HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending June 1, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. June 2, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Almost daily thunderstorms dropped from about one to over two inches of rain in most northern, central and southern Peninsula localities during the week of May 25 through 31. Hail, strong winds, and tornadoes accompanying some of the storms caused varying degrees of damage. Most temperatures averaged within a degree of normal for the week. Daytime highs averaged in the 80s with most stations reporting a high in the 90s on at least one day. Low temperatures averaged in the 60s and 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate throughout the State. Ninety-two percent of the peanuts have been planted this year compared to 93 percent in 1996. Peanut condition: fair 48%, good 48%, excellent 4%. Fieldwork was interrupted often by the frequent rain showers in many areas this past week. Weather permitting, soybean planting continued with cotton planting winding down. Haying was slowed by the rains. Sugarcane growth is normal. Corn, forage, and tobacco are making good growth. Growers are harvesting small grains when weather permits. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 2 4 2 4 Short 37 15 23 10 Adequate 59 70 72 78 Surplus 2 11 3 8 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures in the State were in fair to good condition with recent statewide rains improving growth. Some central area pastures were in poor to fair condition with ponds going dry. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 5 5 Fair 35 30 40 20 Good 50 55 50 70 Excellent 5 10 5 5 CITRUS: This week was generally hot and humid with periodic rains and thunderstorms. Moisture is generally a little less than adequate. Caretakers have reduced their irrigation. New growth is showing on trees of all ages in well-cared-for groves. New crop fruit is making good progress. Valencia harvest continues very active in all areas with most of this fruit going to the processors. Grapefruit movement is slowing as more packing houses are closing for the season. The last few blocks of Honey tangerines are being picked for fresh use. Caretakers are cutting cover crops, spraying and fertilizing. Replanting is going on in the larger groves where older dead trees have been removed. Summer herbicides are being applied between the rains. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 18 May 26 Jun 1 Valencia oranges 6,073,000 6,353,000 NA All grapefruit 1,089,000 812,000 NA Tangerines 17,000 3,000 NA VEGETABLES: The harvest of tomatoes is beginning in Gadsden County. Picking of most crops is virtually finished around Immokalee. Major vegetables shipped: sweet corn, watermelons, tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Picking is nearing the end. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting continues. Dade--Harvesting is active on a small acreage. All sales are local. East Coast, Southwest--Harvesting is completed. CABBAGE: Hastings, Central--Harvest 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--Harvesting remains active. Quality is generally good. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Quality is generally good. Everglades--Picking is nearing the end. Quality is generally good. East Coast--Harvesting continues with most volume sold locally. Quality is very good. Producers expect to make last pickings over the next 7 to 10 days. CUCUMBERS: North--Picking is active. Quality is fair to mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Harvesting remains active but is slowing. Quality is fair. Sizes remain variable. Southwest--The season is virtually over. East Coast-- Harvesting is completed. Zellwood--Pickle picking continues. Quality is mostly good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Cutting of a light volume is active with mostly fancy grade available. Quality and color are good. Workers are cutting strings, pulling and bundling stakes, and pulling plastic from acreage completely cut. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Some U-Pic harvesting continues. Quality is fair. Southwest--The season is virtually over. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting is virtually completed. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--The season is virtually finished. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting continues. Quality and yield are good. Volume is below normal. Growers disced some of the early plantings due to poor yield but were prevented from replanting due to a shortage of seed. PEPPERS: North--Picking is active. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Crown picks of green Bells are providing good quality and sizes. Only a small acreage remains for harvest. Hot weather continues to affect plant condition and pod quality. Workers are mowing and pulling plastic from acreage completely picked. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Harvesting for mostly U-Pic is active with fair quality available. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Growers finished harvesting. POTATOES: Southwest, Dade, West Central--Harvest complete. Hastings--Harvest virtually complete. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging is nearly finished. Quality is mostly good. SQUASH: North, North Central--Picking of a light volume is active. Palmetto-Ruskin, Dade--Harvesting for local market sales continues. East Coast--Harvesting is finished. Workers are mowing and pulling plastic from spring crop acreage. TOMATOES: Quincy--Growers are making first picks from the oldest acreage. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Harvest is active with most growers to finish over the next 7 to 10 days. Fruit quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable but mostly large. Producers are cleaning acreage completely picked. East Coast--Hot temperatures are accelerating fruit maturation. First and second picks are providing extra large to large to medium sizes, while third pick sizes are running mostly large and medium. Quality from all picks is good. Dade, Southwest--Picking is completed. Some fruit from other areas is being packed in Immokalee. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are fair. Southwest--Harvesting is finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is nearly over with a very limited acreage still producing. Quality, size, and color are fair to good. Southwest--Picking is finished. WATERMELONS: Sumter County--Harvesting is near the peak level. Jefferson County--Harvesting is getting underway. Brevard County--Cutting is nearly finished. Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is slowing seasonally with most producers finished. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Cutting continues to slow. Quality is fair to good.