HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending May 4, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. May 5, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Rainfall totaled from a third inch to over two inches at the major stations during the week of April 27 through May 3 with most falling during the first part of the period. Dade County received about an inch in northern localities while the Palmetto-Ruskin area reported from one and a half to three and a half inches accumulating. Jefferson County reported from six to seven inches received during the week from three separate rain events. Temperatures averaged near normal in the north, two degrees above normal in central areas, and three to four degrees above normal in southern regions. Daytime highs were mostly in the 70s and 80s while lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s. Some northern and central areas had morning lows in the 50s on at least one morning. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle. Moisture in the Peninsula is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Nineteen percent of the peanuts have been planted. Growers are starting to plant cotton and soybeans. Corn and tobacco growth is normal. Haying is starting. Sugarcane growth is normal. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 19 11 20 14 Adequate 71 77 71 73 Surplus 10 12 9 13 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures continue to improve with most areas receiving beneficial rains with warm days and cool nights. Some local areas have received heavy rains with some localized flooding. Cattle are in fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 0 0 0 Fair 40 20 40 25 Good 50 75 55 75 Excellent 5 5 5 0 CITRUS: Most well-cared-for groves are in very good to excellent condition. Moisture is generally adequate with very little irrigation being applied at this time. There is an abundance of new growth in many groves. Those groves receiving minimum cultural care have little new foliage showing and are generally light green in color, reflecting stress. New crop fruit continues to make normal progress as most trees are shedding some of the little green fruit that cannot be supported for next season. Valencia harvest is very active in all areas. Movement of all seedless grapefruit for both fresh and processing is most active on the lower east coast. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that have grown tall and are competing with the tree for soil nutriments. Spring herbicides are still being applied. Hedging and topping and burning of debris is almost over for this season. Post bloom nutritional spraying is active in most areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Apr 20 Apr 27 May 4 Valencia oranges 6,616,000 7,534,000 6,950,000 All grapefruit 1,511,000 1,711,000 1,435,000 Tangerines 46,000 36,000 23,000 Temples 11,000 4,000 0 VEGETABLES: Rains slowed some fieldwork with activity resuming at a rapid pace after the passage of the storms. Vegetable volume leaders: tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, watermelons, peppers. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Picking is active. Quality is mostly good. Supply is increasing. Dade--Harvesting is active. Quality is good. Yield is fair. Picking will continue through mid- May. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting is winding down. Quality is fair to good with some quality affected by recent rain. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting of U-Pic acreage continues. East Coast-- Harvesting is active. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest winding down. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest winding down. Quality is variable. West Central--Harvest winding down. Quality fair to good. Size variable. Color good. Crop in fair to good condition. Dade-- Cabbage season over. CARROTS: Zellwood--Harvesting of a heavy volume is very active. Quality is good. Supplies are available throughout May into June. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Harvesting is slow as the season begins. The quality of white varieties is very good. The quality of yellow varieties is variable but will improve as more acreage reaches maturity. Supplies are expected to increase slowly over the next two weeks as more growers start picking. Everglades--About two-thirds of production has been picked with harvesting to continue through late May. Quality and yield are excellent. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Picking remains steady. Quality is good. Dade--Picking for the local market continues. East Coast--Pulling is near the end. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Picking continues. Palmetto- Ruskin--The condition is fair to good. Harvesting is mostly steady with supply increasing. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Some fruit was scarred during recent storms. Southwest--Condition is fair to good with recent rain affecting some quality. Picking continues to decline seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Zellwood--Pickle picking continues at a very active pace. Dade--Pickle picking is active with good yield and quality. Vines show damage from recent strong cold winds. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Cutting remains active. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Cutting is mostly steady. Volume is declining seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Dade--Volume is declining as harvesting nears the end. Quality is good. Yield is normal. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood--Harvest is slowing seasonally with activity to continue through late May. Everglades- -Harvesting of a light volume continues as the season nears the end. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting is nearing the end. Light supplies are available through mid to late May. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting continues at an active pace. Quality and yield are good. A good supply is available through June. PEPPERS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop condition remains fair to good. Harvesting is steady. Quality and sizes are fair to good. Southwest--The crop is in fair condition. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Some quality was reduced by recent storms. East Coast--Picking continues. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development normal. Harvest winding down. Quality good. Dade--Harvest winding down and will end in 2 weeks. Growers are waiting an extra week after killing for skins to set. Quality good. West Central--Crop condition fair. Harvest winding down. Quality fair. Size fair. Hastings--Harvest active. The crop has rot problems caused by 6 to 18 inches of rain over the weekend of April 26-27. The amount of loss could be heavy in some parts of the area. RADISHES: Zellwood--Digging is active with some growers nearing the end. Quality is good. Everglades--Harvesting is nearing the end. Supplies are available for the next seven to ten days. SQUASH: North, North Central--Harvesting is active. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Harvesting is active. Dade--Picking is active with youngest acreage starting to produce. Volume is fair . Quality is good. Yield is normal. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting is nearing the end. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Plant growth is fair to good. Fruit setting is fair. Fruit sizing varies by variety. Harvesting is mostly steady. Fruit quality is good. Sizes are extra large to large. Packout and yield are good. Some fields are showing affects of recent storm damage. Most producers are making two picks. Southwest--Crop condition is declining seasonally. Fruit sizing is good. Some fields are showing water damage from recent rain. Picking continues with volume starting to decline seasonally. Quality is good. Grade-out is about normal. East Coast--Picking is nearly completed. Dade--The season is almost over. Growers have turned most fields over to pinhookers. Quincy--Rain and wind affected some fields. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality is good. Sizes are variable. Volume is increasing. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is winding down. Quality is good. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is steady. Quality is fair to good with some fruit showing damage from recent rains. Sizes are normal. Color is good. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking is mostly steady but starting to slow seasonally. Quality is fair to good with some fruit showing water damage from recent rains. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Some picking slowed due to storms but remains steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting continues to gain momentum. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Some melons show scarring due to recent adverse weather. Jefferson County--The crop was not damaged by the recent heavy rainfall.