Papaya Output Down in December

WASHINGTON - Feb 8/08 - SNS -- Production of sugarcane for sugar and seed in 2007 is forecast at 30.9 million tons for the United States, of which 29.1 million tons are expected to be for sugar and 1.74 million tons for seed, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Total production for sugar and seed is up fractionally from the January forecast and 4% above the 2006 production. Sugarcane growers intend to harvest 883,500 acres for sugar and seed during the 2007 crop year, unchanged from last month but 2% less than last year. If realized, this will be the smallest area harvested for sugar and seed since 1990. Yield is forecast at 34.9 tons per acre, the same as the last forecast but up 2.0 tons from last year.

The yield in Florida for sugar and seed, at 37.0 tons per acre, is up 0.1 ton from last month and up 1.1 tons from last year. Sugarcane harvest continued in the Everglades region throughout the month of January. Wetland sugarcane harvest is progressing at a steady pace. Estimates for Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas are carried forward from January.

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