fl-crop-weather Week ending August 29, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. August 30, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers dropped from traces to over four inches of rain during the week of August 22 through 28. Mostly clear skies and some breezy conditions prevailed at the end of the period as Hurricane Dennis passed by the eastern coast and drew moisture from the atmosphere. The rain caused by the hurricane's feeder bands caused no significant damage to crops. Temperatures ranged from highs in the 90s to lows in the 60s and 70s with averages normal to two degrees above for the week. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is mostly short to adequate with scattered areas of very short or surplus moisture. Some areas had very heavy rains this past week. Crops are showing heat stress in some areas. Cotton is in good condition. Corn harvest is active. Tobacco harvest is complete. Tobacco marketing is active. Hay making is active. Army worms are beginning to show up. Soybeans and sugarcane condition continue mostly normal. Cotton is starting to cut out and bolls are starting to open. Growers are starting to harvest peanuts. Peanut condition: fair 21%, good 78%, and excellent 1%. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 5 2 4 0 Short 32 10 25 20 Adequate 43 70 55 67 Surplus 20 18 16 13 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Range and cattle were in fair to good condition in the Panhandle and northern areas of the Peninsula. Army worms were active in the central and west central areas. In the central area, stock pond water levels were still low. Westcentral area pastures had fair to good grass growth. The southeast had standing water in several locations from unseasonable rains of 9 to 10 inches. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 40 10 15 15 Good 60 85 85 85 Excellent 0 5 0 0 CITRUS: Most of Florida's citrus belt received plenty of rain the first four days of this week before turning dry over the weekend. There are areas on the lower east coast and the lower west coast that have had far more than average rainfall during the month of August. Conversely, there are groves on the high sand hills that were irrigated during the month. There continues to be an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages produced by the tropical, hot and humid weather. The heavy rains during July and August have greatly helped fruit sizing. There are a few fresh fruit packing houses testing Navels and grapefruit for early shipments. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have grown tall and woody with the help of the summer rains. Summer sprays and fall fertilizations are being applied between the rains and thunderstorms. Dead tree removal continues along with the burning of grove trash and debris. Limited resetting has been reported with some shortage in various rootstocks and scions. VEGETABLES: The threat of bad weather from Hurricane Dennis delayed some planting with rain bands replenishing soil moisture in most areas. Quincy--The oldest tomato plants are at the first string and beginning to bloom. Palmetto-Ruskin--Pepper planting started with the crop rated in good condition. Planting of cherry and plum tomatoes continues to increase seasonally while planting of round varieties remains steady. Watermelon planting is steady with the crop rated in fair to good condition. Eggplant is also in fair to good condition. East Coast--Eggplant is growing well with some light planting continuing. Pepper transplanting is active with the crop rated in good condition. Tomato planting continues as weather permits. Producers are preparing land for the planting of snap beans, squash, and sweet corn. Southwest--Pepper and watermelon planting is getting underway with condition rated fair. Planting of round, cherry, and plum tomatoes is starting. High temperatures are boosting plant growth. Dade--Snap bean planting was delayed as Dennis passed by with activity to start over the next few days. Okra harvesting remains active with good quality available. Producers expect to start planting eggplant within the next seven to ten days. 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.