HDR1012000110010312960830CROP PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS & SUMMARY                   
NOTICE:   Beginning with the April 1996 Crop Production Report on CIDS (Computer
Information Delivery Service), Crop Production Reports will be found under the  
one title "Crop Production" instead of the current three titles of Crop         
Production Highlights and Summary, Crop Production State Tables, and Crop       
Production Narrative.   The Crop Production will have three subdivisions which  
will be Highlights and Summary, State Tables, and Narrative.  Further breakdown 
of the files will be discontinued.  Thank you for allowing us to further        
automate our preparation of this report.                                        
                                                                                
Released March 12, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information 
on "Crop Production" call at (202) 720-2127, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ET.  For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information about     
NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information Hotline at         
1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.  Forecasts refer to March 1, 1996.
                                                                                
                 Orange Production Down 2 Percent                               
                                                                                
All orange production is forecast at 11.7 million tons, down 2 percent from last
month but 1 percent above last season.  This forecast reflects the effects of   
three periods of below freezing temperatures in Florida (December 25, 1995;     
January 9, 1996; and  February 5, 1996).  Florida's forecast is 202 million     
boxes (9.09 million tons), down 2 percent from February's forecast and also down
2 percent from last season.  Early and mid-season varieties were reduced to 122 
million boxes (5.49 million tons), still a record high but 3 percent below last 
month.  The Valencia forecast remains at 80.0 million boxes (3.60 million tons),
down 7 percent from a year ago.                                                 
                                                                                
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield for the 1995-96 season is 
forecast at 1.48 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix,  up from 1.47 in         
February.  The final early and mid-season varieties yield is 1.45 gallons per   
box, up from last month's 1.44 gallons per box and from last year's 1.44 gallons
per box.  The Valencia crop is expected to yield 1.55 gallons per box, unchanged
from last month but down from 1.58 gallons per box a year ago.  The final       
1994-95 yield for all fruit used in FCOJ was 1.50 gallons per box at 42.0       
degrees Brix.  The forecast projects the final yield as reported by the Florida 
Citrus Processors Association.                                                  
                                                                                
Cr Pr 2-2 (3-96)                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Crop Summary: Production, United States,                           
                1995 and Forecasted March 1, 1996                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                Utilized Production                   
                         :----------------------------------------------------  
          Crop           :                :       Feb 1,     :     Mar 1,       
                         :      1995      :        1996      :      1996        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
        Crop Year        :    1994-95            1995-96          1995-96       
                         :                                                      
                         :                     1,000 Tons                       
Citrus Fruits 1/         :                                                      
  Oranges                :      11,616            11,918            11,735      
  Grapefruit             :       2,912             2,763             2,643      
  Lemons 2/              :         916             1,026             1,026      
  Tangerines             :         275               329               327      
  Temples (FL)           :         114                99                99      
  Tangelos (FL)          :         142               117               110      
  K-Early Citrus (FL)    :           5                 7                 7      
                         :                                                      
                         :                    Metric Tons                       
                         :                                                      
  Oranges                :  10,537,860        10,811,830        10,645,810      
  Grapefruit             :   2,641,720         2,506,550         2,397,690      
  Lemons 2/              :     830,980           930,770           930,770      
  Tangerines             :     249,480           298,460           296,650      
  Temples (FL)           :     103,420            89,810            89,810      
  Tangelos (FL)          :     128,820           106,140            99,790      
  K-Early Citrus (FL)    :       4,540             6,350             6,350      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Crop year begins with the bloom of the first year and ends with the         
    completion of harvest the following year.                                   
2/  Estimates for current month carried forward from earlier forecast.          
                                                                                
                                                                                
This report was approved on March 12, 1996, by the Secretary of Agriculture and 
the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Agricultural Statistics Board.   
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Secretary of                   Agricultural Statistics Board      
              Agriculture                             Chairperson               
              Dan Glickman                            Rich Allen                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Crop Summary:  Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1994-95               
                         (Domestic Units)                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :       Area Planted       :    Area Harvested         
         Crop            :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :    1994    :    1995     :    1994    :    1995      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                     1,000 Acres                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :                               936.8        937.3     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production, United States, 1994-95            
                         (Domestic Units)                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                         :     Yield per Acre    :        Production            
      Crop and Unit      :---------------------------------------------------   
                         :    1994   :   1995    :    1994    :     1995        
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                         :   ----- Tons -------       ----- 1,000 Tons -----    
                         :                                                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :    33.0       33.0         30,929         30,944     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                
Crop Summary:  Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1994-95               
                          (Metric Units)                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :       Area Planted       :       Area Harvested         
         Crop         :-------------------------------------------------------  
                      :     1994    :    1995    :    1994     :    1995        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                      Hectares                           
Sugarcane for         :                                                         
 Sugar and Seed       :                                 379,110      379,320    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
Crop Summary:  Yield per Hectare and Production, United States, 1994-95         
                          (Metric Units)                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :  Yield per Hectare  :          Production            
          Crop           :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :   1994  :   1995    :    1994      :    1995         
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                   Metric Tons                        
                         :                                                      
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed          :   74.01     74.01       28,058,320     28,071,920    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR1012000110110312960830CROP PRODUCTION STATE TABLES                           
NOTICE:   Beginning with the April 1996 Crop Production Report on CIDS (Computer
Information Delivery Service), Crop Production Reports will be found under the  
one title "Crop Production" instead of the current three titles of Crop         
Production Highlights and Summary, Crop Production State Tables, and Crop       
Production Narrative.   The Crop Production will have three subdivisions which  
will be Highlights and Summary, State Tables, and Narrative.  Further breakdown 
of the files will be discontinued.  Thank you for allowing us to further        
automate our preparation of this report.                                        
                                                                                
     Citrus Fruits:  Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States,     
                     1994-95 and Forecasted March 1, 1996 1/                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :     Utilized Production     :     Utilized Production     
                    :            Boxes            :       Ton Equivalent        
   Crop and State   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : 1993-94 : 1994-95 : 1995-96 : 1993-94 : 1994-95 : 1995-96 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    : ------ 1,000 Boxes 2/ -----   ------- 1,000 Tons -------  
Oranges             :                                                           
  Early Mid &       :                                                           
   Navel 3/         :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :     700       400       650       26        15        24  
    CA 4/           :  36,600    35,000    40,000    1,372     1,313     1,500  
    FL              : 107,300   119,700   122,000    4,829     5,387     5,490  
    TX              :     480       950       830       21        40        35  
    US              : 145,080   156,050   163,480    6,248     6,755     7,049  
  Valencia          :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,200       650       800       45        24        30  
    CA 4/           :  27,000    26,000    28,000    1,013       976     1,050  
    FL              :  67,100    85,700    80,000    3,020     3,857     3,600  
    TX              :      70       105       130        3         4         6  
    US              :  95,370   112,455   108,930    4,081     4,861     4,686  
  All               :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,900     1,050     1,450       71        39        54  
    CA 4/           :  63,600    61,000    68,000    2,385     2,289     2,550  
    FL              : 174,400   205,400   202,000    7,849     9,244     9,090  
    TX              :     550     1,055       960       24        44        41  
    US              : 240,450   268,505   272,410   10,329    11,616    11,735  
Temples             :                                                           
  FL                :   2,250     2,550     2,200      101       114        99  
Grapefruit          :                                                           
  White Seedless    :                                                           
    FL              :  24,500    25,700    22,000    1,042     1,092       935  
  Colored Seedless  :                                                           
    FL              :  25,500    28,700    28,000    1,084     1,220     1,190  
  Other             :                                                           
    FL              :   1,050     1,300     1,000       45        55        43  
  All               :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,750     1,400     1,200       59        47        40  
    CA 4/ 5/        :                                                           
      Desert        :   3,400     3,300                114       111            
      Other Areas   :   5,900     6,000                197       201            
      Total         :   9,300     9,300     7,500      311       312       251  
    FL              :  51,050    55,700    51,000    2,171     2,367     2,168  
    TX              :   3,000     4,650     4,600      120       186       184  
    US              :  65,100    71,050    64,300    2,661     2,912     2,643  
Tangerines          :                                                           
  AZ 4/             :   1,000       650       750       37        25        28  
  CA 4/             :   2,300     2,200     2,400       86        82        90  
  FL                :   4,100     3,550     4,400      195       168       209  
  US                :   7,400     6,400     7,550      318       275       327  
Lemons 4/           :                                                           
  AZ                :   5,200     3,600     5,000      197       137       190  
  CA                :  20,700    20,500    22,000      787       779       836  
  US                :  25,900    24,100    27,000      984       916     1,026  
Tangelos            :                                                           
  FL                :   3,350     3,150     2,450      150       142       110  
K-Early Citrus      :                                                           
  FL                :     210       120       160        9         5         7  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                             Citrus Fruit Footnotes                             
                                                                                
1/  The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with   
    the completion of harvest the following year.                               
                                                                                
2/  Net lbs. per box:  oranges-AZ & CA-75, FL-90, TX-85; grapefruit-AZ  & CA-67,
    FL-85, TX-80; lemons-76, tangelos, K-Early Citrus & Temples-90;             
    tangerines-AZ & CA-75, FL-95.                                               
                                                                                
3/  Navel and miscellaneous varieties in AZ and CA.  Early and mid-season       
    varieties in FL and TX, including small quantities of tangerines in TX.     
                                                                                
4/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
5/  California Desert and Other Areas Grapefruit forecasts combined to All      
    Grapefruit beginning in 1995-96.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Papayas:  Area and Fresh Production, by Month, Hawaii, 1995-96        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
           :                   Area                 :     Fresh Production      
           :------------------------------------------------------------------  
   Month   :    Total in Crop    :     Harvested    :            :              
           :----------------------------------------:    1995    :    1996      
           :   1995   :   1996   :   1995  :  1996  :            :              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
           :   --------------- Acres --------------      -- 1,000 Pounds --     
           :                                                                    
Jan        :   3,620      3,765      2,375    2,355      4,005        3,460     
Feb        :   3,660      3,740      2,395    2,340      3,815        3,425     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
        Sugarcane:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production                       
         by Use, State, and United States, 1994-95                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 Use        :    Area Harvested    :       Yield 1/      :    Production 1/     
 and        :------------------------------------------------------------------ 
State       :    1994   :   1995   :   1994   :   1995   :   1994   :   1995    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            : ---- 1,000 Acres ---     ----- Tons ----      --- 1,000 Tons --   
            :                                                                   
For Sugar   :                                                                   
  FL        :   423.0      427.0       33.6       34.0      14,216     14,518   
  HI 2/     :    64.3       46.0       81.9       90.0       5,266      4,140   
  LA 2/     :   352.0      368.0       24.4       25.4       8,589      9,347   
  TX 2/     :    42.4       41.3       31.5       33.4       1,334      1,381   
            :                                                                   
  US        :   881.7      882.3       33.4       33.3      29,405     29,386   
            :                                                                   
For Seed    :                                                                   
  FL        :    21.0       18.0       34.3       34.0         721        612   
  HI 2/     :     5.0        4.0       19.5       27.5          98        110   
  LA 2/     :    28.0       32.0       24.4       25.4         683        813   
  TX 2/     :     1.1        1.0       20.0       23.0          22         23   
            :                                                                   
  US        :    55.1       55.0       27.7       28.3       1,524      1,558   
            :                                                                   
For Sugar   :                                                                   
 and Seed   :                                                                   
  FL        :   444.0      445.0       33.6       34.0      14,937     15,130   
  HI 2/     :    69.3       50.0       77.4       85.0       5,364      4,250   
  LA 2/     :   380.0      400.0       24.4       25.4       9,272     10,160   
  TX 2/     :    43.5       42.3       31.2       33.2       1,356      1,404   
            :                                                                   
  US        :   936.8      937.3       33.0       33.0      30,929     30,944   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Net tons.                                                                   
2/ Current estimate carried forward from earlier forecast.                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR1012000110120312960830CROP PRODUCTION NARRATIVE                              
NOTICE:   Beginning with the April 1996 Crop Production Report on CIDS (Computer
Information Delivery Service), Crop Production Reports will be found under the  
one title "Crop Production" instead of the current three titles of Crop         
Production Highlights and Summary, Crop Production State Tables, and Crop       
Production Narrative.   The Crop Production will have three subdivisions which  
will be Highlights and Summary, State Tables, and Narrative.  Further breakdown 
of the files will be discontinued.  Thank you for allowing us to further        
automate our preparation of this report.                                        
                                                                                
February Weather Summary:  Winter wheat in the central and southern Plains      
                           continued to be stressed by high winds; lack of      
precipitation; and a severe cold snap (February 3-4), followed by monthly record
warmth (February 21-22).  Cold weather again at month's end threatened          
sensitive-stage tree blooms from California to Texas.  Peninsular Florida       
experienced its worst of the season-to-date's three cold mornings on February 5,
damaging some ground crops, followed by a less severe freeze on February 17.    
The early-month chill also spilled into the Northwest, threatening fruit trees  
with bud injury, but leaving snow-covered wheat unscathed.  Days later, heavy   
rain, high freezing levels, and subsequent flooding--the worst in Oregon's      
Willamette Valley since late-December 1964--struck the Northwest, peaking on    
February 8-10.  Farther south, less intense and better spaced precipitation     
boosted the Sierra Nevada snowpack to normal levels by month's end, up from     
about 85 percent of normal on February 1.  Meanwhile in the Northeast, early-   
and mid-month storms pushed seasonal snowfall to all-time records at nearly a   
dozen locations.                                                                
                                                                                
Despite the early-February cold blast, monthly temperatures averaged up to      
5 degrees F above normal across the Plains.  Only the Northwest, where          
departures were as low as -5 degrees F, held onto sub-normal February           
temperatures.  In contrast, neither cold air nor storm systems infiltrated the  
Southwest until month's end, leaving monthly temperatures 4 to 8 degrees F above
normal.                                                                         
                                                                                
A late-month flurry of precipitation pushed monthly totals above normal in some 
areas of the Southwest and across parts of the Nation's northern tier.  But a   
vast area from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley received little moisture    
during the month.  In contrast, February-record rainfall was measured in western
Oregon, while above-normal totals were observed elsewhere in the Northwest.     
Despite continued above-normal snowfall in the East--including an early-month   
storm across the Southeastern and Gulf Coast States--near- to below-normal      
precipitation covered the region.  Along the immediate southern Atlantic Coast, 
rain fell infrequently.                                                         
                                                                                
Only a trace of precipitation fell at many Plains locations, including North    
Platte, NE, Concordia, KS, and Wichita Falls, TX.  In San Antonio, TX, the      
year's first rain (0.69 inches) fell on February 29, ending their second-longest
dry spell (60 days) on record.  In contrast, February-record totals were noted  
in Oregon at Portland (10.03 inches), Salem (13.01 inches), and Eugene          
(16.89 inches).                                                                 
                                                                                
In the East and Northeast, monthly snowfall of 20.6 inches in Windsor Locks, CT 
and 14.2 inches in Charleston, WV helped to sweep away former seasonal records. 
Toward month's end, heavy snow in the Western and Northern States helped to     
boost February totals above 20 inches in locations such as Salt Lake City, UT   
(22.6 inches); Butte, MT (22.0 inches); and Duluth, MN (21.3 inches).  Little or
no snow, however, fell across the Plains or Midwest, with monthly totals less   
than 1 inch in many locations, including Dubuque, IA, Milwaukee, WI, Omaha, NE, 
and Chicago, IL.                                                                
                                                                                
The year's first triple-digit heat appeared in South Texas on February 20.  A   
day later, San Antonio marked a high of 100 degrees F nearly 2 weeks earlier    
than ever recorded at that site.  On February 22, monthly records were          
established as far north as Oklahoma City, OK (92 degrees F) and Wichita, KS    
(87 degrees F).  The heat stood in stark contrast to the early-month cold wave  
that tied or set all-time records in Minnesota (-60 degrees F) on February 2;   
Iowa (-47 degrees F) and Illinois (-35 degrees F) on February 3; and possibly   
Rhode Island (-25 degrees F) on February 5.                                     
                                                                                
Stormy, wet weather across Alaska abruptly ended a winter-long "snow drought."  
Anchorage's 52.1-inch total, 474 percent of normal, broke their February        
snowfall record.  Juneau collected 8.43 inches of liquid equivalent, just       
                                                                                
                                                                                
0.05 inches shy of their February record.  Among the series of storms to rake   
the State were a powerful snow-and-wind storm across the interior on            
February 17-18 and a record-setting wind storm over the south on February 22.   
The former system dropped more than 14 inches of wind-driven snow on Fairbanks, 
while the latter produced an all-time, record-tying gust to 83 mph in Kodiak.   
                                                                                
General Crop Comments:  February started with record low temperatures that      
                        threatened small grains across the central Great Plains.
Throughout most of the month, dry soil conditions combined with windy weather   
stressed winter wheat in the central and southern Great Plains.  Inadequate snow
cover in the central Great Plains, allowed cold weather and blowing soil to     
damage the unprotected wheat.  Many wheat producers in the central Plains       
resorted to using chisels to rough-up fields or till strips across fields to    
reduce further wind erosion.  Cold winds on February 4 and near-freezing        
temperatures the following day forced Florida vegetable growers to harvest some 
produce early to minimize damage.  Protective measures were ineffective to      
protect strawberries from injury, but warmer weather the following day helped   
some plants to recover.  Rain in California saturated fields, limited fieldwork,
and slowed wheat growth.                                                        
                                                                                
By mid-February, unseasonably warm weather melted the snowpack in the Pacific   
Northwest and caused flooding that damaged farm buildings and machinery.  Losses
to hay and livestock were widespread.  Persistent dry conditions in the southern
Great Plains caused some producers to delay land preparation for planting.  The 
warm weather allowed wheat to break dormancy but the dry soil conditions did not
promote good development.  Below freezing temperatures in Florida's citrus belt 
damaged some leaves but the overall damage was not considered significant.      
                                                                                
The above-normal temperatures at the end of February helped wheat break dormancy
in the Ohio Valley.  Range fires in Texas destroyed thousands of acres of       
grazing land, while temperatures climbed to record high levels in south Texas.  
Some areas in central Texas had 5 months without any measurable precipitation   
prior to the summer crop planting season.  The heat wave in the southern Great  
Plains aggravated the prolonged dry conditions.  Soil temperatures warmed across
the south-central Great Plains, greening wheat where soil moisture was          
available. The warm weather at the end of February allowed cotton producers to  
begin planting in the California and the Southeast.  Heavy rain in the          
Southeastern States at month's end stopped most fieldwork.                      
                                                                                
Grapefruit:  The March 1 forecast of the 1995-96 U.S. grapefruit crop is        
             2.64 million tons, down 4 percent from last month and down         
9 percent from last season.  The forecast of Florida grapefruit declined to     
51.0 million boxes (2.17 million tons), down 6 percent from last month and      
8 percent from last season.  The decrease is indicated by the relationship of   
estimated utilization to the harvest of sample tree rows. The Florida white     
seedless grapefruit forecast is 22.0 million boxes (935,000 tons), a decrease of
8 percent from last month and 14 percent from the 1994-95 crop.  The colored    
seedless forecast is 28.0 million boxes (1.19 million tons), a decrease of      
3 percent from last month and 2 percent from a year ago.  The seedy grapefruit  
crop is expected to be 1.00 million boxes (43,000 tons), unchanged from last    
month but 23 percent fewer than last year.  Nearly 30 million boxes of all      
seedless grapefruit were picked through the end of February.                    
                                                                                
The Texas grapefruit forecast, at 4.60 million boxes (184,000 tons), increased  
5 percent from last month but is down 1 percent from last year. Larger than     
expected sizes on the later crop is the reason for the increase.  The forecast  
of California's crop is carried forward from January at 7.50 million boxes      
(251,000 tons), 19 percent below last season. Arizona's forecast is also carried
forward from January and is expected to be 1.20 million boxes (40,000 tons),    
14 percent below the 1994-95 crop.                                              
                                                                                
Tangelos:  The 1995-96 Florida tangelo crop is forecast at 2.45 million boxes   
           (110,000 tons), down 6 percent from last month and down 22 percent   
from last year's production.  Harvest is nearly over for the year with nearly   
2.45 million boxes moved.                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tangerines:  The 1995-96 U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at 327,000 tons,       
             1 percent less than last month but 19 percent more than last year. 
The Florida tangerine forecast is 4.40 million boxes (209,000 tons), 1 percent  
less than February but 24 percent more than last year.  Early tangerine harvest,
including Dancys, is virtually complete with about 2.9 million boxes utilized.  
California's  tangerine forecast was carried forward from January at 2.40 mil-  
lion boxes (90,000 tons), 9 percent more than last season.  The Arizona forecast
was also carried forward from January at 750,000 boxes (28,000 tons), 15 percent
more than last season.                                                          
                                                                                
Temples:  The March 1 forecast for the 1995-96 Florida temple production was    
          unchanged from February at 2.20 million boxes (99,000 tons), down     
14 percent from last season.  Temple harvest was steady through the month with  
good supplies.  Over 1.7 million boxes were moved by the end of the month.      
                                                                                
Florida Citrus:  Below freezing temperatures occurred in many locations         
                 throughout the citrus belt on Monday February 5. Temperatures  
were not below 30 degrees long enough to cause much damage. A few outer leaves  
dropped and ice formed in some fruit causing some juice to dry.  The rest of the
month was very dry and generally cool. By the end of February, new growth       
started with pin head to pencil eraser size bloom buds.  Navel orange harvest   
was complete.  Harvest of early and mid-season oranges was nearly complete as   
very few supplies remained. Utilization of early and mid-season oranges,        
including Navels, through the end of February was a little more than 121 million
boxes.  There were slightly more than 2.5 million boxes of Valencias moved.     
Movement of all seedless grapefruit increased steadily throughout February as   
additional labor came available from the orange crews. Honey tangerine and      
Temple harvest was steady through the month with good supplies.  Early tangerine
and tangelo harvest was complete for the year. Caretakers were busy cutting     
cover crops following fertilizations. Hedging and topping of harvested groves   
was very active.                                                                
                                                                                
Texas Citrus:  Grapefruit sizes continued to increase as the season progressed. 
               Harvest of early oranges and navels was completed during         
February.  Harvest of Valencias gained momentum.  Grapefruit harvest moved ahead
without much delay.  The early February freeze did not cause any significant    
damage to fruit or trees.  Prices remained low.  Availability of irrigation     
water for this spring is a major concern because of dry conditions.  Normal     
grove care operations continued during February.                                
                                                                                
California Fruits and Nuts:  Fruit and nut trees were pruned and sprayed during 
                             February in most orchards.  Stonefruit and apple   
trees began to bloom.  Many orchards were treated for brown rot and shot hole   
fungus.  Almonds were in full bloom by late February.  Rainy weather hampered   
bee pollination and cold temperatures in late February may have damaged some    
almond and stonefruit blossoms.  A warmer than normal winter did not produce an 
adequate number of chilling hours for fruit and nut trees to bloom and set      
evenly.  Grape growers pruned and tied vines, repaired trellises and wires,     
applied herbicides, and plowed their vineyards.                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
California Citrus:  Grapefruit picking in the desert area was active during     
                    February with excellent color reported.  Defects included   
wind scar, sunburn, and sheepnose.  Lemon harvest was completed in the desert   
area and active in the Central Valley and southern California.  Grades were good
with only a few defects.  Over half the Navel oranges were  picked by March 1   
with heavy gradeout due to puff and crease.  Some fruit drop was also reported  
along with rind breakdown. Valencia orange picking began in the desert area in  
February with good quality reported. Valencias matured well elsewhere. Tangerine
and Minneola were actively picked in February.                                  
                                                                                
Papayas:  Hawaii fresh papaya production is pegged at 3.43 million pounds for   
          February.  This is 1 percent lower than January and 10 percent lower  
than a year ago.                                                                
                                                                                
Gusty winds and showers, which were at times heavy, hampered farm operations    
during February.  Spraying for insect and disease control was interrupted and   
delayed. Strong winds generated rough seas disrupting inter-island barge        
service, the major mode of transport for agricultural commodities between       
islands.  Papaya ringspot virus continued to be a serious problem depressing    
yields and destroying some orchards.                                            
                                                                                
Area planted to papayas totaled 3,740 acres, a 1 percent decline from January   
but 2 percent increase from last February.  Harvested area, totaling            
2,340 acres, was 1 percent lower than last month and 2 percent lower than       
February 1995.                                                                  
                                                                                
Sugarcane:  The 1995 production of sugarcane for sugar and seed is forecast at  
            30.9 million tons.  This is unchanged from the last forecast        
published in the February crop report and virtually unchanged from last year's  
output.  The Florida forecast was evaluated and resulted in no change in        
production.  The forecasts for Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas were carried forward
from the previous forecast.                                                     
                                                                                
Cold weather in the first and third weeks of the month did not slow fieldwork in
Florida's sugarcane growing region.  The sugarcane harvest remained active      
during February and allowed Florida's sugarcane harvest to near completion on   
schedule.  Two sugarcane mills finished for the season with the balance of the  
harvest expected to be completed in mid-March.  Sugarcane planting in Florida   
was completed by mid-February.                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          Report Features                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on           
April 11, 1996.                                                                 
                                                                                
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
      Dan Kerestes - Soybeans, Minor Oilseeds, Rice               (202) 720-9526
      Greg Preston - Sugar Crops, Tobacco, Weekly Crop Weather    (202) 720-7621
      Vaughn Siegenthaler - Rye, Sorghum, Wheat                   (202) 720-8068
      Charles Van Lahr - Barley, Corn, Oats, Pasture Condition    (202) 720-7369
                                                                                
  Fruit, Vegetable & Special Crops Section                                      
    Stephen Ropel, Head                                           (202) 720-3843
      Arvin Budge - Potatoes, Dry Beans, Onions                   (202) 720-4285
      Roger Latham - Cotton                                       (202) 720-5944
      Linda McMillan - Nuts, Grapes                               (202) 720-4215
      Dave Mueller - Fresh and Processing Vegetables              (202) 720-2157
      Blair Smith - Citrus, Tropical Fruits                       (202) 720-5412
      Barbara Soltes - Noncitrus Fruits                           (202) 720-7688
                                                                                
                                                                                
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     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an equal
employment opportunity employer.