FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending September 7, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. September 8, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Temperatures at most of the official stations averaged one to two degrees below normal during the week of August 31 through September 6. Lows averaged in the upper 60s and low 70s, while highs averaged mostly in the upper 80s. Tampa and West Palm Beach reported lows averaging in the mid 70s and the weekly average temperature near normal. Low temperatures around Quincy were reported in the 60s. Scattered showers dropped from a trace to about three inches of rain at the official stations. Dade County unofficially received about two and a half inches of rain in southern localities and about five inches in northern localities. The Palmetto-Ruskin region unofficially received from a trace to about half an inch of rain. The Southwest area reported thunderstorms occurring nearly every afternoon. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly short to adequate in the Panhandle and the northern and central Peninsula with scattered areas of surplus moisture. In the southern Peninsula, top soil moisture is adequate to surplus. Peanut condition: poor 0%, fair 15%, good 64%, excellent 21%. Seventeen percent of the peanut acreage for nuts has been harvested. On some farms the soil is too hard for harvesting peanuts. Sugarcane growth is normal. Tobacco marketing is active. Dry weather is adversely affecting field crops and forage in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 4 3 1 1 Short 17 14 16 11 Adequate 62 43 58 48 Surplus 17 40 25 40 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture conditions improved in the central area where recent rains improved topsoil moisture. However, lack of moisture, and the beginning of the seasonal decline of pasture, reduced pasture conditions in the north and Panhandle areas. The quality of bahia grass, unless mowed, was reported poor in the northern area. Cattle were generally in good to excellent condition throughout the State. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 30 25 15 10 Good 55 45 70 80 Excellent 15 25 15 10 CITRUS: Fall is in the air! Lower temperatures, less rain, harvest has started and the love bugs have returned a little early in some places. There were a few days when the high temperatures reached the upper 80s and a few mornings were in the upper 60s, just about like late summer. Rainfall tapered off this week with fewer hard rains and thunderstorms. There were the exceptions. The 1997-98 citrus harvest season is underway. Picking crews have moved Navels, Fallglo tangerines, Ambersweet early oranges and both colored and white grapefruit into the packing houses. All fresh fruit shipments are limited at this time. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that have made good summer growth. Limited sprays and fertilizations are being applied in the well-cared-for groves. Pushing and burning of dead trees continues in all areas. VEGETABLES: The cooler nighttime temperatures are helping crop development in most areas. Palmetto-Ruskin: Tomatoes are in fair to good condition with planting slowing seasonally. Some growers have finished planned tomato transplanting. Snap bean condition is fair as planting slowly gets underway. Pickle planting is starting. Squash planting is gaining momentum with condition rated fair to good. Planting of eggplant is slowing while cherry tomato planting is complete. The condition of cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, squash, watermel ons, cherry tomatoes, and plum tomatoes is rated fair to good. Other field activities include spraying, staking, and tying of tomatoes; and mostly steady planting of cucumbers, peppers, watermelons, and plum tomatoes. Cabbage planting is expected to begin over the next five to seven days. East Coast: Wet fields are slowing ground preparation and the laying of plastic. Tomatoes are in mostly good condition with transplanting and staking gaining momentum. Eggplant is in mostly good condition with transplanting, staking, and tying active. Transplanting of Bell and specialty varieties of peppers is starting to increase with oldest fields showing mostly good plant growth and crop development. Light seeding of cucumbers is getting underway. A small acreage of snap beans was seeded. Southwest: Overall tomato condition is rated fair to good with high soil temperatures causing some stress to young transplants. Tomato transplanting is very active with staking and spraying continuing. Squash is in fair to good condition as planting gains momentum. Planting of eggplant, peppers, cherry tomatoes, and plum tomatoes is increasing with condition of all rated fair to good. Dade: Rainfall aided the growth of okra with condition rated good. Harvesting of okra remains active with good quality and yield. Ground preparations and the laying of plastic for the planting of tomatoes are increasing with most producers to start transplanting in mid to late October. Snap bean planting is slowly increasing with larger acreage to be planted in October. Quincy: Cool night temperatures are aiding the setting of fruit on tomato plants with condition rated good. Workers are finishing second ties and beginning to make the third ties on tomatoes. Tomato picking is expected to start in late September. Plant City: Strawberry growers are preparing land for transplant ing which is expected to start in late September or early October. Zellwood: The planting of sweet corn continues.