fl-crop-weather Week ending October 3, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. October 4, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers brought varying amounts of rain during the week of September 26 through October 2. The Palmetto-Ruskin area received about a half inch to three inches with most falling in eastern parts. The Southwest picked up a trace to one inch, while Dade County collected one and a third to two inches. Ft. Pierce received about an inch and a half. Rainfall at the major stations varied from traces to over three inches. Temperatures for the week averaged one to three degrees above normal at the major stations. Daytime highs were mostly in the 80s with several localities recording at least one high in the 90s. Nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s with Valparaiso reporting at least one low in the 50s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the western Panhandle is mostly very short to short. Moisture in the eastern Panhandle and Peninsula is mostly adequate to surplus with scattered areas of short moisture. Cotton harvest is starting. Tobacco marketing resumed on September 27 after being suspended on September 15 due to problems caused by Hurricane Floyd in North Carolina. Haying is active. Soybean harvest is starting. Sugarcane conditions continue to be normal. Seventy-one percent of the peanuts for nuts are reported harvested. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 6 3 8 6 Short 17 8 31 5 Adequate 62 61 47 55 Surplus 15 28 14 34 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: In the Panhandle, pastures were mostly in poor to good condition. Temporary winter pastures need rain in the western Panhandle to get the seed to sprout. Pasture and range conditions in the rest of the State were in fair to good condition. Cattle condition is reported lower in the Panhandle than in any other areas of the State. Haying is active in most areas of the State. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 40 35 20 35 Good 50 60 80 45 Excellent 0 0 0 20 CITRUS: All areas of the citrus belt had a lot of rain on Monday and then it was dry most of the week until Sunday when showers covered virtually all of the Florida's citrus producing counties. Moisture is generally adequate. There is very little irrigation being used at this time. New growth is slowing as there are decreasing hours of daylight. New crop fruit continues to make good progress with the help of the abundant moisture. However, there are reports of some fruit splitting which is to be expected in the wet areas. Many packing houses have field representatives testing the maturity of the early bloom fruit for fresh shipments. There have been some Navels, Ambersweet oranges, Fallglo tangerines and grapefruit shipped in limited quantities. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have made good growth with help of the September rains. Young tree fertilizations continues in most areas. New crop fruit being grown for fresh utilization are still being sprayed. Abandoned groves are being pushed and reset. VEGETABLES: Harvesting of Bell peppers started in the East Coast region. Strawberry transplanting began in the Palmetto- Ruskin area. Clearer conditions allowed most fieldwork to get back on schedule. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--The crop is in very good condition. Planting is increasing. Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Oldest plants are starting to emerge. Planting is gaining momentum. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Plants are making good stands. Planting is active. CABBAGE: West Central--Transplanting is active. Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. North Central--Transplanting is active. Growth and development are normal. Hastings--Transplanting is active. Growth and development are normal. CELERY: Everglades--Transplanting continues. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Picking is expected to start in November. Everglades--Planting is increasing. East Coast-- Growers continue to prepare land with workers discing land and clearing ditches. Dade--Planting is expected to start in November. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is winding down with some producers done. East Coast--Most of the oldest seeding is germinating well with young plants showing good growth. Thinning is active. Seeding is gaining momentum. Southwest-- Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is gaining momentum. PICKLES: Zellwood--Picking is active. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continues to slow with some growers done. Dade--Crop condition is very good. Recent rains boosted plant growth. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Young seeded plants are blooming and setting fruit. Fruit is gaining size on oldest plants. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth and fruit development are normal. Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting continues on schedule with a small acreage set. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is gaining momentum. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Planting continues. LETTUCE: Everglades--Planting is active. OKRA: Dade--The crop is in good condition. Recent rains boosted crop growth and development. Harvesting continues. Quality and yield are good. PEPPERS: East Coast--Growth and development of young plants are improving with setting of fruit starting. Growers are irrigating some of the younger acreage. Transplanting remains active. Initial harvest started with good quality available. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is steady. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally with some growers done. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Planting is active. SQUASH: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is slow. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is steady. East Coast--Crop condition is rated mostly good. Fruit is setting well and gaining size. Planting is active. Picking is expected to start in about seven to ten days. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Transplanting is underway. Plant City--Most of the plastic for winter crop planting has been laid. Transplanting is expected to start within the next five to seven days. TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvesting is gaining momentum. East Coast--Crop condition varies but is mostly good. Oldest plants are nearing the top of stakes. Fruit is gaining size in oldest fields. Blooming is increasing in younger fields. Transplanting is active. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Transplanting is finished. Harvesting is expected to begin soon. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Recent adverse weather caused some scattered damage. Transplanting is steady. Recent rains reduced the effectiveness of pesticides with workers making steady spray applications to combat disease and insects. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Transplanting is slow due to recent adverse weather. Spraying is active to help prevent disease and insect damage. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Picking is gaining momentum. Quality and color are good. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting continues at a steady pace. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is virtually done. Picking is expected to start in about one to two weeks. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting remains steady. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting is gaining momentum. Quality and color are good. Sizes are variable. Southwest--The crop is rated fair to good. Plant growth and fruit development are normal. 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.