fl-crop-weather Week ending December 20, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. December 21, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers during the week of December 13 through 19 dropped from traces at Jacksonville to over a half inch at Orlando and Daytona Beach. Cold tempera tures arrived during the last part of the week with the weekly temperature at most places averaging one to two degrees below normal. Daytime highs were mostly in the 60s and 70s while nighttime lows were in mostly in the 40s and 50s. Tallahassee recorded at least one low at 26 degrees while Jacksonville had at least one low at 29. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the Panhandle is short to adequate. Northern Peninsula topsoil moisture is very short to short with areas of adequate moisture. Moisture in the southern part of the Peninsula is short to adequate. Dry weather is delaying small grain and forage emergence and growth in areas of the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Winter wheat for grain planting is complete. Winter wheat stands are poor in some areas due to lack of moisture. Cotton harvesting is virtually complete. Sugarcane harvest and planting are active. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 17 8 6 6 Short 55 50 36 45 Adequate 28 42 55 46 Surplus 0 0 3 3 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture in the northern counties was in poor to fair condition due to the lack of soil moisture. The grass was stunted. Some winter forage planting continued. Central area pastures were short due to drought. Pasture in the west central counties were still green having received some much needed rain. Statewide, most cattle and calves were in fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 5 Poor 15 15 0 5 Fair 30 50 35 45 Good 40 30 55 45 Excellent 10 0 10 0 CITRUS: The coldest temperatures of the season covered the citrus belt the first of this week. This chilly weather helped retard any new growth that might have started as a result of the warm temperatures the first of December. There were a few scattered showers on Friday and Saturday mostly in the south part of the State. The central and northern areas have remained generally dry with most caretakers irrigating to maintain good tree and fruit condition. The cool nighttime temperatures continued throughout the week. All early and midseason types of fruit are showing very good natural on-tree coloring. Harvesting crews were very active this week moving as much fruit as possible to the fresh fruit packing houses for the Christmas markets. All processing plants are utilizing large quantities of early and mid oranges that have lower acid levels. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have grown tall and out of control. Growers in some of the coldest locations with new trees have put up dirt banks around the tree's trunks for freeze protection. Hedging and topping of harvested groves is very active so that the trees can generate new foliage before the bloom cycle starts in late February and early March. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 6 Dec 13 Dec 20 Navel oranges 582,000 652,000 436,000 Early & Mid oranges 6,309,000 6,629,000 7,550,000 All grapefruit 852,000 1,004,000 1,001,000 Tangerines 233,000 299,000 282,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 3,000 3,000 6,000 Tangelos 206,000 264,000 158,000 VEGETABLES: Crops escaped significant damage from the cold while rainfall was beneficial. The cooler temperatures are slowing the maturation rate which improves quality and some sizing but delays harvesting. Major crops shipped during the week included snap beans, cabbage, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, kale, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, pickles, radishes, squash, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermel ons. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Young acreage is in good condition. Cooler temperatures are slowing down the maturation rate but are improving quality and yield. Planting continues. Picking is active. Quality and yield are good with a good volume available. East Coast--Crop condition remains generally good. Cooler weather is slowing some ripening. Harvesting is active with good quality and color available. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting and picking remain steady. Quality is good. West Central--Condition is fair. U-Pic harvesting is active. Everglades--Harvesting is nearing the end. CABBAGE: West Central--Harvest is starting. Quality is fair and size is small to medium. Cabbage planting is steady. The crop is in fair to good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Hastings--Planting is active. The crop is in good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Growers are starting to harvest. Cool weather has helped the crop. Zellwood--Both red and green are being harvested. Quality is very good. Dade--Cabbage is growing well with the first harvest in January. Cool weather has helped. CARROTS: All areas--Growth is good with digging expected to start soon. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting is getting underway. SWEET CORN: Dade--Young fields are in good condition. Cool temperatures are slowing the maturation rate. Planting is finished. Initial picking is underway. Quality and yield are good. Everglades--Picking is very active. Quality and yield are very good with supplies available into January. Southwest--Harvest ing continues. East Coast--Condition is good. Germination of recent seedings slowed slightly. Growers continue to plant a limited acreage. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Harvesting remains active with very good quality and color available. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality is good. West Central--Picking is finished. PICKLES: Dade--Harvesting is active. Quality and yield are good. Cool temperatures are slowing some ripening. West Central--Harvesting is finished. EGGPLANT: East Coast--The crop is in very good condition. First cuttings are yielding excellent quality and color with both regular and Italian types available. Supplies continue to fluctuate due to the market. Dade--Harvesting is active. Quality and yield are good with a good volume available over the next six to eight weeks. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting of a limited acreage continues at a slow pace. Cutting is steady. Quality is good. West Central--Condition is fair. U-Pic harvest ing is active. Quality is fair. Sizes are variable. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting is very active. Yield and quality are improving. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting of Romaine, leaf, Boston, and Bibb is active. Quality is improving. Iceberg harvest is expected to start soon. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting remains active. Yield and quality are fair. Volume remains low. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality is good. East Coast-- The crop is good condition. Cooler temperatures are slowing some plant growth. Initial picks are producing very good quality and larger sizes of green Bells. Harvesting of specialty types continues. Growers continue to lay plastic and transplant. West Central--Condition is fair. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. Sizes are variable. POTATOES: Dade--Planting continues on schedule with soil conditions perfect for planting. Planting should be complete by January 1. Fields look good. Stands are good with vines growing well. Cool weather should slow growth and improve the yield. Southwest--Planting is steady. The crop in good condi tion. Growth and development are good. West Central--Planting is gaining momentum. The crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Condition is good. Growers are digging acreage planted after Tropical Storm Mitch passed by. Quality is good. Supply is good. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting and harvesting continue at a steady pace. Quality is good. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Picking is active. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Crop condition is good. Picking is increasing. Quality and yield are good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Cooler temperatures are improving growth and development. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are fair. Dade--The U-Pic crop is in good condition. Picking is expected to start within the next few days. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Cooler temperatures are improving fruit set and sizing. Planting is steady. Picking is active with a good supply of all sizes available. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Growers continue to make first, second, and third picks. Quality and sizes are good. Dade--Condition is good. Planting remains active. Harvesting is getting underway with a light volume available. Quality and sizes are expected to be good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Crop condition is fair. Picking continues to slow seasonally with some growers finished. Fruit quality is fair. Sizes are variable. Producers are preparing land for spring crop planting. Quincy-- Harvesting is finished. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting remains steady. Harvesting is steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Picking is nearing the end. Quality is fair. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Planting and picking are steady. Quality is good. Palmetto- Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Picking is winding down. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. WATERMELONS: Southwest, Palmetto-Ruskin--The season is completed. 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