fl-crop-weather Week ending January 16, 2000 Released 4:00 P.M. January 18, 2000 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warm weather persisted during the week of January 9 through 15. Temperatures averaged mostly three to five degrees above normal at the major stations. Pensa cola temperatures averaged eleven degrees above normal for the week. Highs were in the 70s and 80s while lows were mostly in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Several Panhandle, northern, and north central localities recorded at least one low in the 20s or 30s near the end of the week. Rainfall varied from none to almost two thirds of an inch. A few scattered areas of the western Panhandle and the north received an inch or more of rain early in the week. The major stations show rainfall since December 1, 1999 to range from a half inch to over four inches below normal except for Miami which is near normal. The lack of rain continues to increase the danger of wildfires. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is mostly short with scattered areas of very short or adequate moisture. Tobacco farmers are caring for tobacco beds. Pine tree planting is active. Sugarcane grinding and planting are active. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 10 8 3 3 Short 61 56 61 68 Adequate 29 36 36 29 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Statewide, the condition of pasture is mostly poor to fair, while the condition of the cattle is mostly fair. In the Panhandle, cool season forage and bahia grass started growing again following widespread light rain. In the northern counties, the condition of pasture is poor to fair due to drought. In the central counties cattle and calves are in fair condition, and pasture condition is poor to fair due to drought. Supplemental feeding of hay is active. In the west-central counties, cattle are in fair condition, and the condition of pasture is declining. Rye grass pasture is coming on and haying contin ues. In the southwest, pasture is fair to good. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 10 5 0 0 Poor 35 35 15 5 Fair 55 40 75 60 Good 0 20 10 35 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Cool and dry weather conditions were the rule in virtually all areas of Florida's citrus belt this week. There were a few spotty rains around midweek but they were very insignifi cant. All citrus producing counties need rain. Growers and caretakers are irrigating on a daily basis to maintain good tree and fruit condition. Feathery new growth and bloom buds are forming on young well-cared-for trees in the southern part of the State. There is good color on most all early and midseason fruit. Valencias are starting to color in some of the early bloom groves. Harvest of oranges for processing was very active this week with near ideal weather. Fresh fruit packing houses are also quite busy shipping oranges, grapefruit, Temples, tangerines and tangelos. Caretakers are cutting cover crops for fire protection before harvesting crews arrive. Hedging and topping have been reported in all areas. There is little burning of debris due to dry condi tions. Some fertilizers and sprays are being applied. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 2 Jan 9 Jan 17 Navel oranges 88,000 119,000 173,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 6,808,000 7,455,000 9,280,000 All grapefruit 798,000 1,082,000 1,591,000 Early tangerines 245,000 213,000 123,000 Honey tangerines 8,000 36,000 83,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 2,000 3,000 3,000 Tangelos 84,000 105,000 197,000 Temples 2,000 27,000 85,000 VEGETABLES: Dry conditions are increasing the need for irrigation. Foggy mornings delayed some picking until plants dried in some southern Peninsula localities. Major vegetables harvested during the week include tomatoes, peppers, endive, escarole, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, pickles, lettuce, radishes, snap beans, squash, strawberries, sweet corn, and eggplant. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Crop condition is rated very good with young acreage in excellent condition. Planting continues. Picking remains active with good quality available. Yield and volume are good. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Planting of a limited acreage is active. Hand harvesting is producing a light volume. Quality and color are good. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting remains steady. Harvesting is steady with good quality available. West Central--Land preparation contin ues. CABBAGE: West Central--Crop in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is gaining momentum. Fruit quality is good. Size is small to medium. Hastings, North Central--Transplanting is active. Growth and development are normal. The crop is in good condition. Heads are smaller than normal in some areas. Harvest is gaining momentum. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting continues. Yields are increasing slowly with normal supplies expected in about a week. SWEET CORN: Dade--Picking started. Quality is good. Volume is increasing. Supplies are being sold from the Ever glades region. East Coast--Crop condition is rated very good with most fields showing even stands. Oldest plants are tasseling. Workers are cultivating and spraying as needed. Everglades-- Fall crop harvesting is finished. Spring crop planting is active. Winter crop harvesting is expected to begin in February. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: East Coast--Recent plantings are in mostly good condition. Recent seedings germinated well. Picking is active but volume is very light with only minimal acreage left to be harvested. Quality and color are good. Growers are using overhead irrigation to ensure proper soil moisture. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting and harvesting are both slow and light. Quality is fair to good. Dade- -The crop is in good condition. Harvesting of a very light volume is expected to start over the next five to seven days. Quality is good. West Central--Land preparation continues. PICKLES: Dade--The season is nearing the end. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young fields show very good plant growth. Producers are harvesting a light volume of regular and specialty types. Quality and color are good. Workers continue to mow and clean acreage completely harvested. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continues to slow seasonally. Cutting of good quality is active. Dade--Crop condition is good. Harvesting remains active with good quality and volume avail able. West Central--Fall crop harvesting is finished. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting continues. Quality is good. LETTUCE: Everglades, Lake Placid--Warm temperatures are promoting plant growth with good supplies available. Harvesting is steady. Quality is very good. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting is limited to local sales. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality is good. East Coast-- The crop is in mostly good condition. Harvesting of green Bells is active with first picks yielding good quality and large sizes. Dade--Harvesting of a small volume is active. POTATOES: Dade--Potatoes are looking very good. Planting is complete. Harvest should start the last of February. Irrigation is needed in some fields. West Central--The crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Planting is complete. Southwest--Planting is windind down. The crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Growers are getting ready to start harvest. Hastings--Planting is active. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Harvesting continues. Volume and quality are good. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting and picking are steady. Quality is good. Dade--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is active. Volume is light. Quality is good. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Recent seedings are germinating well. Young plants show good growth. Older plants show a light fruit set. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Dover, Lithia--Cooler weather helped increase berry development with increasing supply available. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is good. Harvesting of good quality continues. Sizes and color are good. Dade--U-Pic harvesting continues. Yield and quality are good. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally with some growers finished. Cooler weather is slowing some fruit development. Heavy fog early in the week delayed some morning harvesting with activity resuming after the plants dried out. Quality is good with a good supply of all sizes available. East Coast--Crop condition is rated mostly good. Harvesting continues. Plants reaching maturity are providing very good sizes and quality. Transplanting is active. Dade--Crop condition is very good. Transplanting is finished. Harvesting continues with some activity delayed due to low prices. First and second picks are providing good supplies of 5x6 and 6x6 sizes. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Spring crop transplanting started. Fall crop picking is 99 percent done. Fruit quality is fair to good with variable sizes available. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Transplanting and harvesting are steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Spring crop transplanting is gaining momentum. Fall crop picking is virtually complete. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Transplanting and harvesting are steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is good. Spring crop planting is gaining momentum. WATERMELONS: West Central--Land preparation continues with planting to begin in about two to three weeks. 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.