fl-crop-weather Week ending April 5, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. April 6, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warm and mostly dry weather prevailed during the week of March 29 through April 4. Tempera tures mostly averaged five to nine degrees above normal. Daytime highs were mostly in the upper 70s and low to mid 80s. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s with some 50s recorded in western Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities. Rain totaled from traces to a third inch with some localities recording no measurable rain for the week. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula is mostly short to adequate. In the central part of the State topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus. Topsoil moisture in the southern part of the State is mostly adequate with scattered areas of short moisture. The dry, warm weather of the past week has reduced the flooding problems in some areas of the State. On the high sandy soils topsoil moisture is needed. The wheat crop looks good at this time. Tobacco transplanting is winding down. Sugarcane growth is normal. Sugarcane mills are closing for the season. Corn planting is active. Field preparations for spring planted crops are active. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 0 11 0 5 Adequate 43 69 30 45 Surplus 57 20 70 50 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The dry, warm weather has helped the flood waters to recede. The warm temperatures have helped warm season pastures to green up but there has not been much growth yet. In many areas cattle are on short grass so supplemental feeding is active. In the Panhandle some pastures are in need of rain. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 10 15 0 0 Poor 40 5 10 15 Fair 30 50 70 50 Good 20 30 20 35 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: This was the warmest week of 1998. There were only a few scattered showers until the passage of a cool front Friday night and Saturday morning when scattered light rains fell over a large portion of the citrus belt. Saturday and Sunday were perfectly clear and cool days throughout the State. There contin ues to be an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages with bloom present in all stages. A lot of groves are showing a full bouquet bloom at this time. Some trees have had a lot of petal drop. Harvest of Valencia oranges is very active in all areas with most of the fruit going to the processors. Movement of white and colored grapefruit is most active on the lower east coast for both fresh and process utilization. Temple and Honey tangerine harvest continues to slow as few supplies are remaining. Caretakers are discing, chopping and mowing cover crops prior to and following harvesting. Post bloom nutritional sprays have started in all areas. Hedging and topping have been reported in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Mar 22 Mar 29 Apr 5 Valencia oranges 6,593,000 7,324,000 8,022,000 All grapefruit 2,343,000 2,273,000 2,275,000 Honey tangerines 127,000 123,000 110,000 Temples 71,000 37,000 14,000 VEGETABLES: The warmer temperatures are boosting plant growth and fruit development and aiding in the recovery from recent adverse weather. Vegetables harvested during the week include snap beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucum bers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Young fields remain in good condition. Planting is finished. Harvesting is active. Yield continues to improve. Growers expect a good volume for at least the next four weeks. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing. Picking remains steady. Quality is fair to good. East Coast-- Condition is fair to good. Plant growth is improving. Picking of a moderate volume is active. Quality and color are very good. Everglades--Crop condition is good. Picking is expected to begin in about two weeks. West Central--Crop condition remains variable. BLUEBERRIES: West Central--Picking of a very light volume is active. CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage cut on a weekly schedule will still produce good quality and yield for another 2 weeks. West Central- -Crop condition is fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Head quality and color are fair. Size is variable. The crop is starting to look better. Southwest-- Harvest is complete. Central, Hastings--Harvest is steady. Head size is smaller than normal but larger than expected. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging is active. Quality is improving as soils dry out. Cullage remains above normal. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting is active. Zellwood--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is getting underway. Production prospects are good. SWEET CORN: Dade--The crop is in good condition. Harvest ing continues with good yield and quality. Growers expect a good volume over the next two to three weeks. Everglades--Harvesting continues with a light supply available. Quality is mostly good. A good volume is expected in about three weeks. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Pulling remains active with a light supply available. Ear quality is very good. Yield is improving. Southwest--Condition is good. Planting continues at a steady pace. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Warmer temperatures are boosting plant growth especially in younger fields. Fruit setting remains slow. Harvesting is increasing. Quality is variable but mostly good. Planting continues. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. Picking is starting with fair to good quality available. West Central--Condition remains fair to poor but is expected to improve with the warmer temperatures. Dade--Pickle condition is good. Harvesting is underway with fair quality and good yield. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young acreage is in good condition. Harvesting of a light volume is active with fancy and choice grades available. Staking and tying are active. Workers are cleaning acreage completely harvested. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Cutting continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Dade--Cutting of a low volume is active. Supplies are available for the next three or more weeks. West Central--The crop remains in fair to poor condition but is expected to improve with warmer temperatures. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--Harvesting continues with an excellent supply available. Quality is mostly good. Zellwood-- Harvesting is gaining momentum. Quality is generally good and improving. Some quality is showing the effects of earlier rain damage. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting is increasing. Romaine supplies are good with excellent quality available. The volume of head varieties is increasing with excellent quality available. Leaf quality is good with mostly steady supplies available. Zellwood-- Harvesting remains active. Yield is good. Quality is generally good with some quality showing the effects of recent rain damage. Warmer, drier weather is helping to improve quality. OKRA: Dade--Plants are emerging and growing well. Planting is gaining momentum. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Crop condition is improving. Green Bell picking continues with crown picks providing good quality, sizes, and a moderate volume. Harvesting of light supplies of red Bell and specialty varieties continues. Growers are cleaning acreage completely picked. West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to poor but is improving due to warmer temperatures. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Potato harvest is steady. Potatoes harvested are of good quality. Dade--Potato yields are good. Growers are reporting better than expected yields. Volume should be good for rest of the season. West Central--Crop is in poor to fair condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest could start before April 15. Hastings--The potato plants are growing slower than normal. Young fields look good. Some of the potato fields are blooming. Digging should be underway by end of April with volume starting the first week of May. RADISHES: Zellwood--Digging is increasing. Quality is very good. Everglades--Digging is gaining momentum. Quality is excellent. SQUASH: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is steady with good quality available. Some late spring crop acreage is being planted. East Coast--Crop condition is improving with young acreage in good condition. Picking of a light volume is active. Quality is generally good. Dade--Young fields remain in good condition. Picking of a low volume is active. Quality is good. Supplies are expected to increase over the next few days. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Harvesting is slowing season ally. Quality ranges fair to mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Picking continues with fair quality available. Sizes are variable. Color is fair to good. Dade--U-Pic supplies are plentiful. Quality is good. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth and fruit sizing are good. Growers are steadily picking fair to good quality. Yield is light. Gradeout continues above normal. Good supplies of all sizes are available. Volume is expected to slowly decline over the next few weeks. East Coast-- Young acreage is in mostly good condition. Warmer temperatures are improving fruit set and sizing with pinks appearing in fields ready to pick. Crown through third picks are yielding a moderate volume. First picks are producing good quality and sizes. Gradeout is about normal. Workers are drenching recent transplants with water to ensure proper development. Dade--Crop condition is improving. Harvesting continues with first picks yielding 5x6 and 6x6 sizes and later picks producing 6x6 and 6x7 sizes. Yield remains below normal. Quality is improving. Growers expect a fair volume for the rest of the season. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Fruit sizes are about a half dollar and smaller. Picking is expected to begin in two to four weeks. Quincy-- Condition remains good. Transplanting is finished. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to poor but is expected to improve with the warmer temperatures. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting continues at a steady pace with fair to good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop remains in fair to poor condition but is expected to improve with the warmer tempera tures. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is winding down. West Central--The crop remains in fair condition with warmer temperatures boosting development. North--Planting and cultivation are becoming more active as soils dry out.