FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending September 21, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. September 22, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Weather data was not available at time of publication. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly very short in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula with scattered areas of short or adequate moisture. Central Peninsula moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus along the east coast. In the southern Peninsula the top soil moisture is adequate. Peanut condition: very poor 0%, poor 58%, fair 37%, good 4%, excellent 1%. Forty-two percent of the peanut acreage for nuts has been harvested. Peanuts are being harvested early in some cases as vines are dying. On some farms the soil is too hard for harvesting peanuts. The dry weather has been excellent for hay harvest. Sugarcane growth is normal. Tobacco marketing is starting to wind down. Dry weather is adversely affecting field crops and forage in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 12 16 12 9 Short 28 33 20 31 Adequate 57 50 57 57 Surplus 3 1 11 3 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture conditions ranged from poor in the Panhandle to excellent in the south. Persistent drought in the northern counties caused poor pasture. Some supplemental hay was being fed there because of the short pastures. Pastures in the west central area were in fair to good condition and there was some damage from army worms. Pastures in the south were good to excellent as soil moisture was adequate. Most cattle in the State were in fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 5 10 0 0 Fair 40 25 30 20 Good 45 60 65 75 Excellent 5 5 5 5 CITRUS: Most of Florida's citrus belt was dry and hot this week. High pressure over the State generally prevented regular afternoon rain showers. There is an abundance of new foliage in most well- cared-for young tree groves. Many growers in the southern and ridge growing locations are irrigating to maintain good tree condition and to continue fruit growth. Many early bloom crops are showing color break. Harvest is increasing on all early types of fruit. Many fresh fruit packing houses are now open and receiving Navels, Hamlins, and Ambersweet oranges, K-Earlys, Satsumas, early tangerines, and white and colored grapefruit. There are a few processors open taking packing house elimina tions. Some eliminations are still going to the pastures and being destroyed. Caretakers are cutting cover crops prior to harvesting, spraying, and/or fertilizing. Growers are repairing ditches following the heavy summer rains. There are a few fall miticides being applied in some of the fresh fruit groves. There are some abandoned grapefruit and tangerines trees being pushed. VEGETABLES: Hot temperatures continue to affect plant growth and development over the southern Peninsula. Dade County reported that about three and a half inches of rain fell last weekend but quickly drained away with the rest of the week being mostly clear. Palmetto-Ruskin reported that rain ranged from a trace to two and a half inches with many localities becoming dry. Scattered rains fell over parts of the Southwest region virtually every day. Some squash is being picked along the southeastern coast. Strawberry planting is underway in the Plant City area. SNAP BEANS: East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condi tion. Oldest plants are developing well. Ground preparation and planting are steady. Dade--The crop is in good condition with oldest plants making good stands. Planting is increasing slowly with most acreage to be planted beginning in mid-October. West Central--Condition is good. Planting continues to increase seasonally. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition as planting gains momentum. CABBAGE: West Central--Planting gaining. Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development normal. Central--Light planting underway. CARROTS: Zellwood--Planting is active. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--The crop is in good condition. Planting is virtually finished. Growers are irrigating. Harvest is expected to start in early October. Everglades--The crop is in good condition. Planting continues. Southwest--Oldest plants are beginning to emerge from the ground. East Coast--Producers continue discing and cleaning ditches in preparing for future planting. Dade--Planting will begin in November. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Plant growth and development is normal. Planting continues at a steady pace. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Oldest plants are showing four to five leaves. Planting is gaining momen tum. Zellwood--Planting is underway. East Coast--Planting is increasing seasonally. Dade--Planting of pickles is underway. Oldest plants are making good stands. EGGPLANT: East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Oldest plants continue to bloom and set fruit. Staking, tying, and laying of plastic remain active. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plants are developing slowly but normally. Planting is completed. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good as planting gains momentum. Dade--Bed preparation and laying of plastic continue. Planting is expected to begin within the next ten days. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Zellwood--Planting is just beginning. Everglades--Light planting is active. LETTUCE: Everglades--Producers are making light plantings of head, Romaine, and leaf types with activity to increase over the next few weeks. Zellwood--Planting of specialty types is getting underway. OKRA: Dade--Winter crop planting continues with oldest plants growing well. The summer/fall crop is in good condition with rain and warm temperatures boosting growth. Harvesting of the summer/fall crop continues. Quality is good. Volume declined slightly. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Oldest plants are blooming with high temperatures increasing bloom drop. Planting remains steady. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Plant growth and development is good. Older plants continue to bloom and set fruit. Recent plantings are making good stands. Workers are laying plastic, planting, spraying, staking, and tying. RADISHES: Everglades, Zellwood--Light plantings are starting with the first digging expected in late October. SQUASH: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Plants are developing normally. Planting is starting to slow seasonally. Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Some plants are being stressed by the high temperatures. Planting is making steady progress. East Coast--Plant growth and fruit development are good. Fruit setting and sizing are active on oldest plants. Harvest of the oldest acreage is producing mostly good quality with a small volume available. Dade--Most growers will start planting around mid-October. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Transplanting started. Palmetto-Ruskin--Growers continue to prepare ground for transplanting. TOMATOES: Quincy--The crop is in excellent condition. Harvest will start in late September. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Plant growth is fair to good. Hot, dry condi tions are contributing to a light fruit set. Fruit sizing is fair. Transplanting is virtually finished. Picking is expected to start about mid to late October. Southwest--Overall condition is fair to good. The hot temperatures are slowing growth of young plants. Plant growth is good for older plants. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Plant growth is good with bloom buds and open blooms appearing in older fields. Transplanting remains active with good plant survival. Dade--The small acreage transplanted is in good condition. Most growers will start transplanting about mid- October. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Planting is virtually completed. Southwest--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Planting is steady. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is slowing seasonally. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Planting is nearing the end. Picking is expected to start in one to two weeks.