FLORIDA WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending February 1, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. February 2, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Intermittent bright, sunny days and light scattered rainfall occurred over most of the State during the week of January 25 to January 31. Most areas that received rain during the past week had total accumulations of less than an inch. Temperatures mainly averaged one to four degrees below normal. Daytime highs were primarily in the 60s and 70s, while nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50, and 60s. Northern and Panhandle localities recorded some lows in the 30s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate to surplus throughout the State with a few scattered areas of short moisture in the south. Sugarcane growth is normal. Sugarcane harvest is active. Sugarcane planting is winding down. Tobacco growers are taking care of tobacco plant beds. Field preparations are underway for spring planted crops. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 3 3 0 0 Adequate 27 42 38 50 Surplus 70 55 62 50 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: There was standing water and flooding in much of the central area pastures and in parts of Panhandle, west central, and southeast areas. Pasture growth has been slower than normal due to cooler than normal temperatures. The higher than usual winter rainfall has leached nutrients in some winter forages and grains causing some yield reduction. In the northern half of the State, supplemental feeding of cattle was active with good grazing on temporary pastures. Cattle were in mostly fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 15 5 0 0 Poor 20 30 10 5 Fair 35 50 40 55 Good 30 15 50 35 Excellent 0 0 0 5 CITRUS: The weather in and around Florida's citrus belt was mixed during this week. The first of the week was mild with cool nights and there were scattered rains Wednesday in most areas. The last part of the week was normal with lows in the 40s and high in the 60s. New growth and pin head bloom buds are starting to push out in varying quantities throughout the citrus belt. The cool nights have slowed the emergence of the feathery new growth considerably. Harvest of early and midseason oranges is very active for processing. Movement of all seedless grapefruit for both fresh and process utilization continues somewhat active for the first of February. Processing of a few Valencias is mainly for color and higher ratios. Honey tangerine and Temple harvest are both increasing for fresh use with some of both going directly to the processors. Caretakers are cutting cover crops prior to harvesting. A lot of main ditches are being cleaned for better water movement in some bedded groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 19 Jan 25 Feb 1 Navel oranges 227,000 131,000 128,000 Early & Mid oranges 12,274,000 7,198,000 9,524,000 Valencia oranges 32,000 32,000 79,000 All grapefruit 1,361,000 1,123,000 1,424,000 Tangerines 31,000 27,000 17,000 Honey tangerines 160,000 99,000 89,000 Temples 135,000 130,000 137,000 Tangelos 289,000 124,000 118,000 VEGETABLES: Strawberry production was at a low point last week. Cool weather slowed plant development. Vegetables harvested during the week include snap beans, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, parsley, peppers, radishes, squash, Chinese cabbage, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Bean quality of the crop now reaching maturity is improving. Picking continues with good volume available. Volume is expected to be good for rest of the season. Planting is beginning to slow seasonally. East Coast--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvest is light from both machine and hand picks. Quality is variable but mostly good. Young fields are showing good growth. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good with slow crop development. Picking continues at a steady pace with fair quality. Wind and blowing sand have scarred some fruit and damaged some of the plants. Planting is active. CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage looks good. Cabbage is being cut on a weekly schedule with good quality and yield. West Central-- Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is steady. Head quality fair to good and size on green small to medium. Size of savory cabbage doing a lot better. Planting is winding down. Central, Hastings--Crop condition is normal. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is steady. Quality is mostly good. Everglades--Good supplies are available. CARROTS: Zellwood -- Harvest continues. Packout remains well below normal due to heavy cullage. The significant rains during December and January caused some planting gaps. SWEET CORN: East Coast -- Growth and development were slowed by the cool weather from past weeks. Harvest volume very light this week, should start to increase some the first week in February. Some fields show the damage from strong winds the past weeks. Workers are spraying crops and applying a side dressing of fertilizer. Dade--Picking continues with a normal amount available. Quality and yield are good. Volume is expected to be normal for the rest of the season. Everglades--Picking is virtually finished. Planting of the spring crop is active. Southwest-- Condition is good with slow to normal crop development. Planting is steady. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Young acreage starting to emerge with good stands. Planting of the spring crop continues. Workers are starting to thin stands. Young fields making good growth. Southwest--The volume being picked is very light as the season nears the end. Quality is poor to fair and yield is low. Spring crop planting is complete. EGGPLANT: East Coast -- Crop condition mostly good on mid- growth plantings. Fields are blooming and setting fruit. Harvest volume is light. Growers are cutting fancy and choice. Some scarred fruit was graded out. Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Growth and development is slow. Planting continues to slow. Harvesting is steady with a good yield. Quality is fair with scarred fruit a problem. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--Harvesting is gaining with a good supply. Zellwood--Planting is active. LETTUCE: Everglades -- Harvesting continues with a good supply for most types becoming available. Zellwood--Planting is active. OKRA: Dade --Volume low as season declines seasonally. Quality is fair. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is good with normal growth and development. Picking remains steady with fair to good quality available. Planting is active. East Coast--Crop condition remains good at all stages of plantings. Young fields making good progress, blooming and setting fruit. Older fields being picked over and cleaned up. Harvest volume moderate from all picks. Crown fruit yielding good quality and sizes. Volume is light on red and specialty peppers. Quality is good. Planting continues for the spring crop. Spraying is active. Workers are busy staking and tying in the young fields. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition with normal growth and development. Planting is slowly gaining momentum. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Potato harvest is starting. Dade--Potatoes are looking good for all the adverse weather they have had. The first digging should start before the end of Febru ary. Disease is under control. West Central--Crop is in poor to good condition. Planting is winding down. Growth and develop ment are slow to normal. Hastings--Potato planting is steady. RADISHES: Everglades, Zellwood, Lake Placid -- Harvesting is active. Supplies are light but quality is good. Planting is active. SQUASH: Southwest -- The crop is in fair condition with plant development slow. Strong winds have broken off some leaves and stems. Harvesting remains steady with fair to good quality. Yields are light. Planting continues at a steady pace. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good to variable condition. Oldest fields are being picked over and cleaned up. Young fields starting to set and size. Harvest volume light from all varieties with fancy and medium grades picked. Cutting zucchini and yellow squash. Dade- -The crop is in good condition in fields just starting to be picked. Quality and yield are good. Some planting continues. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto- Ruskin -- Strawberry production was at a low point last week and is now on the rise. Quality was variable but mostly good. Dade--U-Pic harvesting is yielding good quality and volume. TOMATOES: Southwest--Overall the crop is in good condition. Plant growth and fruit maturity have slowed due to colder weather in the later part of the week. Harvest is steady with good quality and yield. Volume is good with all sizes available. Planting is about finished. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Better weather conditions were helpful for sizing increases. Harvest volume moderate from crown and second picks. Some third picks are not being made. Spring crop showing mostly good bush, blooming and starting to set fruit. Dade--Crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is complete. Growers are spraying to combat insects and disease. Harvest is active with good yield and quality. First and second picks are producing extra large to large sizes while third picks are yielding mostly medium to large. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good with fair to good plant growth. Planting is increasing. Starting to stake and make first ties. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin -- Crop condition is fair to good with normal growth and development. Planting is winding down. Harvest continues with fair to good quality available. Southwest -- Crop condition is good with growth and development slow to normal. Planting is near the end. Harvest is active with good quality available. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good with slow to normal growth and development. Harvesting of good quality fruit remains steady. Planting is nearing the end. Palmetto-Ruskin- -Condition is fair to good. Planting is gaining momentum. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition is fair to good with crop growth slow. Planting is steady. West Central--Crop is in fair to good condition with normal growth and development. Planting is gaining in momentum.