No Change in U.S. Orange Estimate

WASHINGTON - Feb 9/06 - SNS -- The USDA left the estimated size of this season's orange harvest unchanged from last month 9.22 million tons, about 1% above last season's final utilization of 9.11 million tons.

Florida's all orange forecast, at 158 million boxes (7.11 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but up 6% from the 2004-05 crop. Early, midseason, and navel varieties are forecast at 80.0 million boxes (3.60 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but 1% above last season's final utilization.

The Florida Valencia forecast is 78.0 million boxes (3.51 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but up 11% from last season's final utilization.

Estimates of bearing tree numbers used to produce this month's forecasts are unchanged from last month. Current measurements of fruit drop indicate increased droppage for the early-midseason crop, but a lower Valencia drop rate than was forecast last month.

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