HDR1012 19 1 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending May 18, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. May 19, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Most of the southern Peninsula received rain during the week of May 11 through 17 with over four inches falling in the Miami area and up to an inch and a half accumulating in the Palmetto-Ruskin area. A tornado danced across Miami on May 12. The Southwest and East Coast also received significant amounts of rain during the week. Central and northern localities received about a half inch to an inch of rain for the week with hail and wind damage reported in several Panhandle and northern localities caused by storms on May 15. Temperatures in southern areas were normal to one degree above normal, while central and northern area temperatures averaged one to four degrees below normal. Most daytime highs were in the 80s while lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s. Jacksonville low temperatures averaged 58 degrees for the week with a low of 48 recorded on at least one morning. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is short to adequate throughout the State. Seventy-five percent of the peanuts have been planted this year compared to 80 percent in 1996. Cotton planting and crop emergence has been delayed by cool weather. Soybean planting is active. Haying is active. Corn and sugarcane growth is normal. Weather is on the cool side for forages and tobacco. Growers are harvesting small grains. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 3 0 1 Short 34 24 16 22 Adequate 63 73 80 72 Surplus 3 0 4 5 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture conditions improved in areas that received rain, and worsened in areas where cooler temperatures and less than adequate rain have overburndened the pastures. Drought, mole crickets, and overstocking have devastated pastures in the west central area. Cattle are in fair to excellent condition. The condition of the cattle has declined in areas where the pasture growth has been slow. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 15 0 0 Fair 35 40 40 55 Good 60 40 60 35 Excellent 5 5 0 10 CITRUS: This was another hot and dry week in Florida's citrus belt. Growers and caretakers are irrigating around the clock to maintain good tree condition. Most well-cared-for groves are in very good condition. Most of the recent new growth has hardened and the trees generally appear dark green. New crop fruit continues to make good progress with shedding of excessive little green fruit almost complete. Current crop of Valencias remaining for harvest is in very good condition with most yielding very high solids. Grapefruit harvest is still active on the lower east coast for both fresh and process use. Harvest of Honey tangerines is almost complete for this season. Caretakers are cutting cover crops, spraying, hedging and topping, and burning dead trees. Summer sprays are underway in groves with crops being raised for fresh use. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 4 May 11 May 18 Valencia oranges 7,727,000 8,028,000 6,073,000 All grapefruit 1,719,000 1,525,000 1,089,000 Tangerines 24,000 25,000 17,000 VEGETABLES: Rainy weather delayed harvesting with most activity resuming after soils dried. Major vegetables shipped: tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, sweet corn, and peppers. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Picking continues with mostly good quality available. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Picking of a limited supply is active. Quality and color are good. Dade--Harvesting is nearing the end with a very low supply available. Quality and yield are fair. Most volume is going for local sales. Southwest--Harvesting is winding down. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting continues. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are fair. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest winding down. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Central--Harvest virtually complete. West Central--Harvest winding down. Quality good. Size variable. Color good. Crop in fair to good condition. Volume slowing. Dade--Cabbage season over. CARROTS: Zellwood--Harvesting is active. Quality is generally good. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Harvesting of a steady supply continues. Quality is generally good. Everglades--Picking remains active. Quality is generally good. East Coast--Harvesting of a very limited acreage continues. Ear quality is excellent. Workers are mowing and discing fields completely picked. Dade--Pulling of a small acreage continues with all supplies going to the local market. CUCUMBERS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is steady with some growers winding down. Volume is declining seasonally. Some fields are open for U-Pic harvesting. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. East Coast--Crop condition is good. First picks are yielding mostly good quality and color. Supplies are light to moderate. Workers are mowing and pulling plastic from acreage completely picked. Southwest--Crop condition remains fair to good. Picking is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. Zellwood--Pickle picking continues. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Growers continue to pick a very limited amount of pickles for local sales. EGGPLANT: East Coast--The crop is in very good condition. Cutting of a moderate volume continues with first cuts producing excellent quality and color. Fancy and some large fancy grades are available. Workers are cutting strings, pulling and bundling stakes, and pulling plastic from acreage completely harvested. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Cutting is winding down with U-Pic harvesting active. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is fair to good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Warm tempera tures are bringing the season to an end. Harvesting is nearing completion. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting is slowing seasonally. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting of good supplies continues. Quality and yield are good. Cutting will continue through most of June. PEPPERS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is winding down with some acreage open for the U-Pic market. Quality and color are fair to good. Sizes are variable. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Crown picks of green Bells are providing mostly excellent quality while limb picks are yielding good quality. A light volume of good quality red Bells are available. Workers continue to clean up acreage com pletely picked. Southwest--The crop condition is fair as the season nears the end. Quality is fair to good. POTATOES: Southwest--Harvest complete. Dade--Harvest complete. West Central--Harvest complete. Hastings--Harvest is active. The rot problem is spotty. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging remains active as the season winds down. Quality is mostly good. SQUASH: North, North Central--Picking is active. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin, Plant City--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is active with some fields opened to the U-Pic market. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Picking of a very light volume continues with some activity curtailed due to the low market. Quality and color are good. Workers continue to clean up acreage completely harvested. Southwest--The season is virtually over. Dade--The season is nearly finished with a very limited acreage being picked. Quality and yield are fair. A very low volume is available over the next two weeks. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop condition is mostly fair to good. Virtually all fruit has set. Fruit sizing is fair. Harvest ing is active with some growers near the end. Fruit quality is fair to good. Sizes are running extra large to large. Packout is fair to good. Steady supplies remain available through the end of May into early June. Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Picking continues with some producers finished for the season. Quality is fair to good. Gradeout increased due to sunburn and water damage. Workers are cleaning acreage completely harvested. East Coast-- The crop is in good condition. Harvesting of a light volume continues. Crown picks are yielding very good quality. Gradeout is normal. Sizes are running extra large to large. Workers continue to clean up acreage completely picked. Quincy--Plant growth is at the second and third strings. Harvesting is expected to start in about two weeks. Dade--The season is over with pinhookers still picking a very small amount of fruit for road side sales. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Picking is steady but continues to slow seasonally. Quality and sizes are fair to good. Color is mostly good. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking is winding down. Quality is fair to good. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. WATERMELONS: Brevard County--Harvesting is active. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Harvesting continues with some acreage open to the U-Pic market. Quality and color are good. Sizes available include large and medium. Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Cutting continues to slow seasonally. Quality is fair to good.