HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending March 2, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. March 3, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Widely scattered showers dropped from a trace to over an inch and a half of rain during the week of February 23 through March 1 with some weather bureau stations reporting no measurable rain. Unofficial reports from localities in the Palmetto-Ruskin area showed rain totals varying from a trace to three and a half inches for the week. Temperatures during the week averaged from five to twelve degrees above normal with most highs in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Ft. Myers and Tampa recorded at least one daily high at 90. Most low temperatures were in the 50s and 60s with some southeastern coastal localities and Key West averaging lows in the 70s. Some northern Peninsula and western Panhandle areas recorded at least one daily low in the 40s. Rainfall during the month of February ranged a half inch to over five inches below normal except for the Milton/Whiting area which reported almost two and a half inches above normal rains during February, and Tallahassee which received normal rainfall. Temperatures during February averaged four to nine degrees above normal. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle. Peninsula topsoil moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of very short to surplus moisture. Sugarcane harvest is winding down. Growers are maintaining tobacco plant beds. Growers are making preparations for field corn planting and tobacco transplanting. Ground preparation for spring planted crops is active. Pine tree planting is active. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 3 4 1 3 Short 33 37 24 29 Adequate 57 49 70 58 Surplus 7 10 5 10 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Permanent pastures were greening in all areas, but moisture is generally short in the State except for isolated areas in the Panhandle. Supplemental feeding is still active. Small grain pastures in the Panhandle continue to develop. Ranchers continue to put hay out. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 0 5 0 Poor 30 25 15 5 Fair 30 40 35 50 Good 35 35 45 45 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Most groves are in good condition in spite of dry weather. There were only a few light showers on the lower east coast. Growers are irrigating to maintain good tree condition during the bloom period. Many of the Navel and Valencia trees are in or near full open bloom. Some young tree groves of all types of fruit are in full bloom with large quantities of petal drop. Some early picked, hedged, and topped grapefruit trees are just beginning to show bloom flowers. There is an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages in most well-cared-for groves. Harvest of early and mid oranges is in the clean up stages, with most large groves already picked. Movement of freeze damaged Valencias to the processors continues. Harvest of white and colored grapefruit continues very active on the lower east coast. Honey tangerine and Temple harvest is strong in all areas for both fresh and process use. Caretakers are mowing, discing, and chopping following fertilizations and prior to harvest operations. Hedging and topping are active in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 16 Feb 23 Mar 2 Navel oranges 110,000 55,000 18,000 Early and Mid oranges 7,239,000 5,669,000 3,818,000 Valencia oranges 1,454,000 1,468,000 1,770,000 All grapefruit 1,914,000 1,817,000 2,530,000 Tangerines 174,000 171,000 91,000 Temples 299,000 276,000 235,000 Tangelos 72,000 52,000 18,000 VEGETABLES: Dry soils in many localities are increasing the need for irrigation while warm temperatures are boosting the growth of most crops. Vegetable volume leaders are tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, potatoes, and strawberries. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--The crop is in good condition. Some young pin beans are showing scars caused by recent strong winds blowing sand on the plants. Planting is slowing seasonally. Most growers are irrigating to provide adequate moisture. Harvesting continues. Most yields are below normal due to the January freeze damage. Volume is low but is expected to increase about mid-March when fields not affected by the January freeze begin to produce. East Coast--Crop condition is improving. Germination is good. Older plants are blooming and forming pin beans. Picking of a light supply remains active. Quality and color are mostly good. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is winding down. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Planting continues to increase. 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 medium to large. Color good. Volume and yield increasing. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Weekly cuttings on cabbage continues with normal yield and good quality. Volume should be steady through March. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging remains active. SWEET CORN: Dade, Everglades--Crop condition is good. Pulling is active. Volume is low but is expected to increase over the next two weeks. East Coast--Younger fields with knee-high plants and older acreage nearing maturity are in good condition. Picking of a light volume is getting underway. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting is winding down. Zellwood-- Crop condition is good. Planting continues. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. First picks are yielding good quality and color. Later picks are producing variable quality. Volume is light but is expected to increase slowly over the next few weeks. Southwest-- Crop condition is good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting continues to become more active. Dade--Pickle growth is slow. Vine growth is good. Picking is expected to begin about mid-to-late March. Sumter County--Planting is active. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Fruit sizing is improving. Harvesting of a light to moderate volume is active. Quality is mostly good with fancy and choice grades available. Dade--Cutting remains active. Volume is low but is expected to increase over the next two to three weeks. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally with some growers finished. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting is active. Volume is expected to increase over the next few weeks. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting continues. Supplies remain light. OKRA: Dade--The oldest acreage is in good condition. Planting remains active. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--The condition of recent transplants and older spring crop acreage is good. Crown picks of green Bells are providing excellent quality and large sizes. Later picks of green Bell limb fruit are yielding good quality of large and medium sizes. Green Bell volume is moderate. Harvesting of red and yellow Bells and specialty varieties are producing a light volume of good quality fruit. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally with some producers finished. Sumter County--Planting continues. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition good. Growth and development good. Harvest steady. Quality and size good. Dade- -Digging started in earliest fields. Quality and yield good. Volume should be good for next 5 weeks. More fields being killed on schedule and harvest will be steady for rest of season. West Central--Crop condition fair. Growth and development slow to normal. Harvest should start in 3 weeks. Hastings--Planting winding down. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Spraying to keep blight under control. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging remains active. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is winding down. Picking is gaining momentum. Quality is good. East Coast--Young acreage is in fair to good condition. Plant growth is good with older plants blooming and setting fruit. Harvest of oldest fields is producing fair to good quality and color. A light volume of fancy and medium grades is available. Dade-- Harvesting is limited as most acreage damaged by the January freeze has been completely picked. Quality is good but yield is low. Supplies will increase by late March as acreage not affected by the January cold start to produce. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition as planting gets underway. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Picking continues with some supplies harvested to meet the festival demand. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is steady. Quality, sizes, and color are fair to good. Volume is starting to seasonally decline. Dade--U-Pic plants are in good condition. Harvesting is very active. Quality is good. TOMATOES: Dade--Condition is very good. Fruit sizing is good. Second and third pick fruit sizes are smaller due to warm temperatures causing fruit to ripen. Picking is very active with good volume available throughout March. Supplies will taper off in April. Quality is good. Growers are getting good packouts. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting of a January freeze-reduced volume continues. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are mixed. Yield is below normal. Supplies are expected to increase in about three to four weeks. East Coast--Crop condition is rated mostly good. Warm temperatures are accelerating plant growth, bud formation, blooming, fruit setting, and fruit sizing. Transplanting is slowing seasonally. Picking remains active with a moderate supply available. Crown picks are providing mostly good quality and sizes. Other pick sizes are running large and medium with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Plant growth is fair. Cooler nights are needed to aid fruit setting. Planting is slowing with most activity to be completed over the next two to three weeks. Harvest will start in April. North--Planting is active in Sumter County. Growers around Quincy have most land prepared with planting to start within the next seven to fourteen days. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good. Picking of a light supply continues. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is virtually completed. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continues to slow seasonally. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is winding down. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting remains active with some producers finished. Sumter County--Planting is underway. Jefferson County--Direct seeding is starting.