CDFA RELEASES FIELD CROP ACREAGE ESTIMATES FOR 2002

SACRAMENTO, July 9, 2002 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) California Agricultural Statistics Service has released acreage estimates for 2002, showing the following changes from the 2001 acreage:

Cotton -- California’s cotton growers planted an estimated 460,000 acres of Upland cotton and an estimated 230,000 acres of American Pima cotton in 2002. Based on the estimates, Upland acreage is down 27% from 2001. American Pima acreage is down 4% from 2001. Total cotton planting is down an estimated 21% from last year.

Corn -- As of June 1, total planted acreage of corn for all purposes is estimated at 520,000 acres, 8% above last year. California farmers expected to harvest 140,000 acres of corn for grain in 2002, down 12% from 2001.

Oats -- Oats were seeded on an estimated 270,000 acres for 2002, up 4% from the 2001 total acreage. Acreage expected to be harvested for grain totaled 30,000 acres, up 100% from 2001.

Wheat -- California’s winter wheat seeded acreage is estimated at 480,000 acres, down 9% from 2001. The estimated 310,000 acres for grain harvest are 18% below last year. California’s Durum wheat planted acreage is estimated at 95,000 acres, up 12% from last year. The estimate of 90,000 acres for grain harvest is up 11% from 2001.

Rice -- California’s rice seeded acreage is estimated at 510,000 acres, 8% above last year. The estimated acreage planted to long grain rice totaled 8,000, 38% below 2001; medium grain, 470,000, up 8%; and short grain, 32,000, up 28% from 2001.

Barley -- In California, an estimated 110,000 acres were seeded to barley for all purposes this year, down 31% from 2001. Approximately 75,000 acres are expected to be harvested for grain, down 32% from last year.

Sugar Beets -- California has an estimated 50,000 acres planted to sugar beets, 7% above last year’s total planted acreage.

Dry Edible Beans -- An estimated 100,000 acres in California were seeded to dry edible beans for the 2002 season, a 9% increase from last year’s total.

All Hay -- On June 1, California growers expected to harvest 1.66 million acres of all hay in 2002, up 8% from 2001. Of the total, alfalfa will be harvested from an estimated 1.16 million acres, up 15% from last year. All other hay will be harvested from an estimated 500,000 acres, down 6% from last year’s total.

The California Agricultural Statistics Service operates under a cooperative agreement between the CDFA and USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service. The joint service prepares and distributes statistics on California agriculture.

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