HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending September 15, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. September 16, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warm temperatures persisted during the week through Saturday, September 14. Daytime highs were in the 80s to 90s over the southern Peninsula while nighttime lows were in the 70s. Average temperatures for the week were within two degrees of normal. Heavy rainfall over some localities in the Southwest and Everglades caused local flooding during the first part of the week with funnel clouds forming near Wauchula. Precipitation for the week ranged from none in some Panhandle areas to over three inches in some Dade County localities. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate throughout the State with scattered areas of short or surplus moisture. Topsoil moisture condition, reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 0% (3%), short 22% (34%), adequate 73% (60%), and surplus 5% (3%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 21% (34%), adequate 74% (63%), and surplus 5% (3%). Peanut condition is reported: 0% (0%) very poor, 9% (0%) poor, 12% (4%) fair, 34% (85%) good, and 45% (11%) excellent. Peanut harvest is reported at 24%. Tobacco marketing is active. Cotton harvest is starting. Armyworms are beginning to show up in hayfields. Hay cutting is active. Corn for grain harvest is active. 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 30% (45%), and good 70% (50%). Armyworms are showing up in west central pastures. Recent rainfall in the southwest helped grass growth, however, too much rain has created flooding conditions in the area. The State's cattle herds were rated at fair 15% (30%), good 80% (65%), and excellent 5% (5%). CITRUS: Groves, trees, and new crop fruit are all in very good to excellent condition depending on location. Most areas of the citrus belt had plenty of rain the first of the week and then the dry conditions set in through Sunday. There is still plenty of new foliage on most young trees. Some growers are irrigating on the high sand hills to maintain good surface moisture levels. Fresh fruit packing houses are testing fruit for early picking. Last week, there were some Ambersweet oranges and Fallglo tangerines packed and shipped. There are some early bloom grapefruit very close to passing maturity tests. Caretakers are discing, chopping, and mowing cover crops that have grown tall and out of control. Fall herbicides and miticides are being applied between September rains. Lime and dolomite are being applied in most areas. VEGETABLES Wet fields delayed planting in some southern Peninsula localities during the first part of the week. Most activity got back on schedule during the latter part of week. SNAP BEANS: East Coast--Wet soils delayed discing, planting during first part of week with activity resuming later in week. Dade--Rains boosted growth, development. Planting of larger acreage underway. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting gaining momentum. Southwest--Planting to get underway soon. CABBAGE: Hastings--Growers making field preparations. West Central--Planting started. CARROTS: Zellwood--Planting active between showers. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Planting active. Oldest fields show good growth. Harvest of very small acreage continuing. Everglades--Planting continuing between rains. Oldest fields growing well. Some growers to start planting in late September, early October. East Coast--Wet soils slowed field preparation for a couple of days with most activity on schedule. Dade--Rains delaying planting, but expected to resume over next 5 to 7 days. Southwest--Planting to start over next 7 to 10 days. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting mostly steady. East Coast--Growers continuing to plant on used plastic between showers. Some laying of plastic slowed by wet conditions. Southwest--Planting to start in October. Dade-- Pickle planting beginning. Larger acreage to be planted in early October. Zellwood--Pickle planting underway. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop in very good condition. Oldest fields showing blooms. Planting steady. Staking, tying active. Dade--Plastic laying underway. Planting to begin by early October. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting winding down. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood--Light planting continuing. Everglades--Land preparation continuing as soils dry. Very limited planting underway. LETTUCE: Zellwood--Planting active. Everglades--Light planting underway. Land preparation continuing as soils dry. OKRA: Dade--Rainfall boosting growth, development. Condition rated very good. Oldest fields showing blooms. Producers still harvesting a very limited volume from summer acreage. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting increasing seasonally. East Coast--Crop condition rated mostly good. Plant growth improving. Fruit beginning to set in oldest fields. Some planting delayed by wet fields but most on schedule. Staking, tying active. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting steady. FLORIDA VEGETABLES Page 2 September 16, 1996 RADISHES: Zellwood--Planting underway. Land preparation active. Everglades--Land preparation active. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop in good condition. Light planting active. East Coast--Oldest plantings showing good germination, plant growth. Some ground preparation slowed by wet soils but most on schedule. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting mostly steady. Dade--Limited planting in mostly good condition. Most producers to begin planting in early October. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin, Lithia, Floral City--Ground preparation, laying of plastic active. TOMATOES: Quincy--Crop in good condition. Plants topping third tie. Scheduled spraying keeping disease under control. Harvesting to begin last week of September with most first picks to be made in early October. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition fair to good. Planting nearly finished. Fruit beginning to set. Spraying, staking, tying continuing. Southwest--Crop condition good. Laying of plastic, transplanting, staking, spraying active. East Coast--Crop condition fair to mostly good. Oldest plants showing blooms. Wet conditions during first part of week slowed field activity with most returning to schedule during latter part of week. Workers staking, tying, pruning oldest acreage. Spraying active. Dade--Seeding of small acreage underway. Laying of plastic beginning. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition fair to good. Planting nearing end. Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting getting underway. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting beginning. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting nearing end with some growers finished. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition fair to good. Planting winding down. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------