FLORIDA WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending February 8, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. February 9, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Significant rainfall occurred at the beginning and later in the week of February 1 through 7. Dade County reported almost five and a half inches accumulation while Palmetto-Ruskin recorded from one to two inches. The East Coast region recorded from three to three and a half inches. Southern localities in the Southwest region received only light amounts of rain with central and northern localities receiving heavier amounts. Official stations reported from about one to almost five inches of rain for the week. Strong winds accompanied storms in some localities with Homestead recording 60 to 70 miles per hour gusts early in the week. Cloud cover kept most temperatures one to three degrees below normal. Most lows averaged in the 40s and 50s with most highs in the 50s and 60s. Some northern and central Penin sula and virtually all western Panhandle localities recorded at least one low in the 30s. Palmetto-Ruskin reported some temperatures with wind chill factors in the 20s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus through out the State. Sugarcane growth is normal. Sugarcane harvest is active. Sugarcane planting is complete. Tobacco growers are taking care of tobacco plant beds with no disease problems reported. Wet weather is delaying field preparations for spring planted crops. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 3 0 0 0 Adequate 42 27 50 33 Surplus 55 73 50 67 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: In the Panhandle, waterlogged soils were causing poor growth and leaf yellowing in small grains for grazing. In the northern counties, some pastures on low ground are under water. Ranchers continue supplemental feeding. West central pastures are wet; some pastures are flooded in low lying areas. Grass is still green and there is a little growth of certain types of grass. Some southwest pastures are being burned off so new grass can get started. The condition of cattle is mostly fair. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 30 40 5 15 Fair 50 45 55 65 Good 15 10 35 20 Excellent 0 0 5 0 CITRUS: Hard rains and high winds Monday night in most of the citrus belt were followed by cloudy weather and more rain Thursday night and Friday. Lows in the 40s with highs in the 50s and 60s provided a little below normal weather for the first of February. The cool temperatures are holding back new growth and bloom buds that are forming in all areas as a result of the above average moisture levels. Many Navels, Valencias, and some early picked types are showing bloom buds in the pin head to pencil eraser size. Harvest of early and midseason oranges is slowing as supplies are rapidly being depleted. Movement of both white and colored grapefruit for both fresh and processed utilization is most active on the lower East Coast. Picking of Honey tangerines and Temples continues very active for fresh use. Caretakers have been busy cutting dead weeds and cover crops for fire protection and prior to harvest. Hedging and topping are increasing in activity in harvested blocks and most fresh crop grapefruit groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 25 Feb 1 Feb 8 Navel oranges 151,000 128,000 74,000 Early & Mid oranges 8,796,000 9,524,000 8,825,000 Valencia oranges 40,000 81,000 222,000 All grapefruit 1,325,000 1,424,000 1,721,000 Tangerines 27,000 17,000 24,000 Honey tangerines 95,000 89,000 97,000 Temples 153,000 137,000 235,000 Tangelos 162,000 118,000 67,000 VEGETABLES: Strong winds tossed plants, cold temperatures slowed some plant growth, and wet ground delayed some field work. Sumter County growers hope to begin spring planting within the next seven to ten days barring any more nasty weather. Vegetables harvested during the week include snap beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, Chinese cabbage, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Strong winds scarred some beans, especially pole varieties. Harvesting remains active with fair quality and good volume available. Yield is fair. East Coast-- Young fields tossed by strong winds are expected to recover. Older plants suffered leaf burn and bean scarring. The cool temperatures are slowing all plant growth. Picking of a light volume continues with variable but mostly good quality available. Southwest-- Condition remains fair to good with some wind damage reported. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality is fair. West Central-- Growers are preparing land for planting. CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage is being cut on a weekly schedule with fair quality and good yields. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Head quality fair and size on green small to medium. Color of heads fair. Planting is winding down. Central, Hastings-- Crop condition is normal. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is steady. Quality is mostly good. Everglades--Light supplies are available. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging remains active with packout below normal. Growers expect below normal supplies during the next few weeks. SWEET CORN: Dade--Strong winds blew over some plants with most recovering well. Most harvesting is by hand due to wet fields. Quality and volume are good although a few ears are not filled out to the tip. East Coast--The strong winds laid over most stocks. Harvesting of a moderate volume remains active with variable but mostly good quality available. Everglades--Crop condition is generally good. Strong winds tossed some older plants but no significant damage occurred. Harvesting of the oldest fields is expected to start in late February or early March. Southwest-- Crop condition is fair to good. Strong winds blew some plants down with recovery expected. Planting continues at a steady pace. Zellwood--Producers are preparing fields with planting to begin within the next seven to ten days. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Strong winds and blowing sand tore up most acreage not protected by wind breaks and caused some damage in those with wind protection. Leaf burn and dehydration are apparent in most fields. Planting continues. Southwest-- Condition is fair. Planting is active. Picking of a very light supply continues. Quality is fair. West Central--Growers are preparing land for planting which is expected to start soon. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is variable. The cooler temperatures are slowing plant growth and development. The blowing sand and strong winds tore up young and mid-growth plants with foliage burned and blooms lost. Cutting of a light volume continues with some fancy and choice grades available. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Wind borne sand scarred some fruit. Planting is slowing seasonally. Harvesting is steady with fair quality available. Dade--The strong winds caused significant damage with vines broken and fruit scarred. Cutting remains active with yield low. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--The adverse weather caused only light leaf burn and blew some dirt on leaves with no significant damage occurring. Harvesting is very active. Quality is generally good. Zellwood--Plants suffered only light storm damage with recovery expected. Harvesting is expected to begin in about seven to ten days. LETTUCE: Everglades--Winds blew some dirt into plants and caused some light leaf burn with plants recovering well. Harvest ing is in full swing. Zellwood--Plentiful supplies are expected in about seven to ten days. OKRA: Dade--Condition is declining as the season nears the end with harvesting very slow. PEPPERS: Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Strong winds broke some limbs and caused increased bloom drop with plants expected to recover. Planting is starting to slow seasonally. Picking is steady with fair quality available. East Coast--Crop condition is variable with some acreage in good condition. The adverse weather caused some loss of young plants in unprotected fields with growers making spot resets for these. The strong winds burned some leaves, increased bloom drop, blew off some leaves, and dehydrated some plants. Picking of a moderate volume of green Bells continued with growers continuing to harvest a very light volume of specialty varieties. West Central--Condition is fair with plant growth slow. Planting is increasing. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Potato harvest is active. Potatoes have good quality and yield. Dade--Heavy rain and high winds on January 31 and February 1 & 2 caused some leaf burn but it looks as if fields will be alright. West winds on Wednesday pushed water out of the fields. Some fields were killed by growers. The first digging should start before the end of February. Disease is under control. West Central--Crop is in poor to fair condition. Planting is winding down. Growth and development are slow. Fields are really in bad shape due to rain and wind. It is getting a little late to replant so growers are letting the fields grow and will see what happens. Hastings--Potato planting is behind schedule because of the wet weather. Potatoes are in good condition. Growth and development are slow because of the cooler than normal temperatures. RADISHES: Everglades--The crop suffered no damage from the storms. Harvesting remains active. Quality is generally good. Zellwood--Digging of a light volume continues. Planting remains active. SQUASH: Southwest--The crop is in poor to fair condition. Wind borne sand scarred fruit while strong winds broke some plant stems. Planting is active. Picking is steady with a light volume available. East Coast--Crop condition is fair. The strong winds broke some stems and blew off blooms. Harvesting of a light volume remains active with fancy and medium grades packed. Dade--Crop condition is good although the strong winds caused some broken limbs. Picking continues with good quality available. Yield is good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condi tion is fair. Picking remains active with fair to good quality available. Sizes are fair to good. Spraying is active. Dade-- Condition of U-Pic acreage is fair with the rains reducing some berry quality. Picking continues with a good volume available. TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. The strong winds caused some leaf burn and broken stems and increased bloom drop with young plants not tied suffering the most damage. Wind-borne sand bruised some fruit. Picking remains steady with a good supply of all sizes available. East Coast--Strong winds and blowing sand burned leaves, increased bloom loss, and scarred fruit. The wind knocked over a few older plants that were staked and heavy with fruit which workers straightened and picked during milder weather. Some young plants were heavily damaged with growers making spot resets for these. Harvesting of a light volume continue with producers making first, second, and third picks. Dade--Crop condition is fair. Strong winds during the first part of the week tossed plants and blew down a few stakes. Winds from the opposite direction during late week blew vines the other way. However, most blooms were not blown off. Picking was slowed by the adverse weather with a light volume harvested. Sizes picked are running large to extra large from first and second picks and medium to large from third picks. Quality is fair to good. Yield is good. Packout is average. A good volume is available. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition ranges poor to fair. Cold temperatures are slowing plant growth. The strong winds burned some leaves. The winds also delayed some laying of plastic. Growers reset some plantings due to wind and rain damage. Quincy--Wet ground continues to hold up some field preparations. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair with planting starting to slow seasonally. Picking was slow with fair quality available. Sizes are fair. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition with some plants and fruit damaged by the adverse weather. Planting is finished. Harvesting is steady with fair to good quality available. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. The adverse weather caused some plant and fruit damage. Planting is completed. Picking of fair to good quality fruit remains steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair. Planting is increas ing seasonally. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. The winds beat some plants on plastic with virtually all expected to recover. Planting remains steady. West Central--Condition is rated poor to fair. Planting continues to increase.