HDR1012000110010411950830Crop Production Highlights & Summary HDR2012000110010411950830Crop Production Highlights Narrative Released April 11, 1995, by the Agricultural Statistics Board. Forecasts refer to April 1, 1995. U.S. Orange Production Up Slightly All orange production is forecast at 11.7 million tons, up slightly from the previous forecast but 13 percent above last season. Production of early, mid- season, and Navel oranges decreased for the second straight month. Production of Valencia oranges increased for the fourth straight month. Florida's production of all oranges is 204 million boxes (9.17 million tons), up slightly from March's forecast and 17 percent above last season. Early and mid-season varieties were adjusted to 120 million boxes (5.39 million tons), down slightly from last month but 12 percent above last year. Harvest of early, mid, and Navel varieties ended in March. The Valencia forecast, at 84.0 million boxes (3.78 million tons), was up 1 percent from March and up 26 percent from last season. California's orange production is forecast at 64.0 million boxes (2.40 million tons), unchanged from January but 2 percent above last season. Early, mid, and Navel varieties are expected to produce 37.0 million boxes (1.39 million tons), unchanged from the last forecast but up 1 percent from last year. Valencia production is expected to total 27.0 million boxes (1.01 million tons), also unchanged from January but up 4 percent from a year ago. Florida frozen concentrated orange juice yield for the 1994-95 season is forecast at 1.50 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix. This forecast decreased slightly from the 1.51 level last month and remained below last seasons's final yield of 1.57 gallons per box. The final yield for early and mid-season varieties averaged 1.44 gallons per box, down from 1.52 in the previous season. The Valencia crop is expected to yield 1.58 gallons per box, down from 1.63 gallons per box in March and 1.66 gallons per box a year ago. The forecast projects the final yield reported by the Florida Citrus Processors Association. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For information call (202) 720-2127. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Cr Pr 2-2 (4-95) HDR2012000110010411950830Crop Summary Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1994 and Forecasted April 1, 1995 (Domestic Units) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Area Planted : Area Harvested Crop :---------------------------------------------------- : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 Acres : Potatoes : Spring : 91.6 88.6 90.4 87.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Summary: Yield per Acre and Production, United States, 1994 and Forecasted April 1, 1995 (Domestic Units) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield per Acre: Production Crop and Unit :----------------------------------------------------- : : : : Mar 1, : Apr 1, : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 : 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------- 1,000 ------------ : Potatoes : Spring : 251 261 22,646 22,701 : Citrus Fruits 1/ : 1993-94 1993-94 1994-95 : Oranges Ton : 10,281 11,634 11,663 Grapefruit 2/ " : 2,655 2,860 Lemons " : 984 931 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Season begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the completion of harvest the following year. 2/ 1994 revised. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This report was approved on April 11,1995, by the Secretary of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service's Agricultural Statistics Board. Dan Glickman Frederic A. Vogel ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Secretary of Agricultural Statistics Board Agriculture Acting Chairperson Dan Glickman Frederic A. Vogel Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 1994 and Forecasted April 1, 1995 (Metric Units) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Area Planted : Area Harvested Crop :------------------------------------------------------- : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Hectares : Potatoes : Spring : 37,070 35,860 36,580 35,210 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Crop Summary: Yield per Hectare and Production, United States, 1994 and Forecasted April 1, 1995 (Metric Units) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Yield per Hectare: Production Crop :-------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Mar 1, : Apr 1, : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 : 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Metric Tons : Potatoes : Spring : 28.08 29.24 1,027,210 1,029,700 : Citrus Fruits 1/ : 1993-94 1994-95 1994-95 : Oranges : 9,326,770 10,554,190 10,580,500 Grapefruit 2/ : 2,408,580 2,594,550 Lemons : 892,670 844,590 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Season begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with the completion of harvest the following year. 2/ 1994 revised. HDR2012000110010411950830Grapefruit Grapefruit: Acreage, Production, Price, and Value, California and United States, 1993-94 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State, Crop, : : Yield : Utilization of Production and : Bearing : per :------------------------------------------ Season : Acreage : Acre : Fresh : Processed : Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres Boxes --------- 1,000 Boxes 2/ -------- CA : Desert Valley : 1993-94 : 7,700 429 2,210 1,090 3,300 : Other Areas : 1993-94 : 10,300 563 3,740 2,060 5,800 : All CA : 1993-94 : 18,000 506 5,950 3,150 9,100 : US Total : 1993-94 : 154,960 419 31,746 33,154 64,900 :-------------------------------------------------------------- : Price per Box 3/ 4/ : Value of Production :-------------------------------------------------------------- : Fresh : Processed : All : Fresh :Processed: Total :-------------------------------------------------------------- : -------- Dollars --------- ------ 1,000 Dollars ------ CA : Desert Valley : 1993-94 : 5.47 -0.44 3.52 12,089 -480 11,609 : Other Areas : 1993-94 : 8.77 -0.22 5.58 32,800 -453 32,347 : All CA : 1993-94 : 7.54 -0.30 4.83 44,889 -933 43,956 : US Total : 1993-94 : 7.57 2.70 5.05 239,464 87,061 326,525 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ California normally revises previous year production and price by utilization for "Other Areas" at this time due to the availability of new data. This year, the data showed that a revision was not necessary. Therefore this table re-issues data originally issued on September 23, 1994, in the "Citrus Fruits" report. 2/ Net lbs per box: 67. 3/ Equivalent packinghouse door returns. 4/ U.S. marketing year average prices are derived by weighting the state marketing year average prices per box by the respective box weights. HDR2012000110010411950830Citrus Citrus: Acreage, Production, Use, and Value, California and United States, 1993-94 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop, State, : : :Utilization of Production: Value and : Bearing :Production:-------------------------: of Season : Acreage : : Fresh : Processed : Production ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres --------- 1,000 Tons ---------- 1,000 Dollars Total Citrus : : CA : 1993-94 : 256,900 3,525 2,405 1,120 740,669 : US : 1993-94 : 978,610 14,508 4,390 10,118 2,276,472 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ California normally revises previous year production and price by utilization for "Other Areas" grapefruit at this time due to the availability of new data. This year, the data showed that a revision was not necessary. Therefore this table re-issues data originally issued on September 23, 1994, in the "Citrus Fruits" report. Citrus Fruit: Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States, 1993-94 and Forecasted April 1, 1995 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Utilized Production : Utilized Production Crop : Boxes : Ton Equivalent and :--------------------------------------------------------- State : 1992-93 : 1993-94 : 1994-95 : 1992-93: 1993-94: 1994-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Boxes 2/ ----- ------ 1,000 Tons ------ Oranges : Early Mid & : Navel 3/ : AZ : 700 700 500 26 26 19 CA : 43,800 36,600 37,000 1,642 1,372 1,388 FL : 114,300 107,300 119,700 5,143 4,829 5,387 TX : 450 480 950 20 21 40 US : 159,250 145,080 158,150 6,831 6,248 6,834 Valencia : AZ : 1,150 1,200 800 43 45 30 CA : 23,000 26,000 27,000 863 975 1,013 FL : 72,300 66,900 84,000 3,253 3,010 3,780 TX : 60 70 130 2 3 6 US : 96,510 94,170 111,930 4,161 4,033 4,829 All : AZ : 1,850 1,900 1,300 69 71 49 CA : 66,800 62,600 64,000 2,505 2,347 2,401 FL : 186,600 174,200 203,700 8,396 7,839 9,167 TX : 510 550 1,080 22 24 46 US : 255,760 239,250 270,080 10,992 10,281 11,663 Temples : FL : 2,500 2,250 2,550 113 102 115 Grapefruit : White Seedless : FL : 25,700 24,500 25,000 1,093 1,042 1,063 Colored Seedless : FL : 27,700 25,500 28,500 1,177 1,084 1,211 Other : FL : 1,750 1,050 1,300 74 45 55 All : AZ : 2,150 1,750 1,400 69 59 47 CA : Desert : 3,500 3,300 3,300 112 111 111 Other Areas : 5,700 5,800 6,000 191 194 201 Total : 9,200 9,100 9,300 303 305 312 FL : 55,150 51,050 54,800 2,344 2,171 2,329 TX : 1,875 3,000 4,300 75 120 172 US : 68,375 64,900 69,800 2,791 2,655 2,860 Tangerines : AZ : 950 1,000 650 35 37 24 CA : 2,100 2,300 2,300 79 86 86 FL : 2,800 4,100 3,550 133 195 169 US : 5,850 7,400 6,500 247 318 279 Lemons : AZ : 4,400 5,200 4,000 167 197 152 CA : 20,400 20,700 20,500 775 787 779 US : 24,800 25,900 24,500 942 984 931 Tangelos : FL : 3,050 3,350 3,150 137 150 142 K-Early Citrus : FL : 185 210 120 8 9 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Citrus Fruit Footnotes 1/ The crop year begins with the bloom of the first year shown and ends with year harvest is completed. 2/ Net lbs. per box: oranges-CA & AZ-75, FL-90, TX-85; grapefruit-CA Desert & AZ-64 in 1992-93 and earlier, 67-starting in 1993-94. CA Other-67, FL-85, TX-80; lemons-76; tangelos, K-Early Citrus & Temples-90; tangerines-CA and AZ-75, FL-95. 3/ Navel and miscellaneous varieties in CA and AZ. Early and mid-season varieties in FL and TX, including small quantities of tangerines in TX. HDR2012000110010411950830Potatoes Potatoes: Area Planted, Harvested, Yield, and Production by Seasonal Group, State, and United States, 1993-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Seasonal : Area : : Group :---------------------------: Yield : Production and : Planted : Harvested : : State :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 : 1993 : 1994 : 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------ 1,000 Acres ----- --- Cwt --- ----- 1,000 Cwt ----- : Winter : CA : 4.5 5.0 4.5 5.0 215 260 1,040 968 1,300 FL : 8.4 7.8 7.8 7.6 180 170 1,512 1,404 1,292 : Total : 12.9 12.8 12.3 12.6 193 206 2,552 2,372 2,592 : Spring : AL : 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 175 170 419 438 425 AZ : 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 265 290 1,485 1,670 1,827 CA : 20.5 18.0 20.5 18.0 380 400 7,508 7,790 7,200 FL : 39.2 39.0 38.6 38.0 222 237 6,068 8,588 9,020 Hastings : 29.5 28.5 29.0 28.0 220 240 4,680 6,380 6,720 Other FL : 9.7 10.5 9.6 10.0 230 230 1,388 2,208 2,300 NC : 17.3 17.5 17.0 17.2 180 195 3,114 3,060 3,354 TX : 5.7 5.2 5.5 5.0 200 175 1,060 1,100 875 : Total : 91.6 88.6 90.4 87.0 251 261 19,654 22,646 22,701 : Summer : AL : 7.2 7.0 170 639 1,190 CA : 5.7 5.7 370 1,584 2,109 CO : 9.2 9.0 325 2,542 2,925 DE : 4.9 4.8 170 750 816 IL : 5.1 5.0 290 1,170 1,450 IA : 1.6 1.6 205 105 328 MD : 2.5 2.5 100 322 250 MI : 14.0 13.0 210 3,500 2,730 MN : 7.7 7.6 300 2,130 2,280 MO : 7.2 6.8 255 1,508 1,734 NE : 4.5 4.4 320 630 1,408 NJ : 2.9 2.8 210 627 588 NM : 3.7 3.4 320 1,290 1,088 NC : 1.5 1.4 90 120 126 TX : 7.8 7.5 240 1,875 1,800 VA : 10.0 9.5 150 1,760 1,425 : Total : 95.5 92.0 242 20,552 22,247 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HDR2012000110010411950830Papayas Papayas: Area and Fresh Production, by Month, Hawaii, 1994-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Area : Fresh Production :------------------------------------------------------------------ Month : Total in Crop : Harvested : : :----------------------------------------: 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 : 1994 : 1995 : : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : --------------- Acres -------------- -- 1,000 Pounds -- : Feb : 3,315 3,660 2,345 2,395 4,100 3,720 Mar : 3,300 3,715 2,350 2,485 3,780 4,325 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HDR2012000110010411950830Peanuts for Nuts Peanuts for Nuts: Farm Marketing Percents by Month, State, and United States, 1993 and 1994 Crop Years ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State : : : : : : : and : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec : Jan : Feb Crop Year : : : : : : : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent 1993 Crop : : AL : 44.3 51.7 3.5 0.4 0.1 FL : 0.3 54.3 39.5 5.2 0.4 0.3 GA : 0.1 40.6 47.6 9.4 2.1 0.2 NC : 2.0 64.5 19.2 3.2 10.7 0.4 TX : 0.4 2.1 29.0 57.0 10.6 0.9 VA : 6.4 64.3 15.2 5.1 7.7 1.3 : US : 0.1 29.4 47.0 18.0 3.6 1.8 0.1 : 1994 Crop : : AL : 0.3 59.1 36.2 4.2 0.2 FL : 1.6 63.1 32.0 2.9 0.3 0.1 GA : 0.1 51.8 39.3 8.1 0.7 NC : 2.1 71.6 19.0 4.8 2.5 TX : 0.7 5.1 33.4 46.1 13.4 1.3 VA : 4.3 51.3 22.8 16.4 5.2 : US : 0.3 36.2 42.6 15.7 4.3 0.9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Peanuts for Nuts: Area Planted and Harvested, Yield, and Production by State and United States, 1993-94 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Planted : Area Harvested State :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1993 : 1994 : 1993 : 1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------- 1,000 Acres --------------------- : AL : 240.0 223.0 239.0 222.0 FL : 98.0 92.0 84.0 84.0 GA : 702.0 652.0 697.0 649.0 NM : 22.0 21.0 21.8 21.0 NC : 152.0 151.0 143.0 151.0 OK : 105.0 102.0 102.0 100.0 SC : 14.5 13.0 14.0 12.5 TX : 305.0 295.0 295.0 287.0 VA : 95.0 92.0 94.0 92.0 : US : 1,733.5 1,641.0 1,689.8 1,618.5 :---------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield : Production :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1993 : 1994 : 1993 : 1994 :---------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- Pounds ----- ----- 1,000 Pounds ----- : AL : 1,980 2,010 473,220 446,220 FL : 2,320 2,470 194,880 207,480 GA : 1,985 2,870 1,383,545 1,862,630 NM : 2,600 2,460 56,680 51,660 NC : 2,095 3,215 299,585 485,465 OK : 2,290 2,610 233,580 261,000 SC : 1,750 2,900 24,500 36,250 TX : 1,865 2,110 550,175 605,570 VA : 1,875 3,165 176,250 291,180 : US : 2,008 2,624 3,392,415 4,247,455 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peanuts for Nuts: Price and Value by State and United States, 1993-94 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Price per Pound : Value of Production State :------------------------------------------------------------- : 1993 : 1994 : 1993 : 1994 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ----- Dollars ----- ---- 1,000 Dollars ---- : AL : 0.308 0.323 145,752 144,129 FL : 0.296 0.281 57,684 58,302 GA : 0.310 0.286 428,899 532,712 NM : 0.335 0.336 18,988 17,358 NC : 0.317 0.276 94,968 133,988 OK : 0.262 0.310 61,198 80,910 SC : 0.285 0.274 6,983 9,933 TX : 0.296 0.285 162,852 172,587 VA : 0.304 0.275 53,580 80,075 : US : 0.304 0.290 1,030,904 1,229,994 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HDR2012000110010411950830March Weather Summary Narrative March Weather Summary: California's abundant rain and snow highlighted the weather picture in March, as precipitation totaled more than twice normal across the western third of the Nation. Above normal rain and snow also covered much of the northern and southern Plains, while heavy rains drenched the Gulf coast. For the fourth consecutive month, the bulk of the lower 48 States recorded above normal temperatures. It was the wettest March on record in San Luis Obispo, CA (16.48 inches), breaking the record of 12.82 inches set in 1991. Near-record March wetness was observed in Santa Maria, CA (7.72 inches, third wettest) and Santa Barbara, CA (10.76 inches, fourth wettest). All-time high-water marks were set on March 9 on the Napa River at Napa and the Salinas River at Bradley and Spreckels. Data from California's Department of Water Resources indicated that, on April 1, the traditional peak snow pack date, the water content of snow in the Sierra Nevada ranged from about 165 to 180 percent of normal. In addition, heavy rain and low-elevation snow melt produced enough runoff to already fill the state's reservoirs to above-normal levels by the end of March. Elsewhere, Spokane, WA (3.81 inches) and Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (6.69 inches) reported March-record rainfalls. Much-needed precipitation fell in winter wheat areas of Montana, where March totals represented more than 75 percent of the year-to-date accumulations at locations such as Great Falls and Havre. Farther south, beneficial precipitation fell across most wheat areas, but dryness persisted through month's end in eastern New Mexico and western Texas. The Plains were subjected to sharp temperature swings and significant snowfall early in the month. On March 8, the low of -32 degrees F in Aberdeen, SD, was a March record while readings of -15 degrees F in Sioux Falls, SD, and -28 degrees F in Bismarck, ND, were the lowest of the winter. Only 3 days later, Pierre, SD, notched a high of 80 degrees F, marking the beginning of a mid- to late-month warm spell that spanned the Nation and pushed temperatures above 90 degrees F as far north as Amarillo, TX, and Tulsa, OK. But during the first 9 days of the month, snow cover reached deep into the South and East, with a total of 5 inches measured in Amarillo, TX (on March 1-2) and nearly 9 inches in Charleston, WV (mostly on March 8). In Dodge City, KS, the monthly snowfall of 11.3 inches represented more than half of the season-to- date total. Monthly snowfalls topped 20 inches in locations such as Bismarck, ND, and Aberdeen, SD. In the East, precipitation was scarce after March 8, except along the Gulf Coast. Monthly totals were less than 50 percent of normal in a strip from Georgia to New York, and Harrisburg, PA (0.95 inches) noted its driest March on record. Worcester, MA, had its first March without measurable snow since 1954, while Atlantic City, NJ, ended the month with a seasonal accumulation of 0.8 inches, their second-lowest total on record. Dry weather also encompassed Hawaii, where monthly totals ranged from 17 to 65 percent of normal. The year- to-date rainfall deficit in Hilo, HI, approached 25 inches by the end of March. HDR2012000110010411950830General Crop Comments General Crop Comments: The month began with heavy rainfall in California bringing fieldwork to a standstill and flooding crops, vegetables, and small grain fields. Warm weather and moisture early in March caused the winter wheat to lose its cold hardiness and green quickly in the central Great Plains. Snow, early in the month, insulated winter wheat in the northern States from a cold blast of Canadian air. Mild March temperatures across the Southeastern States boosted small grain growth but rain slowed fieldwork. Midwestern fields in early March were too wet to support farm equipment, while in Texas wheat fields needed moisture. By mid-month, small grains in the Southwest progressed ahead of normal, while wheat in Kansas remained semi-dormant. In the Midwest, bitter cold, rain, and snow restricted field activities. Rain-soaked fields and low soil temperatures in the Southeastern States slowed planting. Continued rain in California and saturated fields limited fieldwork and delayed cotton planting in the San Joaquin Valley. As the month progressed, unseasonably warm, dry weather in the midwest warmed soils, allowed spring fieldwork to begin, and encouraged wheat growth. March temperature fluctuations gave way to mild weather by mid-month in the Central States, pushing the small grains development ahead of normal. Toward the end of March, snow across Montana and the High Plains brought much needed moisture to wheat fields. In the Midwest, mild weather permitted spring tillage to begin, while in the Great Lakes region fields remained too wet to work. Wheat in the Texas Plains needed moisture but hot, dry weather continued until the end of the month. Cool weather and heavy rains in the Gulf Coast States delayed spring planting and slowed rice and winter wheat growth at month's end. Dry weather across the Central States allowed fieldwork to progress, but rain and snow in the Midwest limited fieldwork. The month ended with wet, wintry weather in the Northern States that left fields saturated and delayed ground preparation. Fields dried enough for land preparation to begin in the Ohio Valley, but low soil temperatures prevented planting. By the end of March, fieldwork for cotton was in full swing in the Southeastern States. Overall, March weather improved the Nation's wheat crop, and allowed spring fieldwork to begin slightly ahead of normal. HDR2012000110010411950830Grapefruit Narrative Grapefruit: The April 1 forecast of grapefruit produced in 1994-95 is 2.86 million tons, up 8 percent from last season. Florida's grapefruit forecast of 54.8 million boxes (2.33 million tons), was down slightly from March 1 but was 7 percent above last season. The decline came from a one-half million box drop in the colored seedless variety to 28.5 million boxes (1.21 million tons). The white seedless variety remained at 25.0 million boxes (1.06 million tons). Seedy varieties increased from 1.00 million to 1.30 million boxes (55,000 tons). The California Desert Valley is expected to produce 3.30 million boxes (111,000 tons) of grapefruit, down 3 percent from the last forecast but unchanged from last year. The first forecast for California "Other Areas" grapefruit is 6.00 million boxes (201,000 tons), up 3 percent from last season. Quality is good with only minimal decay. A full range of sizes is available. The Texas grapefruit forecast is 4.30 million boxes (172,000 tons), unchanged from last month but 43 percent more than last season. Arizona's grapefruit forecast is 1.40 million boxes (47,000 tons), down 12 percent from the last forecast and 20 percent below last season. California normally revises the previous year's "Other Area" grapefruit production at this time based on additional data from the California Citrus Research Board. This year the information showed that a revision was not necessary. HDR2012000110010411950830Lemons Narrative Lemons: The 1994-95 U.S. lemon crop is forecast at 931,000 tons, unchanged from the last forecast but down 5 percent from the 1993-94 crop. The California lemon forecast, unchanged from January, was 20.5 million boxes (779,000 tons), down 1 percent from last year. Fruit quality, color, and flavor are good. Arizona's lemon forecast also remained the same as the last forecast at 4.00 million boxes (152,000 tons). That level is off 23 percent from a year ago. Size was small due to extreme heat early in the year. HDR2012000110010411950830Tangerines Narrative Tangerines: The 1994-95 tangerine crop is forecast at 279,000 tons, up slightly from March but 12 percent below last season. The Florida crop is 3.55 million boxes (169,000 tons), up 1 percent from last month but down 13 percent from last year. Honey tangerine harvest nearly ended by the end of March, when over 1.10 million boxes moved. Harvesting of all other Florida tangerines was complete for this season. The California forecast is 2.30 million boxes (86,000 tons), unchanged from the last forecast and the same as last season. Arizona tangerines totaled 650,000 boxes (24,000 tons), down 7 percent from the last forecast and 35 percent less than a year ago. HDR2012000110010411950830Tangelos Narrative Tangelos: The Florida tangelo forecast is 3.15 million boxes (142,000 tons), down 2 percent from last month and 6 percent below last year. Movement of tangelos is complete for the season. HDR2012000110010411950830Temples Narrative Temples: The April 1 forecast for Florida Temples decreased 2 percent from March to 2.55 million boxes (115,000 tons) but was 13 percent above last season's production. Harvest was finished by the end of March. HDR2012000110010411950830Florida Citrus Narrative Florida Citrus: Groves, trees, and fruit were in very good to excellent condition. Moisture is short as March was the third month in a row with below average rainfall in most areas. Subsurface moisture remains adequate, however, from the tremendous rainfall during 1994. Citrus bloom reached its peak toward the end of the month, when warm temperatures produced a bouquet bloom. Harvest of early and midseason oranges ended during mid-March with the last loads going to processors. Valencia movement increased with most also going to the processors. As of April 1, over 30.0 million boxes of Valencias had been picked. Harvest of white and colored seedless grapefruit was active during March. More than 23.0 million boxes of white grapefruit and almost 23.0 million boxes of colored moved in March. Little remains for harvest this season. HDR2012000110010411950830Texas Citrus Narrative Texas Citrus: Harvesting of grapefruit wound down in many groves by the end of March. Overall, quality remained good. A cold spell in early March slowed the bloom cycle which was past peak by the end of March. New growth was excellent in both oranges and grapefruit. HDR2012000110010411950830California Citrus Narrative California Citrus: Citrus harvest was delayed by wet weather through most of March but accelerated as weather cleared at the end of month. Quality, color, and flavor of tangerines were reported as good. Grapefruit quality is good at packing houses with minimal decay. HDR2012000110010411950830California Fruit and Nuts Narrative California Fruit and Nuts: March brought extreme rainfall, severe flooding, and temperatures generally above normal. Localized hail damage was noted in the Central Valley. Many almond trees blew over because of saturated soils and strong winds. The northern part of the State was particularly hard hit. Growers removed fallen trees when conditions permitted. In some cases, entire orchards were to be removed. As March began, the almond bloom was complete and the trees leafed out. Stone fruit growers anticipated serious problems with brown rot and other fungal diseases from surplus moisture. Strawberry fields in major producing areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties were destroyed and harvest in other areas was delayed. Some grape vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties were flooded. When the rains hit, grape vines were breaking dormancy and pushing buds. Stone fruit trees were at various stages of flowering, ranging from just beginning to petal fall. HDR2012000110010411950830Potatoes Narrative Winter Potatoes: Production of winter potatoes is forecast at 2.59 million cwt, a drop of 6 percent from January but 9 percent above last year. Area for harvest, at 12,600 acres, is up 2 percent from last year. The average yield is forecast at 206 cwt per acre, up 13 cwt from last year. Growers in Dade County, Florida, had to re-plant all of their potatoes resulting in much later shipments than normal. Other acreage was also damaged. California's winter potatoes came through in good condition. However, rains washed soil off some hills resulting in more green ends than usual. Spring Potatoes: Production for 1995 is forecast at 22.7 million cwt, up slightly from last year and 16 percent above 1993. Area for harvest is estimated at 87,000 acres, down 4 percent from a year ago but 4 percent above two years ago. The average yield is forecast at 261 cwt per acre, a gain of 10 cwt over last year. California's acreage dropped 12 percent, primarily in russet and chip varieties. Harvest should start in mid-April with only slight damage from rain. Arizona's fields are wet with harvest expected to start in May. Yields in Texas are down somewhat after two good years. The Florida spring crop is looking great in the Hastings area after some delay from early frost. Growers expect a mid-April harvest start. Some freeze damage did occur in "other" Florida areas where fields were within a month of harvest during a February cold spell. Most northern Florida areas were not hurt. Early harvest began in late March. Summer Potatoes, 1994 Final: The 1994 estimate was 22.2 million cwt, up 8 percent from a year earlier and 4 percent above 1992. Harvest covered 92,000 acres, up 3 percent from the previous year. The average yield of 242 cwt per acre was up 12 cwt. HDR2012000110010411950830Papayas Narrative Papayas: Fresh papaya production from Hawaii is estimated at 4.33 million pounds for March, 16 percent higher than February and 14 percent higher than March 1994. Weather conditions were mixed over major growing areas. Sunshine and little rainfall dominated the first half of the month. Overcast skies and increased rainfall replenished soil moisture levels in the second half of March. Area devoted to papaya production is estimated at 3,715 acres, 2 percent higher than last month and 13 percent higher than a year ago. Harvested area, at 2,485 acres, was 4 percent more than February and 6 percent more than last March. HDR2012000110010411950830Peanuts Narrative Peanuts, 1994 Revised: Peanut production in crop year 1994 totaled 4.25 billion pounds, 25 percent above the drought-reduced 1993 crop but 1 percent below the 1992 crop. Growers planted 1.64 million acres, down 5 percent from last year. Harvested area totaled 1.62 million acres, down 4 percent from 1993 and 3 below two years ago. Yields averaged 2,624 pounds per acre, 616 pounds above 1993 and the highest peanut yield since 1985. Production in the Southeastern States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina) totaled 2.55 billion pounds in 1994, up 23 percent from 1993. Production rose significantly over 1993 despite a drop in planted and harvested acreages in the 4-State area. Planted area, at 980,000 acres, dropped 7 percent from last year. Acreage harvested during 1994 totaled 967,500 acres, down 6 percent. The average yield of 2,638 pounds per acre, increased 630 pounds per acre from the 1993 level. Virginia and North Carolina growers produced 777 million pounds of peanuts in 1994, a jump of 63 percent from last year's short crop. Planted area, at 243,000 acres, was down 2 percent from 1993, while harvested acreage showed an increase of 3 percent. Yield per harvested acre, at 3,196 pounds, was 1,188 pounds above the 1993 average. Peanut production in the Southwest (New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) totaled 918 million pounds, up 9 percent from 1993. Planted and harvested acreages at 418,000 and 408,000 acres, respectively, were both down 3 percent from a year ago. Yields averaged 2,251 pounds per acre, 244 pounds above 1993. HDR2012000110010411950830Report Features Report Features The next "Crop Production" report will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET on May 11, 1995. Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. C. Ray Halley, Chief (202) 720-2127 Field Crops Section Bill Dowdy, Head (202) 720-3843 Dan Kerestes - Soybeans, Minor Oilseeds, Rice (202) 720-9526 Greg Preston - Sugar Crops, Tobacco, Weekly Crop Weather (202) 720-7621 Vaughn Siegenthaler - Rye, Sorghum, Wheat (202) 720-8068 Charles Van Lahr - Barley, Corn, Oats (202) 720-7369 Fruit, Vegetable & Special Crops Section Stephen Ropel, Head (202) 720-3843 Arvin Budge - Potatoes, Dry Beans, Onions (202) 720-4285 Roger Latham - Cotton, Hay (202) 720-5944 Linda McMillan - Nuts, Grapes (202) 720-4215 Dave Mueller - Fresh and Processing Vegetables (202) 720-2157 Blair Smith - Citrus, Tropical Fruits (202) 720-5412 Barbara Soltes - Noncitrus Fruits, Peanuts (202) 720-7688 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. Publications may be obtained in hard copy or on diskette by calling the ERS- NASS order desk toll free at 1-800-999-6779 or by mail from ERS-NASS, 341 Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 22070. Bulletins cost $10.00 each for paper products or 3.5" ASCII diskettes. To order bulletins by mail, return this form along with your check payable to ERS- NASS. The bulletins will also be available on Internet through the Mann Library at Cornell University (gopher usda.mannlib.cornell.edu 70) at no charge.