HDR1012 19 1 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending February 16, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. February 18, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers interrupted field work in the Panhandle and northern localities with totals ranging from about an inch to almost five inches during the week of February 9 through 15. Central and southern areas recorded none to about an inch of rain for the week with West Palm Beach receiving almost one and three quarters inches. Temperatures in the Panhandle and other northern areas averaged near normal to four degrees below with lows in the 20s, 30s and 40s. Temperatures in most central and southern localities averaged two to eight degrees above normal with lows in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Highs were in the 60s, 70s and 80s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle. Peninsula topsoil 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 8% (0%), short 28% (35%), adequate 58% (60%), and surplus 6% (5%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 1% (0%), short 33% (30%), adequate 60% (67%), and surplus 6% (3%). Sugarcane harvest is active. Growers are maintaining tobacco plant beds. Wheat is being side dressed with nitrogen. Ground preparation for spring planted crops is active. Water is standing in some fields. 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 40% (40%), fair 25% (25%), good 30% (30%), and excellent 0% (0%). Pastures are in poor to fair condition in many areas due to drought and the effects of recent freezes. Most permanent pasture in the north and central areas has not grown much. Ranchers are relying on small grain forage, hay, and supplements. Ranchers in the southwest are burning off pastures with heavy foliage that was killed by the freeze so new grass can come through. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 10% (10%), fair 40% (60%), good 50% (30%), and excellent 0% (0%). CITRUS: The citrus belt had scattered showers this week with temperatures in the 80s. The spring-like conditions have many caretakers fertilizing and irrigating, realizing that once new growth starts it can't be stopped. However, all of the new growth and bloom buds are vulnerable to frost or freezing weather should either arrive before the true on-set of spring. Picking crews are rapidly winding up their early and midseason orange harvest. Growers are picking cold damaged Valencia oranges for processing when the fruit passes maturity tests. Movement of all seedless grapefruit continues very active on the lower east coast for both fresh and process use. Domestic and export utilization are very strong for both white and colored grapefruit. Honey tangerine and Temple movement are active while tangelo harvest is about over. Caretakers are discing and chopping following fertilizations. Hedging and topping continue in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 2 Feb 9 Feb 16 Navel oranges 267,000 161,000 105,000 Early and Mid oranges 10,192,000 9,124,000 7,155,000 Valencia oranges 256,000 957,000 1,338,000 All grapefruit 1,554,000 1,662,000 1,884,000 Tangerines 213,000 141,000 164,000 Temples 206,000 213,000 269,000 Tangelos 215,000 153,000 80,000 VEGETABLES: Most harvesting of fields damaged by the January freeze is nearing the end. Northern growers are laying plastic and beginning to transplant tomatoes. Vegetable volume leaders include tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, potatoes, and strawberries. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Fields which growers will begin picking in about a month are in very good condition. Harvest of acreage damaged heavily by the January frost continues with yields averaging about one-fourth or less of normal. Yield from fields not damaged as much by the frost are higher. Quality is good. Volume will remain low until about mid-March. Planting continues. East Coast--Crop condition and germination of recent seedings continue to improve. Warm temperatures are accelerating blooming and pin bean formation. Harvest of a light volume by hand and a very light volume by machine continues. Southwest-- Crop condition is good. Planting is steady. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Planting is underway. Recent seedings are in fair to good condition. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest mostly salvage cutting. Quality will improve in several weeks. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size fair to good. Color fair to good. Planting complete. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Weekly cuttings on cabbage continues with average yield and good quality. Volume will be normal for area for another month. CARROTS: Zellwood--Harvesting is active. Quality is generally good. Everglades--The crop is in good condition. SWEET CORN: Dade--Young plants are in good condition. Picking remains active. Yields from northern localities are near normal with good quality. Yields from southeastern fields are below average with variable quality. Volume will remain at current level for about five to six weeks. East Coast--Crop condition is improving. Warmer ground temperatures are aiding germination of recent seedings. Planting is winding down. Southwest, Everglades--Crop condition remains good. Planting is steady. Zellwood--Planting getting underway. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Vine growth is very good with runners forming in younger fields. Fields nearing maturity are in mostly good condition with fruit set and sizing improving. Harvest of a light to moderate volume continues with good quality and color picked. Planting is winding down seasonally. Workers are thinning young acreage. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting remains steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Planting is slowly gaining momentum. Dade-- Recent plantings are making good stands. New plantings continue. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young plants are making good bushes and blooming. Plants nearing maturity show improved fruit set and fruit sizing. Producers are cutting a light to moderate volume with fancy and choice grades available. Workers continue to clean acreage completely picked and are staking and tying young fields. Dade--Cutting continues with fair yield and quality. Volume is slowly increasing. Palmetto-Ruskin--The first plantings are in fair to good condition. Growers will put in the second plantings over the next 7 to 10 days. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Supplies remain limited. Quality is generally good. Volume is expected to remain low until early March. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Growers continue to harvest a limited supply. OKRA: Dade--Planting is expected to start during late February. PEPPERS: Southwest--Spring crop acreage is in good condition. Producers continue to pick a limited amount from winter crop acreage affected by the January freeze. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Bell harvest is yielding a moderate volume of greens and a light supply of reds. Green Bell quality is good to excellent. Growers continue to pick a light volume of specialty varieties. Workers are staking and tying young acreage and continue to clean fields completely harvested. Dade-- Growers continue to pick a very light volume. Quality and yield are average. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting is steady. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development normal. Harvest gaining. Quality and size good. Dade--Potatoes overall look good with about 15% not so good. Fields killed with digging to start around the week of February 24- 28. Looks like an average yield can be expected. Blight is a slight problem in a couple of fields but under control in others. West Central--Crop condition fair. Growth and development normal. Hastings--Planting active. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Spraying to keep blight under control. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging is active. Quality is variable. SQUASH: East Coast--Young fields are in mostly good condition. Picking of a light volume continues. Quality and color are good. Planting of a limited acreage is active. Dade--Producers continue to pick frost damaged acreage. Yield is low. Quality is fair. Volume will be low until increasing in late March. Southwest--Crop condition remains good. Planting continues at a steady pace. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Seasonal temperatures are aiding berry development. Picking continues. Volume is increasing. Growers preparing for the festival which begins in two weeks. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Picking continues at a steady pace. Quality and sizes are fair to good. Color is good. Volume is fair. Dade--U-pic harvesting is active. Quality and volume are good. TOMATOES: Southwest--Spring acreage is in good condition. Fruit set on the first two hands is light. Fruit sizing is fair to good but is expected to improve. Planting is finished. Harvest of the winter crop is virtually finished with pinhooking active. Quality is fair. Sizes are mixed. Dade--Crop condition is rated very good. Picking continues with good yield and quality. First and second picks are yielding extra large to large sizes. Third picks are producing large to medium sizes. Volume will remain good through March. East Coast--Crop condition continues to improve. Harvest of a light to moderate volume is active. Crown picks are providing good quality and better sizes. Transplanting continues in northern localities. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair. Transplanting is slowing. Plants are blooming with fruit just starting to set. North--Laying of plastic and transplanting are underway. Some standing water is delaying some fieldwork. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting is nearing the end. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Harvest of light volume remains active. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is slowing seasonally. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Planting is mostly steady.