was unchanged from  
August at 6.40 million acres, down 6 percent from the previous year.            
                                                                                
Yields remained unchanged from August in eight of the eleven September forecast 
States, but declined in Minnesota and South Dakota.  Washington was the only    
State to show an increase from August, up two bushels per acre.  Favorable      
weather during August helped push harvest progress ahead of normal in most of   
the major producing States.  Seventy-five percent of the crop had been combined 
by August 31, compared with the 65 percent normally harvested at this time.     
Favorable conditions in North Dakota allowed for the majority of the State's    
crop to be combined during August.  Harvest was winding down in South Dakota,   
Washington, and Wisconsin.                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Durum Wheat:  September 1 conditions point to no yield changes in Minnesota,    
              Montana and South Dakota.  About half of Montana's Durum crop was 
harvested while North Dakota combining was ahead of both last year and the      
5-year average.  Condition ratings on the remaining North Dakota crop were      
impacted by scab in the northeast.  Objective yield survey head counts in North 
Dakota are the lowest since 1988.  Head weights continue to trend lower as the  
effect of the westward movement of the acreage is becoming more pronounced.     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Other Spring Wheat:  As of August 31, Washington's spring wheat harvest was     
                     95 percent complete as excellent conditions prevailed.     
Conversely, frequent rains have slowed the Idaho harvest.  Very good yields have
been realized in Washington.  Hard Red Spring harvest in the major states       
(Minnesota, Montana, and North and South Dakota) was ahead of average progress. 
South Dakota's crop is not yielding as high as expected in some areas.  Scab    
damage is evident on both sides of the Red River.                               
                                                                                
Objective Yield survey data show plant populations well above average in        
Minnesota, and slightly better than average in Montana and North Dakota.        
Montana's weight per head forecast is similar to 1994.  Minnesota's forecast is 
about average for the last five years.  The North Dakota weight per head        
forecast is lower than any in the 1983-1996 period, with the lowest weights     
occurring in the eastern third of the state.                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Rice:  Rice production is forecast at 181 million cwt, down fractionally from   
       August 1 but up 6 percent from 1996.  If realized, this would be the     
third highest production on record.  Area for harvest is unchanged from August 1
and is 9 percent above last year.  Yields are expected to average a near-record 
5,975 pounds per acre, down 19 pounds from August 1 and 146 pounds below 1996's 
record level.  Yield prospects in Arkansas, California, Missouri, and Texas     
remained unchanged from a month ago.                                            
                                                                                
The California harvest is well ahead of normal, but Arkansas and Texas trail    
the 5-year average by 7 and 25 percent, respectively.  Growers in California    
experienced excellent planting weather, got the crop in early, and it is now    
in fair-to-good condition.  Harvest is expected to be most active around        
mid-September as the majority of the crop reaches maturity.  In Arkansas, the   
crop developed rapidly during August and by month's end was rated 77 percent    
good-to-excellent condition. Below-normal temperatures prompted some growers to 
apply fungicides to their crops.  The Louisiana harvest was 65 percent complete 
with most of the remaining acreage in the northern part of the state.  Harvested
yields didn't meet earlier expectations due to the lateness of the crop and     
untimely rains before and during harvest.  The crop in Mississippi was slightly 
larger than earlier estimated.  In Texas, conditions improved after a very late 
start.                                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Soybeans:  Growers plan to harvest 69.8 million acres, unchanged from the August
           1 forecast and up 10 percent from 1996.  Crop maturity is ahead of   
last year and normal.  Dry conditions with normal summertime temperatures caused
stress to beans in some parts of the Southeast. Drought-like conditions         
prevailed across the Mid-Atlantic causing severe stress to the crop.  Cool      
temperatures across the Eastern and Western Corn Belt during early to mid August
slowed crop development early on.  However, warmer temperatures and improved    
moisture toward the end of the month improved crop progress.                    
                                                                                
As of August 31 for the major States, the percent of soybeans setting pods was 6
points ahead of last year and 4 points ahead of the five year average.  Pod     
setting was complete as of August 31 in Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and
Ohio.  The percent of soybeans setting pods were behind last year and the five  
year average in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  The percent of soybeans   
dropping leaves was behind 1996 and the five year average at the beginning of   
September for the 19 major producing States.                                    
                                                                                
The September Objective Yield pod count for the objective yield states is the   
second highest on record. Pod counts for the September survey period were the   
highest on record in Iowa and Nebraska, and the second highest on record in     
Illinois.                                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Peanuts:  Production is forecast at 3.66 billion pounds, down 4 percent from the
          August 1 forecast and down fractionally from 1996.  Production is down
from a year ago in all the major peanut states except Florida, New Mexico, and  
Texas.  Harvested area, estimated at 1.38 million acres, is down 1 percent from 
August 1 but virtually unchanged from 1996.  North Carolina and Oklahoma were   
the only states to adjust their acreage from the August report, dropping their  
expectations by 9,000 acres and 5,000 acres, respectively.  The U.S. peanut     
yield is expected to average 2,642 pounds per harvested acre, down 75 pounds    
from last month and down 11 pounds from 1996.                                   
                                                                                
Production in the Southeastern States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South     
Carolina) is expected to total 2.09 billion pounds, down 4 percent from last    
month and 3 percent below the 1996 crop.  Yield for the 4-State area is expected
to average 2,618 pounds per acre, down 96 pounds from August 1 and 18 pounds    
below last year.  Yield prospects in Alabama are unchanged from August 1 but    
55 pounds below a year ago.  Early harvest is underway and the crop was in      
mostly fair-to-good condition on September 1.  The Georgia crop outlook         
deteriorated compared with a month ago.  Very dry conditions and only scattered 
showers prevailed during most of August.  Digging has begun on the earliest     
fields, but soils are hard, making digging difficult.  Florida growers expect   
good yields with 9 percent of the crop harvested by September 1.                
Virginia-North Carolina production is forecast at 533 million pounds, 7 percent 
below last month and 9 percent below last year's crop.  Yield per harvested acre
in the region, at 2,731 pounds, is 188 pounds per acre below last year's final  
average.  Cool weather early in the growing season slowed crop development      
followed by a hot, dry summer contributed to decreased crop prospects in the    
Virginia-North Carolina area.  Growers are hoping for a repeat of last year's   
near-perfect fall conditions to improve yields.                                 
                                                                                
The peanut crop in the Southwest (New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) is expected  
to total 1.03 billion pounds, down 3 percent from last month but 12 percent     
above 1996.  Yields in the tri-state area are expected to average 2,649 pounds  
per acre, 35 pounds below last month, 105 pounds above last year, and 626 pounds
above 1995.  New Mexico producers reported excellent crop prospects with no     
disease problems and adequate soil moisture.  Yield prospects in Oklahoma       
remained unchanged from a month ago as the crop continues to make good progress.
In Texas, favorable weather and increased plantings have propelled production to
record levels.  Fields in the Plains were approaching maturity under hot, dry   
conditions.  Beneficial rains during August improved crop condition in Central  
and South Central Texas.                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cotton:  Upland cotton harvested acreage, at 13.2 million acres, is up          
         27,000 acres from last month, and up 5 percent from last year.         
American-Pima harvested acreage is unchanged from August, at 249,000 acres,     
but down 3 percent from 1996.                                                   
                                                                                
Texas' High Plains cotton benefitted from rainfall received during early August,
but cooler than normal temperatures limited that development.  In mid-August,   
warm temperatures returned and bolls in the Blacklands and central areas began  
opening rapidly.  Harvest in the Coastal Bend, Upper Coast, and Rio Grande      
Valley proceeded in late August with no weather related delays.  In early       
September, harvest in the Valley neared completion.  In mid-August, 93 percent  
of Texas' acreage was setting bolls, 10 points ahead of the 5-year average. On  
September 7, Texas boll opening was at 28 percent, 3 points behind the 5-year   
average.  Crop condition in Texas in early September showed 60 percent rated    
good to excellent and 30 percent in fair condition.  Objective yield survey data
indicate Texas' large boll counts are the third highest during the past         
10 years, and small bolls and squares rank fourth and fifth, respectively, for  
the same period.  The Oklahoma crop is showing excellent potential as a result  
of the beneficial weather in August, despite the boll weevil infestations.      
                                                                                
The Delta States (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee)    
rated their cotton mostly in fair to good condition on September 7, although    
Mississippi rated 62 percent of their acreage in good to excellent condition,   
and Tennessee reported 65 percent of their crop as good to excellent.           
Missouri's crop began the month showing only 30 percent rated in good to        
excellent condition, but on September 7, showed 48 percent in these two         
categories.  Boll setting in this region was slightly ahead of average in       
mid-August, although Tennessee's boll set was slightly behind the average pace. 
Boll opening was well behind average in this region.  Mississippi's crop was    
36 percent opened, 30 points behind the average and Arkansas was 15 points      
behind normal, with 21 percent of the bolls open.  Tennessee's crop was         
11 percent opened, compared to the 5-year average of 39 percent.  Data from     
cotton objective yield plots show Arkansas has the fifth highest count of large 
bolls since 1987, and small bolls rank second, but squares are the third lowest.
Mississippi's large bolls are the sixth highest in the past 10 years, and small 
bolls and squares rank third and sixth, respectively.  Louisiana ranks last in  
large boll counts during the previous 10 years, and small boll and square counts
rank sixth and ninth, respectively, since 1987.                                 
                                                                                
Eighty-nine percent of Arizona's crop was in good to excellent condition and    
90 percent of bolls were opening in early September, which equaled the 5-year   
average.  In late August, defoliation was active in Arizona's western area and  
harvest had begun.  Cotton development in California remained ahead of average, 
with 80 percent of the crop showing open bolls compared to an average pace of   
59 percent.  All of the acreage was in good to excellent condition on September 
7.  The California crop showed minimal signs of stress following the high       
temperatures of early August, and growers continued to spray for aphids, lygus, 
mites, worms, and whitefly.  Some California fields received the final          
irrigation, and defoliation began in southern Kern county and was active in the 
Desert areas.  Objective yield survey counts for California indicate the third  
lowest count of large bolls during the past 10 years, while small bolls are next
to lowest and square counts are the lowest during the same time period.         
                                                                                
In the Southeastern States (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South         
Carolina), the crop's condition was at least 50 percent good to excellent,      
except for Alabama, which rated 22 percent in good condition and only 1 percent 
as excellent, on September 7.  States in this region saw a decline in condition.
The dry, cool conditions during much of the growing season caused boll set to   
remain behind average for all States in the region.  In mid-August, Alabama's   
boll set was 7 points less than the 5-year average and South Carolina's acreage 
was 17 points behind the  normal pace.  Boll opening was also behind normal for 
these States with Georgia showing bolls opening on 24 percent of the acreage,   
North Carolina with 15 percent, and Alabama at 22 percent.                      
                                                                                
The American-Pima production forecast, at 544,000 bales, is up 3 percent from   
1996's output, but down 10,000 bales from August.  The U.S. yield is indicated  
at 1,049 pounds per harvested acre, up 58 pounds from last year.  California was
the only State with a change in production from the August forecast, and their  
yield was lowered 26 pounds from last month.  The crop development in California
remained at least two weeks ahead of normal, and insect pressure was very light 
this year.  In Arizona, defoliation was active in the Western areas, and central
area growers are finishing with irrigation for the season.  In Texas, the crop  
continued making good progress.                                                 
                                                                                
Ginnings totaled 365,900 running bales prior to September 1, compared with      
342,400 running bales ginned to the same date last year and 433,000 running     
bales in 1995.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Summer Potatoes:  The final forecast of 1997 summer potato production is        
                  17.3 million cwt, up 5 percent from the July forecast but     
11 percent below a year ago.  Harvested area is estimated at 66,000 acres,      
12 percent below last year and 7 percent below two years ago.  The average yield
of 262 cwt per acre gained 10 cwt from the July report on the strength of better
yields in the Midwest and is 1 cwt above last year.                             
                                                                                
Yields are better than last year in most of the Midwest and Central States.     
Colorado and Nebraska yields are record high, although Colorado harvest was     
interrupted in August by heavy rains.  Texas' yields are higher than anticipated
in July.  Harvest in Missouri is nearly finished, with yields above last year.  
Digging is completed in California after a good growing season.                 
                                                                                
Dry weather cut yields along the Central Atlantic Coast.  New Jersey and        
Delaware yields dropped 20 cwt from last year.  Virginia yields fell 45 cwt as  
harvest came early and from mostly dry soils.  Maryland yields increased,       
however, with extensive use of irrigation.  Alabama yields varied with the      
timing of showers during the growing season.                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
Fall Potatoes, 1996 Final:  Production of 1996 fall potatoes is finalized at a  
                            record large 453 million cwt, up 13 percent from    
1995 and 7 percent above the previous record in 1994.  Farmers harvested        
1.25 million acres, up 3 percent from the previous two years.  The average yield
was a record high 364 cwt per acre, up 12 cwt from the previous record in 1994  
and 30 cwt above 1995.  Compared with preliminary estimates made last December, 
larger crops were registered in Colorado and Idaho; smaller crops were seen in  
Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Dakota.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
All Potatoes, 1996:  Final production of potatoes from all four seasons in 1996 
                     totaled 499 million cwt, up 12 percent from a year earlier 
and 7 percent above 1994.  Area harvested is estimated at 1.43 million acres,   
4 percent above 1995 and 3 percent above 1994.  Yield, averaging 350 cwt per    
acre, jumped 27 cwt from a year earlier and 11 cwt from two years ago.  In 1996,
all seasonal groups increased in production from the previous year:  Winter     
jumped 32 percent;  spring increased 11 percent;  summer rose 9 percent;  and   
fall potatoes gained 13 percent.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tobacco:  U.S. all tobacco production for 1997 is forecast at 1.61 billion      
          pounds, down 1 percent from August 1 but up 6 percent from 1996.      
Harvested acreage, estimated at 794,750 acres, is down 190 acres from August 1. 
This reduction in acres of cigar type tobacco in Connecticut and Massachusetts  
is due to a major outbreak of blue mold.  U.S. all tobacco yield for 1997 is    
expected to average 2,031 pounds per acre, 15 pounds below last month and       
40 pounds below the average for 1996.                                           
                                                                                
Flue-cured production is expected to total 964 million pounds, up 6 percent from
1996.  Producers plan to harvest 450,700 acres, up 7 percent from last year.    
The North Carolina flue-cured tobacco harvest is running 2 to 3 weeks late, with
only 50 percent of the crop harvested by September 1, as compared to the        
five-year average of 62 percent.  In Georgia, warm and dry temperatures during  
August contributed to a rapid harvest pace.  By the end of August, harvest was  
about 2 weeks ahead of normal.  Virginia growers are characterizing the crop as 
fairly normal, with extremes of very poor fields to excellent fields.  South    
Carolina's harvest progress, at 87 percent, is nearly complete, with the        
remaining acres reported to be in mostly good condition.  Overall flue-cured    
yield is expected to average 2,138 pounds per acre, down 43 pounds from the     
August 1 forecast and 13 pounds below last year.  Weather conditions across     
North Carolina have been dry, and yields have shown a marked decrease.          
                                                                                
Burley production is expected to total 561 million pounds, up 1 percent from    
August 1 projections and 8 percent above the 1996 production.  Burley tobacco   
growers expect to harvest 301,300 acres, up 12 percent from last year.  Yield is
expected to average 1,864 pounds per acre, up 15 pounds from August 1 but       
76 pounds below the average for 1996.  Increased yield prospects in Tennessee   
more than offset decreased yields in North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.       
Kentucky, with 71 percent of the 1997 burley production, is expected to produce 
9 percent more tobacco than a year ago.  Crop conditions remain mostly fair to  
good, with 22 percent of the crop cut at the end of August.                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Florida Citrus:  Florida's citrus groves, trees, and new crop fruit were in very
                 good condition.  August was wetter than normal but had normal  
temperatures.  An abundance of new growth on trees of all ages has been         
generated by the near tropical weather conditions.  New crop fruit in well cared
for groves is making very good progress.  A few fresh fruit packing houses are  
planning to pack new crop grapefruit in September.  The maturity tests of       
grapefruit, Navel and Ambersweet orange, and Fallglo tangerine groves are near  
or above the passing levels.  There has been a little premature splitting of    
early fruit in the wetter groves.  Caretakers have been very active cutting     
cover crops that grew well with the heavy summer rains.  Many growers are       
sprayed and fertilized between the summer rains.  Dead tree removal continued   
along with some replanting in the bigger groves.                                
California Citrus:  The Valencia harvest slowed early in August, but picked up  
                    by the end of the month.  Red grapefruit and lemons were    
also harvested during August.  The new navel crop was ahead of normal and       
maturing well with large fruit sizes.                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sugarbeets:  Production for the U.S. is expected to total 29.4 million tons, an 
             increase of 10 percent from 1996 but down 1 percent from the August
"Crop Report". Area for harvest, at 1.43 million acres, is up 8 percent from    
last year but down slightly from the August forecast. The average yield, at     
20.5 tons per acre, is 0.3 tons above 1996 but 0.1 tons below the yield         
forecasted in August.                                                           
                                                                                
Condition of North Dakota sugarbeets remained mostly good to excellent during   
August. Factories in North Dakota and Minnesota are preparing for the start of  
lifting in the middle of September. California sugarbeet growers have           
experienced mostly favorable growing conditions throughout the 1997 season.     
Sugarbeets continued to develop favorably in the central Plains. In Michigan,   
August rainfall benefited the sizing of the crop.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sugarcane:  U.S. sugarcane production for sugar and seed in 1997 is expected to 
            total 29.7 million tons, up 1 percent from 1996 and up fractionally 
from the August "Crop Report". The expected area for harvest, at 915,000 acres, 
is 3 percent above last year. The expected harvested acreage is up 20,000 acres 
from the August forecast. The forecasted yield, at 32.4 tons per acre, is       
0.7 tons below 1996 and down 0.6 tons from August.                              
                                                                                
The Florida sugarcane growing area has had no major storm damage so far this    
season. Florida growers were making preparations to plant while mills were      
preparing to begin milling in late October. In Hawaii, weather during August was
generally favorable for crop progress and harvesting. Shower activities were    
confined to windward and upper elevations. Sugarcane yield in Louisiana is      
expected to be a little lower than in 1996. Too much rain during the growing    
season, then a recent drought that stunted stubble cane, didn't allow the root  
system to develop. The recent 10-12 day stretch of no rain has allowed Louisiana
farmers to make excellent planting progress. Irrigation water supplies are still
a concern in Texas.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Papayas:  Hawaii fresh papaya production is estimated at 2.72 million pounds for
          August, 6 percent lower than last month and 9 percent lower than      
August 1996.  August weather conditions were a mix of light rainfall and sunny  
periods.  Papaya ringspot virus continued to depress yields of infected fields. 
                                                                                
Area devoted to papaya production totaled 5,350 acres, 1 percent more than July 
and 50 percent more than last August.  Harvested area, totaling 2,335 acres, was
virtually unchanged from last month but 40 percent higher than a year ago.      
                                                                                
                                                                                
California Fruits and Nuts:  The almond harvest intensified, expanding north    
                             from the central San Joaquin Valley.  The harvest  
of early variety walnuts began in the southern and central San Joaquin Valley.  
Table grape harvest remained active.  Raisin and wine grape harvesting gained   
momentum.  Peach, plum, and nectarine picking slowed during the month.  Prunes  
were sent to dehydrators.  Fuji, Gala, and other early variety apples were      
harvested.  The harvest of Bartlett pears, Asian pears, and pomegranates        
continued.  The olive crop was light, but was sizing normally.                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Hazelnut:  Hazelnut Production in Oregon and Washington is forecast to be       
           40,000 tons this year.  If realized, this would be the second largest
crop after the 41,000 ton crop of 1993.  Production is expected to be up        
116 percent from last year and 3 percent above 1995.  Oregon's share of the crop
is expected to be 39,800 tons, compared to last year's 18,400 tons and 3 percent
above 1995's 38,800 tons.  Washington production is forecast at 200 tons this   
season, double last year's 100 tons but the same as 1995.                       
                                                                                
Crop progress is somewhat ahead of normal, following nearly 40 days without     
rain.  Several factors have contributed to this season's large production       
expectations.  First, with hazelnut's tendency towards alternate year bearing,  
the small crop of 1996 would point to a larger crop this year.  Second, largely 
favorable winter and spring weather conditions allowed for good catkin          
development, excellent pollination, and a large nut set.                        
                                                                                
The results of the objective measurement survey showed the average number of    
sampled nuts was over 3 times that of last year, and 45 percent greater than in 
1995.  The percentage of good nuts was slightly larger than in 1996 and the same
as in 1995.  Both the average size of good nuts and their average weight were   
very similar to 1995 but smaller than last year.  Brown stained nuts amounted to
3.3 percent of the sample, the second highest proportion since records of brown 
stain incidence began in 1984 and about 1.3 percentage points above the average.
                                                                                
                                                                                
Walnuts:  California walnut production is forecast at 230,000 tons, up          
          11 percent from 1996's crop of 208,000 tons.  This is unchanged from  
the July forecast.  The July forecast was based upon subjective information     
provided by growers.  The September forecast is based upon the Walnut Objective 
Measurement Survey conducted July 28 through August 23, 1997.                   
                                                                                
Survey data indicated an average nut set of 1,753, up 8 percent from 1996's     
average of 1,630. The Hartley nut set was up 20 percent; Serr, down 44 percent; 
and Franquette, down 8 percent from 1996.  Percent of sound kernels in-shell was
97.3 percent Statewide.  In-shell weight per nut was 22.9 grams, while the      
average in-shell suture measurement was 32.3 millimeters.  The average length   
in-shell was 38.6 millimeters.                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Pistachios:  California pistachio production is forecast at a record 170 million
             pounds, up 62 percent from 1996's 105 million pounds.  This        
forecast is based upon an objective measurement survey completed August 10,     
1997.  In recent years, production has remained more stable as Pioneer Gold     
rootstock has increasingly replaced the older Atlantica rootstock.  The Pioneer 
Gold generally bears heavy on even years and the Atlantica on odd.              
                                                                                
The estimated average number of clusters per tree was 1,049.  The estimated     
total number of filled nuts per tree was 8,326 compared with 5,007 in 1996.     
The average number of nuts per cluster, including both filled and blank, was    
10.4 nuts per cluster.  The percent of nuts filled was 76.0 percent.  The       
average in-hull weight per nut including blanks was 2.78 grams, compared to     
2.52 grams in 1996.  The in-hull cross suture measurement, at 14.92 millimeters,
was slightly larger than the 14.87 millimeters in 1996.  Average kernel weight  
was .896 grams.  The average suture was 10.56 millimeters, the average cross    
suture was 9.60 millimeters, and the kernel length was 16.55 millimeters.       
                                                                                
Due to an earlier than usual spring, the crop is approximately one to two weeks 
ahead of normal.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Pecans, 1997 Crop:  The September 1 forecast for pecan production is 292 million
                    pounds (in-shell basis), up 32 percent from last year's crop
of 222 million pounds.  Improved varieties are forecast at 213 million pounds,  
73 percent of the total.  Native varieties increased 61 percent from last year  
to 78.8 million pounds.  Alabama and Louisiana were the only states to report   
smaller expected production this year than last year. Arizona and Georgia expect
the same size crops as 1996.                                                    
                                                                                
Georgia's production is set at 100 million pounds, the same as last year.  After
a heavy nut set, recent dry conditions have lowered potential production.       
Diseases and insects have also been difficult to control.  The Texas forecast is
75.0 million pounds, 88 percent above last year. This level represents the good 
growing season, while accounting for loss due to a late spring freeze.  Reduced 
insect damage and the wet spring provided sufficient moisture for the native    
trees to increase their share of the crop from 25 percent to 33 percent.  New   
Mexico expects 42.0 million pounds, 91 percent more than last year's reduced    
crop. Nut drop was average during August.  The crop has remained in mostly good 
condition throughout the summer with an adequate supply of irrigation water and 
minimal insect problems.                                                        
                                                                                
Oklahoma forecasts 18.0 million pounds of pecans, compared with the 2.00 million
pounds produced last year.  Weather has been ideal with a mild summer and above 
average rainfall during August. Arizona is forecast at 17.0 million pounds, the 
same as last year.  Louisiana's pecan crop is expected to reach 13.0 million    
pounds, 19 percent below the previous year.  Disease pressures have been normal 
to moderate.  Moisture shortages could still affect final production.  Alabama  
expects a 1997 crop of 8.00 million pounds.  Heavy rains and high winds from    
Hurricane Danny caused considerable damage.  An extremely dry August caused     
additional nuts to drop prematurely.  Scab infestations have also taken a toll. 
                                                                                
Mississippi production is forecast at 4.00 million pounds.  Pecan tree regrowth,
from the devastating ice storms of 1993-1994, is promising.  Kansas, at         
3.50 million pounds, is expecting a good crop due to favorable weather.  South  
Carolina's forecast is 3.00 million pounds, 20 percent over last year.          
California is recording a 115 percent increase, from 1.30 million last year to  
2.80 million for 1997.  Arkansas is expecting to double last year's output,     
coming in at 2.40 million.  Florida, at 2.30 million, will be 21 percent over   
1996.  North Carolina is up marginally to 1.00 million pounds.  The two         
hurricanes in 1996 have impacted the 1997 production.                           
                                                                                
        Reliability of September 1 Crop Production Forecasts                    
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  Objective yield and farm operator surveys were conducted    
                    between August 25 and September 3 to gather information on  
expected yield as of September 1.  The objective yield surveys for wheat, corn, 
soybeans, and cotton were conducted in the major producing States that usually  
account for about 75 percent of the U.S. production.  Randomly selected plots   
were revisited to make current counts.  The items counted within the selected   
plots depend on the crop and the maturity of that crop.  In all cases, number of
plants are recorded along with other measurements that provide information to   
forecast the number of heads, ears, pods, or bolls and their weight.  The counts
are used with similar data from previous years to develop a projected biological
yield.  The five-year average harvesting loss is subtracted to obtain a net     
yield.  The plots are revisited each month until crop maturity when the fruit is
harvested and weighed.  After the farm operator has harvested the sample field, 
another plot is sampled to obtain current year harvesting loss.                 
                                                                                
The farm operator survey was conducted primarily by telephone with some use of  
mail and personal interviewers.  Approximately 15,000 producers were interviewed
during the survey period and asked questions about probable yield.              
                                                                                
                                                                                
Estimating Procedures:  National and State level objective yield and grower     
                        reported survey estimates were reviewed for errors,     
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 analysis to prepare the published    
September 1 forecast.                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  The September 1 production forecast will not be revised;      
                  instead a new forecast will be made each month throughout the 
growing season.  At the end of the marketing year administrative records and a  
balance sheet are utilized using carryover stocks, production, exports,         
processing, feeding, and ending stocks.  Revisions are then made if data        
relationships warrant changes.  Harvested acres may be revised any time a       
production forecast is made if there is strong evidence that the intended       
harvested area has changed since the last estimate.                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Reliability:  To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the September 1  
              production forecasts, the "Root Mean Square Error," a statistical 
measure based on past performance, is computed.  The deviation between the      
September 1 production forecast and the final estimate is expressed as a        
percentage of the final estimate.  The average of squared percentage deviations 
for the 1977-1996 20-year period is computed.  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.                 
                                                                                
For example, the "Root Mean Square Error" for the September 1 corn for grain    
production forecast is 5.9 percent.  This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that
the current production forecast of 9.27 billion bushels will not be above or    
below the final estimate by more than 5.9 percent or approximately 547 million  
bushels.  Chances are 9 out of 10 (90 percent confidence level) that the        
difference will not exceed 10.1 percent or approximately 936 million bushels.   
                                                                                
Also, shown in the following table is a 10-year record for selected crops of the
differences between the September 1 forecast and the final estimates.  Using    
corn again as an example, changes between the September 1 forecast and the final
estimate during the past 10 years have averaged 445 million bushels, ranging    
from 10 million to 893 million bushels.  The September 1 forecast has been below
the final estimate 6 times and above 4 times.  This does not imply that the     
September 1 corn forecast this year is likely to understate or overstate final  
production.  For most crops, the number of years the forecasts have been below  
or above the final estimate is about equally distributed.                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
        Reliability of September 1 Crop Production Forecasts                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :Root Mean Square Error::      10-year Record of          
                      :----------------------:: Differences Between Forecast    
                      :       :90% Confidence::      and Final Estimate         
      Crop and        :       :     Level    ::-------------------------------  
        Unit          :Percent:--------------:: Quantity      :No. of Years     
                      :       :       :      ::-------------------------------  
                      :       :Percent: Quant::          :     :Below:Above     
                      :       :       :      :: Avg:Small:Large:Final:Final     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                  Mil ::----- Mil -----                  
                      :                      ::                                 
Corn for Grain      Bu: 5.9     10.1     936 :: 445   10    893   6      4      
Sorghum for Grain   Bu: 7.3     12.7      83 ::  44    1    115   6      4      
Barley              Bu: 3.6      6.5      25 ::  12    3     38   4      6      
All Wheat           Bu: 1.4      2.5      63 ::  31    2     97   2      8      
  Durum             Bu: 5.6      9.8       9 ::   4    1     12   4      6      
  Other Spring      Bu: 3.6      6.3      35 ::  19    1     62   4      6      
Rice               Cwt: 4.3      7.3      13 ::   6    0     16   6      4      
Soybeans for          :                      ::                                 
 Beans              Bu: 5.1      8.8     242 ::  96   19    201   5      5      
Cotton        Bales 1/: 6.3     10.9    2008 :: 979   84  2,366   6      4      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Quantity is in thousands of bales.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                               Index                                            
                                                                                
                                                         Page                   
                                                                                
                                                  Table      Narrative          
                                                                                
Barley........................................    A-11          B- 6            
Citrus Fruits.................................    A-24          B-11            
Corn for Grain................................    A-9           B- 4            
Corn-Plants per Acre..........................    A-28                          
Cotton........................................    A-17          B- 8            
Cotton - Cummulative Boll Counts..............    A-31                          
Cottonseed....................................    A-16                          
Crop Moisture Maps............................                  B- 1            
Crop Summary..................................    A- 3                          
Nuts..........................................    A-26          B-11            
Papayas - Hawaii..............................    A-26          B-11            
Peanuts ......................................    A-16          B- 7            
Pecans........................................    A-27          B-12            
Potatoes......................................    A-18          B- 9            
Reliability Statement.........................                  B-14            
Rice..........................................    A-14          B- 6            
Rice - By Grain Length........................    A-14                          
Sorghum for Grain.............................    A-10          B- 5            
Soybeans for Beans............................    A-15          B- 7            
Soybeans - Pods for Beans.....................    A-30                          
Sugarbeets....................................    A-25          B-11            
Sugarcane for Sugar and Seed..................    A-25          B-11            
Tobacco by Class and Type.....................    A-22          B-10            
Tobacco by States.............................    A-21                          
Wheat, All....................................    A-12                          
Wheat, by Class...............................    A-14                          
Wheat, Durum..................................    A-13          B- 6            
Wheat, Other Spring...........................    A-13          B- 6            
Wheat, All Spring- Heads per Acre.............    A-29                          
                          Report Features                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on           
October 10, 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
      Rhonda Brandt- Sugar Crops, Weekly Crop Weather, Oats       (202) 720-7621
      Dan Kerestes - Corn                                         (202) 720-9526
      Roger Latham - Cotton, Cotton Ginnings                      (202) 720-5944
      Joel Moore - Barley, Hay, Sorghum                           (202) 690-3234
      Barbara Rater - 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
      Dave Mueller - 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
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's   
TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).                                  
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA,                  
Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340  (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). 
USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information      
about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics     
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nass@nass.usda.gov.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 USDA to Hold Data Users Meeting                                
                      Holiday Inn Mart Plaza                                    
                        Chicago, Illinois                                       
                         October 20, 1997                                       
                                                                                
The National Agricultural Statistics Service will                               
be organizing an open forum for Data Users.  The                                
purpose will be to provide updates on pending                                   
changes in the USDA statistical and information                                 
programs including the status of the 1997 Census of                             
Agriculture, and to seek comments and input from                                
data users.  Other agencies to be represented will                              
include the Agricultural Marketing Service, the                                 
Economic Research Service, the Foreign Agricultural                             
Service, and the World Agricultural Outlook Board.                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
For registration details, see the NASS home page                                
http://www.usda.gov/nass/ or contact Fred Vogel                                 
(NASS) (202) 720-3896 or fvogel@nass.usda.gov