Cr Pr 2-2 (1-10)a Crop Production Washington, D.C. Released January 12, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Crop Production" call (202) 720-2127, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. *************************************************************************** Update Alert West Virginia hay stocks for Dec 1, 2008 on page 6 were corrected. *************************************************************************** All Orange Production Up Slightly from December The U.S. all orange forecast for the 2009-10 season is 8.21 million tons, up slightly from the December 1 forecast but down 11 percent from the 2008-09 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 135 million boxes (6.08 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 17 percent from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 69.0 million boxes (3.11 million tons), unchanged from December but 18 percent lower than last season. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 66.0 million boxes (2.97 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 15 percent from the 2008-09 crop. Fruit size is slightly above average for the early, midseason, and navel varieties, while fruit drop is slightly below average. Fruit size remains below average for the Valencia crop. The drop rate for Valencia's is slightly above average. This report reflects conditions as of January 1 and is based on data collected in December 2009. It does not include any effects of the cold weather in Florida during January. The all orange forecast in California, at 55.0 million boxes (2.06 million tons), is unchanged from October's forecast but 13 percent above last season. The navel forecast is 40.0 million boxes (1.50 million tons), unchanged from the October 1 forecast but up 16 percent from the 2008-09 final utilization. California's Valencia orange forecast is 15.0 million boxes (563,000 tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but 7 percent above last season. Navel harvest progressed with good fruit size and quality reported. The Texas all orange forecast is 1.59 million boxes (68,000 tons), up 9 percent from both October and last season. The early and midseason forecast is 1.31 million boxes (56,000 tons), up 5 percent from October and 1 percent more than the 2008-09 season. Texas Valencia oranges are forecast at 277,000 boxes (12,000 tons), up 39 percent from October and 74 percent above last season. Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2009-10 season is 1.60 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, down 2 percent from the December 1 forecast and down 4 percent from last season's final yield of 1.66 gallons per box. The early-midseason portion is projected at 1.53 gallons per box, down 4 percent from last season's record yield of 1.60 gallons per box. The Valencia portion is expected to total 1.70 gallons per box, 3 percent lower than last year's final yield of 1.75 gallons per box. All projections of yield assume the processing relationship this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons. This report was approved on January 12, 2010. Acting Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen A. Merrigan Agricultural Statistics Board Chairperson Carol C. House Contents Page Grains & Hay Hay Stocks....................................................................6 Non-citrus Fruits & Tree Nuts Papayas.......................................................................4 Citrus Fruits Grapefruit....................................................................5 Lemons........................................................................5 Oranges.......................................................................5 Tangelos......................................................................5 Tangerines and Mandarins......................................................5 Potatoes & Miscellaneous Crops Potatoes......................................................................4 Crop Comments................................................................15 Crop Summary..................................................................7 Information Contacts.........................................................18 Reliability of Production Data in this Report................................17 Weather Maps.................................................................13 Weather Summary..............................................................14 Potatoes: Area Planted, Harvested, Yield, and Production by Seasonal Group, State, and United States, 2008-2009 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Area : : Seasonal :---------------------------: Yield : Production Group : Planted : Harvested : : and :----------------------------------------------------------- State : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------ 1,000 Acres ------ --- Cwt --- 1,000 Cwt : Spring : AZ : 3.5 4.0 3.5 4.0 300 280 1,050 1,120 CA : 15.4 17.8 15.4 17.5 450 410 6,930 7,175 FL : 28.5 32.6 27.9 28.9 285 266 7,952 7,700 Hastings: 17.4 20.0 17.0 16.5 285 260 4,845 4,290 Other FL: 11.1 12.6 10.9 12.4 285 275 3,107 3,410 NC : 14.5 16.0 14.0 15.0 180 225 2,520 3,375 TX : 8.4 8.8 8.0 8.3 210 235 1,680 1,951 : Total : 70.3 79.2 68.8 73.7 293 289 20,132 21,321 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ 2009 revised. Papayas: Area and Fresh Production by Month, Hawaii, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area : Fresh Production 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : Total in Crop : Harvested : : :---------------------------------------------: 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------------- Acres ---------------- 1,000 Pounds : Oct : 2,315 1,970 1,405 1,310 3,075 2,585 Nov : 2,420 1,975 1,450 1,320 2,745 2,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Utilized fresh production. Citrus Fruits: Utilized Production by Crop, State, and United States, 2007-08, 2008-09 and Forecasted January 1, 2010 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Utilized Production : Utilized Production : Boxes : Ton Equivalent Crop and State :------------------------------------------------------- :2007-08 : 2008-09 : 2009-10 :2007-08 : 2008-09 :2009-10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :------ 1,000 Boxes 2/ ----- ------ 1,000 Tons ------ Oranges : Early Mid & : Navel 3/ : AZ 4/ : 230 150 9 5 CA : 45,000 34,500 40,000 1,688 1,294 1,500 FL : 83,500 84,600 69,000 3,758 3,807 3,105 TX : 1,600 1,300 1,310 68 55 56 US :130,330 120,550 110,310 5,523 5,161 4,661 Valencia : AZ 4/ : 150 100 6 4 CA : 17,000 14,000 15,000 637 525 563 FL : 86,700 77,800 66,000 3,901 3,501 2,970 TX : 196 159 277 9 7 12 US :104,046 92,059 81,277 4,553 4,037 3,545 All : AZ 4/ : 380 250 15 9 CA : 62,000 48,500 55,000 2,325 1,819 2,063 FL :170,200 162,400 135,000 7,659 7,308 6,075 TX : 1,796 1,459 1,587 77 62 68 US :234,376 212,609 191,587 10,076 9,198 8,206 Grapefruit : White : FL : 9,000 6,600 5,500 383 280 234 Colored : FL : 17,600 15,100 14,000 748 642 595 All : AZ 4/ : 100 25 3 1 CA : 5,200 5,600 4,200 174 188 141 FL : 26,600 21,700 19,500 1,131 922 829 TX : 6,000 5,500 5,490 240 220 220 US : 37,900 32,825 29,190 1,548 1,331 1,190 Tangerines and Mandarins: AZ 5/ : 400 250 350 15 9 13 CA 5/ : 6,700 6,700 8,200 251 251 308 FL : 5,500 3,850 4,700 261 183 223 US : 12,600 10,800 13,250 527 443 544 Lemons : AZ : 1,500 3,000 2,500 57 114 95 CA : 14,800 22,000 20,000 562 836 760 US : 16,300 25,000 22,500 619 950 855 Tangelos : FL : 1,500 1,150 900 68 52 41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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-90; tangerines and mandarins-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 and Temples in FL. 4/ Estimates discontinued beginning with the 2009-10 crop year. 5/ Includes tangelos and tangors. Hay: Stocks on Farms by State and United States, December 1 and May 1, 2007-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dec 1 : May 1 State :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2007 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Tons : AL : 1,318 1,540 1,700 150 375 AZ : 260 475 500 36 50 AR : 2,700 3,020 2,900 530 570 CA : 1,890 2,380 2,400 250 470 CO : 2,400 1,975 2,500 520 400 CT : 69 65 71 8 9 DE : 8 20 29 1 4 FL : 492 587 535 66 58 GA : 1,013 1,319 1,374 145 238 ID : 2,400 2,012 2,750 300 450 IL : 1,100 1,386 1,400 210 300 IN : 973 1,191 1,360 93 185 IA : 3,500 3,918 3,100 640 750 KS : 5,465 5,700 5,400 1,100 1,350 KY : 3,312 4,169 4,905 186 465 LA : 820 921 710 100 60 ME : 160 145 134 27 18 MD : 240 431 350 52 111 MA : 74 77 75 12 12 MI : 1,700 1,998 1,451 320 450 MN : 3,140 3,891 3,570 535 790 MS : 1,459 1,365 1,058 196 214 MO : 6,662 7,744 8,280 900 2,050 MT : 4,530 3,831 4,100 1,025 590 NE : 4,205 4,115 4,490 990 935 NV : 767 1,000 1,012 90 170 NH : 57 70 45 6 8 NJ : 68 94 102 5 26 NM : 580 600 570 125 105 NY : 1,674 1,453 1,582 283 420 NC : 682 962 1,523 79 311 ND : 4,990 4,032 5,500 1,260 700 OH : 1,653 1,992 2,013 165 325 OK : 6,100 4,595 4,435 1,600 1,000 OR : 1,700 1,561 2,200 150 270 PA : 1,750 2,500 2,400 500 700 RI : 6 10 8 1 1 SC : 350 451 590 55 115 SD : 7,816 7,660 8,290 1,930 1,900 TN : 2,121 3,038 3,219 215 552 TX : 13,400 8,483 7,700 4,906 2,100 UT : 1,130 1,300 1,330 215 285 VT : 228 175 204 60 37 VA : 1,705 2,174 1,940 226 450 WA : 1,335 1,182 1,418 200 350 WV : 720 916 938 92 156 WI : 3,467 3,603 3,021 790 950 WY : 1,900 1,532 2,040 240 230 : US : 104,089 103,658 107,222 21,585 22,065 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 2008-2009 (Domestic Units) 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Planted : Area Harvested Crop :----------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Grains & Hay : Barley : 3,567.0 3,113.0 Corn for Grain 2/ : 86,482.0 79,630.0 Corn for Silage : 5,605.0 Hay, All : 59,755.0 Alfalfa : 21,227.0 All Other : 38,528.0 Oats : 3,404.0 1,379.0 Proso Millet : 350.0 293.0 Rice : 3,135.0 3,103.0 Rye : 1,241.0 252.0 Sorghum for Grain 2/ : 6,633.0 5,520.0 Sorghum for Silage : 254.0 Wheat, All : 59,133.0 49,868.0 Winter : 43,311.0 37,097.0 34,485.0 Durum : 2,554.0 2,428.0 Other Spring : 13,268.0 12,955.0 : Oilseeds : Canola : 827.0 814.0 Cottonseed 3/ : Flaxseed : 317.0 314.0 Mustard Seed : 51.5 49.8 Peanuts : 1,116.0 1,081.0 Rapeseed : 1.0 0.9 Safflower : 175.0 165.5 Soybeans for Beans : 77,451.0 76,407.0 Sunflower : 2,030.0 1,953.5 : Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : Cotton, All : 9,149.2 7,690.5 Upland : 9,007.5 7,552.0 Amer-Pima : 141.7 138.5 Sugarbeets : 1,183.2 1,145.3 Sugarcane : 877.7 Tobacco : 354.1 : Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : Austrian Winter Peas : 20.5 13.7 Dry Edible Beans : 1,537.5 1,463.0 Dry Edible Peas : 863.3 837.9 Lentils : 415.0 407.0 Wrinkled Seed Peas 3/ : : Potatoes & Misc. : Coffee (HI) : 6.3 Hops : 39.7 Peppermint Oil : 69.8 Potatoes, All : 1,069.8 1,045.0 Winter : 9.0 8.7 Spring : 79.2 73.7 Summer : 44.5 43.0 Fall : 937.1 919.6 Spearmint Oil : 20.5 Sweet Potatoes : 106.7 103.3 Taro (HI) 4/ : 0.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 2010 crop year. 2/ Area planted for all purposes. 3/ Acreage is not estimated. 4/ Area is total acres in crop, not harvested acreage. Crop Summary: Yield and Production, United States, 2008-2009 (Domestic Units) 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Yield : Production Crop :Units:------------------------------------------- : : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : ----- 1,000 ---- : : Grains & Hay : : Barley :Bu : 73.0 227,323 Corn for Grain :" : 165.2 13,151,062 Corn for Silage :Tons : 19.3 108,209 Hay, All :" : 2.47 147,442 Alfalfa :" : 3.35 71,030 All Other :" : 1.98 76,412 Oats :Bu : 67.5 93,081 Proso Millet :" : 33.7 9,865 Rice 2/ :Cwt : 7,085 219,850 Rye :Bu : 27.8 6,993 Sorghum for Grain :" : 69.4 382,983 Sorghum for Silage :Tons : 14.5 3,680 Wheat, All :Bu : 44.4 2,216,171 Winter :" : 44.2 1,522,718 Durum :" : 44.9 109,042 Other Spring :" : 45.1 584,411 : : Oilseeds : : Canola :Lbs : 1,811 1,474,130 Cottonseed 3/ :Tons : 4,178.0 Flaxseed :Bu : 23.6 7,423 Mustard Seed :Lbs : 991 49,364 Peanuts :" : 3,412 3,688,350 Rapeseed :" : 1,700 1,530 Safflower :" : 1,462 241,970 Soybeans for Beans :Bu : 44.0 3,361,028 Sunflower :Lbs : 1,554 3,036,460 : : Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : : Cotton, All 2/ :Bales: 774 12,401.3 Upland 2/ :" : 763 12,011.0 Amer-Pima 2/ :" : 1,353 390.3 Sugarbeets :Tons : 25.8 29,519 Sugarcane :" : 34.5 30,265 Tobacco :Lbs : 2,325 823,290 : : Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : : Austrian Winter Peas 2/ :Cwt : 1,328 182 Dry Edible Beans 2/ :" : 1,733 25,360 Dry Edible Peas 2/ :" : 2,045 17,137 Lentils 2/ :" : 1,440 5,859 Wrinkled Seed Peas 3/ :" : 874 : : Potatoes & Misc. : : Coffee (HI) :Lbs : 1,270 8,000 Hops :" : 2,383 94,677.9 Peppermint Oil :" : 91 6,379 Potatoes, All :Cwt : 413 431,425 Winter :" : 245 2,132 Spring :" : 289 21,321 Summer :" : 336 14,469 Fall :" : 428 393,503 Spearmint Oil :Lbs : 132 2,698 Sweet Potatoes :Cwt : 201 19,647 Taro (HI) 3/ :Lbs : 4,000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 2010 crop year. 2/ Yield in pounds. 3/ Yield is not estimated. Crop Summary: Area Planted and Harvested, United States, 2008-2009 (Metric Units) 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Area Planted : Area Harvested Crop :----------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Hectares : Grains & Hay : Barley : 1,443,530 1,259,800 Corn for Grain 2/ :34,998,400 32,225,460 Corn for Silage : 2,268,290 Hay, All 3/ : 24,182,250 Alfalfa : 8,590,350 All Other : 15,591,900 Oats : 1,377,560 558,070 Proso Millet : 141,640 118,570 Rice : 1,268,700 1,255,750 Rye : 502,220 101,980 Sorghum for Grain 2/ : 2,684,310 2,233,890 Sorghum for Silage : 102,790 Wheat, All 3/ :23,930,530 20,181,080 Winter :17,527,530 15,012,780 13,955,730 Durum : 1,033,580 982,590 Other Spring : 5,369,430 5,242,760 : Oilseeds : Canola : 334,680 329,420 Cottonseed 4/ : Flaxseed : 128,290 127,070 Mustard Seed : 20,840 20,150 Peanuts : 451,630 437,470 Rapeseed : 400 360 Safflower : 70,820 66,980 Soybeans for Beans :31,343,650 30,921,150 Sunflower : 821,520 790,560 : Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : Cotton, All 3/ : 3,702,590 3,112,270 Upland : 3,645,250 3,056,220 Amer-Pima : 57,340 56,050 Sugarbeets : 478,830 463,490 Sugarcane : 355,200 Tobacco : 143,320 : Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : Austrian Winter Peas : 8,300 5,540 Dry Edible Beans : 622,210 592,060 Dry Edible Peas : 349,370 339,090 Lentils : 167,950 164,710 Wrinkled Seed Peas 4/ : : Potatoes & Misc. : Coffee (HI) : 2,550 Hops : 16,080 Peppermint Oil : 28,250 Potatoes, All 3/ : 432,940 422,900 Winter : 3,640 3,520 Spring : 32,050 29,830 Summer : 18,010 17,400 Fall : 379,230 372,150 Spearmint Oil : 8,300 Sweet Potatoes : 43,180 41,800 Taro (HI) 5/ : 180 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 2010 crop year. 2/ Area planted for all purposes. 3/ Total may not add due to rounding. 4/ Acreage is not estimated. 5/ Area is total hectares in crop, not harvested hectares. Crop Summary: Yield and Production, United States, 2008-2009 (Metric Units) 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Yield : Production Crop :----------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Metric Tons : Grains & Hay : Barley : 3.93 4,949,370 Corn for Grain : 10.37 334,052,360 Corn for Silage : 43.28 98,165,550 Hay, All 2/ : 5.53 133,757,130 Alfalfa : 7.50 64,437,330 All Other : 4.45 69,319,800 Oats : 2.42 1,351,070 Proso Millet : 1.89 223,730 Rice : 7.94 9,972,230 Rye : 1.74 177,630 Sorghum for Grain : 4.35 9,728,220 Sorghum for Silage : 32.48 3,338,440 Wheat, All 2/ : 2.99 60,314,290 Winter : 2.97 41,441,590 Durum : 3.02 2,967,640 Other Spring : 3.03 15,905,060 : Oilseeds : Canola : 2.03 668,650 Cottonseed 3/ : 3,790,220 Flaxseed : 1.48 188,550 Mustard Seed : 1.11 22,390 Peanuts : 3.82 1,673,010 Rapeseed : 1.91 690 Safflower : 1.64 109,760 Soybeans for Beans : 2.96 91,472,190 Sunflower : 1.74 1,377,320 : Cotton, Tobacco & Sugar Crops : Cotton, All 2/ : 0.87 2,700,070 Upland : 0.86 2,615,090 Amer-Pima : 1.52 84,980 Sugarbeets : 57.78 26,779,190 Sugarcane : 77.30 27,455,950 Tobacco : 2.61 373,440 : Dry Beans, Peas & Lentils : Austrian Winter Peas : 1.49 8,260 Dry Edible Beans : 1.94 1,150,310 Dry Edible Peas : 2.29 777,320 Lentils : 1.61 265,760 Wrinkled Seed Peas 3/ : 39,640 : Potatoes & Misc. : Coffee (HI) : 1.42 3,630 Hops : 2.67 42,950 Peppermint Oil : 0.10 2,890 Potatoes, All 2/ : 46.27 19,569,110 Winter : 27.47 96,710 Spring : 32.43 967,100 Summer : 37.71 656,300 Fall : 47.96 17,849,000 Spearmint Oil : 0.15 1,220 Sweet Potatoes : 21.32 891,170 Taro (HI) 3/ : 1,810 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 2010 crop year. 2/ Production may not add due to rounding. 3/ Yield is not estimated. Fruits and Nuts Production, United States, 2008-2010 (Domestic Units) 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Production Crop : Units :----------------------------------------- : : 2008 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 1,000 : : Citrus 2/ : : Grapefruit :Tons : 1,548 1,331 1,190 Lemons :" : 619 950 855 Oranges :" : 10,076 9,198 8,206 Tangelos (FL) :" : 68 52 41 Tangerines :" : 527 443 544 : : Noncitrus : : Apples :1,000 Lbs: 9,769.3 10,016.0 Apricots :Tons : 81.6 75.3 Bananas (HI) :Lbs : 17,400.0 Grapes :Tons : 7,303.3 7,021.0 Olives (CA) :" : 66.8 50.0 Papayas (HI) :Lbs : 33,500.0 Peaches :Tons : 1,133.3 1,078.3 Pears :" : 870.9 935.3 Prunes, Dried (CA) :" : 129.0 170.0 Prunes & Plums (Ex CA) :" : 15.5 18.3 : : Nuts & Misc. : : Almonds (CA) (shelled) :Lbs : 1,630,000 1,350,000 Hazelnuts (OR) (in-shell) :Tons : 32.0 38.0 Pecans (in-shell) :Lbs : 193,890 301,200 Walnuts (CA) (in-shell) :Tons : 436.0 415.0 Maple Syrup :Gals : 1,912 2,327 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 2010 crop year, except citrus which is for the 2009-10 season. 2/ Production years are 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10. Fruits and Nuts Production, United States, 2008-2010 (Metric Units) 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Production Crop :-------------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Metric tons : Citrus 2/ : Grapefruit : 1,404,320 1,207,460 1,079,550 Lemons : 561,550 861,830 775,640 Oranges : 9,140,790 8,344,290 7,444,360 Tangelos (FL) : 61,690 47,170 37,190 Tangerines : 478,090 401,880 493,510 : Noncitrus : Apples : 4,431,280 4,543,180 Apricots : 74,040 68,270 Bananas (HI) : 7,890 Grapes : 6,625,410 6,369,340 Olives (CA) : 60,600 45,360 Papayas (HI) : 15,200 Peaches : 1,028,120 978,250 Pears : 790,020 848,490 Prunes, Dried (CA) : 117,030 154,220 Prunes & Plums (Ex CA) : 14,060 16,600 : Nuts & Misc. : Almonds (CA) (shelled) : 739,360 612,350 Hazelnuts (OR) (in-shell) : 29,030 34,470 Pecans (in-shell) : 87,950 136,620 Walnuts (CA) (in-shell) : 395,530 376,480 Maple Syrup : 9,560 11,630 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data are the latest estimates available, either from the current report or from previous reports. Current year estimates are for the full 2010 crop year, except citrus which is for the 2009-10 season. 2/ Production years are 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10. December Weather Summary In the wake of a mild November, cold, stormy December weather stressed livestock but buried winter grains beneath a protective blanket of snow. Monthly temperatures generally averaged 4 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across the Plains, with early- to mid month readings falling to -40 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Montana and below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in eastern Colorado and much of Kansas. Major storms struck the Nation's mid-section on December 7-9 and 23-26, leaving late-month snow depths of 1 to 2 feet across the north-central U.S. The snow hampered rural travel across the Plains and Midwest, and necessitated supplemental feeding for livestock. By December 20, the corn harvest was 95 percent complete, although nearly one in three fields (32 percent) remained unharvested in North Dakota. Farther south and east, seemingly incessant rains soaked areas from southern Texas into the southern and middle Atlantic States. Monthly rainfall topped 20 inches in parts of the central Gulf Coast region, slowing late-season sugarcane harvesting. In addition, the Nation's cotton harvest was just 94 percent complete by December 20, with Georgia and Alabama reporting 82 and 84 percent harvested, respectively. From December 18-20, major snow accumulations (1 to 2 feet) were reported from the southern Appalachians into southern New England. Elsewhere, beneficial precipitation fell during December from central and southern California into the Intermountain West, while drier-than-normal conditions prevailed in the Northwest. Despite California's precipitation, the end-of-month water content of the Sierra Nevada snow pack stood at just 9 inches, 86 percent of normal for the date. December Agricultural Summary Temperatures during the month of December were well below average throughout much of the Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and into southern Texas, with several areas in the Rocky Mountains dipping to 10 degrees or more below normal. Elsewhere, temperatures were near normal. Strong winter storm systems delivered above average precipitation to the Great Basin, the northern and central Great Plains, Corn Belt, and the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, with numerous locations receiving total accumulations greater than 200 percent of normal. Elsewhere, the Pacific Northwest and southern Great Plains were abnormally dry. As December began and when weather conditions were conducive, producers in most of the 18 major corn-producing States were busy harvesting their remaining 2009 crop. Mostly dry weather in the Dakotas at the start of the month promoted a rapid harvest pace with 13 percent or more of the crop combined from November 29 to December 6. Harvest continued throughout much of December in all estimating States except North Carolina and Texas where harvest was complete by December 6. Nationally, harvest had advanced to 95 percent complete by December 20, over 3 weeks behind normal. By December 6, sorghum harvest was complete on 94 percent of the Nation's acreage, with progress in Kansas, the largest sorghum-producing State, over 2 weeks behind normal. With the exception of Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, where harvest was complete, progress remained active in all estimating . Emergence of the 2010 winter wheat crop reached 93 percent complete by December 6 and was complete or nearly complete in most estimating States. In California, emergence was evident on 78 percent of the acreage, well ahead of the 5-year average. Delays of 1 week or more existed in Illinois, Missouri, and North Carolina. Overall, 63 percent of the winter wheat crop was reported in good to excellent condition on December 6. As the calendar rolled to December, sunflower harvest was most active in Kansas where dry weather provided ample time for fieldwork. By December 6, producers Nationwide had harvested 94 percent of the 2009 crop, 12 days behind normal. As the month began, peanut harvest remained slow in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma as producers continued to battle abnormally wet fields that had plagued them throughout much of the season. Nationally, 94 percent of the crop was dug and combined by December 6. As of December 6, cotton producers had harvested 88 percent of their crop. During the next 7 days, just 3 percent of the crop was harvested. While producers in Kansas made excellent progress, harvesting 16 percent of their acreage from December 7 to December 13, rainfall hampered fieldwork in Alabama, where progress remained well behind normal. By December 20, harvest was complete or nearly complete in all estimating States except Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Nationally, 94 percent of the crop was harvested. Crop Comments Spring Potatoes: Production for 2009 is estimated at 21.3 million cwt, unchanged from the May 1 forecast but 6 percent higher than 2008. Area harvested totaled at 73,700 acres, up slightly from the previous forecast and 7 percent above 2008. The average yield of 289 cwt per acre is down 2 cwt from the May 1 forecast and 4 cwt lower than 2008. Florida's production is estimated at 7.70 million cwt, down 2 percent from the May 1 forecast and 3 percent below the 2008 production. Heavy rains interrupted harvest, which resulted in lower than normal yields. In California, production increased 4 percent from last year. Growers in North Carolina produced 34 percent more spring potatoes than in the previous year due to a yield increase of 45 cwt per acre. Most growers reported excellent growing conditions with better than average yields. Production in Texas increased 16 percent from 2008 and Arizona production increased 7 percent from last year. Papayas: Hawaii fresh papaya production is estimated at 2.50 million pounds for November 2009, down 3 percent from October and 9 percent lower than a year ago. Total crop area for November is estimated at 1,975 acres, up slightly from October but 18 percent below November 2008. Harvested area totaled 1,320 acres, up 1 percent from the previous month but 9 percent lower than last year. Cooler temperatures in November slowed fruit development. Grapefruit: The forecast of the 2009-10 U.S. grapefruit crop is 1.19 million tons, down 2 percent from the December 1 forecast and down 11 percent from the 2008-09 final utilization. Florida's grapefruit production is forecast at 19.5 million boxes (829,000 tons), down 2 percent from the December 1 forecast and 10 percent below last season. The Florida all white grapefruit forecast is 5.50 million boxes (234,000 tons), down 5 percent from December and down 17 percent from the previous year. The colored grapefruit forecast, at 14.0 million boxes (595,000 tons), is unchanged from the December 1 forecast but 7 percent lower than last season. White grapefruit size is measuring below average. The Texas grapefruit production forecast is 5.49 million boxes (220,000 tons), up 4 percent from the October 1 forecast but slightly lower than last season. Grapefruit production in California is forecast at 4.20 million boxes (141,000 tons), down 11 percent from October and 25 percent below last season. Rio Red harvest began in the Desert Region of California in early November. Lemons: The forecast for the 2009-10 U.S. lemon crop is 855,000 tons, unchanged from the October 1 forecast but down 10 percent from 2008-09. California production is forecast at 20.0 million boxes (760,000 tons), unchanged from October but down 9 percent from last season. The California lemon harvest continued in the Desert Region and began in the Central Valley. Lemon production in Arizona is forecast at 2.50 million boxes (95,000 tons), unchanged from the October 1 forecast but down 17 percent from last season. Tangelos: Florida's tangelo forecast is 900,000 boxes (41,000 tons), down 10 percent from the December 1 forecast and down 22 percent from last season's final production. If realized, this will be the smallest tangelo crop since 1962, when Florida had a damaging December freeze. Tangerines and Mandarins: The U.S. tangerine and mandarin crop is forecast at 544,000 tons, up 8 percent from the December 1 forecast and 23 percent above the 2008-09 crop. California's tangerine and mandarin forecast is 8.20 million boxes (308,000 tons), up 17 percent from the October 1 forecast and 22 percent higher than last season. If realized, this will be a record high production in California. Harvesting of Clementine, Satsuma, and Fairchild varieties was underway. Florida's tangerine crop is forecast at 4.70 million boxes (223,000 tons), down 2 percent from the December 1 forecast but up 22 percent from the previous season. Harvest of early tangerine varieties was nearly complete while late variety harvest had just begun. Arizona's tangerine forecast, at 350,000 boxes (13,000 tons), is unchanged from October but 40 percent higher than last season. Florida Citrus: Temperatures in the 70's and 80's and lows in the 30's and 40's were reported during the month of December. Increased rainfall helped relieve drought conditions. Overall, the weather was beneficial to citrus progress. Harvesting of Murcott tangerines has begun. Weekly navel orange harvesting picked up in early December but dropped off at the end of the month. Most of the processing plants have opened and are mainly receiving early and midseason oranges and grapefruit. Grove activity included limited herbicide applications and mowing. Grove caretakers continued to survey groves for greening, removed affected trees, and sprayed trees for citrus psyllid control. Arizona Citrus: Lemon harvest began in early September. Harvested fruit was reported to be larger than average. Tangerine harvest started in November with good quality being reported. California Citrus: Harvest of navel oranges, Satsuma and Clementine mandarins, grapefruit, and lemons continued. In citrus orchards along the coast and in the Central Valley, helicopters and wind machines were deployed to increase air circulation to combat freezing temperatures in mid-December. Growers also used orchard heaters and ran irrigation water to limit the drop in temperature. The extent of damage was still being assessed. Normal spraying and maintenance continued in citrus orchards. California Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts: Grape and pomegranate harvests were complete. Grape growers were pruning, irrigating, cultivating, and removing old vines. The extent of frost damage due to cold mid-December temperatures was still being determined but damage appeared to be localized to small areas. Almond hulling and stockpiling was completed in early-December. Nut trees began entering dormancy by the end of the month. Hay Stocks on Farms: All hay stored on farms December 1, 2009 totaled 107 million tons, up 3 percent from a year ago. Disappearance from May-December 2009 totaled 62.3 million tons, compared with 64.2 million tons for the same period a year ago. Compared with December 1, 2008, hay stocks increased in the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, northern Great Plains, and the Southeast with the exception of Florida. Higher hay production and lower cattle inventories contributed to the higher hay stocks on December 1. Stocks in North Carolina and Delaware showed the largest increases with 58 and 45 percent, respectively. The southern Great Plains and Great Lake States showed decreases in stocks for 2009. Reliability of January 1 Orange Forecast Survey Procedures: The orange objective yield survey for the January 1 forecast was conducted in Florida, which produces about 75 percent of the U.S. production. Bearing tree numbers are determined at the start of the season based on a fruit tree census conducted every other year, combined with ongoing review based on administrative data or special surveys. From mid- July to mid-September, the number of fruit per tree is determined. In September and subsequent months, fruit size measurement and fruit droppage surveys are conducted, which combined with the previous components are used to develop the current forecast of production. California and Texas conduct grower and packer surveys on a quarterly basis in October, January, April, and July. California conducts an objective measurement survey in September for navel oranges and in March for Valencia oranges. Estimating Procedures: State level objective yield estimates for Florida oranges were reviewed for errors, reasonableness, and consistency with historical estimates. Reports from growers and packers in California and Texas were also used for setting estimates. These three States submit their analyses of the current situation to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB). The ASB uses the survey data and the State analyses to prepare the published January 1 forecast. Revision Policy: The January 1 production forecasts will not be revised. A new forecast will be made each month throughout the growing season. End-of- season estimates will be published in the Citrus Fruits Summary released in September. The production estimates are based on all data available at the end of the marketing season, including information from marketing orders, shipments, and processor records. Allowances are made for recorded local utilization and home use. Reliability: To assist users in evaluating the reliability of the January 1 production forecasts, the "Root Mean Square Error," a statistical measure based on past performance, is computed. The deviation between the January 1 production forecast and the final estimate is expressed as a percentage of the final estimate. The average of squared percentage deviations for the latest 20-year period is computed. The square root of the average becomes statistically the "Root Mean Square Error." Probability statements can be made concerning expected differences in the current forecast relative to the final end-of-season estimate, assuming that factors affecting this year's forecast are not different from those influencing recent years. The "Root Mean Square Error" for the January 1 orange production forecast is 4.8 percent. However, if you exclude the 5 abnormal production years (3 freeze seasons and 2 hurricane seasons), the "Root Mean Square Error" is 3.5 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the current orange production forecast will not be above or below the final estimates by more than 4.8 percent, or 3.5 percent excluding abnormal seasons. Chances are 9 out of 10 (90 percent confidence level) that the difference will not exceed 8.2 percent, or 6.1 percent excluding abnormal seasons. Changes between the January 1 orange forecast and the final estimates during the past 20 years have averaged 373,000 tons (339,000 tons excluding abnormal seasons), ranging from 64,000 tons to 1.13 million tons (64,000 tons to 638,000 tons, excluding abnormal seasons). The January 1 forecast for oranges has been below the final estimate 7 times and above 13 times (below 6 times and above 9 times, excluding abnormal seasons). The difference does not imply that the January 1 forecast this year is likely to understate or overstate final production. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Crops Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Lance Honig, Chief........................................(202) 720-2127 Field Crops Section Jacqueline Moore, Head....................................(202) 720-2127 Suzanne Avilla - Peanuts, Rice............................(202) 720-7688 Shiela Corley - Cotton, Cotton Ginnings...................(202) 720-5944 Bryan Durham - Hay, Oats, Sorghum.........................(202) 690-3234 Anthony Prillaman - Corn, Proso Millet, Flaxseed..........(202) 720-9526 Nick Schauer - Wheat, Rye.................................(202) 720-8068 Julie Schmidt - Crop Weather, Barley, Sugar Crops.........(202) 720-7621 Travis Thorson - Soybeans, Sunflower, Other Oilseeds......(202) 720-7369 Fruits, Vegetables & Special Crops Section Jorge Garcia-Pratts, Head.................................(202) 720-2127 Jorge Garcia-Pratts - Citrus, Coffee, Grapes, Tropical Fruits.........................................(202) 720-2127 Debbie Flippin - Fresh and Processing Vegetables, Onions, Strawberries....................................(202) 720-2157 Fred Granja - Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Plums, Prunes, Tobacco...........................................(202) 720-4288 Michael Jacobsen - Berries, Cranberries...................(202) 720-9085 Dawn Keen - Floriculture, Maple Syrup, Nursery, Tree Nuts...............................................(202) 720-4215 Tierra Mobley - Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes..................(202) 720-4285 Dan Norris - Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas, Lentils, Mint, Mushrooms, Peaches, Pears, Wrinkled Seed Peas, Dry Beans...........................(202) 720-3250 Kim Ritchie - Hops........................................(360) 902-1940 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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