fl-crop-weather Week ending April 12, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. April 13, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Mostly warm temperatures and dry skies predominated during the week of April 5 through 11. Temperatures at the major weather stations averaged within a degree of normal. Daytime highs were mostly in the 70s and 80s with Miami and West Palm Beach recording at least one high at 90. Lows across the western Panhandle and northern localities were mostly in the 50s; over central areas, mostly in the 50s and 60s; and across southern regions, mostly in the 60s and 70s. Jacksonville, Orlando, and Valparaiso recorded at least one low in the 40s for the week. Only Jacksonville recorded significant rain for the week with about three inches accumulating from mid-week storms that brought hail and wind damage to some northeastern localities. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula is mostly short to adequate with scattered areas of very short moisture. In the central part of the State topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus with scattered areas of short moisture. Topsoil moisture in the southern part of the State is short to adequate. The dry, warm weather of the past week has reduced the wet field problems. On the high sandy soils, topsoil moisture is needed. The wheat crop looks good at this time. Peanut planting is starting. Blue mold is a problem in some of the tobacco plant beds and is delaying the completion of tobacco transplanting. Sugar cane growth is normal. The last sugarcane mill will close this week. Corn planting is winding down. Field preparations for spring planted crops are active. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 3 0 0 Short 11 32 5 17 Adequate 69 56 45 47 Surplus 20 9 50 36 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The dry, warm weather has helped the flood waters to recede and more pastures are in the process of greening up so supplemental feeding of cattle has been reduced. Black flies have been numerous this year and are causing irritation to livestock. In the Panhandle some pastures are in need of rain. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 15 0 0 0 Poor 5 15 15 10 Fair 50 50 50 45 Good 30 35 35 40 Excellent 0 0 0 5 CITRUS: This was mainly a dry and hot week until a front passed late Thursday bringing windy and cooler weather for the Easter weekend. Bloom generally progressed to the full open stages in most groves. Some blocks of trees have had petal drop while a few others are still in the budding stage. Many of the well-cared- for Valencia, Navel, and grapefruit groves have had a prolific, uniform bouquet bloom while others have not been as noticeable but have had adequate bloom flowers for a good crop. Harvest of Valencia oranges for processing continues very active in all areas. Grapefruit harvest is starting to slow as some areas have limited supplies remaining. Temple and Honey tangerine movement is about over for the year. Caretakers are cutting cover crops and herbiciding. Post bloom nutritional spraying is in full swing. A few growers are starting to irrigate in the high sand hills and dry groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Mar 29 Apr 5 Apr 12 Valencia oranges 8,145,000 8,022,000 6,911,000 All grapefruit 2,483,000 2,275,000 2,126,000 Honey tangerines 121,000 110,000 77,000 Temples 36,000 14,000 38,000 VEGETABLES: Harvesting increased during the week to meet the holiday demand. Strong winds are affecting plant growth in some southeastern and southern Peninsula localities and are causing an increase in the need for irrigation. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, blueberries, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Young acreage is in very good condition. Picking is increasing. Yield and quality are good. Good supplies are available for the next three weeks. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continues to slow seasonally. Harvesting is active. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--The condition of young acreage continues to improve. Harvesting of a light to moderate volume continues with mostly good quality and color available. Gradeout is light to normal. Everglades--Harvesting is getting underway. West Central--Crop condition ranges poor to fair. Planting is finished. BLUEBERRIES: West Central--Harvesting of a very light volume is active. CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage is being cut on a weekly schedule with good quality but volume decreasing. 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. Some fields are looking a little better. Southwest-- Harvest is complete. Central, Hastings--Harvest is steady. Head size is smaller than normal but larger than expected. CARROTS: Zellwood--Harvesting continues with generally good quality available. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting continues. Zellwood-- Harvesting increasing seasonally. SWEET CORN: Dade--Picking is active with good quality and volume available. Good supplies are available for the next two weeks. Everglades--Picking of a light volume continues. Supplies are expected to increase in about two weeks. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is finished. East Coast--Harvesting of a very small acreage for mainly local sales remains active. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Condition is improving. Recent plantings have mostly good germination. Picking of an increasing volume is active. Quality is mostly good. Planting remains active. Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Harvesting is steady. Quality is fair to good. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Plant development is slow but normal. Harvesting of very light supplies is expected to begin over the next seven to ten days. Growers are finishing the planting of pickles. Dade--Pickle harvesting is producing good quality and yield. Growers expect good supplies for about the next four weeks. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young fields are in good condition. Fruit set and sizing are improving. Cutting of a light volume continues with fair to good quality available. Workers are staking and tying young acreage. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is steady. Quality is fair to good. Dade--Harvesting is active. Yield is low. West Central--Condition is fair. Plant development is normal but slow. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting is steady. Quality is generally good. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Quality ranges mostly good to excellent. OKRA: Dade--Plant growth is good to excellent. Harvesting is underway with light supplies available. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting remains steady with fair to good quality available. East Coast--Condition is good. Blooming and fruit setting are mostly good. Harvesting of a mostly light volume of green Bells is active with crown picks yielding good quality. Picking of red Bells and specialty types remains active with very light supplies available. Supplies are expected to increase over the next few days. West Central--Condition of acreage protected by wind breaks is good. Open acreage is in fair to poor condition. Picking is expected to start within the next seven to ten days. North--Plant growth is good. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is steady with good quality. Dade--Harvest is at peak with yields increasing with good quality. Harvest should continue through April with good volume. Weather was perfect for potatoes this week with no rain and dry fields. West Central--Crop is in poor to fair condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is starting. Hastings--Plants are growing slower than normal. Young fields look good. Some fields are blooming. Digging should be under way by end of April with volume digging starting the first week of May. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting of steady supplies continues. Quality is very good to excellent. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Steady harvesting is yielding fair to good quality. Planting is finished. East Coast--Fruit setting is slow in younger fields with some pollination problems reported. Harvesting of generally good quality continues with a light volume available. Dade--Supplies are increasing. Yield and quality are good. Growers expect a good volume to be available through April. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Light supply continues at a steadily declining rate. Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting is slowing with fair quality available. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Dade--U-Pic harvesting continues. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition ranges fair to good. Harvesting remains steady with good supplies available. First picks are yielding mostly 5x6 and 6x6 sizes of good quality. Second and third picks are producing mostly 6x6 and 6x7 sizes. Some growers are making only two picks from older acreage. East Coast--Young acreage continues to show improved growth and development. Strong winds are affecting the growth of some older acreage. Growers continue to make first, second, and third picks. Crown picks are yielding generally good quality and sizes. Dade-- Warm, dry weather is causing some uneven maturation of fruit. Picking continues with mostly 6x6 sizes available. Yield is low due to the gradeout of scarred fruit. Volume is declining season ally. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Fruit setting is improving. Fruit sizing is variable. Transplanting is completed. Producers will start to pick in about two to three weeks. North-- The crop is in good condition around Quincy and in Sumter County. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is improving and is rated fair. Plant growth is slow but normal. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking remains steady. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is improving and is rated fair. Plant growth is slow but normal. Picking is expected to begin in two to three weeks. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition is improving. Planting is finished. West Central--Condition is improving. Plant growth is normal but slow. North--Condition is good with plants growing well.