fl-crop-weather Week ending February 7, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. February 8, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warm temperatures continued during the week of January 31 through February 6. The weekly temperatures at the major stations averaged five to ten degrees above normal. Most highs were in the 70s and 80s while most lows were in the 50s and 60s. Pensacola, Gainesville, Ocklawaha, Pierson, Tallahassee, and Tavares recorded at least one low temperature in the 40s, while Tallahassee also had at least one low in the 30s. Rainfall for the week totaled about a half inch to an inch and a half in many northern and central areas. Homestead and Immokalee recorded no significant rain for the week. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the Panhandle is adequate. Northern Peninsula topsoil moisture is short to adequate with areas of surplus moisture. Moisture in the southern part of the Peninsula is short to adequate. Tobacco growers are taking care of plant beds. Spring crop land preparation is active. Sugarcane harvest is active. Sugarcane planting is virtually complete. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 1 0 1 0 Short 19 26 38 23 Adequate 80 73 61 74 Surplus 0 1 0 3 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Permanent pasture started to green-up in the Panhandle following unusually mild temperatures. There was some growth of winter small grain forages in the Panhandle and the west central areas. In the southwest, ranchers were burning off old-growth pastures. Statewide, cattle and calves were mostly in fair condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 20 30 15 15 Fair 65 55 70 65 Good 10 15 15 20 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: This week was virtually picture perfect. Cool nights with sunny days and temperatures in the 80s were the rule in the citrus belt the first of February. Many growers are irrigating to maintain good tree condition just before the bloom period which should begin by the end of February. New growth and pin head buds are showing primarily in the southern citrus counties. Early and midseason fruit generally are maturing rapidly with excellent solids and juice levels. Harvesting crews are moving large quantities of all types of early fruit to the processors. Most fresh fruit packing houses are completing their early orange pack and moving into a few Valencia shipments along with large quantities of grapefruit, honey tangerines, Temples and tangelos. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops prior to harvesting. Growers in all areas are fertilizing, hedging, topping and spraying. Resets are being planted in larger groves following dead tree removal. Some abandoned grapefruit groves are being pushed and burned. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 24 Jan 31 Feb 7 Navel oranges 46,000 65,000 54,000 Early & Mid oranges 6,212,000 7,354,000 7,775,000 Valencia oranges 11,000 26,000 89,000 All grapefruit 1,106,000 1,561,000 1,817,000 Early Tangerines 26,000 18,000 18,000 Honey Tangerines 100,000 138,000 120,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 1,000 4,000 0 Tangelos 130,000 149,000 143,000 Temples 79,000 110,000 124,000 VEGETABLES: Drying soils increased the need for irrigation around Immokalee and Homestead. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, cabbage, sweet corn, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, peppers, pickles, radishes, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting continues with many fields being double cropped. Harvesting is active with good quality and yield available. Volume is good. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Young acreage is growing well. Picking continues. Volume remains light. Quality and color are good. Southwest--The crop condition is good. Plant growth is improving. Planting is steady. Picking continues at a steady pace. Quality is good. Everglades-- Spring crop prospects are good with picking to begin about mid- March. Harvesting for local sales is active. CABBAGE: West Central--Harvest is seasonally slowing. Quality is good. Size is fair to good. Color is good. Cabbage planting is winding down. The crop is in fair to good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Hastings--Harvest is steady. Planting is active. The crop is in good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Zellwood--Harvested is very active. Quality is good. Dade_Cabbage harvest is active with normal yield and good quality. Everglades--Harvest is active. CARROTS: All areas--Digging continues. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting is active. SWEET CORN: Dade--Young acreage is in good condition. Harvesting is active with a good supply available. Quality and yield are good. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is slowly increasing as growers start picking larger acreage. Quality is good. Crates are averaging 48 to 52 ears. Everglades-- Spring crop prospects are good. Harvesting for shipment will start in March. Picking for the local market continues. Quality is good. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is increasing. Harvesting of the fall and winter acreage is virtually finished. East Coast-- Oldest acreage is forming runners and blooming. Planting remains active. The warm weather is boosting germination. West Central--Crop condition is good. Planting is gaining momentum. PICKLES: Dade--Harvesting remains active. Quality is fair. Yield is low. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Planting is increasing. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is rated good. Picking continues at a light to moderate pace. Volume of fancy grades is good. Quality and color are good. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting continues with good yield and quality available. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is slowing seasonally. Harvesting continues with good quality available. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth and development are normal. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting is very active. Quality and yield are good. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting is increasing seasonally. Quality and yield are good. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting of fall and early winter acreage is virtually finished. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Picking is steady. Quality is good. East Coast--Young acreage is in good condition. Fields nearing maturity are showing large sized pods of very good quality. Picking of green and red Bells and specialty varieties continues at a steady pace. Laying of plastic and transplanting are active. Workers continue to inject fertilizer and spray for control of insects and disease as needed. West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is increasing seasonally. POTATOES: Dade--The potato crop looks very good with volume harvest expected to begin March 1. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Growth and development are good. Harvest has started. Quality and size are good. West Central-- The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Hastings--Planting is active. Growth and development are normal. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Digging is very active. Quality is good. SQUASH: Dade--Condition is good. Harvesting continues. Quality and yield are very good. A good volume is available through March. East Coast--Warm temperatures are aiding plant growth and the setting and sizing of fruit. Harvesting of a light volume of zucchini remains active. Quality and color are very good. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is winding down. Picking remains steady. Quality is good. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is mostly steady. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. Yield and volume are increasing. Dade--U-Pic harvesting continues with good quality and volume available. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Fruit set and sizing are good. Planting is winding down. Picking remains steady with good quality available. Yield is good with good supplies of all sizes available. Gradeout is about normal. Dade--Crop condition is good. Young vines are setting good hands. Fruit sizing is good. Picking continues with good quality available. Yield and packout are good. A good volume is available into late March. East Coast--Crop condition is improving. Warm temperatures accelerated plant growth, blooming, and fruit setting in older fields. Some fruit is reaching maturation sooner than expected. Harvesting continues. Quality and sizes are improving. Palmetto-Ruskin-- The crop is in good condition. Plant growth is good. Transplanting continues with staking and tying active. Quincy- -Producers continue to lay plastic with rain continuing to cause some delays. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is nearing the end with most growers finished. Picking remains steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is mostly steady with some producers finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Picking continues with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Planting is steady with some growers finished. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is steady. Plant growth is good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- The crop is in good condition. Planting continues to increase. Plant growth is normal. North--Land preparations for planting are increasing. 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.