fl-crop-weather

Week ending July 18, 1999
                             Released 4:00 P.M.
                                                              July 19, 1999

WEATHER SUMMARY: The clash of the sea breezes continued to cause scattered
afternoon showers during the week of July 11 through 17. Rainfall ranged
from traces at West Palm Beach and Ft. Pierce to about three and a quarter
inches at Tallahassee. Temperatures were within one to two degrees of
normal. Daytime highs were in the 80s and 90s while nighttime lows were in
the 60s and 70s.

FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is adequate to surplus
with scattered areas of short moisture in the central Peninsula. Cotton is
blooming and is in mostly good condition. Weeds and grass are problems in
some cotton and peanut fields. Daily rains in some areas are causing delays
in haying and land preparation. Sugarcane growth is normal. Tobacco harvest
is active and haying is active when weather permits. Peanut condition: fair
4%, good 51%, excellent 45%. Peanuts pegged is reported at 91%.

     Moisture              Topsoil                      Subsoil
     Rating        Last week     This week     Last week      This week

                                         Percent
 Very short                 1              0             0              0
 Short                      3             12             7             10
 Adequate                  67             75            56             80
 Surplus                   29             13            37             10

LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: In the Panhandle cattle and calves are in excellent
condition. However, rain almost every day made hay making impossible. In
the northern counties, Bahia seed was harvested. There are some dry
locations in the north and west central counties, while most places have
received ample rain. Pastures are steadily improving due to recent
scattered rains. Hay harvesting is increasing, when weather permits. Cattle
and calves are in good condition. In the south and southwest, cattle,
calves, and pasture are in excellent condition.

                           Range                        Cattle
   Condition
                  Last week      This week     Last week      This week
                                         Percent
 Very poor                  0              0             0              0
 Poor                       5              0             5              0
 Fair                      20             20            20             15
 Good                      60             60            70             60
 Excellent                 15             20             5             25

CITRUS: There were several light scattered showers this week in all areas
of the State. Some growers on high sand hills were running their irrigation
to maintain good tree condition when there were fewer rains in their area.
The current warm and humid weather is promoting an abundance of new growth
on trees of all ages. New crop fruit of varying sizes continues to make
good progress. There are a few small fresh juice plants running limited
amounts of Valencia oranges and few if any grapefruit.

    Caretakers are very active cutting cover crops that have grown out of
control with the help of the summer rains. Spraying, fertilizing and
herbiciding continues in all areas. Dead tree removal and abandoned grove
pushing have been reported in most areas. Growers are burning debris with
the proper permits.

VEGETABLES: Tomato planting around Quincy is getting underway. Watermelon
harvesting is nearly finished. Producers in Dade County continue to pick
okra. Summer crop mustard greens and collards around Webster are in good
condition. Planting of Bell peppers is starting in the East Coast region.
Land preparation for fall crop planting is active over the central and
southern Peninsula.

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