Taro Crop Drops 11% in 2007

WASHINGTON - Jan 11/08 - SNS -- Hawaii taro production is estimated at 4.00 million pounds for 2007, down 11% from 2006 and a new record low, according to the USDA final crop report for 2007.

Area in crop, at 370 acres, is down 10 acres from 2006. Heavy rains between February and April had an adverse effect on several taro patches, while other growing areas had dry weather conditions. The combination of less than favorable weather conditions, pests, and disease hampered taro production in 2007.

                       Taro:  Area in Crop and Production,
                              Hawaii, 2005-2007 1/
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     :     Area in Crop      :         Yield         :        Production
State:--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     : 2005  : 2006  : 2007  : 2005  : 2006  : 2007  :  2005  :  2006  :  2007
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     :  ------ Acres ------      ---- Pounds ----      ----- 1,000 Pounds ----
     :
HI   :  360     380     370                            4,300    4,500    4,000
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1/  Area is total acres in crop, not harvested acreage.  Yield is not estimated.