U.S. Crops Summary

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1995 Weather Unfavorable for Most Field Crops

Cool wet weather in the central United States resulted in 2-4 week delays in planting progress for most spring planted crops. The delays continued through June and resulted in the latest planting progress in 20 years. Record breaking heat in July and August in the major producing areas stressed crops. By September, some crops continued to lag in development and were further damaged by a late September freeze in the western and central Corn Belt. The remainder of the fall was generally favorable, resulting in harvests concluded on schedule or slightly earlier.


1995 Corn Production Down to 7.4 Billion Bushels

Corn production for 1995 totaled 7.374 billion bushels, down 27 percent from the record production of 1994 and the smallest since the flood damaged crop of 1993. The crop got off to a slow start with wet soils and cold temperatures delaying planting 2 to 4 weeks. Corn made adequate progress until mid to late summer when hot dry weather hit the crop at the critical grain filling stage of development. In late September a killing freeze in the western and central Corn Belt ended the growing season 1 to 3 weeks early. Accelerated development from the summer heat left fields mature enough to avoid major damage. Open weather allowed the crop to be harvested in a timely manner and the harvest was completed by mid November. Yield per acre averaged 113.5 bushels, down 25.1 from the record 1994 yield. The third highest ear count was offset by the fourth lowest ear weight ever recorded


Winter Wheat Production Lowest Since 1991

The 1995 winter wheat production totaled 1.547 billion bushels, down 7 percent from 1994 and the smallest crop since 1991. Harvested acreage was down slightly from 1994, due partly to the limited seeding opportunities in Montana. The growing season started with generally favorable conditions, however, an early April freeze in parts of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas took a toll. Also, disease and flooding contributed to lower yields in parts of the hard red winter and soft red winter areas. Head counts were generally high but offset by lower than normal head weights. The Pacific Northwest was the exception: Head counts and weights were at or near record highs. Average yield for 1995 totaled 37.7 bushels per acre, down 2.5 bushels from 1994. Harvest was completed by mid-September with the last acreage coming from Montana.


Soybean Harvested Acreage Highest Since 1984

The 1995 soybean crop was harvested from 61.6 million acres, the highest since 1984 and up 1 percent from 1994. Production at 2.152 billion bushels was 14 percent below the record high 1994 production. Plantings started slowly as producers were delayed by wet fields and cool temperatures. The planting season extended through the end of June and turned out to be the latest planting progress in 20 years. Mid to late summer heat and dry weather stressed the crop and resulted in variable growth and development. By September 1, crop development was up to 2 weeks behind normal. A late September freeze damaged immature beans in the western and central Corn Belt. The remainder of the fall brought favorable harvesting conditions and harvest was completed in November. Final yields averaged 34.9 bushels per acre, down 6.5 bushels from the record 1994 yield.


Fruit and Nut Value Up 6 Percent

The Nation's fruits and nuts were valued at $10.4 billion in 1995, up 4 percent from 1994.

Noncitrus fruits accounted for 63 percent of that total at $6.6 billion, 6 percent above the previous year. Grapes and apples contributed the most to the noncitrus value. Grape production in 1995 totaled 5.74 million tons, 2 percent below a year earlier, while the value fell 3 percent to $1.82 billion. California, the leading grape producing State, had a 4 percent decrease. That was partially offset by a 45 percent increase in Washington, the second largest grape producing State. Apple production decreased 4 percent to 10.9 billion pounds, but the value jumped 24 percent to $1.8 billion. Decreases of 5 percent and 11 percent, respectively, in Washington and California contributed to the drop in production. Ideal conditions in Michigan and favorable weather in the East led to large apple crops in those areas.

Citrus provided $2.3 billion of the total, just slightly above the 1993-94 crop. Production increased 10 percent to 16.0 million tons, leading to lower prices. Production was the second largest on record due to a near record orange crop and a new record grapefruit crop in Florida.

Value of nut production rose 4 percent in 1995 despite a 24 percent drop in the amount produced. Almond production declined 48 percent as heavy rains and high winds during bloom severely hurt the California crop.


Vegetable Production Value Up 12 Percent

The value of production for 25 selected fresh market vegetables and 13 processing crops totaled $8.9 billion in 1995, 12 percent above the 1994 total.

Fresh market crops accounted for $7.4 billion, up 14 percent from a year earlier. The leading fresh use crops compared with the previous year are: lettuce with a value of $1.4 billion, up 55 percent; tomatoes at $.85 billion, down 15 percent; and onions at $.63 billion, up 1 percent. Acreage harvested of the selected vegetables and melons totaled 1.82 million acres, 1 percent below the 1.84 million acres harvested in 1994.

Processing crop values rose just slightly in 1995. The crops totaled $1.48 billion compared with $1.47 billion in the previous year. The area harvested was virtually unchanged at 1.59 million acres. Tomatoes accounted for just over 45 percent of the processing value. California is the leading producer, with 92 percent of the acres and 94 percent of the production.