HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS
Week ending June 22, 1997
Released 4:00 P.M.
June 23, 1997
WEATHER SUMMARY: Hot temperatures prevailed during the week of June 15
through 21. Daily highs averaged from 88 to 92 degrees for the week. Lows
averaged mostly in the 70s. Temperatures were mostly normal to one degree
above. Rainfall for the week totaled from about a quarter inch to about one
and two thirds inches with the Tampa station reporting no measurable
rainfall.
FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus throughout the State
with scattered areas of short moisture. All peanuts have been planted and
29 percent have pegged. Peanut condition: 18% fair, 68% good, 14%
excellent. Soybean planting is winding down. Haying is active. Sugarcane
growth is normal. Corn is tasseling and silking. Tobacco growers report
some blue mold problems. Forage and tobacco are making good growth. Cotton
is starting to make good growth as warm temperatures arrive. Tobacco
harvest has started.
Moisture Topsoil Subsoil
Rating Last week This week Last week This week
Percent
Very short 0 0 0 11
Short 17 8 22 7
Adequate 68 70 67 60
Surplus 15 22 11 22
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Good rains fell in the west and north parts of the
State. In the central area, bahia grass pastures were reported at peak
quality. In the southeast, all pasture was in good condition as the rainy
season has started. In the west central area, pastures received some very
much needed rain, and pasture growth was up a little. Some pastures were
still having some problems due to mole cricket damage caused back in the
winter. In the southern part of the Peninsula, heavy rains have left some
pastures with standing water.
Range Cattle
Condition
Last week This week Last week This week
Percent
Very poor 0 0 0 0
Poor 0 0 0 0
Fair 20 40 20 35
Good 65 50 65 55
Excellent 15 10 15 10
CITRUS: Those groves receiving good care are generally in very good
condition. Moisture is adequate in most areas with the east coast getting
several days of rains and thunderstorms. All of the citrus belt was very
hot as in-grove temperatures got into the mid to upper 90s. There is an
abundance of new growth on trees of all ages. New crop fruit is progressing
well with normal sizes for the first of June. Harvest of Valencia oranges
is slowing as supplies are running low. Movement of all seedless grapefruit
is very slow as few processors are taking grapefruit. Many fresh fruit
packing houses are finished for the harvest season.
Caretakers are mowing, chopping, discing cover crops that have made
good growth with the recent rains. Summer fertilizations, sprays, and
herbicides are being applied in most areas. Pushing and burning dead trees
continues.
Estimated boxes harvested week ended
Crop Jun 9 Jun 16 Jun 23
Valencia oranges 3,860,000 2,743,000 NA
All grapefruit 256,000 149,000 NA
VEGETABLES: The hot temperatures coupled with the increasing supply of
vegetables from northern states are bringing commercial harvesting to an
end. Picking for local sales continues. Major vegetables shipped:
watermelons, sweet corn, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and
squash.
SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Picking virtually over.
CABBAGE: Harvest complete.
CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging is virtually finished.
SWEET CORN: North, Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Quality is generally
good. Everglades, East Coast--Picking is completed.
CUCUMBERS: North--Harvesting is winding down with only light supplies
remaining. Palmetto-Ruskin--Pickle picking is active with some fresh
varieties being harvested for local sales. Pickle quality is fair to good
with normal sizes of good color available. Southwest, East
Coast--Harvesting is completed.
EGGPLANT: North--Cutting continues. Light supplies are available for the
next few weeks. East Coast, Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Harvesting is
finished.
OKRA: Dade--Harvesting is active. A steady volume is available through late
August. Quality and yield are good.
PEPPERS: North--Harvesting is active. Supplies are decreasing seasonally.
Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair.
Sizes are small to medium. East Coast, Southwest--The season is finished..
POTATOES: Southwest, Dade, West Central--Harvest complete.
Hastings--Harvest virtually complete.
RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--The season is over.
SQUASH: North, North Central--Harvesting is near the end with only very
light supplies remaining. Palmetto-Ruskin, Dade, East Coast--Harvesting is
completed.
TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking is about half finished. Quality is mostly good.
Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is finished. Growers are preparing land for the
laying of fall crop plastic. East Coast, Dade, Southwest--Picking is
completed.
CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Picking is finished.
PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Picking is nearly done. Quality and sizes
are fair.
WATERMELONS: Western Panhandle--Picking is increasing. Quality is variable.
North--Harvesting is active with some good quality available. North
Central--Picking is virtually finished. Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Cutting
is finished.