HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending January 12, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. January 13, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Balmy conditions during most of the week of January 5 through 11 gave way to winter cold near the end of the period. High temperatures were in the 70s and 80s with the weekly average maximums in the 60s and 70s. Average temperatures were mostly three to six degrees above normal. Temperatures near the end of the week dipped into the 30s and 40s over most of the northern and central Peninsula and over the Panhandle. Southern Peninsula lows were in the 50s. Rain totaled from a quarter inch to almost four inches with a few stations reporting no measurable rain. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula with scattered areas of short moisture. 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 6% (4%), short 51% (49%), adequate 31% (40%), and surplus 12% (7%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 2% (1%), short 55% (40%), adequate 36% (52%), and surplus 7% (7%). Sugarcane harvest is active. Sugarcane planting is winding down. Growers are taking soil samples, preparing fields for spring crops, and 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% (5%), poor 20% (10%), fair 60% (50%), and good 15% (35%). The pasture condition in the north and central areas is down due to generally dry soil conditions and recent frosts. Some areas of the Big Bend received significant rain the past week, but this was followed by freeze. In the Panhandle, temperatures were too cool for grass growth. Mole crickets are also reducing the quality of the pasture in the southern counties. Ranchers are feeding hay and supplements. The State's cattle herd was rated at poor 5% (0%), fair 70% (60%), and good 25% (40%). CITRUS: Rain Thursday night January 9 helped at least temporarily relieve the current dry conditions. Rainfall amounts varied depending on location. Most growers and caretakers are still using irrigation to maintain good tree condition. There is some new growth, most of which is on young trees mainly in the southern part of the citrus belt. This new flush of foliage was generated by warm temperatures the last of December. Harvest of early and mid season oranges was very active this week. Many of the processors are currently running around the clock to move the large volumes of this early crop of fruit. Movement of all seedless grapefruit is most active on the lower east coast. Early tangerine harvest is slowing as supplies are running low, while movement of Honey tangerines is increasing. Temple harvest is increasing for both fresh and process utilization. Caretakers are cutting cover crops. Some growers are starting to fertilize. Hedging and topping of both harvested and unpicked groves continues. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 29 Jan 5 Jan 12 Navel oranges 144,000 594,000 195,000 Early and Mid oranges 6,485,000 8,872,000 9,612,000 All grapefruit 484,000 875,000 1,491,000 Tangerines 185,000 243,000 319,000 Temples 6,000 19,000 70,000 Tangelos 195,000 331,000 392,000 VEGETABLES: The mostly balmy weather continued to accelerate crop development. Windy weather in the Palmetto- Ruskin region delayed some field work. Vegetables available: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, snap beans, squash, strawberries, carrots, radishes, sweet corn, eggplant, lettuce, okra, and parsley. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Condition is very good. Rain near the end of the week aided development. Planting remains active. Harvesting continued with good yield and quality being realized. Low market conditions caused some growers to give pickings to the Farm Share food donation program. East Coast--Plant growth and bean development continue to improve. Recent plantings have good germination. Some planting continues. Hand and machine harvesting is active with good quality and color available. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality and yield are good. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest active. West Central-- Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size fair. 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--Harvesting continues. SWEET CORN: Dade, Everglades--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is active with an increasing volume available. Yield is normal. Volume will reach peak levels in early February. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Ear development is improving. Harvesting of a light volume is active with both white and yellow varieties pulled. Quality and yield are good. Spring crop planting remains active. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting remains steady. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Fields beginning to produce are in good condition. Overall harvest progress is steady. Quality and color are good. Planting of late winter and early spring crop acreage is active. Growers are cleaning fields completely picked. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Dade-- Pickles are in very good condition. Picking is steady. Quality and yield are good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition for fields nearing maturity is good. Young plants are off to a good start with condition rated very good. Planting of a small acreage continues. Picking is active with mostly good quality and color available. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Harvest of a light volume continues. Quality is good. Dade--Cutting continues. Quality and yield are good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Central--Picking remains active. LETTUCE: Everglades, Central--Picking continues. OKRA: Dade--Plants are in poor condition due to the cold winds of mid-November. Harvesting of a very small volume continues. PEPPERS: Southwest--Condition is good. Planting and picking are steady. Quality and sizes are good. East Coast-- Condition of the crop is mostly good. Young plants show good growth. Fruit is developing well on plants nearing maturity. Picking is active. Crown picks of green Bell acreage are yielding good sizes. The volume of red and yellow Bells being picked is light. Quality is good. Producers are cleaning up fields completely picked, are laying plastic for the spring crop, and are transplanting at a steady pace. Palmetto- Ruskin--Fall crop picking is virtually finished. POTATOES: Southwest--Planting winding down. Crop condition good. Growth and development good. Dade-- Planting complete. Fields look good. Spray program has fields clean of disease and insects. Irrigation needed in some fields. Light showers Friday morning benefitted fields a lot. West Central--Planting complete. Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development normal. Hastings--Planting active. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting is active. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting continues at a steady pace. Picking is steady with good quality available. East Coast--Plants show good growth and development. Harvest of a light volume of zucchini and yellow varieties continues with very good quality and color available. Workers are planting a small acreage for spring crop picking. Dade--Overall crop condition is very good. Young acreage is in excellent condition. Planting continues. Harvesting is active with good quality available. Yield is good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Harvesting continues. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Some plants show damage from windy weather. Picking is producing fair to good quality fruit of good size. Dade--U-Pic acreage is in good condition. Volume is increasing with a good supply available. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Plants are setting and sizing fruit well. Recent temperatures are nearly ideal for crop development. Planting is steady. Picking remains steady with extra large, large, and medium sizes available. East Coast---Most fields nearing maturity are in good condition. Warm temperatures continue to speed plant growth and fruit development in younger fields. Spring crop transplanting is active. Harvest is steady with good quality and sizes available. Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Young plants are setting good hands. Fruit is sizing well in older fields. Growers are irrigating most acreage. Harvesting is increasing with good volume and sizes available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Transplanting of spring crop acreage is underway. Plants are in good condition. Some producers delayed planting due to windy weather and the threat of freezing temperatures. U-Pic harvesting is active. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition remains good. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking remains active with fair to good quality fruit of good size and color available. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting and picking are steady. Quality is good. Palmetto- Ruskin--Transplanting of spring crop acreage is slowly starting. Fall crop picking is virtually complete. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair as growers make the last picks of the fall crop. Quality is fair to good. Spring crop planting is expected to begin soon.