The February citrus crop forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service showed a bitter forecast for Florida’s orange crop.
Florida’s projected 2021–22 orange crop was reduced by 1 million boxes, to 43.5 million boxes in the forecast released on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The entire orange reduction was in the to-be-harvested Valencia crop, which was reduced 4% to 26 million boxes. The forecast for non-Valencia oranges was unchanged at 17.5 million boxes.
If the forecast is realized, Florida’s orange production will be 18% less than last season. The row count survey that the forecast is based on was conducted Jan. 25 to 26, a few days before a freeze impacted the Florida industry.
The forecast indicated that the Florida non-Valencia harvest is 87% completed. A report on the state’s Valencia crop said fruit size is below the minimum and is projected to be below the minimum at harvest. Current Valencia droppage is above average and projected to be above average at harvest.
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