HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS WEATHER & CROP NEWS Week ending September 22, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. September 23, 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEATHER SUMMARY: Drier weather during the week through Saturday, September 21 allowed field activity to increase over the southern Peninsula. Most central and southern acreage escaped heavy rainfall with almost all official stations reporting none to less than a half inch accumulation. Homestead and Miami recorded over an inch of rain for the week with most falling on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures hovered near normal. Daytime high temperatures were in the 80s and 90s while most nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s. A low of 59 degrees was recorded around Jacksonville. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate throughout the State with scattered areas of short or surplus moisture. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 10% (0%), short 16% (22%), adequate 64% (73%) , and surplus 10% (5%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 17% (21%), adequate 64% (74%), and surplus 19% (5%). Peanut condition is reported: 0% (0%) very poor, 18% (9%) poor, 4% (12%) fair, 40% (34%) good, and 38% (45%) excellent. Peanut harvest is reported at 39 percent. 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. Soybean growers are making preparations to start harvest. Sugarcane growers are starting to plant. 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 5% (0%), fair 25% (30%), and good 70% (70%). Armyworms are active in pastures in the northern counties. Cooler nighttime temperatures are slowing grass growth central and north. The State's cattle herd were rated at fair 10% (15%), good 85% (80%), and excellent 5% (5%). CITRUS: Florida's citrus groves are in very good to excellent condition. Moisture is generally adequate except for a few areas on the east coast where caretakers in most well-cared-for groves are running their low volume irrigation equipment to maintain good tree and fruit condition. Some early maturing varieties of fruit are starting to show color break. Testing continues on early oranges, Navels, Ambersweets, Fallglo and early bloom grapefruit. Fresh packing houses have packed and shipped Navels, Ambersweet oranges, Fallglo tangerines, and white and colored grapefruit. Caretakers are very active cutting cover crops prior to harvesting and in groves where the weeds have grown out of control. Growers are continuing to apply fall miticides and herbi- cides. Dead trees are being removed and burned with some resets going into larger groves. VEGETABLES VEGETABLES: Fieldwork increased in most areas with activity on schedule. A few growers are delaying planting until financing becomes available. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Crop in good condition. Planting slow but to increase around October 1. East Coast--Germination, plant growth good. Planting on plastic active. Planting of open ground acreage starting. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting slow but to increase over next two weeks. Southwest-- Field preparation active. CABBAGE: Hastings--Growers making field preparations. West Central--Planting starting. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. CARROTS: Zellwood--Planting continuing. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, Everglades--Crop in mostly good condition. Planting continuing. East Coast--Discing increasing as fields dry out from recent rainfall. Planting of limited acreage beginning. Dade--Crop in good condition. Growers to start planting larger acreage in October. Southwest--Planting underway. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting mostly steady with some producers finished. East Coast- Oldest acreage germinating well. Planting on used plastic slowly increasing. Laying of new plastic gaining momentum. Southwest- Crop condition good. Planting beginning. Dade--Pickle planting slow with producers to plant larger fields in October. Zellwood-- Planting of pickles active. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition rated very good. Plant growth, fruit development good with recent transplants showing good start. Oldest acreage beginning to set fruit. Transplanting continuing at steady pace. Dade--Transplanting of limited acreage underway. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Planting slowly increasing. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Planting active. OKRA: Dade--Crop condition good. Oldest plants starting to show blooms. Small volume being picked from summer acreage. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop in excellent condition. Oldest plants starting to bloom. Planting steady. East Coast--Bell, specialty varieties in mostly good condition. Some plants showing stress caused by heat. Blooming, fruit setting increasing in oldest fields. Transplanting steady. Laying of plastic active. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting steady, but beginning to slow seasonally. FLORIDA VEGETABLES Page 2 September 23, 1996 POTATOES: Southwest--Growers making field preparations. Planting to start in early October. RADISHES: Zellwood--Planting continuing. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting slow. East Coast--Yellow, zucchini varieties in mostly good condition. Recent seedings germinating well. Oldest plants showing blooms, light fruit sets. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting increasing seasonally. Harvest of limited summer acreage nearing end. Dade--Crop in good condition. Most acreage to be planted in October. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair condition as planting of very limited acreage begins. TOMATOES: Quincy--Crop condition good. Harvesting to start over next 5 to 7 days. Growers to start most first pickings in early October. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Plant growth fair. Fruit setting, sizing slowly. Planting almost finished. Staking nearly done. Workers making 1st, some 2nd ties. Southwest--Crop in good to excellent condition. Workers laying plastic, transplanting, tying, pruning, staking, spraying. Drier than normal fall rainfall keeping field work on schedule with most acreage escaping heavy downpours. East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Bloom buds, open bloom, limited fruit sets becoming more prevalent in oldest fields. Most growers drenching plants after transplanting to ensure proper moisture. Staking, tying, pruning increasing. Dade--Transplanting beginning with small acreage set. Laying of plastic very active with soil moisture levels just right for making beds. Spray programs for insect, disease control beginning. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting almost finished. Southwest--Crop in good condition. Planting slow. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop in good condition. Planting slow. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting almost completed. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting nearing end.