date:Dec 12, 2013
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) now forecasts the 2013-2014 Florida orange crop at 121 million boxes, down 3 percent from its initial estimate in November.
The USDA estimated early-mid orange varieties at 56 million, down 2 million and Valencia at 65 million also down 2 million from November. The USDA blamed the decrease on fruit drop and smaller sizes.
HLB continues to rear its ugly head and this decrease can be directly attributed to the stress caused by the disease, said Michael