HDR101200019001 FL WEATHER & CROP NEWS Week ending January 5, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. January 6, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Very warm and dry conditions existed during the week of December 29 through January 4 with temperatures for the week averaging from five to nineteen degrees above normal. High temperatures were in the 70s and 80s while lows were in the 50s and 60s. Most official weather stations recorded no measurable rain for the week. A few extreme southern and southeast coastal localities reported from less than a tenth to over an inch of rain while some western Panhandle areas received from a quarter to two thirds inch of precipitation. The weather caused foggy mornings in most areas. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle and short to adequate in the northern Peninsula. The southern Peninsula moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of very short moisture. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 4% (3%), short 49% (55%), adequate 40% (37%), and surplus 7% (5%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 1% (3%), short 40% (35%), adequate 52% (57%), and surplus 7% (5%). Sugarcane harvest is active. Sugarcane planting is winding down. Growers are taking soil samples and preparing fields for spring crops. Growers are starting to plant tobacco beds. Pine tree planting is active. 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); very poor 5% (0%), poor 10% (10%), fair 50% (55%), and good 35% (35%). Pastures are in poor shape in the west central and southern part of the peninsula due to lack of moisture. Small grain winter pasture is in fair to good condition in the Panhandle, helped by warmer weather. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 0% (10%), fair 60% (55%), and good 40% (35%). CITRUS: Temperatures highs were above the 80 degree mark all week in virtually all citrus groves. There was no measurable rain of any significance except for a few light coastal showers. Growers in all areas are using irrigation to maintain good tree and fruit condition. Harvest is increasing following the holiday slow down. Picking crews are moving large amounts of early and midseason oranges to the processors and smaller quantities to the fresh packers. Movement of all seedless grapefruit is increasing with most of these coming from the lower east coast. Harvest of Temples is increasing as most of these speciality fruits are now passing maturity tests. Picking of tangelos is active for both fresh and process utilization. Caretakers are mowing, discing and chopping cover crops prior to harvest and for fire protection. Many growers are starting to fertilize. Hedging and topping are very active. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 22 Dec 29 Jan 5 Navel oranges 543,000 141,000 594,000 Early and Mid oranges 9,661,000 5,840,000 8,872,000 All grapefruit 1,153,000 466,000 875,000 Tangerines 503,000 182,000 232,000 Temples 3,000 2,000 19,000 Tangelos 388,000 206,000 331,000 VEGETABLES: The very warm and dry weather is providing nearly ideal conditions for planting and harvesting, and is causing fruit to rapidly reach maturity. The foggy mornings caused some delays in starting field work. Growers continue to irrigate fields as needed. Vegetables available: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, snap beans, squash, strawberries, carrots, radishes, sweet corn, eggplant, lettuce, okra, and parsley. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Young fields are in good condition with good yield prospects. Planting continues. Picking of an increasing volume is active. Yield and quality are good. East Coast--Plant growth and development are good. Recent plantings have a good start. Older acreage is blooming and forming pin beans. Hand and machine picking continues at a steady pace. Color and quality remain good. Southwest--The good weather improved condition which is now rated good. Planting remains steady. All fall crop picking is completed. West Central--Picking nearly finished with only a very light volume available for mainly local sales. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvesting has started. Quality good. Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest active. West Central-- Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size small to medium. Volume increasing. Planting virtually complete. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade-- Cabbage is being cut on weekly schedule and will continue for rest of season. Volume steady. Quality is good and yield normal. Young fields look good. Growth and development good. CARROTS: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging remains active. SWEET CORN: Dade, Everglades--Warm temperatures are speeding maturation with young fields in good condition. Planting is finished. Picking is gaining momentum as growers start to harvest larger acreage. Quality and yield are good with a good volume available. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Plant growth and ear development are improving. Recent plantings are off to a good start. Planting of spring fields continues. Producers continue to pull both white and yellow varieties. Quality and yield are improving as younger acreage starts producing. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Plants are developing normally. Planting continues at a steady pace. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting of a moderate volume is active. Planting of late winter crop acreage continues. Workers continue to mow and clean acreage completely harvested. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Mild weather is aiding plant recovery from the late December cold. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is fair to good. West Central--Fall crop picking is finished. Dade--Young pickle plants are growing fast due to the warm temperatures with producers irrigating as needed. Harvesting is active with good yield and quality being realized. Volume is good. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Recent plantings are developing well. Older plants are recovering well from the strong winds of mid-November and are in good condition. Harvesting of a light to moderate volume continues. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Planting of a small acreage became active again but overall progress is nearly finished. Dade--Young fields are in good condition with workers providing water as needed. Harvest of a good volume is active. Quality and yield are good. Growers are staking and tying younger fields. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--Harvesting continues. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting is active. OKRA: Dade--Most plants still show damages from the cold winds of mid-November with yield prospects reduced. Harvesting is slow with low supply available. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is steady. Picking continues with good quality available. East Coast--Young acreage is in good condition. Transplanting is active. Harvest of a light to moderate volume continues with good quality available. Crown picks are providing very good quality and sizes. Workers continue to lay plastic for spring crop acreage and to mow and clean fall crop fields in preparation of planting other crops. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting continues to slow seasonally. Quality, size, and color are fair to good. POTATOES: Southwest--Planting winding down. Crop condition good. Growth and development normal. Dade-- Planting complete. Fields look very good. Spray program has fields clean of disease and insects. Irrigation needed in some fields. West Central--Planting complete. Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development normal. Hastings--Planting starting. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging continues. SQUASH: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting and harvesting remain steady. Quality is good. East Coast--The crop condition is good. Cutting of a light volume of zucchini and yellow types is active. Quality and color are good with fancy and some medium grades being packed. Dade--Crop condition is good with younger acreage rated in very good condition. Planting is active. Picking continues with good yield and quality being realized. A good supply is available for the rest of the season. West Central--All fall crop picking is completed. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Warm temperatures are speeding berry development. Picking is active with a good volume available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Warm temperatures are causing rapid maturation of berries. Quality and color are fair to good. Sizes are good. Dade--The supply of U-Pic berries is abundant with peak volume expected in about two weeks. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is on schedule. Harvest is steady with a heavy volume picked. Quality and sizes are good. Grade-out is normal. East Coast-- The crop is in mostly good condition. The warm temperatures are accelerating fruit maturation. Harvesting is steady with supplies slowly increasing. Crown picks are yielding good quality and sizes. Other picks are producing mostly good quality with sizes improving. Dade--Crop condition is very good. Transplanting is nearly finished. The warm weather is causing rapid fruit maturation with volume expected to increase rapidly. Picking is active. Quality is good. First and second picks are yielding extra large and large sizes. Third picks are producing medium and large sizes. Pack-out is good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Growers are cleaning up fall crop fields with planting of spring acreage expected to begin over the next few weeks. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is slowing. Harvest is steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Fall acreage is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are fair. Spring crop planting is expected to start over the next few weeks. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Fall crop picking is nearly finished. Quality is fair to good with a small supply available. Spring crop planting will begin over the next few weeks. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Growers continue to pick a light volume. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Fall crop harvesting is done. Spring crop plantings are expected to start soon after the usual date of last freeze passes.