SOUTH CAROLINA FRUIT PRODUCTION

Columbia, S.C., August 12, 2005: Based on August 1 conditions, SOUTH CAROLINA'S2005 peach production is expected to total 70,000 tons, down 7 percent from the July 1 forecast, according to the USDA NASS, South Carolina Field Office. Production in 2004 was 70,000 tons and 2003 production was 50,000 tons. Harvest was 70 percent complete in early August, 72 complete in 2004, and 74 complete in 2003. Some fruit was damaged by hail. Disease and insects have also damaged fruit in some orchards. However, most producers report a high quality fruit crop.

The SOUTH CAROLINA apple forecast on August 1 is 5 million pounds, down 17 percent from the 2004 and 2003 production of 6 million pounds, respectively.

UNITED STATES NONCITRUS PRODUCTION

The August 2005 forecast of UNITED STATES peach production is 1.23 million tons, 1 percent below the July forecast and 6 percent below 2004. Michigan's crop expectations were lowered from 19,000 tons to 15,000 tons. New Jersey's forecast, at 32,500 tons, is 2,500 tons greater than the July forecast. Pennsylvania and Washington remain unchanged from July, at 20,500 and 22,000 tons, respectively. The U.S. Freestone crop, as of August 1, is forecast at 703,850 tons, a 1 percent decrease from the July 1 forecast and 8 percent below last year. The California Freestone forecast, which is carried forward from July 1, stands at 410,000 tons, down 6 percent from last year and 1 percent below 2003. California's Clingstone forecast, also carried forward from July 1, is 530,000 tons, 2 percent below last year and 1 percent less than the 2003 season.

The first production forecast for the 2005 apple crop year is 9.84 billion pounds, down 6 percent from last year but 12 percent above 2003. Compared to 2004, production decreases in the Eastern and Western States offset a projected increase in the Central States. Production in the Western States (AZ, CA, CO, ID, OR, UT, and WA) is forecast at 6.28 billion pounds, down 8 percent from last year but 19 percent above 2003. Production in the Eastern States (CT, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA, and WV) is forecast at 2.41 billion pounds, down 4 percent from last year but 6 percent above 2003.

For additional information call: Robert A. Graham, Director

                                                     Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician