HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS WEATHER & CROP NEWS Week ending September 1, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. September 3, 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEATHER SUMMARY: Many areas received rain during the first part of the week with mostly dry conditions for the rest of the period allowing fieldwork to gain momentum. Rainfall totals ranged from none at some southern Peninsula stations to about four inches at some western Panhandle locations. Temperatures for the week averaged normal to two degrees below normal with highs in the 80s and 90s and lows in the 60s and 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly short to adequate throughout the State. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 7% (2%), short 21% (15%), adequate 71% (83%), and surplus 1% (0%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 1% (0%), short 12% (11%), adequate 74% (86%), and surplus 13% (3%). Peanut condition is reported: 0% (1%) very poor, 18% (2%) poor, 12% (23%) fair, 64% (52%) good, and 6% (22%) excellent. Peanut harvest is reported at 5 percent complete. Tobacco harvest is complete. Tobacco marketing is active. Hay cutting is active. Corn for grain harvest is active. Cotton growers are making preparations to start harvest. Soybeans and sugarcane are in good condition. LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of the State's ranges and pastures was rated from very poor to excellent (previous week's rating in parentheses): poor 0% (5%), fair 25% (10%), good 75% (70%), and excellent 0% (15%). Scattered rain showers were reported in most areas of the State. However, pastures in the central and southeast areas were reported dry. Army worms are damaging some pastures in some northern counties. The State's cattle herds were rated at fair 15% (10%), good 70% (80%), and excellent 15% (10%). CITRUS: Groves, trees, and new crop fruit are in very good to excellent condition depending on location and recent grove care. There were rains of all descriptions in all areas this week. There is generally adequate surface soil moisture in all areas of the citrus belt. Most young tree groves still have an abundance of new growth while many older trees are showing mostly dark green mature foliage. Fruit sizes are about average for the first of September, however, a few early bloom grapefruit and Navel groves have better than average sizes for this time of year. Packing houses are continuing to test fruit for early picking and shipping. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops that made good summer growth. Growers are herbiciding, spraying, and fertilizing between rain showers. Dead tree removal and some resetting continues. VEGETABLES: Nearly ideal conditions existed for the laying of plastic and planting during most of the week. Planting of cucumbers, squash, watermelons, cherry tomatoes, and plum tomatoes is steady in the West Central region while pepper and snap bean planting is getting underway. Peppers and plum tomatoes are in good condition in the Southwest area. East Coast producers began snap bean and squash planting, and continued pepper and eggplant planting. Dade County growers started planting snap beans and continued weekly okra planting. Transplanting of tomatoes is slowing in the Palmetto-Ruskin area with some producers finished. Southwestern tomato planting is increasing seasonally with condition of earlier plantings rated good. Tomato transplanting in the East Coast region is active with growth of earlier plantings rated mostly good. Tomatoes around Quincy show excellent growth.