HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending June 22, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. June 23, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Hot temperatures prevailed during the week of June 15 through 21. Daily highs averaged from 88 to 92 degrees for the week. Lows averaged mostly in the 70s. Temperatures were mostly normal to one degree above. Rainfall for the week totaled from about a quarter inch to about one and two thirds inches with the Tampa station reporting no measurable rainfall. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus throughout the State with scattered areas of short moisture. All peanuts have been planted and 29 percent have pegged. Peanut condition: 18% fair, 68% good, 14% excellent. Soybean planting is winding down. Haying is active. Sugarcane growth is normal. Corn is tasseling and silking. Tobacco growers report some blue mold problems. Forage and tobacco are making good growth. Cotton is starting to make good growth as warm temperatures arrive. Tobacco harvest has started. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 11 Short 17 8 22 7 Adequate 68 70 67 60 Surplus 15 22 11 22 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Good rains fell in the west and north parts of the State. In the central area, bahia grass pastures were reported at peak quality. In the southeast, all pasture was in good condition as the rainy season has started. In the west central area, pastures received some very much needed rain, and pasture growth was up a little. Some pastures were still having some problems due to mole cricket damage caused back in the winter. In the southern part of the Peninsula, heavy rains have left some pastures with standing water. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 20 40 20 35 Good 65 50 65 55 Excellent 15 10 15 10 CITRUS: Those groves receiving good care are generally in very good condition. Moisture is adequate in most areas with the east coast getting several days of rains and thunderstorms. All of the citrus belt was very hot as in-grove temperatures got into the mid to upper 90s. There is an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages. New crop fruit is progressing well with normal sizes for the first of June. Harvest of Valencia oranges is slowing as supplies are running low. Movement of all seedless grapefruit is very slow as few processors are taking grapefruit. Many fresh fruit packing houses are finished for the harvest season. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, discing cover crops that have made good growth with the recent rains. Summer fertilizations, sprays, and herbicides are being applied in most areas. Pushing and burning dead trees continues. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jun 9 Jun 16 Jun 23 Valencia oranges 3,860,000 2,743,000 NA All grapefruit 256,000 149,000 NA VEGETABLES: The hot temperatures coupled with the increasing supply of vegetables from northern states are bringing commercial harvesting to an end. Picking for local sales continues. Major vegetables shipped: watermelons, sweet corn, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and squash. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Picking virtually over. CABBAGE: Harvest complete. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging is virtually finished. SWEET CORN: North, Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Quality is generally good. Everglades, East Coast--Picking is completed. CUCUMBERS: North--Harvesting is winding down with only light supplies remaining. Palmetto-Ruskin--Pickle picking is active with some fresh varieties being harvested for local sales. Pickle quality is fair to good with normal sizes of good color available. Southwest, East Coast--Harvesting is completed. EGGPLANT: North--Cutting continues. Light supplies are available for the next few weeks. East Coast, Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Harvesting is finished. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting is active. A steady volume is available through late August. Quality and yield are good. PEPPERS: North--Harvesting is active. Supplies are decreasing seasonally. Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair. Sizes are small to medium. East Coast, Southwest--The season is finished.. POTATOES: Southwest, Dade, West Central--Harvest complete. Hastings--Harvest virtually complete. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--The season is over. SQUASH: North, North Central--Harvesting is near the end with only very light supplies remaining. Palmetto-Ruskin, Dade, East Coast--Harvesting is completed. TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking is about half finished. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is finished. Growers are preparing land for the laying of fall crop plastic. East Coast, Dade, Southwest--Picking is completed. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Picking is finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Picking is nearly done. Quality and sizes are fair. WATERMELONS: Western Panhandle--Picking is increasing. Quality is variable. North--Harvesting is active with some good quality available. North Central--Picking is virtually finished. Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Cutting is finished.