fl-crop-weather Week ending June 14, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. June 15, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: The week of June 7 through June 13 was another hot week. Record-high temperatures again occurred in several areas. Most daytime highs averaged in the 90s while most lows averaged in the 70s. Scattered afternoon and evening showers dropped varying amounts of rain over several Peninsula localities. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the State is mostly very short to short with a few scattered areas of adequate moisture. The State is in need of rain. Brush fires are a problem in the north and central areas. All dry land crops are moisture stressed. Dry soil is delaying cotton and soybean planting in most areas. Some farmers are replanting cotton because of poor stands due to dry soil conditions. Farmers are spraying for thrips in cotton and peanut fields. Corn earworms are a problem in some peanut fields. Growers are cutting hay where growth allows. The dry weather has slowed forage development in some areas. Ninety-five percent of the peanuts are planted. Twenty-eight percent of the peanuts are pegging. Peanut condition: very poor 8%, poor 6%, and fair 86%. Sugarcane growth is normal. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 26 34 14 26 Short 46 60 51 58 Adequate 28 6 35 16 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of pasture in the Panhandle varied, depending on amount of rainfall (0 - 1.5 in.) received. Pasture which did not receive rain is not growing. Pastures in the north and central areas had little growth due to drought conditions. The west central pasture condition improved a little due to very much needed rain. Statewide, cattle condition was very poor to good. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 10 15 0 10 Poor 40 20 5 5 Fair 40 60 75 55 Good 10 5 20 30 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: There were record-high temperatures in Florida's citrus belt this week with only a few spotty, light showers. The intense heat and lack of rain have kept growers and caretakers working with their irrigation equipment around the clock. Well-cared-for groves are in good condition; however, those non-irrigated groves are in various stages of wilt with some leaf and new crop fruit loss. New crop fruit condition generally varies depending on location, recent care, and irrigation. Valencia harvest is slowing as available supplies are running low in all areas. Grapefruit movement is about over as most packing houses are closed for the season and only a few processors are running grapefruit. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops to help preserve moisture. Very little spraying, herbiciding and/or fertilizing are being done during the current drought. There are some reset trees being planted in partially pushed orange blocks. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 31 Jun 7 Jun 14 Valencia oranges 4,138,000 4,117,000 2,942,000 All grapefruit 335,000 215,000 41,000 VEGETABLES: Most areas are needing rain. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, carrots, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: North-- Harvesting continues. Quality remains mostly good. East Coast, West Central, Dade, Southwest--The season is complete. BLUEBERRIES: West Central, North--Picking continues to decline. Quality is mostly good. CABBAGE: Dade, West Central, Central, Hastings--Harvest season is complete. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging continues with declining yields. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Harvest continues. Yield and quality are very good. East Coast--Workers are cleaning ditches, working ground. A limited acreage is left for local sales. Everglades, Southwest--The season is complete. CUCUMBERS: North--Harvest is active. Yield and quality are mostly good. West Central--Pickle harvest is still active but slowing, with the remaining crop in fair condition. Fruit quality is fair to good. Size is variable. East Coast--Pulling plastic is very active, discing up ground, cleaning up ditches, season completed. Southwest, Dade, Zellwood-- The season is complete. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is fair to good, cutting mostly fancy and mediums. Quality and color are mostly good. Older fields killed, string cut, stakes pulled, and cleanup very active. Southwest, Dade-- Season is complete. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: The season is over. LETTUCE: The season is over. OKRA: Dade--Quality and yield are good. A fair supply is available. Some light showers this week kept fields in good shape with the help of some irrigation. PEPPERS: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvest is declining. Quality and color are fair to good. Size is variable. East Coast--Workers are busy pulling stakes, mowing old crop. Pulling up plastic, cleaning ditches, and discing up ground is very active in all areas. Harvest is virtually finished for spring crop. Southwest-- Harvesting is complete. POTATOES: Southwest, Dade, West Central--Potato harvest is complete for the year. Hastings--Harvest is virtually complete. RADISHES: The season is over. SQUASH: Harvest is complete except for a few small fields for local market. STRAWBERRIES: The season is over. TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvest is underway. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Harvest is slowing with yield and volume seasonally slowing. Pin hookers are very active. Crop condition is fair. Quality is fair to good, size variable. Some farmers are already cleaning up some fields and getting ready for the fall. East Coast-- Crop condition is mostly good for the limited acreage remaining. Crown picks provide good quality and sizes. Plants are showing some deterioration from inside-out due to heat and humidity. Harvest volume is moderate for the limited acreage. Southwest, Dade--The season is over. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Picking continues to decline as the season progresses. Quality is mostly fair with some good. Size and color are fair to good. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is mostly fair. Harvest continues to wind down due to the season and weather. Quality and size are fair to good. WATERMELONS: Central--Crop condition is mostly fair. Harvesting is slowing as volume and yield are declining. Sizes are mostly small and medium. Color is good. Southwest-- Crop condition is poor. Harvest in most fields is winding down or complete. Quality and size are fair to good. North--Hot weather continues to affect plant growth and fruit development in some areas.