USDA FORECASTS
The crop forecast released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated the decrease of Florida orange crop to 1.8 million from the original produce of 151.2 million boxes during the 2004- 05 season. This decline was due to bookkeeping adjustments reconciling the early mid forecast with final harvest data of 79.2 million boxes for those varieties. Though the Navel estimate of 2.5 million boxes included in the early-mid estimate remains unchanged. The Florida citrus industry has an economic impact of $9.1 billion on the state with employment figures of nearly 90,000 people covering 750,000 acres. The USDA forecasts grapefruit estimates to remain steady at 13 million boxes, with white grapefruit increasing 500,000 boxes to 3.5 million and coloured grapefruit decreasing from 500,000 boxes to 9.5 million boxes. For speciality fruits, the USDA predicts 65,000 boxes of temples, 1.55 million boxes of tangelos and 4.45 million boxes of tangerines including 2.45 million boxes of early varieties and two million boxes of honey.

WORLD CEREAL PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO RISE AT 1,971 MILLION METRIC TONNES
The UN food agency has estimated the world’s cereal production, including milled rice, to grow at 1,971 million metric tonnes this year, above average of last five years but below last year's record level. According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), sugar prices that strengthened earlier are expected to rise this year because of strong import demand and unfavourable production prospects in India. In a report published in ‘Food Outlook’, the agency said that the forecast for cereal production is based on conditions of crops already in ground and those still to be sown assuming normal weather for the remaining cropping season. The report also