HDR1012000110010612970830CROP PRODUCTION                                        
Crop                                                                            
Production                                                                      
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released June 12, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information 
on "Crop Production" call at (202) 720-2127, office hours 7:30 a.m. to          
4:00 p.m. ET.  Forecasts refer to June 1, 1997.                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Winter Wheat Production up 3 Percent                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.60 billion bushels, up 3 percent from  
last month and 8 percent higher than 1996.  Based on June 1 conditions, the U.S.
yield is forecast at 39.3 bushels per acre. This is up 1.1 bushels from May 1   
and 2.1 bushels per acre better than last year. Grain area totals 40.8 million  
acres, unchanged from last month.                                               
                                                                                
Hard Red Winter wheat production is up 3 percent from last month's forecast at  
921 million bushels. Improved Kansas and Oklahoma yields more than offset HRW   
declines elsewhere. Soft Red Winter, at 422 million, is also up 3 percent and   
now about equal to last year's total. White Winter production is up from last   
month due to improved Washington yield expectations.                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
All oranges production for the 1996-97 season is forecast at a record large     
12.9 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast in May.  The U.S.       
forecast is up 10 percent from a year ago.  This year's crop is 9 percent larger
than the previous record of 11.8 million tons set in the 1979-80 season.        
Florida's record large production amounts to 224 million boxes (10.1 million    
tons), unchanged from May's forecast but 10 percent above last season.  Early   
and midseason varieties remained at a record large 134 million boxes            
(6.04 million tons), 11 percent above last year.  Florida's record large        
Valencia crop, 90.0 million boxes (4.05 million tons), is unchanged from May's  
forecast but 10 percent above last season's crop.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                            * * * * *                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
The release date for the "Cherry Production" report has been finalized          
for July 1, 1997 at 3:00 p.m. ET.  This report had tentatively been             
scheduled for release on June 26, 1997.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Cr Pr 2-2 (6-97)a                                                               
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield for the 1996-97 season is 
forecast at 1.58 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from May.  The 
forecast projects the final yield as reported by the Florida Citrus Processors  
Association.  The final 1995-96 yield for all fruit used in FCOJ was            
1.52 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix.  The average yield for 1996-97 early 
and midseason varieties was final in April at 1.52 gallons per box, up from last
season's 1.45.  Valencia yield is projected at 1.68 gallons per box, unchanged  
from last month, but up from 1.67 last season.                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
This report was approved on June 12, 1997, by the Acting Secretary of           
Agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Agricultural     
Statistics Board.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Acting Secretary of                   Agricultural Statistics Board    
             Agriculture                              Chairperson               
           Dallas R. Smith                            Rich Allen                
             Crop Summary: Production, United States,                           
                  1995-96 and Forecasted 1996-97                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                Utilized Production                   
                         :----------------------------------------------------  
          Crop           :                :       May 1,     :     Jun 1,       
                         :                :        1997      :      1997        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      Crop Year 1/       :    1995-96            1996-97          1996-97       
                         :                                                      
                         :                     1,000 Tons                       
Citrus Fruits            :                                                      
  Oranges                :      11,723            12,861            12,861      
  Grapefruit             :       2,718             3,062             3,062      
  Lemons 2/              :         992               950               950      
  Tangerines             :         348               437               437      
  Temples (FL)           :          97               108               108      
  Tangelos (FL)          :         110               178               178      
  K-Early Citrus (FL)    :           7                 7                 7      
                         :                                                      
                         :                    Metric Tons                       
                         :                                                      
  Oranges                :  10,634,930        11,667,300        11,667,300      
  Grapefruit             :   2,465,730         2,777,800         2,777,800      
  Lemons 2/              :     899,930           861,830           861,830      
  Tangerines             :     315,700           396,440           396,440      
  Temples (FL)           :      88,000            97,980            97,980      
  Tangelos (FL)          :      99,790           161,480           161,480      
  K-Early Citrus (FL)    :       6,350             6,350             6,350      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Crop year begins with the bloom of the first year and ends with the          
   completion of harvest the following year.                                    
2/ Estimates for current month carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States,                   
                 1996 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                               
                         (Domestic Units)                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :       Area Planted       :     Area Harvested        
          Crop           :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :     1996    :    1997    :    1996    :    1997      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                     1,000 Acres                      
                         :                                                      
                         :                                                      
Winter Wheat             :    51,983       48,227       39,709       40,847     
Sweet Potatoes 1/        :      89.1         87.6         84.8                  
Sugarbeets 1/            :   1,368.4      1,454.9      1,323.3                  
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed 1/       :                               888.9                  
Hops                     :                                44.2         44.5     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------    
1/  1996 revised.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
  Crop Summary:  Yield per Acre and Production, United States,                  
                 1996 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                               
                         (Domestic Units)                                       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                         : Yield per Acre:             Production               
      Crop and Unit      :---------------------------------------------------   
                         :       :       :           :   May 1,  :   Jun 1,     
                         :  1996 :  1997 :   1996    :    1997   :    1997      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                         :                  ------------- 1,000 ------------    
                         :                                                      
Winter Wheat         Bu  :  37.2    39.3   1,478,048   1,561,470   1,603,580    
Sweet Potatoes 1/    Cwt :   159              13,456                            
Sugarbeets 1/        Ton :  20.2              26,680                            
Sugarcane for            :                                                      
 Sugar and Seed 1/   "   :  33.1              29,462                            
Hops                 Lb  : 1,698            74,970.5                            
Maple Syrup          Gal :                     1,567                   1,293    
Dried Prunes         Ton :                     220.0                   215.0    
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
1/ 1996 Revised.                                                                
                                                                                
     Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States,                   
                 1996 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                               
                          (Metric Units)                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :       Area Planted        :     Area Harvested          
       Crop           :-------------------------------------------------------  
                      :     1996    :     1997    :     1996    :    1997       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                        Hectares                         
                      :                                                         
                      :                                                         
Winter Wheat          :  21,037,000    19,516,980    16,069,840   16,530,370    
Sweet Potatoes 1/     :      36,060        35,450        34,320                 
Sugarbeets 1/         :     553,780       588,780       535,530                 
Sugarcane for         :                                                         
 Sugar and Seed 1/    :                                 359,730                 
Hops                  :                                  17,870       17,990    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  1996 revised.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
 Crop Summary:  Yield per Hectare and Production, United States,                
                 1996 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                               
                          (Metric Units)                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :Yield per Hectare:             Production                
         Crop         :-------------------------------------------------------  
                      :        :        :           :   May 1,   :   Jun 1,     
                      :  1996  :  1997  :   1996    :    1997    :    1997      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                      Metric Tons                        
                      :                                                         
Winter Wheat          :  2.50     2.64   40,225,870   42,496,250   43,642,300   
Sweet Potatoes 1/     : 17.78               610,350                             
Sugarbeets 1/         : 45.20            24,203,690                             
Sugarcane for         :                                                         
 Sugar and Seed 1/    : 74.30            26,727,480                             
Hops                  :  1.90                34,010                             
Maple Syrup           :                       7,830                     6,460   
Dried Prunes          :                     199,580                   195,040   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ 1996 Revised.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Winter Wheat:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State          
              and United States, 1996 and Forecasted June 1, 1997               
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :  Area Harvested :            Yield           :       Production       
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :        :        :        :        1997       :          :             
        :  1996  :  1997  :  1996  :-------------------:   1996   :    1997     
        :        :        :        :  May 1  :  Jun 1  :          :             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   1,000 Acres     -------- Bushels --------   --- 1,000 Bushels --    
        :                                                                       
AL      :     80      110    44.0      35.0      35.0       3,520      3,850    
AZ 1/   :     14       10    95.0      85.0      85.0       1,330        850    
AR      :  1,240      790    54.0      42.0      44.0      66,960     34,760    
CA      :    550      380    69.0      65.0      65.0      37,950     24,700    
CO      :  2,200    2,750    32.0      33.0      33.0      70,400     90,750    
DE 1/   :     78       77    53.0      62.0      62.0       4,134      4,774    
FL 1/   :     10       15    38.0      39.0      39.0         380        585    
GA      :    350      350    48.0      40.0      42.0      16,800     14,700    
ID      :    860      870    80.0      76.0      76.0      68,800     66,120    
IL      :  1,100    1,080    38.0      50.0      55.0      41,800     59,400    
IN      :    720      640    38.0      55.0      53.0      27,360     33,920    
IA 1/   :     45       25    35.0      36.0      36.0       1,575        900    
KS      :  8,800   10,700    29.0      32.0      34.0     255,200    363,800    
KY      :    530      500    53.0      46.0      52.0      28,090     26,000    
LA 1/   :    130      120    43.0      40.0      40.0       5,590      4,800    
MD 1/   :    227      207    52.0      55.0      55.0      11,804     11,385    
MI      :    630      550    38.0      52.0      52.0      23,940     28,600    
MN 1/   :     32       51    36.0      36.0      36.0       1,152      1,836    
MS      :    230      200    49.0      39.0      39.0      11,270      7,800    
MO      :  1,250    1,000    39.0      44.0      45.0      48,750     45,000    
MT      :  1,980    1,650    32.0      35.0      35.0      63,360     57,750    
NE      :  2,100    1,900    35.0      36.0      35.0      73,500     66,500    
NV 1/   :      9       12   100.0     100.0     100.0         900      1,200    
NJ 1/   :     38       32    46.0      46.0      46.0       1,748      1,472    
NM 1/   :    110      250    37.0      31.0      31.0       4,070      7,750    
NY 1/   :    150      135    43.0      52.0      52.0       6,450      7,020    
NC      :    590      700    44.0      46.0      45.0      25,960     31,500    
ND 1/   :     75       38    30.0      31.0      31.0       2,250      1,178    
OH      :  1,330    1,140    39.0      51.0      54.0      51,870     61,560    
OK      :  4,900    5,000    19.0      25.0      27.0      93,100    135,000    
OR      :    850      840    72.0      68.0      65.0      61,200     54,600    
PA 1/   :    190      175    48.0      52.0      52.0       9,120      9,100    
SC      :    270      290    45.0      45.0      47.0      12,150     13,630    
SD      :  1,580    1,250    35.0      35.0      33.0      55,300     41,250    
TN      :    400      370    44.0      43.0      42.0      17,600     15,540    
TX      :  2,900    3,700    26.0      28.0      28.0      75,400    103,600    
UT 1/   :    160      160    38.0      45.0      45.0       6,080      7,200    
VA 1/   :    275      250    53.0      54.0      54.0      14,575     13,500    
WA      :  2,350    2,150    70.0      61.0      63.0     164,500    135,450    
WV 1/   :     11       10    45.0      45.0      45.0         495        450    
WI 1/   :    125      135    43.0      50.0      50.0       5,375      6,750    
WY 1/   :    240      235    26.0      30.0      30.0       6,240      7,050    
        :                                                                       
US      : 39,709   40,847    37.2      38.2      39.3   1,478,048  1,603,580    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
          Durum Wheat:  Area Harvested, Yield, and Production by State          
             and United States, 1996 and Forecasted June 1, 1997 1/             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :   Area Harvested   :            Yield           :     Production      
        :---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  State :          :         :        :        1997       :        :            
        :   1996   :   1997  :  1996  :-------------------:  1996  :    1997    
        :          :         :        :  May 1  :  Jun 1  :        :            
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        :     1,000 Acres         ----- Bushels -----     1,000 Bushels         
        :                                                                       
AZ      :     164       99      90.0     93.0      95.0     14,760     9,405    
CA      :     138      130     100.0     95.0      95.0     13,800    12,350    
MN      :      10               43.0                           430              
MT      :     270               25.0                         6,750              
ND      :   2,940               27.0                        79,380              
SD      :      24               30.0                           720              
        :                                                                       
US      :   3,546               32.7                       115,840              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1/  Harvested area for U.S. and northern States will be available in "Acreage"  
    released June 30, 1997.  Yield and production for U.S. and northern States  
    to be published in "Crop Production" released July 11, 1997.                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Wheat:  Production by Class, United States, 1995-1996              
                        and Forecasted June 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  : 921,276   422,244   260,060                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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.                                                                     
            Sweet Cherries:  Total Production by State and Total,               
                     1995-96 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                    Total Production                     
       State          :-------------------------------------------------------  
                      :       1995       :       1996       :       1997 1/     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                          Tons                           
                      :                                                         
  CA                  :      19,800             24,600             35,000       
  OR                  :      38,000             32,000             43,000       
  WA                  :      75,000             69,000             85,000       
                      :                                                         
  Total               :     132,800            125,600            163,000       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  The first production forecast for sweet cherries in ID, MI, MT, NY, PA,     
    and UT and tart cherries in CO, MI, NY, OR, PA, UT, WA, and WI will be      
    published on July 1, 1997 in "Cherry Production".                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Peaches:  Total Production by Crop, State, and United States,         
                      1995-96 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                     Total Production                      
        State       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :       1995        :       1996       :       1997         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                      Million Pounds                       
                    :                                                           
CA - Freestone      :         502                 633                 730       
GA                  :         160                  10                 160       
SC                  :         215                   3                 150       
                    :                                                           
Total Above         :         877                 646               1,040       
                    :                                                           
CA - Clingstone 1/  :         865               1,093               1,100       
                    :                                                           
Total               :       1,742               1,739               2,140       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  CA Clingstone is over-the-scale tonnage and includes culls and              
    cannery diversions.                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Citrus Fruits:  Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States,     
                     1995-96 and Forecasted June 1, 1997 1/                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :     Utilized Production     :     Utilized Production     
                    :            Boxes            :       Ton Equivalent        
   Crop and State   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : 1994-95 : 1995-96 : 1996-97 : 1994-95 : 1995-96 : 1996-97 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    : ------ 1,000 Boxes 2/ -----   ------- 1,000 Tons -------  
Oranges             :                                                           
  Early Mid &       :                                                           
   Navel 3/         :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :     400       700       500       15        27        19  
    CA 4/           :  35,000    38,000    43,000    1,313     1,426     1,613  
    FL              : 119,700   121,200   134,200    5,387     5,454     6,039  
    TX              :     950       830     1,300       40        35        55  
    US              : 156,050   160,730   179,000    6,755     6,942     7,726  
  Valencia          :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :     650       950       800       24        36        30  
    CA 4/           :  21,000    28,000    28,000      788     1,051     1,050  
    FL              :  85,800    82,000    90,000    3,861     3,690     4,050  
    TX              :     105       110       120        4         4         5  
    US              : 107,555   111,060   118,920    4,677     4,781     5,135  
  All               :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,050     1,650     1,300       39        63        49  
    CA 4/           :  56,000    66,000    71,000    2,101     2,477     2,663  
    FL              : 205,500   203,200   224,200    9,248     9,144    10,089  
    TX              :   1,055       940     1,420       44        39        60  
    US              : 263,605   271,790   297,920   11,432    11,723    12,861  
Temples             :                                                           
  FL                :   2,550     2,150     2,400      114        97       108  
Grapefruit          :                                                           
  White Seedless    :                                                           
    FL              :  25,700    23,200    26,500    1,092       986     1,126  
  Colored Seedless  :                                                           
    FL              :  28,700    28,100    31,500    1,220     1,194     1,339  
  Other             :                                                           
    FL              :   1,300     1,050     1,000       55        45        43  
  All               :                                                           
    AZ 4/           :   1,400     1,200     1,000       47        40        34  
    CA 4/ 5/        :                                                           
      Desert        :   3,300                          111                      
      Other Areas   :   6,000                          201                      
      Total         :   9,300     8,100     9,200      312       271       308  
    FL              :  55,700    52,350    59,000    2,367     2,225     2,508  
    TX              :   4,650     4,550     5,300      186       182       212  
    US              :  71,050    66,200    74,500    2,912     2,718     3,062  
Tangerines          :                                                           
  AZ 4/             :     650     1,000       650       25        38        24  
  CA 4/             :   2,500     2,600     2,900       94        97       109  
  FL                :   3,550     4,500     6,400      168       213       304  
  US                :   6,700     8,100     9,950      287       348       437  
Lemons 4/           :                                                           
  AZ                :   3,600     5,100     3,000      137       194       114  
  CA                :  20,000    21,000    22,000      760       798       836  
  US                :  23,600    26,100    25,000      897       992       950  
Tangelos            :                                                           
  FL                :   3,150     2,450     3,950      142       110       178  
K-Early Citrus      :                                                           
  FL                :     120       160       150        5         7         7  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Citrus Fruit Footnotes                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
1/  The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with   
    the completion of harvest the following year.                               
                                                                                
2/  Net lbs. per box:  oranges-AZ & CA-75, FL-90, TX-85; grapefruit-AZ  & CA-67,
    FL-85, TX-80; lemons-76; tangelos, K-Early Citrus & Temples-90;             
    tangerines-AZ & CA-75, FL-95.                                               
                                                                                
3/  Navel and miscellaneous varieties in AZ and CA.  Early (including Navel) and
    midseason varieties in FL and TX.  Small quantities of tangerines in TX.    
                                                                                
4/  Estimates for current year carried forward from earlier forecast.           
                                                                                
5/  California Desert and Other Areas Grapefruit forecasts combined with All    
    Grapefruit beginning in 1995-96.                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Bartlett Pears:  Total Production by State and Total,             
                      1995-96 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :                    Total Production                    
         State         :--------------------------------------------------------
                       :       1995       :     1996 1/      :       1997       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :                          Tons                          
                       :                                                        
CA                     :     247,000            287,000            300,000      
OR                     :      70,000             45,000             75,000      
WA                     :     180,000            105,000            190,000      
                       :                                                        
Total                  :     497,000            437,000            565,000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                    
         Miscellaneous Fruits:  Total Production by Crop and State,             
                   1995-96 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                 Total Production                     
    Crop and State       :----------------------------------------------------  
                         :       1995       :       1996       :       1997     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                         :                          Tons                        
Prunes (Dried Basis) 1/  :                                                      
  CA                     :     181,000            220,000            215,000    
                         :                                                      
Apricots                 :                                                      
  CA                     :      54,000             76,000            125,000    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  1996 revised.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          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     
            :                                                                   
Apr         :   3,585       4,310      2,030      2,115      2,815      2,835   
May         :   3,705       4,335      1,940      2,125      3,385      2,860   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Hops: Area Harvested by Variety, State, and United States,           
                       1995-96 and Forecasted June 1, 1997                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        State       :            Area Harvested             :Strung for Harvest 
         and        :-----------------------------------------------------------
       Variety      :       1995        :       1996        :       1997        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                           Acres                           
                    :                                                           
ID                  :                                                           
  Banner            :         103                  77                  68       
  Chelan            :           *                   *                   4       
  Chinook           :         341                 343                 331       
  Cluster           :         826                 815                 805       
  Galena            :         608                 649                 661       
  Mt. Hood          :          20                  20                  10       
  Nugget            :          12                  37                  70       
  Willamette        :          68                 190                 224       
                    :                                                           
  Other Varieties   :       1,949               1,866               1,716       
                    :                                                           
  Total             :       3,927               3,997               3,889       
                    :                                                           
OR                  :                                                           
  Brewer's Gold     :           *                   *                   *       
  Cascade           :           *                   *                   *       
  Chinook           :          60                   *                   *       
  Fuggle            :         547                 481                 423       
  Galena            :           *                   *                   *       
  Golding           :           *                   *                 245       
  Liberty           :           *                   *                   *       
  Mt. Hood          :         287                 238                 238       
  Nugget            :       3,025               3,101               3,062       
  Perle             :         154                 181                 329       
  Tettnanger        :         976                 796                 649       
  Willamette        :       3,260               3,259               3,070       
                    :                                                           
  Other Varieties   :         332                 430                 335       
                    :                                                           
  Total             :       8,641               8,486               8,351       
                    :                                                           
WA                  :                                                           
  Cascade           :       1,128               1,045               1,037       
  Chinook           :       2,277               2,234               1,686       
  Cluster           :       5,143               4,853               3,630       
  Eroica            :         443                 183                   *       
  Fuggle            :           *                   *                   *       
  Galena            :       8,358               7,984               6,993       
  Golding           :           *                  87                 131       
  Liberty           :         138                  94                   *       
  Mt. Hood          :       1,115                 955                 540       
  Northern Brewer   :          58                   *                   *       
  Nugget            :       5,149               5,539               5,857       
  Olympic           :         160                 126                 126       
  Perle             :         248                 233                 256       
  Tettnanger        :       2,278               1,991               1,595       
  Willamette        :       2,797               3,520               4,321       
                    :                                                           
  Other Varieties   :       1,329               2,834               6,042       
                    :                                                           
  Total             :      30,621              31,678              32,214       
                    :                                                           
US                  :      43,189              44,161              44,454       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Included in Other Varieties to avoid disclosure of individual operations.     
           Sugarbeets: Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, Production,           
             Price, and Value by State and United States, 1995-96 1/            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :     Area Planted      :    Area Harvested     :         Yield         
  State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :   1995    :  1996 2/  :   1995    :  1996 2/  :   1995    :  1996 2/  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :  --------------- 1,000 Acres ---------------    ------ Tons ------    
        :                                                                       
CA      :    116.0        84.0       114.0        82.0         28.0     29.5    
CO      :     42.8        54.8        41.1        51.1         17.4     20.2    
ID      :    198.0       187.0       197.0       184.0         24.0     24.8    
MI      :    190.0       153.0       188.0       130.0         15.8     15.1    
MN      :    427.0       441.0       420.0       438.0         17.7     18.2    
MT      :     55.7        57.7        55.5        57.5         21.5     22.6    
NE      :     75.9        55.8        72.3        51.2         16.4     17.8    
NM      :                  1.1                      .9                  29.8    
ND      :    207.0       226.6       204.2       225.3         19.2     18.7    
OH      :     16.3         4.9        15.3         4.6         15.0     18.8    
OR      :     18.4        17.4        17.8        16.3         22.7     25.5    
TX      :     20.2        14.1        19.3        12.6         18.2     19.2    
WA      :                 13.0                    13.0                  35.5    
WY      :     63.0        58.0        61.5        56.8         20.3     18.9    
        :                                                                       
Oth     :                                                                       
 Sts 3/ :     14.3                    14.1                     34.3             
        :                                                                       
US      :  1,444.6     1,368.4     1,420.1     1,323.3         19.8     20.2    
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      Production       :     Price per Ton     :  Value of Production  
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :   1995    :  1996 2/  :   1995    :  1996 4/  :   1995    :  1996 4/  
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :   --- 1,000 Tons ---       ---- Dollars ----       1,000 Dollars      
        :                                                                       
CA      :    3,192       2,419       39.40                  125,765             
CO      :      715       1,032       35.40                   25,311             
ID      :    4,728       4,563       40.50                  191,484             
MI      :    2,970       1,963       33.80                  100,386             
MN      :    7,434       7,971       38.00                  282,492             
MT      :    1,193       1,300       39.90                   47,601             
NE      :    1,186         913       34.40                   40,798             
NM      :                   27                                                  
ND      :    3,929       4,213       39.10                  153,624             
OH      :      230          86                                                  
OR      :      404         416       39.30                   15,877             
TX      :      351         242       36.50                   12,812             
WA      :                  461                                                  
WY      :    1,249       1,074       37.70                   47,087             
        :                                                                       
Oth     :                                                                       
 Sts 5/ :      484                   38.40                   27,426             
        :                                                                       
US      :   28,065      26,680       38.10                1,070,663             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Relates to year of intended harvest except for overwintered spring planted  
    beets in CA.                                                                
2/  Revised.                                                                    
3/  Includes NM and WA prior to 1996.                                           
4/  Estimates are not available.  U.S. marketing year average price, value of   
    production, and parity price will be published in "Agricultural Prices",    
    released July 31, 1997.  State estimates will be published in "Crop Values" 
    to be released February 1998.                                               
5/  Production data relates to NM and WA.  Price and value of production data   
    for OH are included to avoid disclosure of factory data.                    
              Sugarcane: Area Harvested, Yield, Production, Price,              
                  and Value by State and United States, 1995-96                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :   Area Harvested    :      Yield 1/       :     Production 1/     
    State   :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :   1995   : 1996 2/  :   1995   : 1996 2/  :   1995    :  1996 2/  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :     1,000 Acres         ----- Tons ----      --- 1,000 Tons ---   
            :                                                                   
For Sugar   :                                                                   
  FL        :  417.0      417.0       34.6       33.1      14,445      13,803   
  HI        :   48.5       42.9       81.5       82.6       3,953       3,544   
  LA        :  368.0      335.0       25.6       27.9       9,421       9,347   
  TX        :   41.2       34.6       32.4       28.7       1,336         992   
            :                                                                   
  US        :  874.7      829.5       33.3       33.4      29,155      27,686   
            :                                                                   
For Seed    :                                                                   
  FL        :   20.0       21.0       33.9       33.1         677         695   
  HI        :    4.5        3.1       26.0       30.6         117          95   
  LA        :   32.0       35.0       25.6       27.9         819         976   
  TX        :    1.1         .3       25.5       33.3          28          10   
            :                                                                   
  US        :   57.6       59.4       28.5       29.9       1,641       1,776   
            :                                                                   
For Sugar   :                                                                   
 and Seed   :                                                                   
  FL        :  437.0      438.0       34.6       33.1      15,122      14,498   
  HI        :   53.0       46.0       76.8       79.1       4,070       3,639   
  LA        :  400.0      370.0       25.6       27.9      10,240      10,323   
  TX        :   42.3       34.9       32.2       28.7       1,364       1,002   
            :                                                                   
  US        :  932.3      888.9       33.0       33.1      30,796      29,462   
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                For Sugar                :   For Sugar and Seed    
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :  Price per Ton  :  Value of Production  : Value of Production 3/  
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :  1995  :1996 4/ :   1995    :  1996 4/  :    1995    :  1996 4/   
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :    Dollars         ------------- 1,000 Dollars -------------      
            :                                                                   
FL          : 30.60              442,017                 462,733                
HI          : 32.30              127,682                 131,461                
LA          : 27.00              254,367                 276,480                
TX          : 26.60               35,538                  36,282                
            :                                                                   
US          : 29.50              859,604                 906,956                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Yield and production refer to net weight.                                   
2/  Revised.                                                                    
3/  Price per ton of cane for sugar used in evaluating value of production for  
    seed.                                                                       
4/  Estimates are not available.  U.S. marketing year average price, value of   
    production, and parity price will be published in "Agricultural Prices"     
    released July 31, 1997.  State estimates will be published in "Crop Values" 
    to released February 1998.                                                  
Sweet Potatoes:  Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production,             
              by State and United States, 1995-96 1/                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :          Area Planted          :       Area Harvested          
  State        :----------------------------------------------------------------
               :     1995       :      1996     :      1995     :      1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                           1,000 Acres                          
               :                                                                
AL             :      4.4              4.4             4.1             4.3      
CA             :      9.6              9.6             9.6             9.6      
GA             :      2.5              2.1             2.4             2.0      
LA             :     22.0             22.0            21.0            21.0      
MS             :      6.2              8.3             5.5             8.1      
NJ             :      1.5              1.3             1.4             1.2      
NC             :     33.0             33.0            32.0            31.0      
SC             :      2.1              1.9             1.9             1.6      
TX             :      5.6              5.9             5.2             5.5      
VA             :      0.5              0.6             0.5             0.5      
               :                                                                
US             :     87.4             89.1            83.6            84.8      
               :----------------------------------------------------------------
               :              Yield             :           Production          
               :----------------------------------------------------------------
               :       1995    :      1996      :      1995     :      1996     
               :----------------------------------------------------------------
               :       ------ Cwt --------              ---- 1,000 Cwt ----     
               :                                                                
AL             :      165             170              677             731      
CA             :      200             225            1,920           2,160      
GA             :      170             200              408             400      
LA             :      150             160            3,150           3,360      
MS             :      150             160              825           1,296      
NJ             :      150             130              210             156      
NC             :      150             140            4,800           4,340      
SC             :       95             125              181             200      
TX             :      125             135              650             743      
VA             :      170             140               85              70      
               :                                                                
US             :      154             159           12,906          13,456      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                   Maple Syrup:  Production, Price, and Value                   
                     by State and United States, 1996-97 1/                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                     :    Average Price    :      Value of       
              :     Production      :     per Gallon      :     Production      
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1996   :   1997   :   1996   :   1997   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :    1,000 Gallons       ---- Dollars ---        1,000 Dollars    
              :                                                                 
CT            :     10          9      42.70      33.40         427        301  
ME            :    167        180      21.90      19.40       3,657      3,492  
MA            :     49         44      38.90      31.00       1,906      1,364  
MI            :     88         75      31.10      25.50       2,737      1,913  
NH            :     89         76      37.20      29.50       3,311      2,242  
NY            :    343        269      25.50      23.70       8,747      6,375  
OH            :     90         95      28.50      26.00       2,565      2,470  
PA            :     71         63      24.60      25.60       1,747      1,613  
VT            :    550        395      26.50      22.30      14,575      8,809  
WI            :    110         87      22.70      21.90       2,497      1,905  
              :                                                                 
US            :  1,567      1,293      26.90      23.60      42,169     30,484  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Price and value for 1996 are revised.  Price and value for 1997 are         
    preliminary.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            Maple Syrup:  Percent of Sales by Type and State, 1995-96           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :             Retail             :       Wholesale and Bulk       
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :      1995      :     1996      :      1995       :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                             Percent                             
              :                                                                 
CT            :       70              70               30               30      
ME            :        5               5               95               95      
MA            :       70              80               30               20      
MI            :       50              64               50               36      
NH            :       60              70               40               30      
NY            :       48              50               52               50      
OH            :       75              65               25               35      
PA            :       51              48               49               52      
VT            :       40              35               60               65      
WI            :       53              37               47               63      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Maple Syrup:  Price by Type of Sales and Size of Container           
                              by State, 1995-96 1/                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Type   :   Gallons   : 1/2 Gallons :   Quarts    :    Pints    :  1/2 Pints  
    and   :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                               Dollars                               
          :                                                                     
Retail    :                                                                     
  CT      :35.00  35.40  19.60  20.50  11.10  11.00   6.00   6.95   4.20   4.25 
  ME      :30.20  32.30  16.90  17.50   9.45   9.35   5.45   5.55   3.60   3.70 
  MA      :30.10  32.40  17.80  18.30  10.50  10.60   6.40   6.65   4.15   4.05 
  MI      :27.60  27.70  15.60  17.00   8.28   9.17   5.24   5.81   3.14   3.47 
  NH      :31.20  32.10  17.80  17.80  10.40  10.50   6.25   6.20   3.70   3.80 
  NY      :29.10  28.20  15.70  16.50   9.00  10.00   5.60   6.05   3.70   3.65 
  OH      :26.30  26.50  14.50  15.00   8.50   9.20   5.20   5.70   3.80   4.30 
  PA      :27.90  28.70  15.20  16.10   8.50   9.00   5.10   5.40   3.40   3.70 
  VT      :28.80  28.30  16.90  16.50  10.40  10.10   6.45   6.15   4.20   4.20 
  WI      :23.40  24.80  12.40  13.10   7.30   7.09   4.00   4.45   2.90   2.67 
          :                                                                     
Wholesale :                                                                     
  CT 2/   :              14.80  17.40   8.10   8.85   4.85   6.50   3.60   3.20 
  ME      :25.80  25.40  13.60  13.60   7.05   7.50   4.30   4.50   2.70   2.80 
  MA      :23.50  25.70  14.70  16.00   8.15   8.60   4.75   5.05   2.75   3.25 
  MI      :24.80  25.80  13.00  13.80   7.40   7.60   4.30   4.17   2.46   2.24 
  NH      :25.50  24.90  14.70  14.80   7.75   8.40   4.55   4.90   2.75   3.10 
  NY      :23.30  25.70  13.80  14.70   7.80   8.00   4.70   4.80   2.60   3.40 
  OH      :20.60  22.50  11.50  13.00   6.50   7.50   3.60   4.50   2.70   3.40 
  PA      :23.50  26.80  14.00  14.60   7.40   7.90   4.70   4.80   2.90   3.00 
  VT      :24.00  24.30  13.60  13.90   7.95   8.10   4.65   4.80   3.10   3.05 
  WI      :26.60  23.90  13.90  13.10   7.50   6.65   4.00   3.81   2.40   2.51 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :   Bulk All Grades    :   Bulk All Grades    :       All Sales       
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :   1995   :   1996    :   1995    :   1996   :   1995    :   1996    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Dollars per Pound     Dollars per Gallon    Equivalent per Gallon  
          :                                                                     
Bulk      :                                                                     
  CT 2/   :                                                 40.20       42.70   
  ME      :   1.50       1.83        16.50      20.20       18.30       21.90   
  MA      :   1.22       1.38        13.50      15.20       38.10       38.90   
  MI      :   1.63       1.77        18.00      19.50       26.90       31.10   
  NH      :   1.29       1.36        14.20      15.00       38.00       37.20   
  NY      :   1.15       1.35        12.60      14.90       23.50       25.50   
  OH      :   1.30       1.60        14.40      17.50       28.80       28.50   
  PA      :   1.10       1.30        11.30      13.50       25.10       24.60   
  VT      :   1.46       1.48        16.10      16.30       27.80       26.50   
  WI      :   1.29       1.42        14.20      15.60       25.40       22.70   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Prices are revised.                                                         
2/  Data not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                           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).                                       
May Weather Summary:  A run of cool weather continued for a second consecutive  
                      month in areas east of a line from the Midwest to Texas,  
resulting in monthly temperatures 2 to 8 degrees F below normal.  The coolest   
weather plagued the Midwestern and Great Lakes States, hampering crop           
development.  Frost was reported across the Corn Belt as late as May 20-22, and 
snow added to seasonal-record totals in the Great Lakes States at mid-month.  In
contrast, hot weather persisted across the Southwest, producing departures of   
+2 to +8 degrees F and some May-record maxima at month's end.                   
                                                                                
Most of the month's rain fell before May 4 or after mid-month.  The late-month  
rains were timely for Corn Belt crops, but were locally excessive.  Late-month  
rainfall also eased topsoil dryness in the Southeast, but caused localized      
flooding in the central Gulf Coast region.  On May 27, a severe weather outbreak
across the South included a powerful tornado near Austin, TX, causing           
27 fatalities.  Variable amounts of moisture fell on the Plains, with dry       
pockets developing or persisting in the northern (North Dakota and eastern      
Montana) and central Plains (eastern Colorado and western Kansas).  Most areas  
in the Northwest received adequate moisture, but long-term drought continued to 
intensify in the Southwest.                                                     
                                                                                
Several locations in the East registered a record-cold May:                     
                                                                                
Location          Average (degrees F)           Former Record/Year              
Lansing, MI             48.3                    50.2 in 1917                    
Gr. Rapids, MI          50.3                    50.7 in 1907, 1924              
Mansfield, OH           52.1                    not available                   
Elkins, WV              52.4                    52.6 in 1924                    
Pittsburgh, PA          54.2                    54.3 in 1967                    
Bristol, TN             58.3                    58.7 in 1967                    
Asheville, NC           58.3                    59.4 in 1989                    
Paducah, KY             62.1                    62.5 in 1976                    
                                                                                
Many other parts of the East and Midwest experienced their coolest May weather  
in many years:                                                                  
                                                                                
Location          Average (degrees F)           Coolest May Since...            
Muskegon, MI            48.9                    48.9 in 1924                    
Rochester, MN           51.3                    51.3 in 1967                    
Youngstown, OH          51.4                    50.2 in 1967                    
Chicago, IL             53.8                    53.2 in 1983                    
LaCrosse, WI            55.0                    54.3 in 1983                    
Dayton, OH              55.8                    55.0 in 1917                    
Columbus, OH            56.5                    55.4 in 1967                    
Cincinnati, OH          57.1                    56.6 in 1917                    
Huntington, WV          58.7                    58.3 in 1924                    
Louisville, KY          59.4                    59.0 in 1961                    
Evansville, IN          60.3                    60.2 in 1924                    
                                                                                
Louisville had to wait until May 18 for their first 80-degree reading of the    
year, the latest date on record.  In Lansing, the temperature topped 70 degrees 
F only once during the month (78 degrees F on May 24).  Rochester's highs failed
to reach the 60-degree plateau on 15 days during the month.  On May 13, lows of 
32 degrees F in Omaha, NE and 31 degrees F in Gilbert, AR represented the latest
freeze on record for both locations.  On the same morning, Lincoln, NE (27      
degrees F) notched their latest sub-30-degree minimum on record.  Widespread    
frost and freezing temperatures cloaked the Corn Belt on May 16.  Sub-freezing  
readings were reported as far south as Vichy/Rolla, MO (31 degrees F) and       
Frankfort, KY (31 degrees F).  In Cincinnati, OH, a low of 32 degrees F marked  
their second-latest freeze on record, behind May 25, 1925.  On May 20-22,       
another batch of chilly air spread eastward across the Corn Belt, producing a   
final round of scattered frost.                                                 
In contrast, May-record warmth dotted the West, punctuated by May-record heat at
month's end.  In California, Fresno established their May record with 18 days of
90-degree heat, surpassing 16 days in 1940 and 1947.  Monthly average           
temperature records were exceeded in:                                           
                                                                                
Location                 Average (degrees F)       Former Record/Year           
Las Vegas, NV                 81.6                    80.7 in 1984              
Sacramento, CA                74.5                    73.8 in 1992              
L.A. Civic Center, CA         72.7                    72.4 in 1984              
Eureka, CA                    58.0                    57.9 in 1993              
                                                                                
On the last day of May, several all-time monthly records were shattered in Utah.
Highs reached 95 degrees F in Salt Lake City, 93 degrees F in Blanding,         
91 degrees F in Tooele, and 90 degrees F in Heber City.  In Laughlin, NV, highs 
soared to 111 degrees F on May 30 and 31, toppling their former monthly record  
by 1 degree.                                                                    
                                                                                
By the end of May, some locations in Texas surpassed their total rainfall for   
all of 1996.  For example, Del Rio's January-May rainfall reached 13.24 inches, 
compared with 11.29 inches for last year.  In Victoria, rainfall during the     
first 5 months of 1997 was 37.87 inches, not only surpassing last year's total  
of 29.61 inches, but also eclipsing their normal annual total of 37.41 inches.  
                                                                                
Although generally dry weather prevailed across North Dakota, Devils Lake       
continued to rise.  On May 13, the lake's surface rose to 1,441.0 feet above sea
level, equalling the approximate historical maximum, set in 1830.  Devils Lake  
is expected to crest near 1,444.0 feet in July.                                 
                                                                                
May snowfall totaled 9.1 inches in Marquette, MI, padding their seasonal-record 
total to 272.2 inches.  Another 0.1 inch fell on May 15 in Rochester, MN,       
boosting their record total to 84.7 inches.  On May 15, Houghton Lake, MI       
received enough snow (3.3 inches) to eclipse their monthly record of 3.2 inches,
set in 1994.  On Michigan's Upper Peninsula, seasonal-snowfall records were     
established in Bergland (284.9 inches, 167 percent [%] of normal), Herman       
(384.0 inches, 160% of normal), Ironwood (301.8 inches, 176% of normal), and    
Munising (236.8 inches, 160% of normal).  Farther east, New Hampshire's Mt.     
Washington received 91.7 inches by the 23rd, shattering their former May record 
of 52.2 inches.                                                                 
                                                                                
The late-month wet spell boosted monthly rainfall to more than 150% of normal in
several areas from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes States, including the      
eastern Corn Belt.  On May 25, Pittsburgh, PA collected a May calendar-day      
record 2.48 inches of rain.  Wet weather also pushed into the Northwest at      
month's end.  On May 31, daily-rainfall records were established in locations   
such as Salem, OR (1.56 inches) and Seattle, WA (1.13 inches).                  
                                                                                
Very warm conditions dominated southern and western Alaska, where monthly       
temperatures averaged up to 6 degrees F above normal.  In Bethel, a             
May-record-setting stretch of 70-degree maxima occurred on May 24-29.  Although 
precipitation was above normal in the west, interior sections continued to      
observe below-normal totals.  In Fairbanks, only 0.07 inches fell--11% of       
normal--capping their driest spring on record (0.14 inches).                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
General Crop Comments:  Unseasonably cool weather east of the Rocky Mountains   
                    slowed crop emergence and development the entire month      
of May.  Localities as far south as Kentucky recorded freezing temperatures well
beyond their normal "last freeze date."  Despite the cool weather, corn planting
progressed well ahead of normal throughout the Corn Belt.  As corn planting     
finished, farmers immediately switched to planting soybeans, which also         
progressed well ahead of the normal pace.   However, below-normal temperatures  
hindered crop emergence and development, requiring limited replanting.  Overall,
corn condition as of June 1, 1997, was mostly good.                             
Continuous cool, wet weather hindered planting operations along the Gulf  Coast 
and in the lower Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.  Late-month rains eased a 3-week 
dry spell along the southern and middle Atlantic Coast.  Southeastern cotton and
peanut growers made good planting progress during the middle of the month.      
End-of-month rains improved crop conditions, but hindered planting progress.    
                                                                                
Dry soils in the central and northern High Plains stressed the winter wheat crop
for most of the month, causing conditions to decline.  Favorable rains fell in  
the area the last half of May, alleviating drought-like conditions.  Planting of
spring wheat, barley, and oats was delayed until mid-month by cool weather and  
saturated soils in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.  Drier soils      
allowed small grain farmers to plant at a rapid pace during the latter part of  
May.                                                                            
                                                                                
Unlike the East, States west of the Rocky Mountains recorded above-normal       
temperatures during May.  In the Northwest, winter wheat condition improved with
late-month rains.  Spring wheat, barley, and oat growers made good planting     
progress during the month.  Six consecutive weeks of hot weather in the         
Southwest provided good crop planting and development conditions, but           
exacerbated long-term drought.                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Winter Wheat:  Area for grain harvest this year is forecast at 40.8 million     
               acres, unchanged from May 1 but up 3 percent from 1996.          
                                                                                
Yields in the Delta and Southeastern Soft Red Winter States are generally equal 
to or higher than last month.  Cool weather has slowed Alabama's harvest;       
Arkansas' also trails average.  The Georgia harvest is about half complete.     
Little or no disease problems have been reported in Kentucky's late developing  
crop.  Heavy rains apparently hurt Indiana's wheat.  The coolest May on record  
has slowed Michigan wheat development.  Objective Yield Survey head count       
forecasts compare to 1995 in Illinois and Ohio, but are the highest since 1988  
in Missouri.                                                                    
                                                                                
Average head count populations are forecast from Washington's Objective Yield   
survey.  Idaho's winter crop is maturing ahead of average.  Oregon growers are  
less optimistic after May's hot weather.                                        
                                                                                
Hard Red Winter Objective Yield head counts have improved in Kansas and are well
above average levels.  The Oklahoma and Texas count forecasts are at record high
numbers.  Colorado's compares to 1995.  Nebraska's populations are near average 
while Montana's are similar to last year.  South Dakota's crop is growing very  
slowly with only 26 percent in boot as of June 1.  The California wheat harvest 
is about two weeks ahead of normal.                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Durum Wheat:  Durum production in Arizona and California is forecast at         
              21.8 million bushels, up 1 percent from May 1 because of improved 
Arizona yields.  As of June 1, 30 percent of the Arizona acreage was harvested. 
This trails both last year and the 5-year average. California's Imperial Valley 
harvest was active through May and was about 75 percent complete by June 1;     
quality and protein content were a little lower than normal.  Remaining acreages
in both States are rated in good to excellent condition.                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sweet Cherries:  Production in California, Oregon, and Washington is forecast at
                 163,000 tons, up 30 percent from last year and 23 percent above
1995.  Growing conditions have been favorable for this year's crop.             
                                                                                
The sweet cherry crop in California is forecast at 35,000 tons, up 42 percent   
from last year and 77 percent above the 1995 crop of 19,800 tons.  Good weather 
throughout the growing season resulted in better yields.                        
Washington expects to produce 85,000 tons of sweet cherries in 1997, up         
23 percent from the 1996 crop.  If realized, this would be the largest crop     
since 1989.  New plantings of later varieties will extend the season into August
in the Wenatchee district.  Growers are expecting a good quality crop this year.
                                                                                
Oregon is forecasting 43,000 tons of production, up 34 percent from the 1996    
crop and up 13 percent from 1995.  A mild winter improved prospects for 1997.   
An ideal fruit set resulted in good sizing and a full crop.  Only scattered     
frost damage occurred in the Mid-Columbia region.                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
Peaches:  The 1997 peach crop in California, Georgia, and South Carolina is     
          forecast at 2.14 billion pounds, 23 percent above both last year and  
two years ago.  Freestone peach production is projected at 1.04 billion pounds, 
61 percent above last year and 19 percent above 1995.  Production in Georgia is 
expected to return to more normal levels after last year's frosts, while South  
Carolina producers, who also suffered severe losses from frost in 1996, will    
harvest about two-thirds of a normal crop.  Losses were mainly due to hail      
damage.                                                                         
                                                                                
California's Clingstone crop is projected at 1.10 billion pounds, 1 percent     
above last year.  Growers expect a normal yield with harvest to begin in        
mid-June.                                                                       
                                                                                
South Carolina's peach crop, forecast at 150 million pounds, compares with      
3 million pounds in 1996 and 215 million pounds in 1995.  Growers survived an   
early bloom period without any serious frosts, but some orchards were later     
subjected to heavy storms with high winds, hail, and frost.  Early varieties    
currently being picked are showing the weather effects with poor sizing.        
                                                                                
The first forecast of the 1997 Georgia peach crop is 160 million pounds         
compared with 10 million pounds in 1996.  This year's crop shows a heavy set as 
a result of a mild winter and a long, early spring.  About one-third of the crop
was harvested by June 1.                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
Dried Prunes:  California production is forecast at 215,000 tons, 2 percent less
               than last year, but 19 percent above the 1995 crop.  Weather     
during the critical pollination period was favorable, and growers indicate that 
they are expecting a near normal crop.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
Apricots:  California's 1997 apricot production is forecast at 125,000 tons, up 
           64 percent from last year's 76,000 tons and more than double the 1995
crop of 54,000 tons, but below the 1994 production level.  Fruit set was good,  
which resulted from favorable chilling hours followed by a mild spring.  The    
crop is running 7 to 10 days ahead of last year.                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Papayas:  Hawaii fresh papaya production is estimated at 2.86 million pounds for
          May.  This was 1 percent higher than April, but 16 percent lower than 
May 1996.  May weather conditions were a mixture of light showers and sunshine  
over major papaya production areas.  Papaya ring spot virus continued to        
adversely impact trees in infected orchards.                                    
                                                                                
Area planted to papayas totaled 4,335 acres in May.  This was 1 percent higher  
than April and 17 percent higher than May 1996.  Harvested area, totaling       
2,125 acres, was up less than 1 percent from last month and 10 percent higher   
than a year ago.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Grapefruit:  The June 1 forecast of the 1996-97 U.S. grapefruit crop is a record
             large 3.06 million tons, unchanged from last month's forecast, but 
13 percent larger than last year.  This year's crop exceeds the previous record 
of 3.03 million tons for the 1976-77 season.                                    
                                                                                
The Florida all grapefruit forecast is a record large 59.0 million boxes        
(2.51 million tons), unchanged from the last forecast, but 13 percent more than 
last season.  The all seedless grapefruit forecast remains at 58.0 million      
boxes, while the seedy (Duncan) grapefruit forecast continues at 1.0 million    
boxes.                                                                          
                                                                                
Average fruit size is smaller than the previous 2 seasons.  Fruit droppage      
losses are slightly less than average.  The June 1 Row Count survey showed      
13 percent of rows remaining to be harvested for white grapefruit and colored   
grapefruit.  Movement of all grapefruit was 54.5 million boxes.                 
                                                                                
The Florida forecasts are based on objective fruit count and measurement surveys
in relationship to the harvest patterns and utilization of the past 2 seasons.  
All citrus forecasts project certified utilization, including a preseason       
allocation of less than 2 percent for unrecorded usage.  Certifications include 
only fruit actually shipped in fresh pack or recorded at a processing plant.    
                                                                                
The Texas grapefruit forecast, at 5.30 million boxes (212,000 tons), is         
unchanged from last month, but up 16 percent from last season.                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tangerines:  The 1996-97 U.S. tangerine crop is forecast at a record large      
             437,000 tons, unchanged from last month's forecast but 26 percent  
above last season's crop.  Florida's harvest is virtually complete and the      
forecast of 6.4 million boxes (304,000 tons) is unchanged from the May 1        
forecast, but 42 percent above the 1995-96 season.  Florida's increase was due  
to the lowest fruit droppage on record for Honey tangerines, increased bearing  
trees for Sunburst tangerines, and heavy fruit set for all varieties.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Tangelos:  Florida's 1996-97 tangelo crop is 3.95 million boxes (178,000 tons), 
           unchanged from last month's forecast but 61 percent higher than last 
season's 2.45 million boxes (110,000 tons).  Harvest is complete with this being
the largest crop since the 1987-88 season.                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Temples:  The Florida Temple forecast is 2.40 million boxes (108,000 tons),     
          unchanged from the May 1 forecast but 12 percent higher than last     
season.  Temple harvest is complete for the season.                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
Florida Citrus:  Most of Florida's citrus groves were in good condition at the  
                 end of May.  The east and west coast areas received above      
average rainfall during the month, while most of the other areas were a little  
below normal.  There is an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages in well 
maintained groves.  New crop fruit made good progress as most trees have stopped
dropping the small green fruit that the trees cannot carry for next season.  The
Valencia oranges remaining for harvest are in good condition with excellent     
pounds solids and juice content.  Grapefruit movement during May was more active
than in recent years, and limited grapefruit harvest continues.  Caretakers were
very active in May cutting cover crops, completing post bloom spraying, and     
planting resets where older trees were removed.                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
Texas Citrus:  Harvest of the 1996-97 citrus crop was virtually complete by late
               May.  Rains in the Rio Grande Valley during May were beneficial  
and lessened the need for irrigation.  A good fruit set has occurred for next   
season's orange and grapefruit crops.                                           
                                                                                
California Fruits and Nuts:  Thinning of stone fruit was completed by June 1.   
                             Harvest of early varieties of cherries, peaches,   
nectarines, apricots, and plums started in the southern San Joaquin Valley and  
moved north during May.  Grape leaves were pulled and vines suckered.           
Avocadoes, olives, and pecans completed bloom.  A rain late in the month had    
little effect on the cherry or apricot harvest.  High winds broke some heavily  
set almond branches.                                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
California Citrus:  Grapefruit harvest in the desert area was winding down by   
                    late May.  Grapefruit picking in other areas gained         
momentum, with good to excellent quality reported.  Lemon movement to date is   
ahead of previous years, but picking slowed in the South Coast area.  Navel     
orange picking is virtually complete.  A high percentage of the Valencia orange 
crop is going to export.  Both export and domestic Valencias have good to       
excellent quality.                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
Bartlett Pears:  Production in California, Washington, and Oregon is forecast   
                 at 565,000 tons, up 29 percent from last year and 14 percent   
above 1995.  This includes a record large crop for Washington.                  
                                                                                
California's expected production of 300,000 tons is 5 percent more than 1996.   
The growing areas have enjoyed good spring weather.  Quality and size are       
reported good with early maturity.  In Oregon, growers expect to harvest        
75,000 tons, up 67 percent from 1996's extremely low production.  In Washington,
the weather was good for pollination, and the fruit developed very well under   
warm conditions.  Growers are busy applying fruit thinners.  Expected production
is 190,000 tons, 10,000 tons more than the previous record set in 1995.         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Hops:  Acreage strung for harvest in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho is forecast  
       at 44,454 acres, up 1 percent from a year ago and 3 percent above 1995.  
                                                                                
In Washington, hops are doing reasonably well in spite of the cool, damp spring 
which caused more than normal spraying for mildew (especially on the Cluster    
variety) and mites.  Plants are in good condition with vines already at the top 
of many trellises.  In Idaho, stringing was active during late May.  Moisture   
levels continue high with plentiful water.                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sugar Crops, 1996 Revised:  Sugarbeet production in 1996 totaled 26.7 million   
                            tons, down 5 percent from 1995.  Area harvested     
totaled 1.32 million acres, down 7 percent from last year.  Yield per acre      
averaged 20.2 tons, compared with the previous year's average of 19.8 tons.  The
sugarbeet estimates for New Mexico and Washington were reported separately      
starting in 1996.                                                               
                                                                                
Sugarcane production for sugar in 1996 totaled 29.5 million tons, 4 percent     
below last year's output.  The decrease in production is the result of a decline
in harvested acreage.  Area harvested totaled 888,900 acres, 5 percent below    
1995.  The average yield of 33.1 tons per acre was virtually unchanged from last
year.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sweet Potatoes, 1996 Revised:  The final estimate of sweet potato production for
                               1996 was 13.5 million cwt, 4 percent above 1995  
and less than 1 percent above 1994.  The revised estimate was 1 percent below   
the preliminary estimate made in the Annual Crop Production Summary.  A larger  
than expected California crop helped make up for a shortfall in Texas.  Harvest 
came from 84,800 acres, up 1 percent from a year earlier and 2 percent above two
years ago.  The average yield of 159 cwt per acre was 5 cwt above 1995, but     
3 cwt short of the record high yield in 1994.                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Maple Syrup:  The 1997 U.S. maple syrup production totaled 1.29 million gallons,
              down 17 percent from last year.  The forecasted value of          
production is $30.5 million, a decrease of 28 percent from 1996.  The U.S.      
estimate consists of the ten major producing States.                            
                                                                                
Maple syrup production decreased in all States except Maine and Ohio.  In       
general, producers experienced variable weather and cold temperatures that      
hampered good flow.  All States but Ohio averaged a lower yield per tap.  The   
tapping season was the same length as last season, but it started a few days    
earlier.  Most of the New England area and New York tapped one week longer than 
Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  Excessive snow cover hampered production in     
northern Wisconsin and Michigan, but conditions were more favorable in the      
southern areas of Michigan.  Syrup color was medium to light amber in all States
but Wisconsin.  The sap's sugar content was slightly lower than last year for   
the nation, but a little higher in New England.  Maine had the highest sugar    
content.  Preliminary prices for 1997's syrup are down from last year, possibly 
due to remaining inventories of last season's syrup.                            
                                                                                
Vermont led the U.S. in production with 395,000 gallons of syrup, but decreased 
28 percent from last season.  New York's production declined 22 percent to      
269,000 gallons.  Maine was the third leading state with production of          
180,000 gallons, 8 percent more than 1996 and the highest production since 1988.
                                                                                
       Reliability of June 1 Winter Wheat Production Forecast                   
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  Objective yield and farm operator surveys were conducted    
                    between May 24 and June 4 to gather information on expected 
yield as of June 1.  The objective yield survey was conducted in the 10 States  
that accounted for 63 percent of the 1996 production.  Farm operators were      
interviewed to update previously reported acreage data and seek permission to   
randomly locate two sample plots in selected winter wheat fields.  The counts   
made within each sample plot depended upon the crop's maturity.  In early       
fields, counts such as number of stalks, heads in late boot, and number of      
emerged heads were made to predict the number of heads that would be harvested. 
A 5-year historical average head weight is used until the crop matures to the   
point that heads can be clipped, threshed, and weighed.  The number of heads    
times the weight of the heads in a sample plot can then be combined to an       
estimate of yield per acre.  The 5-year average harvesting loss is subtracted to
obtain a net yield.  The plots are revisited each month until the crop reaches  
maturity and are harvested on the final visit.                                  
                                                                                
The farm operator survey included a sample of approximately 6,000 winter wheat  
producers representing all major production areas.  These producers were        
selected from an earlier acreage survey and were asked about the probable winter
wheat yield on their operation.  These growers will be surveyed throughout the  
growing season to provide indications of average yields as the season           
progresses.                                                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Estimating Procedures:  National and State level objective yield and grower     
                        reported data were reviewed for reasonableness and      
consistency with historical estimates.  The survey data were also reviewed      
considering weather patterns and crop progress compared to previous month and   
previous years.  Each State Statistical Office submits their analysis of the    
current situation to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB).  The ASB uses the 
survey data and the State analyses to prepare the published June 1 forecasts.   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  The June 1 production forecast will not be revised; instead,  
                  a new forecast will be made each month throughout the growing 
season.  End-of-season estimates are made after harvest.  At the end of the     
marketing season, a balance sheet is calculated using carryover stocks,         
production, exports, millings, feeding, and ending stocks.  Revisions are then  
made if the balance sheet relationships or other administrative data warrant    
changes.                                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
Reliability:  To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the June 1       
              winter wheat production forecast, the "Root Mean Square Error", a 
statistical measure based on past performance, is computed.  This is done by    
expressing the deviation between the June 1 production forecast and the final   
estimate as a percentage of the final estimate, and averaging the squared       
percentage deviations for the 1976-1996 20-year period; the square root of the  
average becomes statistically the "Root Mean Square Error".  Probability        
statements can be made concerning expected differences in the current forecast  
relative to the final end-of-season estimate, assuming that factors affecting   
this year's forecast are not different from those influencing recent years.     
                                                                                
The "Root Mean Square Error" for the June 1 winter wheat production forecast is 
4.9 percent.  This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the current production
forecast of 1.60 billion bushels will not be above or below the final estimate  
by more than 4.9 percent or approximately 78.6 million bushels.  Chances are 9  
out of 10 (90 percent confidence level) that the difference will not exceed 8.5 
percent or approximately 136 million bushels.  Differences between the June 1   
winter wheat production forecast and the final estimate during the past 10 years
have averaged 53 million bushels, ranging from 8 million to 108 million bushels.
The June 1 forecast has been below the final estimate 3 times and above 7 times.
This does not imply that the June 1 winter wheat forecast this year is likely to
understate or overstate final production.                                       
                               Index                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                Page            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                           Table     Narrative  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Apricots..............................................      A-11        B- 6    
                                                                                
Cherries..............................................      A- 8        B- 5    
                                                                                
Citrus Fruit..........................................      A- 9        B- 7    
                                                                                
Crop Moisture Maps....................................                  B- 1    
                                                                                
Crop Summary..........................................      A- 3                
                                                                                
Hops..................................................      A-12        B- 8    
                                                                                
Maple Syrup...........................................      A-16        B- 9    
                                                                                
Papayas...............................................      A-11        B- 6    
                                                                                
Peaches................................................     A- 8        B- 6    
                                                                                
Pears, Bartlett........................................     A-10        B- 8    
                                                                                
Prunes, Dried..........................................     A-11        B- 6    
                                                                                
Reliability Statement..................................                 B-10    
                                                                                
Sugarbeets.............................................     A-13                
                                                                                
Sugarcane..............................................     A-14        B- 8    
                                                                                
Sweet Potatoes.........................................     A-15        B- 8    
                                                                                
Wheat, by Class........................................     A- 7                
                                                                                
Wheat, Durum...........................................     A- 7        B- 5    
                                                                                
Wheat, Winter..........................................     A- 6        B- 5    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          Report Features                                       
                                                                                
The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on           
July 11, 1997.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Crops Branch of the National  
Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information.          
                                                                                
                                                                                
C. Ray Halley, Chief                                              (202) 720-2127
                                                                                
  Field Crops Section                                                           
    Bill Dowdy, Head                                              (202) 720-3843
      Kevin Barnes - Soybeans, Minor Oilseeds                     (202) 720-7369
      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
                                                                                
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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.,
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equal employment opportunity employer.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
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