fl-crop-weather Week ending March 14, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. March 15, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Dry weather persisted during the week of March 7 through 13. Most localities recorded no measurable rain for the period. Some north central and northern localities received heavy frost early in the week. However, most low temperatures were in the 40s and 50s while most highs were in the 70s and 80s. Temperatures at the major stations ranged from two degrees above normal at Pensacola to five degrees below normal at Jacksonville with most averaging one degree below normal. A cold front crossing the Western Panhandle on Saturday, March 13, and most of the Peninsula on Sunday, March 14, triggered thunderstorms which brought about an inch or more of rain to most Peninsula areas. Pensacola received about three and a quarter inches of rain for the week with most falling at the end. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the Panhandle is adequate. Peninsula topsoil moisture is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Tobacco growers are taking care of plant beds. Corn planting is starting. Spring crop land preparations are active. Sugarcane mills are starting to close for the season. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 5 34 5 15 Short 65 45 68 49 Adequate 30 21 27 36 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most of the State reported poor to fair range condition. Pasture was in poor condition due to dry soil conditions and frost. A heavy frost killed the pasture grass in some areas. Small grains for forage were doing well in most areas. Permanent pasture was still dormant. Supplemental feeding of cattle was active. In the west central pastures, there was little grass growth due to dry soil conditions. In the south east, pastures were showing signs of new growth. Some mowing was still being done. Statewide, the cattle were mostly in fair condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 60 45 10 20 Fair 30 45 75 60 Good 5 5 15 20 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: All areas of Florida's citrus belt were dry this week with moderate temperatures until Sunday the 14th when rains and a few thunderstorms passed rapidly through the State. Growers and caretakers have been irrigating with everything that will produce water to maintain good tree condition during the current bloom period. Virtually all citrus trees are now in some stage of bloom. There are very little pin head bloom buds on some trees and many young tree Navel and Valencia groves that are showing considerable petal drop. Harvest of early and mid oranges is about over for this season as supplies are just about depleted. Harvesting crews are rapidly moving into the young tree Valencia groves and those grapefruit that are going directly to the proces sor. Honey tangerines and Temples are being harvested for both fresh and process use. Caretakers are cutting cover crops prior to harvesting and following with hedging and topping. Some growers are still applying fertilizers and spring herbicides. Dead tree removal continues along with pushing out of abandoned unthrifty groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 28 Mar 7 Mar 14 Navel oranges 18,000 7,000 0 Early & Mid oranges 4,716,000 2,378,000 804,000 Valencia oranges 991,000 2,037,000 3,824,000 All grapefruit 2,672,000 2,778,000 2,936,000 Early Tangerines 10,000 8,000 3,000 Honey Tangerines 115,000 115,000 126,000 Tangelos 49,000 17,000 3,000 Temples 149,000 119,000 201,000 VEGETABLES: Dry soils are increasing the need for irriga tion. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, cabbage, sweet corn, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, peppers, pickles, radishes, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Young fields are in very good condition with growers irrigating as needed. Planting is slowing seasonally. Harvesting continues with good quality and yield. East Coast-- Crop condition is mostly good. Harvesting is active with good quality and color available. Volume is light. Southwest-- Condition is fair to good. Picking remains steady. Quality is good. Some acreage is still being planted although most growers are finished for the season. Everglades--Harvesting is increasing. Quality is good. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is finished. CABBAGE: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condi tion. Crop growth and development are normal. Hastings-- Harvest is steady. The crop is in good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Zellwood--Harvest is winding down. Dade--Cabbage is in good condition. Harvest is active with normal yields. Quality is good. Everglades--Harvest is winding down. CARROTS: All areas--Digging remains active. Quality is mostly good. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting is active. Quality is good. SWEET CORN: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Picking is active with good quality available. Yield is good. Supplies are good with good volume available over the next two weeks. Everglades--Yield prospects for young acreage are good. Harvesting continues. Quality is good. Supplies are mainly for local sales. Volume is expected to increase in early April. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Recent cool temperatures slowed plant growth and ear development. Picking is active. Quality and yield are good. Zellwood--Planting is completed. Production prospects are good. Picking is expected to start in early May. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Planting is virtually done. East Coast--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting remains active. Overhead irrigation is providing adequate moisture to emerging plants. Strong winds on Sunday, March 14 tossed vines but caused no serious damage. Harvesting continues to increase with super select and select grades available. Quality and color are mostly good. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. PICKLES: Dade--Most winter crop harvesting is completed. Spring crop harvesting will start in late March or early April. West Central--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting is virtually done. Zellwood--Plants are growing well. Production prospects are good. Picking will begin in April. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is rated good. Harvesting of regular and specialty types continues. Workers are planting a small acreage and mowing acreage completely harvested. Dade--Cutting remains active. Yield and quality are good. Volume continues to decline. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is good. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting remains active. Quality is good. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting of all types continues. Yield and volume are good. Quality is good. OKRA: Dade--Spring and summer crop planting continues. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is steady. Quality is good. East Coast--Condition is good. Transplanting is winding down. Picking of green and red Bells and specialty varieties continues. First picks are producing very good quality and large sizes. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is virtually done. POTATOES: Dade--Potato harvest is active with good quality and yield. Supplies of all sizes are available. Digging is on schedule at this time. The young crop looks good. Southwest- The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are good. Harvest is steady. Tuber quality and size are good. West Central--Harvest is starting. Quality is fair to good. Size is fair. The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Hastings--Crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Harvesting is near the peak level. Yield and quality are good. SQUASH: Dade--Harvesting continues with good quality available. Yield is good. Planting is nearing the end. Southwest-- Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is nearly finished. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is good. East Coast-- Condition is fair to good. Zucchini harvesting is active with good quality and color available. Workers are cleaning up acreage completely picked. Strong winds on Sunday, March 14 caused no significant damage. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair. Picking continues but is starting to slow seasonally with some acreage opened to U-Pic harvesting. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. Dade--U-Pic harvesting is active. Quality and yield are good. Volume increased slightly. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Transplanting is done. Picking is steady with good quality and sizes available. Gradeout is about normal. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Harvesting is active. Quality and yield are good. Growers continue to irrigate as needed. East Coast--Recent cool weather slowed reddening of fruit and improved fruit set and sizing. Harvesting continues with first picks yielding mostly good quality and sizes. Transplanting continues and will remain active through the end of the month. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Cooler weather slowed plant growth slightly. Fruit setting is fair to good. Fruit sizing is good. Planting is nearly finished. Quincy--Cool temperatures caused no significant damage to oldest acreage. Growers are delaying some transplanting due to the threat of bad weather. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking remains steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Harvesting is steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting is nearing the end. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is virtually finished. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Planting is virtually done. North--Land preparation remains active. 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.