HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending June 29, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. June 30, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Strong winds from scattered thunderstorms toppled trees and damaged some roofs during the week of June 22 through 28. Rainfall totaled from about a half inch to over two inches with unofficial reports of up to five inches falling around Tampa and other West Central localities. Temperatures averaged near normal for the week with daytime highs in the upper 80s and low 90s. Lows were mostly in the 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus throughout the State with scattered areas of short moisture. Fifty- two percent of the peanuts have pegged. Peanut condition: poor 1%, fair 22%, good 60%, excellent 17%. Soybean planting is winding down. Rain is delaying haying in some areas. Sugarcane growth is normal. Corn is tasseling and silking. Tobacco harvest is active. Forage is making good growth. Dry weather is needed for farmers to control weeds. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 11 0 Short 8 11 7 13 Adequate 70 71 60 74 Surplus 22 18 22 13 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures and cattle were reported to be in generally good condition throughout the State. Pastures were in better condition due to recent rains with the exception of the southeast where no rain and high temperatures were drying out pastures. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 40 10 35 10 Good 50 85 55 85 Excellent 10 5 10 5 CITRUS: Most well-cared-for groves continue in very good condition. Those trees receiving minimal care or have discontinued maintenance have light green foliage reflecting stress and cover crops (weeds) that are out of control covering the trees. New crop fruit is making good progress and there is a lot of new foliage on most trees. Valencia harvest is winding down as supplies are running low statewide. Movement of all seedless grapefruit is very slow as few fresh fruit packers are still open. There are still a few juice processors and several fresh squeeze operations taking both Valencias and grapefruit. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that have grown tall and out of control. Summer fertilizations, sprays, and herbicides are being applies in all areas. Dead tree removal and replanting continues. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jun 16 Jun 23 Jun 30 Valencia oranges 2,743,000 2,269,000 NA All grapefruit 149,000 144,000 NA VEGETABLES: Northern producers continue to market mostly tomatoes and sweet corn. Harvesting of okra and black-eyed-peas is active in Dade County. Picking for local sales and the U-Pic market continues in many southern Peninsula areas. Major vegetables shipped: watermelons, tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, and peppers. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Harvesting virtually finished. CABBAGE: Harvest complete. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging is virtually completed. SWEET CORN: North, Zellwood--Picking is active. CUCUMBERS: North--Picking virtually completed. Palmetto- Ruskin--Pickle harvesting continues for the local market. Quality and sizes are fair to good. EGGPLANT: North--Harvesting of a light volume continues. OKRA: Dade--Harvest of steady volume continues. Yield and quality are good. Growers will continue harvesting through August. PEPPERS: North--Picking of a small supply continues. Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting for the U-Pic market continues. Quality remains fair with small and medium sizes available. POTATOES: Harvest complete. SQUASH: North, North Central--Picking is virtually finished. TOMATOES: Quincy--Heavy rains interrupted some harvesting. Recent showers reduced some quality. Volume is declining seasonally with growers to finish most picking over the next two weeks. Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting is active. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is completed. WATERMELONS: Western Panhandle, North--Almost daily rain delayed some cutting with muddy fields hindering activity. Quality is variable. North Central--Virtually all harvesting is over.