FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending August 24, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. August 25, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Somewhat drier weather allowed most field work to get back on schedule during the week of August 17 through 23. Scattered showers dropped from a quarter inch to an inch and a quarter of rain at the official stations. Low temperatures were mostly in the mid 70s to low 80s with Jacksonville and Valparaiso recording at least one low in the upper 60s. High temperatures continued in the 90s. The weekly average temperatures were one degree above normal except for three degrees above at Miami. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate in the Panhandle and short to adequate in the northern Peninsula. In the central and southern Peninsula the top soil moisture is short to surplus. Peanut condition: poor 1%, fair 17%, good 40%, excellent 42%. Four percent of the peanut acreage for nuts has been harvested. Peanut diseases are on the increase due to the wet weather. Sugarcane growth is normal. Tobacco marketing is active. Haying and corn harvest are active when rain permits. Forage is making good growth. Cotton and soybeans are making very good growth. Some worm pressure is developing in hay fields in some areas. Weeds are a problem due to wet soils keeping equipment out of the fields. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 3 16 6 8 Adequate 60 57 52 58 Surplus 37 27 42 34 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most of the pastures in the State were reported to be in fair to good condition. Rainfall has been frequent though spotty. Standing water was no longer a problem in Southwest pastures. Most of the cattle in the State were in good condition. Mosquitos were numerous and were bad on the cows in the northeastern area. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 15 30 15 5 Good 65 60 70 85 Excellent 20 10 15 10 CITRUS: This State's citrus groves, trees, and new crop fruit are all in very good condition. Moisture is generally adequate with both east and west coast growers reporting above average rainfall for the month. There continues to be an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages in all areas. There is some premature splitting and dropping of early fruit in the wetter, more poorly drained areas. Several fresh fruit packing houses have representatives testing grapefruit for early harvesting. There are a few early bloom Navels, Ambersweet, Fallglo, and K-Earlys also being tested. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that have made good growth during the heavy summer rains. Limited fertilizations and summer sprays are being applied between rains and thunderstorms. Dead tree removal continues in all areas. VEGETABLES: Palmetto-Ruskin: Tomato condition is good with planting increasing seasonally. Workers are staking and making first ties in tomato fields with a few fields being irrigated. Squash and onion planting is underway with crop condition rated good. Planting continues to increase for cucumbers, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupes, cherry and plum tomatoes. Pumpkin planting is finished with the crop in good condition. Snap bean and cabbage planting are expected to begin in early September. East Coast: Eggplant, pepper, cherry and plum tomato planting are active. Hot temperatures are causing stress to plants. Growers are preparing land for sweet corn and snap bean planting. Southwest: Tomatoes are in fair to good condition with planting expected to increase over the next two to four weeks. Workers continue to lay plastic for transplanting tomatoes with a small acreage being irrigated. Producers are starting to plant eggplant, peppers, cherry and plum tomatoes with condition of all rated fair to good. Dade: Growers are cleaning land in preparation of making beds and laying plastic for tomato transplanting which is expected to start in late September. Producers continue to harvest okra with good quality and yield being realized. The harvest of okra is expected to continue through late October. Planting of squash and snap beans will start in early September; cucumbers and eggplant in early October; potatoes, cabbage and strawberries in late October; and sweet corn in early November. Quincy: Tomato condition is rated good. Picking is expected to begin in late September or early October.