fl-crop-weather Week ending May 3, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. May 4, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered rains arrived about mid- week with the major stations recording from traces to over an inch and a half of rain for the week of April 26 through May 2. Most temperatures at the major stations averaged within a degree of normal. Daytime highs were mostly in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s with Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Valparaiso recording at least one low in the 50s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is short to mostly adequate with scattered areas of very short moisture. The wheat crop looks good at this time. Dry soil is delaying cotton and peanut planting in some areas. Nineteen percent of the peanuts are planted. Cool night temperatures are slowing the development of corn and tobacco. Sugarcane growth is normal. Field preparations for spring planted crops are active. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 3 6 3 3 Short 44 50 11 35 Adequate 53 44 85 61 Surplus 0 0 1 1 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures throughout most of the State were reported to be in fair to good condition but rain was needed. In the central area, permanent pasture condition was declining due to dry conditions. Some supplemental feeding was still active there. However, most ponds were still very high. The Southwest reported only a few dry areas. Cattle were in fair to good condition statewide. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 5 5 5 Poor 10 5 5 0 Fair 35 45 40 35 Good 50 45 50 60 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Most areas of Florida's citrus belt were dry, hot, and windy with scattered showers which did not let caretakers discon tinue irrigation. Surface moisture is short in most areas as growers are irrigating to maintain good tree condition during this important fruit setting period. New growth is generally slow due to the dry conditions. Most trees are shedding excessive little green fruit that cannot be carried for next season, which is a normal process every year at this time. Harvest of Valencia oranges remains active in all areas with most of the fruit going to the processing plants. Grapefruit movement is starting to slow as supplies are starting to run low in some areas. A few Honey tangerines are still being moved along with some late bloom Temples. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops. Late spring herbicides are still being applied. Post bloom nutri tional spraying is about over as a few fresh fruit growers are applying their second sprays. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Apr 19 Apr 26 May 3 Valencia oranges 8,316,000 7,975,000 8,457,000 All grapefruit 1,957,000 1,610,000 1,282,000 Honey tangerines 52,000 29,000 21,000 Temples 1,000 2,000 0 VEGETABLES: Harvesting of round tomato varieties began in the Palmetto-Ruskin region as the Dade County tomato harvest nears the end. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, blueberries, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucum bers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermel ons. SNAP BEANS: Everglades--Picking continues. Quality remains excellent. Dade--Harvesting is slowing. Quality and yield are good. Volume is declining seasonally with lighter supplies available over the next two to three weeks. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking remains steady. Quality is good. East Coast--Condition is improving. Hand harvesting of a light volume is yielding good quality and color. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Harvesting is expected to start over the next ten days. Big Bend, Western Panhandle--Picking is expected to begin in the next seven to fourteen days. BLUEBERRIES: West Central, North--Picking of a light volume continues. CABBAGE: Dade--Harvest season is complete. West Central-- Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Head quality and color are fair to good. Size is variable. Yield and volume are improving. Central, Hastings--Harvest is steady. Head quality is good. Head size is close to normal. Growth and development are normal. Harvest will last into June. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging of a steady volume continues. Quality remains generally good. Yield continues to improve. CELERY: Zellwood, Everglades--Cutting is active. Quality and yields are good. SWEET CORN: Everglades--Harvesting is gaining momentum. Quality is good. Yield is improving. A good supply is available through early June. Southwest--Condition remains good. Picking continues with steady supplies available. Quality is good. Dade-- Harvesting is declining with light supplies available over the next five to ten days. Quality and yield are good. East Coast--Harvest ing of a very limited acreage for the local market remains active. Workers are cleaning acreage completely picked. Zellwood--Plant growth and development are good. Initial picking is expected to start about mid-month. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Condition is good. Harvesting of very good quality, sizes, and color continues. Mid-week showers slowed some field activities. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking is steady. Volume is steady. Quality is good. West Central--Condition remains fair. Picking of wax types and pickles is increasing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Wax type sizes and color are fair. Dade--Pickle picking continues. Quality and yield are good. Zellwood--Harvesting is underway. Quality is good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Condition is good. Harvesting is active with light volume of mostly good quality available. Cleaning of acreage completely cut continues. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Cutting continues. Supplies are steady. Quality is good. Dade--Cutting is nearing the end with a very light volume avail able. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Harvesting of a light but steady volume continues. Quality is fair. Sizes are variable. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting of good supplies is active. Quality is good. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Supplies are good. OKRA: Dade--Crop condition is good. Growers are irrigating as needed. Harvesting continues. Yield is increasing. Quality is good. PEPPERS: Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Picking continues. Supplies are steady. Quality is good. West Central-- Condition is fair. Picking is active with fair quality and color available. Sizes are variable. Supplies are slowly increasing. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Crown picks are providing very good quality and sizes of green Bells with a moderate volume available. Limb picks of green Bells are yielding good quality and various sizes. Sumter County--Plants are growing well with producers irrigating as needed. POTATOES: Southwest--Potato harvest is winding down. Potatoes harvested are of good quality. Dade--Potato harvest will be complete by next week. Supply is good as some growers have bags stored in coolers. West Central--Crop is in fair condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is gaining. Quality is poor to fair. Potato size is variable. The yield is improving. Hastings--Volume is gaining as more growers start to dig. The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and develop ment are slow to normal. RADISHES: Everglades--Digging continues. Quality and yields are good. A good volume is available until early June. Zellwood-- Harvesting is very active. Yields and quality are good. SQUASH: Dade--Picking continues. Supplies are good with growers harvesting more acreage. Quality and yield remain good. Volume is expected to remain good over the next two to three weeks. Southwest--Condition is good. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is good. West Central--Condition is fair. Harvesting is gaining momentum. Quality is fair. Sizes are mostly small and medium with a few large sizes available. Color is normal. East Coast--The crop is in fair to good condition. Fruit is setting and sizing well. Picking of a light volume of zucchini is active with fancy and medium sizes available. Harvesting of yellow types will become active in about seven to ten days. Sumter County-- Harvesting is active. Growers are irrigating as needed. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting of a light volume continues for mainly local sales. Dade--A light supply of U-Pic is available with the season winding down. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Fruit setting and sizing are fair. Picking began with a very light volume available. Quality is fair. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Condition is declining due to picking. Picking of a declining volume contin ues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Some growers are finished harvesting. East Coast--The mid-week rainfall boosted growth and development but slowed some fieldwork. Crown picks are yielding a moderate volume of mostly good quality and sizes. Dade--Picking is nearly completed with some growers turning fields over to U-Pic and pinhookers after the second pick. Volume is low. Quality is good with a large grade out of wind-scarred fruit. Most sizes are 6x6 and smaller. Quincy--The crop is in good condition. Picking is expected to start by early June. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair. Harvesting of a light volume is active. Quality and color are fair. Sizes are variable. Yield is low. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condi tion is fair. Harvesting of a light volume continues. Quality and color are fair. Sizes are good. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is gaining momentum. Quality is good. West Central-- Condition is fair. Cutting is expected to begin soon. Sumter County--Plants are making runners. Growers are irrigating as needed.