fl-crop-weather Week ending August 23, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. August 24, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Daily rains continued in most localities during the week of August 16 through 22. The major stations reported rain totaling from about one inch to almost three inches. Although Miami recorded almost three inches, the Home stead area received only about an inch for the week. Palmetto- Ruskin reported from three to six inches of rain while the South west recorded from one-quarter to almost four inches for the week. Temperatures averaged normal to two degrees above with highs in the 80s and 90s and lows in the 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is mostly adequate with a few scattered areas of surplus moisture. Wet weather has delayed haying in many areas. Tobacco marketing is active. Tobacco harvest is virtually complete. Heavy armyworm infestations continue to plague peanuts, hay fields, and pasture land. Tomato spotted wilt virus is showing up in peanut fields. White mold is becoming extremely bad in some peanut fields. Bollworm infestations are high in some non-Bt cotton fields. Soybeans and sugarcane are in good condition. Peanut condition: fair 14%, good 82%, and excellent 4%. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 1 0 1 1 Short 5 2 24 4 Adequate 91 92 68 91 Surplus 3 6 7 4 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Armyworm infestations were still a problem in the Panhandle and northern and central counties. The armyworms have caused substantial damage to pastures and hayfields. In the southwest, some pastures are over grown. Calving was active. Pastures look good and grass growth was good. Statewide, cattle and calves were in fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 35 35 35 30 Good 60 65 60 70 Excellent 5 0 5 0 CITRUS: The weather most of this week was typical of summer conditions with scattered rains and thunderstorms coming in both the mornings and afternoons. There also were a few areas that had a couple of days of dry weather. Due to the recent high tempera tures, high humidity, and frequent showers, there is an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages in all areas. There is evidence in most areas of blight, sand hill decline, or young tree decline with trees that have very little if any new foliage. New crop fruit continues to make good progress for the last of August. Most fruit sizes are a little behind where they were last year at this time due to the unusually dry weather in May and June. Those groves that have had very little care and virtually no irrigation are showing various signs of neglect that include yellowing, light fruit set along with fluctuating sizes. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that have grown out of control. Growers are spraying and fertilizing between the summer rains. Dead and dying trees are being removed and replaced in some groves. VEGETABLES: Ground preparation for fall crop planting continued between showers as growers kept an eye on the move ment of Hurricane Bonnie. Gadsden County--Tomatoes are in good condition. Most plants reached the first string. Oxford--Fall planting started. East Coast--Producers planted a limited acreage of eggplant. Transplanting of peppers continued with wet ground delaying some activity after mid-week. Tomato planting is underway. Recent pepper and tomato plantings are in mostly good condition with some resets made due to heat damage. Palmetto- Ruskin--Tomato plant growth is fair to good with planting slowing seasonally. Workers are starting to stake tomatoes. Eggplant is in fair to good condition. Planting of watermelons gained momentum with condition rated fair to good. Planting of cherry and plum tomatoes is increasing seasonally with both in fair to good condition. Pumpkin planting is finished with growth rated fair to good. Cantaloupes are in fair to good condition. Southwest-- Pepper planting gained momentum with condition rated fair to good. Tomato planting is slow as the season gets underway. Young tomato plants are in fair to good condition. Planting of plum and cherry tomatoes began with both rated fair to good. Dade County--A very small acreage of squash was planted with most growers to start about the first of September. Okra harvest ing slowed due to the low market. Recent heavy rain knocked some blooms off okra plants with recovery expected. Some growers are cutting okra fields to delay harvesting and make a second crop. Snap bean planting is expected to start in late August. Tomato planting is expected to begin in late September. FLORIDA LABOR Page 2 August 24, 1998 To receive this report via e-mail, send an e-mail message to nass-state-releases@news.usda.gov with the following message: subscribe fl-crop-weather. The report will be e-mailed automatically to your e-mail address each week.