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Orange Production Unchanged from January Forecast

The United States all orange forecast for the 2014-2015 season is 6.72 million tons, unchanged from the previous forecast but down 1 percent from the 2013-2014 final utilization. The Florida all orange forecast, at 103 million boxes (4.64 million tons), is unchanged from the previous forecast but down 2 percent from last season's final utilization. Early, midseason, and Navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 48.0 million boxes (2.16 million tons), unchanged from the previous forecast but down 10 percent last season's final utilization. The Florida Valencia orange forecast, at 55.0 million boxes (2.48 million tons), is unchanged from previous forecast but up 7 percent from last season's final utilization.

Florida frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) yield forecast for the 2014-2015 season is 1.57 gallons per box at 42.0 degrees Brix, down 1 percent from the January forecast but virtually unchanged from last season's final yield of 1.57 gallons per box. The early-midseason portion is projected at 1.46 gallons per box, up 1 percent from last month but down 4 percent from last season's yield. The Valencia portion is projected at 1.69 gallons, up 3 percent from last year's final yield of 1.64 gallons per box but down 2 percent from last month's forecast. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons.

Source: USDA


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How to fix a leaking pond.

Video: How to fix a leaking pond.

Does the pond leak? Ummmm....possibly a tiny bit. Well, more than a bit...ok, the darn thing leaks like a sieve!

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Damit is not plastic. Therefore, there are no microplastics. I wish I had not mentioned plastic, but that is a very common polymer and I mentioned it as an example of a polymer. A polymer is simply a chain of repeating molecules, or "monomers." Cellulose is a polymer of glucose molecules. Starches are also polymers of various molecules such as fructose, maltose, etc. We have many polymers inside our bodies. In other words, just knowing something is a polymer doesn't make it bad, toxic, harmful, etc. However, this also doesn't mean all polymers are safe.

The specific polymer used for Damit is a trade secret, however, it has been closely scrutinized by multiple health and safety authorities. This includes the governmental authorities of Australia, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Not only have they determined that is safe to use in earthen ponds, and not harmful to fish, but it is considered safe to use in human potable water systems in all of these areas. And of course, they know the exact makeup of the polymer when making this determination. I'm told that the same polymer is in use by many municipalities to keep potable water storage tanks leak free. I can't tell you exactly what the polymer is, because I don't know, but given the confidence with which the governmental authorities have authorized its use, I would bet it is made of a monomer that we are exposed to all the time, like fructose or something.

It also breaks down in a matter of years, and does not accumulate in the environment. The end products of breaking down are CO2, water, and base minerals like potassium. The SDS reports no need for concern with ingestion, inhalation, or contact. If in eyes, rinse with water.

End result, can I say for sure that it is 100% safe? No, I don't know exactly what it is. But given people who do know exactly what it is, and have scrutinized it, have approved it for use in human potable water systems, I'm pretty comfortable putting it in an earthen pond.