Released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cotton Production Down 3 Percent from November Forecast Orange Production Up 2 Percent from October Forecast
All cotton production is forecast at 15.8 million 480-pound bales, down 3 percent from the November forecast and down 13 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 771 pounds per harvested acre, down 41 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 15.1 million 480-pound bales, down 14 percent from 2010. American Pima production, forecast at 737,200 bales, was carried forward from last month.
The United States all orange forecast for the 2011-2012 season is 9.12 million tons, up 2 percent from the previous forecast and up 3 percent from the 2010-2011 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 150 million boxes (6.75 million tons), is up 2 percent from the October forecast and 7 percent from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 75.0 million boxes (3.38 million tons), up 1 percent from the October forecast and up 7 percent from last season. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 75.0 million boxes (3.38 million tons), is up 3 percent from the October forecast and up 7 percent from the 2010-2011 crop. Sizes for both Valencia and early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are expected to be larger than average. The Florida crop has benefitted from good growing conditions this fall. Harvest is ahead of schedule for non-Valencia varieties in Florida. California and Texas orange production forecasts are carried forward from October.
Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2011-2012 season is 1.60 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, unchanged from the October forecast, but up 1 percent from last season's final yield of 1.59 gallons per box. Projected yield from the 2011-2012 early, midseason, and Valencia varieties will be published in the January Crop Production report. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.
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