fl-crop-weather Week ending July 19, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. July 20, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: The clash of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico sea breezes brought afternoon showers to many localities during the week of July 12 through 18. Precipitation totals for the week at the major stations ranged from one and three fourths inches at Daytona Beach to almost five inches at West Palm Beach with most stations reporting measurable rain on four to five days. Most temperatures hovered within a degree of average. Daytime highs averaged in the upper 80s and low 90s, while nighttime lows were in the 70s. FIELD CROPS: Rains improved the growth of some hay, peanuts, and cotton and reduced the threat of fires in many areas. Peanut condition is improving with ratings at two percent poor, forty-eight percent fair, and fifty percent good. Sixty-six percent of peanuts are pegged. Tobacco harvesting remains active with markets scheduled to open Tuesday, July 21. Producers are making hay in areas that received recent rains with some curing hindered by the afternoon showers. Army worms are causing problems in some corn, hay, peanut, and cotton fields. Topsoil moisture supplies improved with ratings at short to mostly adequate and a few areas showing very short and some surplus supplies. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 24 3 21 4 Short 48 18 65 38 Adequate 28 75 14 58 Surplus 0 4 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture and hay fields recovered somewhat following rains. Pastures in the northern counties were helped by slightly cooler temperatures. Pastures were slowly recovering in many areas with permanent pastures starting to 'green-up'. The overall condition of cattle and calves in the State increased and is rated fair to good. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 15 0 0 0 Poor 45 15 15 5 Fair 40 70 80 60 Good 10 15 5 35 Excellent 25 0 0 0 CITRUS: There was a low pressure area over most of Florida's citrus belt for the first part of this week. However, by the last three days of the week, there were fewer rains and thunderstorms. Some rural parts of the west coast had local flooding. Moisture is generally adequate in virtually all citrus producing counties. Some growers and caretakers are still running their irrigation equipment to help build up the sub-surface moisture levels. New crop fruit is making good progress in well-cared-for groves, while those blocks of fruit that were not irrigated for the last two and half months have fruit of varying shapes and sizes due to the stress placed on the trees by the unusually hot and dry conditions. Caretakers are chopping, discing, and mowing cover crops in all areas of the State. Herbiciding, spraying, and fertilizing continue in most groves. There is still some hedging and topping going on in the larger groves as many growers are trying to complete their pruning schedules. VEGETABLES: Tomato transplanting started around Quincy with some growers still preparing land. Watermelon harvesting is virtually finished. The picking of crops for local sales remains active. To receive this report via e-mail, send an e-mail message to nass-state-releases@news.usda.gov with the following message: subscribe fl-crop-weather. The report will be e-mailed automatically to your e-mail address each week.