HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending February 23, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. February 24, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warm temperatures and scattered showers prevailed during most of the week of February 16 through 22. Strong winds tossed some crops along the southeastern coast and in Dade County during the first part of the period. Temperatures averaged mostly five to nine degrees above normal over the Peninsula with highs in the 70s and 80s. Most low temperatures were in the 50s, 60s, and 70s over the Peninsula. Temperatures in some northern and Panhandle localities were one degree above to four degrees below normal with lows dipping into the 30s, 40s, and 50s and most highs in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Rain totaled from none at a few stations to about an inch with Pensacola and the Milton/Whiting area receiving three to four inches. Quincy reported an unofficial total of two and a half inches of rain received Saturday night. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle. Peninsula topsoil moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of very short or surplus moisture. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 3% (8%), short 33% (28%), adequate 57% (58%), and surplus 7% (6%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 1% (1%), short 24% (33%), is adequate 70% (60%), and surplus 5% (6%). Sugarcane harvest is winding down. Growers are maintaining tobacco plant beds. Ground preparation for spring planted crops is active. 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 30% (40%), fair 30% (25%), good 35% (30%), and excellent 0% (0%). Hay is running short in some northern areas and some pastures have been grazed down to dirt. It has been too cool for permanent grass to grow in the northern counties. West central pastures are showing some growth. Pastures are still dry in the north central and southwest areas despite recent rains. The State's cattle herds were rated at very poor 5% (0%), poor 15% (10%), fair 35% (40%), good 45% (50%), and excellent 0% (0%). CITRUS: There was very little rain this week and most of the growers are running irrigation equipment to maintain good tree condition. Many trees that lost foliage during the January 19th cold are now putting out new growth. There is very little dead wood except in the colder locations and most of the dead wood is restricted to younger trees. There are bloom buds in all stages of development in all areas of the citrus belt. Very few groves, if any, are in full open bloom at this time. Harvest of early and mid oranges continues to slow as supplies are running low. Movement of damaged Valencias to the processors is still active. Picking crews on the lower east coast are moving increasing volumes of white and colored grapefruit. Tangelo harvest is virtually over for the season. Temple and Honey tangerine movement is increasing for both fresh and processing. Caretakers are cutting cover crops, fertilizing, hedging, and topping. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 9 Feb 16 Feb 23 Navel oranges 157,000 105,000 55,000 Early and Mid oranges 8,711,000 7,155,000 5,669,000 Valencia oranges 1,167,000 1,338,000 1,468,000 All grapefruit 1,744,000 1,884,000 1,817,000 Tangerines 145,000 164,000 171,000 Temples 217,000 269,000 276,000 Tangelos 140,000 80,000 52,000 VEGETABLES: The strong winds early in the week blew blooms off plants and scarred some young fruit in Dade County and the East Coast region. Vegetable volume leaders are tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries, potatoes, and peppers. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Younger acreage is in good condition. Recent strong winds scarred some beans in older fields. Picking of a low volume remains active. Supply to increase by late March. East Coast--Strong winds during the first part of the week tossed plants and scarred some young beans. Calmer weather for the rest of the week boosted growth. Picking of a reduced volume continues. Quality and color are mostly good. Southwest--The crop remains in good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is good. Planting is slowly gaining momentum. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central-- Harvest steady. Crop in good condition. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size and color good. Volume and yield increasing. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Spraying active. Dade--Weekly cuttings on cabbage continue with average yield and good quality. Volume will be normal for this area for another month. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging continues. Quality remains generally good. SWEET CORN: Dade, Everglades--Younger fields are in good condition. Harvesting continues. Quality is variable. East Coast-- Warmer temperatures are aiding plant growth and ear development. Picking of the late winter crop is expected to begin by early March. Southwest--Condition remains good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Zellwood--Planting is active. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Strong winds early in the week tossed vines. Picking of a light volume is active with super selects, selects, and 24 count boxes available. Quality and color are variable. Planting continues with some growers double cropping fall crop plastic. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is winding down. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is increasing seasonally. Dade--Crop condition is good. Planting is active. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Cutting of a light to moderate volume continues with fancy and some choice grades available. Dade--Harvesting is active. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Young fields are in fair to good condition. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvest of a reduced volume continues. Quality is generally good. Volume is expected to increase in early March. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvest is active. Volume remains below normal. OKRA: Dade--Recent plantings are just coming up. Condition is good. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Warm temperatures are aiding the recovery of freeze damaged acreage. Picking continues at a steady pace. Quality is good. Sizes and yield are fair to good. East Coast--Young acreage is in good condition. Picking of a light to moderate volume of green Bells continues. Quality and yield are good. Producers are harvesting a lighter supply of red Bells and specialty varieties with mostly good quality available. Transplanting remains active. Dade--Harvesting of a very light volume continues. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is mostly steady. Sumter County-- Transplanting is active. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development normal. Harvest gaining. Quality good. Size is off due to freeze damage, therefore yield is down. 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 average yield can be expected. Spraying to keep blight under control. West Central--Crop condition fair. Growth and development normal. Hastings--Planting winding down. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Spraying to keep blight under control. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting continues. Quality remains variable. SQUASH: East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Strong winds early in the week blew off some blooms in younger fields. Harvest of a light volume is active with fancy and medium grades available. Quality and color are mostly good. Dade--Harvest of a light supply remains active. Volume is expected to increase by mid to late March. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting is slowing seasonally. Picking of a very light volume is active. Quality is good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Harvesting active as growers prepare for the festival which begins on Thursday. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. Volume is declining with warm temperatures slowing berry development. Dade--U-Pic harvesting continues. TOMATOES: Southwest--Overall condition is fair to good. Plant growth, fruit set, and fruit sizing are good. Harvest of a reduced volume continues. Quality is fair to good. Some fruit in older, freeze damaged fields being sunburned due to the absence of a foliage canopy. Yield and packout are below normal. Volume will increase by early April. Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Harvest is active. Quality is good. First and second picks are producing extra large to large sizes, while third picks are yielding medium and large sizes. Volume will remain steady for the rest of the season. East Coast--Spring crop fields are in mostly good condition. Harvest of a moderate volume continues. Growers are picking some acreage that came through the January cold with mostly good quality available. Transplanting continues in northern localities. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Fruit setting is about a week behind usual for the oldest acreage, but on schedule for the rest of the fields. Planting continues with some producers finished. North--Some transplanting continues to be delayed by wet fields. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The spring crop is in good condition. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is active with some producers finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking of a very light supply continues. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition is fair to good. Planting continues with some growers finished. WATERMELONS: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting continues. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is starting to slow seasonally. Columbia County--Growers are preparing land for planting.