FLORIDA WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS
Week ending February 22, 1998
Released 4:00 P.M.
February 23, 1998
WEATHER SUMMARY: Stormy weather at the beginning of the week gave way to
partly cloudy skies accompanied by scattered showers during the remainder
of the week of February 15 through 21. Rain from the early week storms
ranged from two and a half to over nine inches with only traces to about an
inch accumulating during the rest of the week. Temperatures averaged four
to six degrees above normal. Highs averaged mostly in the 70s and 80s while
lows averaged mostly in the 50s. Lowest temperatures for the week dipped
into the 40s at Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, and Orlando with Valparaiso
recording at least one low at 39 degrees. Some western Panhandle and
northern localities reported frost for the week. A low pressure system
again passed over the southeast United States on Sunday and Monday,
February 22 and 23, bringing abundant rain, some hail, and strong winds to
the western Panhandle, northern Peninsula, and many central Peninsula
localities with tornadoes causing devastating losses to life and property
in some localities.
FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus through out the State
with flooded fields in many areas. Sugarcane growth is normal. Sugarcane
harvest was delayed by wet fields. Tobacco growers are taking care of plant
beds. Field preparations for spring planted crops were delayed by wet
conditions.
Moisture Topsoil Subsoil
Rating Last week This week Last week This week
Percent
Very short 0 0 0 0
Short 3 0 0 0
Adequate 46 9 43 12
Surplus 51 91 57 88
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures were reported in very poor to fair
condition in many areas due to flooding. In the Panhandle, colder than
normal weather also held back growth. Ranchers in the Panhandle were
keeping the cattle out of the small grain winter pasture because the soil
was too wet. The cattle in most of the State were in good condition.
Ranchers were provid ing supplemental feed.
Range Cattle
Condition
Last week This week Last week This week
Percent
Very poor 0 20 0 0
Poor 50 25 15 15
Fair 40 35 40 50
Good 10 20 45 35
Excellent 0 0 0 0
CITRUS: Most all citrus groves are wet as a result of two or more days of
hard rains. Ponds, lakes, and water reservoirs around groves are all at
high levels. Some caretakers have closed their shops and shut down the
field work on these rain-filled days. There is an abundance of new growth
starting to form on trees of all ages. Bloom buds are showing in various
stages. There are a few groves with a lot of trees showing open bloom
flowers. Harvesting crews are trying to wind up early and midseason orange
harvest between rain showers and having loads limited at the processing
plants. Movement of all seedless grapefruit continues to be fairly strong
with most of the activity limited to the lower east coast. Picking crews
are moving Temples and Honey tangerines to fresh packing houses and to
juice plants.
Caretakers are cutting cover crops when the weather permits. Rains have
also limited spraying and fertilizing. Hedging and topping continues in
picked groves.
Estimated boxes harvested week ended
Crop Feb 8 Feb 15 Feb 22
Navel oranges 61,000 54,000 14,000
Early & Mid oranges 8,373,000 7,576,000 4,830,000
Valencia oranges 268,000 558,000 969,000
All grapefruit 1,745,000 1,683,000 1,669,000
Tangerines 24,000 10,000 5,000
Honey tangerines 94,000 108,000 100,000
Temples 255,000 255,000 213,000
Tangelos 61,000 30,000 20,000
VEGETABLES: Storms at the beginning of the week caused some crop damage in
the Palmetto-Ruskin, Plant City, Zellwood, East Coast, and most northern
regions. However, most southern Peninsula growing areas escaped severe
damage from the February 22 and 23 storms. Strawberry volume is running
below normal with over half of the mature berries lost due to rain damage.
The Plant City Strawberry Festival begins Thursday, February 26. Vegetables
harvested during the week include snap beans, cabbage, carrots, celery,
sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley,
peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, Chinese cabbage, strawberries, and
tomatoes.
SNAP BEANS: Dade--The condition of young fields is improv ing due to the
effects of fertilizer and beneficial showers. Harvest ing remains active
with good quality available. Yield is improving. Volume is expected to be
good through the middle of April. East Coast--Crop condition is fair to
good. Hand picks are yielding a light volume. Quality is generally good.
Planting of a small acreage is active. Southwest--The crop is in fair to
good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. Harvesting is active
with fair quality available. Some beans show scarring due to recent adverse
weather.
CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage is being cut on a weekly schedule with good quality
and yields. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Growth and development
are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Heads have fair quality and color.
Size is mostly small and large with few mediums. Planting is winding down.
Central, Hastings-- Fields are wet. Harvest is delayed. Growth and
development are slow. Quality is mostly good.
CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging continues with some activity delayed due to
muddy fields early in the week. Quality is generally good.
SWEET CORN: Dade--Young acreage is in good condition. Harvesting remains
active with average quality available. Growers hand picked some acreage due
to muddy conditions. Volume is increasing with supplies available into
early April. East Coast-- Young fields are recovering well from recent wind
damage. Acreage nearing maturity is in mostly good condition. Harvesting is
slowly increasing. Quality is improving. Crates are averaging 48 ears each.
Some yields are below usual. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good
condition. Planting continues at a steady pace.
CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Plants in unprotected areas are slowly recovering
from recent wind damage. Planting is steady. Recent plantings are making a
good start. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is steady.
Picking of winter acreage is virtually finished. West Central--Planting
continues at a slow pace.
EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young plant growth and development continues at a
slow pace. Cutting of a light volume remains active. Quality is mostly good
with some scarred fruit not meeting grade. Planting continues.
Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvest ing is steady with fair
quality available. Some fruit is not meeting grade due to scarring.
Dade--Plants are recovering from recent wind damage with growers pruning
some damaged parts. Cutting continues with fair quality available. Yield is
low. West Central-- Planting continues at a slow pace as weather permits.
ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--Harvesting is active. Quality is generally
good.
LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting of light supplies continues.
OKRA: Dade--Planting of summer acreage is expected to start in April.
PEPPERS: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting is finished.
Picking is steady with fair to good quality available. East Coast--Young
acreage shows improved growth and development. Crown picks of green Bells
continue to yield good quality and sizes. A light volume of red and yellow
Bells and specialty varieties remains available. Planting continues.
Workers continue to clear acreage completely harvested. West
Central--Planting is steady with growers replanting some acreage ruined by
recent adverse weather.
POTATOES: Wet fields are a problem in the central and Hastings areas of the
State with scattered areas of flooding. Southwest--Crop is in fair to good
condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. Potatoes harvest is
steady. Potatoes harvested are of good quality. Dade--Potatoes look good.
Young fields are growing well with oldest fields killed on a weekly
schedule. Harvest is starting with good quality and yield. Potatoes are
smaller than normal in size. Spraying is controlling disease. West
Central--Crop is in poor to fair condition. Growth and development are
slow. Hastings--Potato planting is behind schedule due to the wet weather.
Washing from heavy rain is a problem in some fields with exposed seed
pieces. In some fields the potato crop is in good condition. Growth and
development are slow because of the cooler than normal temperatures.
RADISHES: Everglades--Harvesting continues. Supplies are light. Quality is
generally good. Zellwood--Muddy conditions hurt some acreage and delayed
some harvesting.
SQUASH: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is
winding down. Picking remains steady with fair quality available. East
Coast--Crop condition is fair to good. Young acreage is recovering slowly
from recent adverse weather. Planting of a limited acreage continues.
Harvest of a light volume is active. Dade--Young fields are growing well.
Picking continues with good quality available. Yield is fair with a steady
volume available through mid-April.
STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Heavy rain continues to reduce supplies with
volume running about half of last year. Over half of the mature berries
were lost due to rain damage. Picking continued during clearer weather with
variable quality available. Volume is expected to increase if weather stays
clear. The festival begins Thursday, February 26. Palmetto-Ruskin--Plant
condition is poor to fair. Recent strong winds knocked blooms off some
plants. Heavy rainfall at the start of the week damaged some ripe berries.
Harvesting continues during clearer weather with fair quality and color
available. Sizes are medium. Dade--U-Pic harvesting is producing excellent
quality. Yield is increasing.
TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Plant
growth is good. Fruit set is fair to good with some increased bloom drop
due to strong winds. Fruit sizing is good. Picking continues at a steady
pace with fair to good quality available. First picks are yielding 5x6 to
6x6 sizes while second and third pick sizes are running 6x6 to 6x7. East
Coast--Condi tion is fair to good. Older plants are recovering from recent
wind damage. Blooming and fruit setting are fair. Growers finished spot
resetting of youngest acreage. Harvesting continues with growers making
first, second, third and some fourth picks. Quality is good with crown
picks yielding 5x6, 6x6, and 6x7 sizes. Dade-- Condition is fair with
plants showing the effects of recent wind damage. Picking is active. First
and second picks are producing 6x6 and 5x6 sizes while third picks are
yielding mostly 6x6 and 6x7 sizes. Volume is fair with steady supplies
expected through late March or early April. Palmetto-Ruskin--Transplanting
continues between the rains with activity about two to three weeks behind
usual. Growers are making spot resets for plants damaged by the adverse
weather. Quincy--Wet fields continue to delay laying of plastic and
transplanting.
CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Planting is
finished. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting continues
to yield fair to good quality.
PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking remains
active. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Planting remains active.
Growers reset some plants damaged by the recent adverse weather.
WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continues
at a steady pace. West Central--Producers continue to reset plants damaged
by the recent bad weather. Planting remains active. Sumter County--Planting
is active.