HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending May 25, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. May 27, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered storms dropped varying amounts of rain over some northern, central, and southern areas during the week of May 18 through 24 with funnel clouds and tornadoes reported in some instances. About an inch of rain was recorded at most of the official reporting stations for the week. Near the end of the week localities in Hillsborough, Polk, High lands, Charlotte, and Orange counties reported wind damage, accompanied by hail in some cases, with up to two inches of rain falling. Unofficially, about an inch and a half fell in Dade County, and from an inch and a half to three and a half inches fell in the Palmetto-Ruskin region. Temperatures for the week averaged two to three degrees above normal with most daytime highs in the 80s and most lows in the 60s and 70s. Nearly all stations reported a high in the 90s on at least one day. On May 25 and 26 some localities in Martin and Palm Beach counties reported large hail accompanying storms. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is short to adequate through out the State. Eighty-seven percent of the peanuts have been planted this year compared to 89 percent in 1996. Peanut condi tion: fair 32%, good 67%, excellent 1%. Cotton planting is winding down. Cotton emergence has increased with wet weather and warmer nights. Soybean planting is active. Haying is active. Sugarcane growth is normal. Corn, forage, and tobacco are making good growth now that night temperatures have warmed up. Some corn and tobacco are showing signs of nutrient deficiency due to heavy rainfall in late April and early May. Growers are harvesting small grains. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 3 2 1 2 Short 24 37 22 23 Adequate 73 59 72 72 Surplus 0 2 5 3 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture in the Panhandle was generally good, with local areas dry and pastures overgrazed. In the northern counties pasture growth was slow due to cool temperatures and short to adequate moisture. The cattle condition was fair to good. In the southwest, pasture showed good improve ment over the past 2 to 3 weeks due to seasonal rains. Pastures are still a little short on grass. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 15 5 0 5 Fair 40 35 55 40 Good 40 50 35 50 Excellent 5 5 10 5 CITRUS: Most citrus groves are in good condition. Summer rains, however, are needed in all areas. The lower east coast counties have been receiving rains on two or more days most weeks. The ridge and the majority of the interior counties have reported constant use of all types of irrigation. New crop fruit is making normal progress for the last of May. Most of the remain ing Valencias have excellent quality. Grapefruit harvest is still active but slowing as supplies are limited. Honey tangerine movement is nearly complete. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, discing cover crops. Very little hedging, topping are going on at this time. Spraying and herbiciding continue in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 11 May 18 May 25 Valencia oranges 7,596,000 6,073,000 6,353,000 All grapefruit 1,435,000 1,089,000 812,000 Tangerines 31,000 17,000 3,000 VEGETABLES: Harvesting is nearing the end in some southern Peninsula localities as activity increases in northern areas. Major vegetables shipped: sweet corn, watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Harvesting remains active. Quality is mostly good. The supply is declining seasonally. East Coast--The season is near the end with only a limited acreage left for hand picks. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Only acreage for the U-Pic market remains. Dade--Picking for local market sales from a small acreage continues. Southwest--The season is virtually finished. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest virtually complete. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Central--Harvest virtually complete. West Central--Harvest winding down. Quality fair to good. Size variable. Color fair to good. Crop in fair condition. Dade-- Cabbage season over. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging continues. Supplies are available into early June. Quality is generally good. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Picking is very active with demand exceeding supplies. Quality is generally good. Everglades-- Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is generally good. Most acreage matured earlier than planned by growers due to the above average temperatures and mostly clear skies during the first three months of the year. East Coast--Only a small acreage remains for picking. Ear quality of yellow varieties is excellent. Dade--The season is over. CUCUMBERS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Cutting is active with most producers finished for the season. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Harvesting continues to slow seasonally. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Spring crop picking was completed during the week. Quality was mostly good. Workers are mowing and cleaning the spring crop acreage. Zellwood--Harvest ing of pickles is active with supplies available into early June. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Harvesting of pickles is over. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Harvesting is active with mostly fancy grades cut. Quality is mostly good with some very good quality and color available. Cleaning of acreage completely harvested continues. Southwest-- Crop condition is fair. Cutting is winding down. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The season is virtually finished. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Very light supplies remain as the season nears the end. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Supplies are very limited as the season draws to a close. OKRA: Dade--Condition is very good. Harvesting is active with good volume available throughout June. Yield and quality are good. PEPPERS: North--Initial harvesting is getting underway. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking continues with volume declining seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Plant condition remains fair. Picking continues to slow as the season winds down. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Acreage awaiting the crown pick is in good condition. The warm temperatures are causing some stress to acreage at the limb fruit picking stage. Crown picks of green Bells are producing very good quality and sizes with limb fruit harvest ing active. Producers continue to harvest a light volume of red Bells. Growers continue to clean up acreage completely harvested. POTATOES: Southwest, Dade, West Central--Harvest complete. Hastings--Harvest is winding down. Quality is good. Yields are down. RADISHES: Zellwood--Harvesting is nearing the end with light supplies available over the next 7 to 14 days. Quality is mostly good. Everglades--Only a few supplies remain with the season coming to a close. Quality is mostly good. SQUASH: North, North Central--Harvesting continues. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in poor to fair condition with earlier wind and rain damage affecting the crop. Picking is winding down with some growers finished for the season. Quality is poor to fair. Color is fair. Sizes are variable. East Coast--Crop condition is good with only a small acreage remaining for harvest. Picking for mainly the local market is active. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Harvesting of a small acreage for local market sales continues. Yield is fair. Quality is good. Southwest--Harvesting is finished for the season. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is mostly fair to good. Picking is steady but slowing seasonally with activity expected to continue over the next three weeks. Sizes are fair to good. Quality is fair to good. Yields are variable. Quincy--Oldest acreage is showing pinks with a few being picked over the next few days. The harvest of greens is expected to get underway during the first week of June with good volume available during the second week of June. Southwest--Crop condition is declining seasonally. Harvesting of a light volume is active. Fruit quality is fair to good with some rain and sun damage reported. Sizes are mostly large and medium. Workers continue to clear fields completely picked. East Coast--Condition is mostly good with a limited acreage left for harvesting. Picking of the crown crop is providing extra large to large sizes of very good to excellent quality. Growers are also making second, third and fourth picks. Dade--Harvesting is finished for the season. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality and color are fair to good. Sizes are variable. Southwest--The season is virtually finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is active but slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable but normal. Color is good. Southwest-- Harvesting is virtually over. WATERMELONS: Sumter, Brevard counties--Cutting is active. Plant City, Lithia--Harvesting continues. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Cutting is nearing the end with activity to continue until early June. Southwest--Harvesting is nearing the end. Quality is good. Jefferson County--Harvesting is expected to start during the first week of June.