fl-crop-weather Week ending May 17, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. May 18, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Hot, dry weather increased the threat of brush fires during the week of May 10 through 16. Most temperatures averaged one to two degrees above normal for the week. Most daytime highs were in the mid-to-upper 80s with most stations recording at least one high in the 90s. Most low temperatures were in the 60s and 70s with Daytona Beach and Jacksonville reporting at least one low in the 50s. None of the major stations reported rain for the week. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Wheat growers are getting ready to start wheat harvest. Dry soil is delaying cotton, peanut, and soybean planting in most areas. Growers are starting to cut hay. The dry weather has slowed forage development in many areas. Sixty four percent of the peanuts are planted. Peanut condition: very poor 3%, poor 27%, fair 40%, and good 30%. 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 11 37 3 13 Short 37 62 29 44 Adequate 52 1 67 43 Surplus 0 0 1 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures were under stress and there was little or no growth. Pasture conditions throughout the State worsened due to the hot, dry, and windy conditions. Some central locations have not received rain in six weeks while most other areas have been without rain for two weeks. Ranchers in the central area were back to feeding hay to supplement poor pastures. Statewide, the condition of cattle generally was fair to good. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 10 5 5 Poor 10 30 5 10 Fair 65 45 55 60 Good 15 15 35 25 Excellent 5 0 0 0 CITRUS: This was another hot and dry week. Most growers in all areas of the citrus belt are irrigating around the clock to maintain good tree condition during the current drought. Some areas have reported three to four weeks without rain. Those high sand hill groves not receiving supplemental waterings are generally showing light green foliage and fruit softening and other signs of stress. Valencia harvest is active in all areas with more than 97% of the late oranges going to the processors. Movement of all seedless grapefruit is slowing as good, clean, and firm fruit for fresh shipments are limited. More than half of the grapefruit currently being utilized are being processed. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops. Some herbicides are being applied in groves that have had recent rains and abundant irrigation. Growers are spraying in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 3 May 10 May 17 Valencia oranges 8,457,000 7,122,000 6,219,000 All grapefruit 1,282,000 922,000 800,000 Honey tangerines 21,000 8,000 7,000 VEGETABLES: Watermelon picking is increasing to meet the holiday demand. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, blueberries, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: North--Harvesting is becoming more active as fields reach maturation. Quality is mostly good. West Central-- Crop condition is rated fair to good. Harvesting is mostly steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. Southwest-- Condition remains good. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is good. Zellwood--Picking of a limited supply remains active. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Handpicks of a light volume remain active. Quality and color are good. Producers are discing acreage completely harvested. Dade--Harvesting of a seasonally declining volume continued. Quality and yield are good. Supplies are small. Everglades--Picking is virtually finished. BLUEBERRIES: West Central, North--Picking of a limited volume remains active. Quality is mostly good. CABBAGE: Dade--Harvest season is complete. West Central-- Crop condition is fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is winding down. Head quality is fair and color good. Size is variable. 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 is active with activity to continue into early June. Quality remains generally good. CELERY: Zellwood--Harvesting is steady. Quality is good. Everglades--Cutting is nearing the end. SWEET CORN: Everglades--Harvesting is very active. Yields are very good. Quality is good. Supplies are expected to remain good into early June. Zellwood--Picking is slowly gaining momentum. Quality is generally good. Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is good. East Coast-- Harvesting is nearly completed. Dade--The season is finished. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting of a light to moderate volume is active. Growers are making only first and second picks with super selects, selects, and a few smalls available. Quality and color are good. West Central-- Condition is rated fair to good. Picking continues to gain momentum. Quality and sizes are fair to good. Yield is improving. Supplies are increasing. North--Harvesting is active. Quality is generally good. Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Dade--Hot temperatures are affecting some vine growth. Picking of pickles continued. Quality and yield are good with good supplies available. Zellwood-- Harvesting remains active. Quality is mostly good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Condition is good. Crown picks are yielding a light supply of fancy and medium grades. Quality and color are good. Supplies of Italian types are very light. Producers are cutting strings and pulling stakes and plastic from acreage completely harvested. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Cutting is slowing seasonally. Quality is good. West Central-- Crop condition is fair. Harvesting is winding down. Quality is fair. Sizes are variable. Dade--A small volume remains available over the next seven to ten days. Quality and yield are good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Very limited supplies remain as harvest nears the end. Quality is generally good. LETTUCE: Everglades--Small quantities of Romaine remain available with the harvest of other types virtually completed. Zellwood--Harvesting is virtually finished. OKRA: Dade--Good supplies are available as more acreage reaches maturation. Quality and yield are good. PEPPERS: West Central--Condition is rated fair to good. Picking is increasing. Quality is fair to good with medium and large sizes available. Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Condition is good. Crown picks are producing very good quality and sizes. Limb picks of variable sizes continue. A very light supply of red and yellow Bells remains available. Quality of all picks is mostly good. POTATOES: Southwest, Dade--Potato harvest is complete for the year. Growers are preparing the land for a cover crop. West Central--Harvest is complete. Hastings--Potato harvest is active. The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. RADISHES: Zellwood--Digging continues with supplies available into early June. Quality is generally good. SQUASH: West Central--Condition is fair. Harvesting is mostly steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. East Coast-- Condition remains mostly good. Picking is active. Supplies are light with fancy and medium grades available. Quality and color are generally good. Growers continue to clear acreage completely picked. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking of a light volume is active. Quality is fair to good. Dade--Some harvesting slowed due to the low market. Volume is limited as the season nears the end. North--Harvesting is active. STRAWBERRIES: Dade--Hot temperatures are affecting berry development with U-Pic harvesting nearly finished. Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--The season is over. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Fruit sizing is good. Picking increased with fair to good quality available. Sizes are fair to good. Supplies are expected to be available through early July. East Coast--Condition is good. Hot weather is accelerating fruit maturation. First picks are producing very good quality and sizes with other picks yielding mostly good quality and sizes. Growers are marketing a moderate volume. Southwest--Harvesting is nearing the final stages. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Supplies are light. Dade--The season is virtually completed with some U-Pic and pinhooking still in progress. Quincy--Hot temperatures are aiding plant growth and development. Picking of greens is expected to start by early June. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair. Harvesting is increasing. Quality is fair. Sizes and color are fair to good. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is rated fair to good. Harvesting is increasing. Fruit quality is fair to good. Southwest--Condition is fair. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Central--Harvesting is increasing seasonally. Quality is good. Color is fair to good.