fl-crop-weather
Week ending October 3, 1999
Released 4:00 P.M.
October 4, 1999
WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers brought varying amounts of rain during
the week of September 26 through October 2. The Palmetto-Ruskin area
received about a half inch to three inches with most falling in eastern
parts. The Southwest picked up a trace to one inch, while Dade County
collected one and a third to two inches. Ft. Pierce received about an inch
and a half. Rainfall at the major stations varied from traces to over three
inches. Temperatures for the week averaged one to three degrees above
normal at the major stations. Daytime highs were mostly in the 80s with
several localities recording at least one high in the 90s. Nighttime lows
were in the 60s and 70s with Valparaiso reporting at least one low in the
50s.
FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the western Panhandle is mostly very short
to short. Moisture in the eastern Panhandle and Peninsula is mostly
adequate to surplus with scattered areas of short moisture. Cotton harvest
is starting. Tobacco marketing resumed on September 27 after being
suspended on September 15 due to problems caused by Hurricane Floyd in
North Carolina. Haying is active. Soybean harvest is starting. Sugarcane
conditions continue to be normal. Seventy-one percent of the peanuts for
nuts are reported harvested.
Moisture Topsoil Subsoil
Rating Last week This week Last week This week
Percent
Very short 6 3 8 6
Short 17 8 31 5
Adequate 62 61 47 55
Surplus 15 28 14 34
LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: In the Panhandle, pastures were mostly in poor to
good condition. Temporary winter pastures need rain in the western
Panhandle to get the seed to sprout. Pasture and range conditions in the
rest of the State were in fair to good condition. Cattle condition is
reported lower in the Panhandle than in any other areas of the State.
Haying is active in most areas of the State.
Range Cattle
Condition
Last week This week Last week This week
Percent
Very poor 5 0 0 0
Poor 5 5 0 0
Fair 40 35 20 35
Good 50 60 80 45
Excellent 0 0 0 20
CITRUS: All areas of the citrus belt had a lot of rain on Monday and then
it was dry most of the week until Sunday when showers covered virtually all
of the Florida's citrus producing counties. Moisture is generally adequate.
There is very little irrigation being used at this time. New growth is
slowing as there are decreasing hours of daylight. New crop fruit continues
to make good progress with the help of the abundant moisture. However,
there are reports of some fruit splitting which is to be expected in the
wet areas. Many packing houses have field representatives testing the
maturity of the early bloom fruit for fresh shipments. There have been some
Navels, Ambersweet oranges, Fallglo tangerines and grapefruit shipped in
limited quantities.
Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have made
good growth with help of the September rains. Young tree fertilizations
continues in most areas. New crop fruit being grown for fresh utilization
are still being sprayed. Abandoned groves are being pushed and reset.
VEGETABLES: Harvesting of Bell peppers started in the East Coast region.
Strawberry transplanting began in the Palmetto- Ruskin area. Clearer
conditions allowed most fieldwork to get back on schedule.
SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--The crop is in very good condition. Planting
is increasing. Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Oldest plants are
starting to emerge. Planting is gaining momentum. East Coast--The crop is
in good condition. Plants are making good stands. Planting is active.
CABBAGE: West Central--Transplanting is active. Crop is in fair to good
condition. Growth and development are normal. North Central--Transplanting
is active. Growth and development are normal. Hastings--Transplanting is
active. Growth and development are normal.
CELERY: Everglades--Transplanting continues.
SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Picking is expected to start in November.
Everglades--Planting is increasing. East Coast-- Growers continue to
prepare land with workers discing land and clearing ditches. Dade--Planting
is expected to start in November.
CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to
good. Planting is winding down with some producers done. East Coast--Most
of the oldest seeding is germinating well with young plants showing good
growth. Thinning is active. Seeding is gaining momentum. Southwest-- Crop
condition is fair to good. Planting is gaining momentum.
PICKLES: Zellwood--Picking is active. West Central--The crop is in fair to
good condition. Planting continues to slow with some growers done.
Dade--Crop condition is very good. Recent rains boosted plant growth.
EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Young seeded plants
are blooming and setting fruit. Fruit is gaining size on oldest plants.
West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth and fruit
development are normal. Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting
continues on schedule with a small acreage set. Southwest--Crop condition
is rated fair to good. Planting is gaining momentum.
ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Planting continues.
LETTUCE: Everglades--Planting is active.
OKRA: Dade--The crop is in good condition. Recent rains boosted crop growth
and development. Harvesting continues. Quality and yield are good.
PEPPERS: East Coast--Growth and development of young plants are improving
with setting of fruit starting. Growers are irrigating some of the younger
acreage. Transplanting remains active. Initial harvest started with good
quality available. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Crop condition is rated
fair to good. Planting is steady. West Central--Condition is fair to good.
Planting is slowing seasonally with some growers done.
RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Planting is active.
SQUASH: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is
slow. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is steady.
East Coast--Crop condition is rated mostly good. Fruit is setting well and
gaining size. Planting is active. Picking is expected to start in about
seven to ten days.
STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Transplanting
is underway. Plant City--Most of the plastic for winter crop planting has
been laid. Transplanting is expected to start within the next five to seven
days.
TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvesting is gaining momentum. East Coast--Crop
condition varies but is mostly good. Oldest plants are nearing the top of
stakes. Fruit is gaining size in oldest fields. Blooming is increasing in
younger fields. Transplanting is active. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is
rated fair to good. Transplanting is finished. Harvesting is expected to
begin soon. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Recent
adverse weather caused some scattered damage. Transplanting is steady.
Recent rains reduced the effectiveness of pesticides with workers making
steady spray applications to combat disease and insects. Dade--The crop is
in good condition. Transplanting is slow due to recent adverse weather.
Spraying is active to help prevent disease and insect damage.
CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Picking is
gaining momentum. Quality and color are good. Southwest--Crop condition is
rated fair to good. Planting continues at a steady pace.
PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition.
Planting is virtually done. Picking is expected to start in about one to
two weeks. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting
remains steady.
WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting is
gaining momentum. Quality and color are good. Sizes are variable.
Southwest--The crop is rated fair to good. Plant growth and fruit
development are normal.
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