fl-crop-weather Week ending May 2, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. May 3, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: It was warm during the first part of the week, then cool weather and showers occured in some areas beginning mid-week for the week of April 26 through May 2. Variable amounts of rain from a trace in some places to over 5 inches in other areas were reported. Most all areas of the State still need more rain. Maximum temperatures occurred during the first part of the week and were in the low 90s. Low temperatures during the latter part of the week were in the 50s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle is short to adequate with scattered areas of very short moisture. Peninsula moisture is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Tobacco is stressed by hot, dry conditions. In some areas rains allowed growers to plant peanuts where soil had been too dry. Spring crop land preparations continue where moisture is available. Hay growth is coming back in areas that received rain. Growers report 16 percent of the peanuts are planted. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 54 43 30 43 Short 45 27 66 36 Adequate 1 30 4 21 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: In the Panhandle, pastures greened up following rain. In the north counties, fertilization of pastures was delayed by dry conditions. In the central and west central areas, pasture condition improved in locations where rain was received. Most of the west central area still has drought conditions. In the southwest, recent almost daily rains have helped to improve pasture condition. The condition of cattle and calves in the State worsened, with most in fair condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 15 15 0 5 Poor 30 30 10 25 Fair 55 55 70 65 Good 0 0 20 5 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Rain on two or more days this week brought temporary relief to most areas of the drought parched citrus belt. A few areas had over two inches of the needed moisture while most groves received about an inch. The rainfall was timely for the trees as they enter the set period for next year's crop. Some trees are still blooming which is very unusual for the first of May. Those groves which bloomed normally during March have fruit up to marble size. New growth is generally limited to groves that have had supplemental waterings and general good care. Harvest of Valencia oranges is still active in all areas. Grapefruit movement is starting to slow as supplies are running low in some areas. Temple and Honey tangerine harvest is just about over for this season as few crops remain. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops that are competing for surface soil moisture. Post bloom nutritional spraying continues in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Apr 18 Apr 25 May 2 Valencia oranges 7,158,000 6,432,000 5,466,000 All grapefruit 1,485,000 1,291,000 821,000 Honey Tangerines 84,000 59,000 26,000 Temples 17,000 5,000 1,000 VEGETABLES: There was rain in most areas this past week. The amount ranged from heavy to light. Hot weather is lowering the quality of some crops. Some tomato growers are not making third picks due to a low market. Major vegetables shipped: snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, pickles, radishes, squash, tomatoes, watermelons. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Bean volume down some this week but should have fair supplies for another two weeks. Quality is good. Everglades--Harvest of good quality beans continues. Harvest should be mostly complete in about two weeks. East Coast-- Growth and development are fair to generally good. Quality of beans from hand picks is mostly good. Volume harvested is light. Southwest--Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Picking is steady. Quality is fair to good. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Picking is winding down. Quality is fair to good. Size is fair to good. Color is good. North--Crop is in good condition. CABBAGE: West Central--Crop is in fair to good condition. Crop growth and development are slow to normal. Spring harvest is steady. Quality and size are fair to good. Size is small to medium with some large. Color is good. Hastings--Harvest is winding down. The crop is in good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Dade--Harvest is complete. Zellwood--Harvest is winding down. CARROTS: All areas--Harvesting is winding down. Harvest will be complete in some areas this week. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting is expected to last another three weeks. Quality is good. SWEET CORN: Everglades--Picking is at the peak. Quality is very good. Harvest is expected to go into early June. Dade--Corn volume is down this week with about one week left before harvest is over. East Coast--Growth and ear development are fair to generally good for the sales. Very light supply is available. Zellwood--Harvest is expected to start in a week to ten days. Prospects look good. North--Planting is winding down. CUCUMBERS, Fresh market: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is steady. Growth and development are normal. Quality and size are fair to good. East Coast--New fields are coming into production on the first and second picks providing good quality, size, and color. Harvest volume is down slightly (market conditions and old fields are on the decline). Older fields are being mowed down and plastic is being pulled up. Planting for spring is finished. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is gaining. Growth and develop ment are normal. Quality is good. Size and color are fair to good. PICKLES: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is steady with fair to good quality and size available. Zellwood--Harvest is active. Quality is good. Dade--Pickle quality and yield are good but fields have gone down fast with hot dry conditions. Rain on Wednesday might have helped but don't know how much yet. EGGPLANT: Dade--Quality and yield are fair in most fields. East Coast--Condition and development of mid-growth plants are generally good. Fruit is setting and sizing. Harvest is very light on regular and specialty eggplant. Quality and color remain good from first cutting. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Cutting is steady with fair to good quality available. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. Growers are getting close to starting harvest. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Good volume and quality available. Harvest is expected to be complete in about 10 days. LETTUCE: Everglades--Quality is good. Harvest should be complete in about two more weeks. OKRA: Dade--Okra fields are improving with the rains helping a lot. Quality is good and yields are improving each week. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvesting remains steady with fair to good quality. East Coast--The crown picks from the spring crop provide mostly good quality. Some varieties are providing very good quality and others are variable with the sizes. Harvesting is active on green bells, light on the reds and speciality peppers. Growth and development remain mostly good on late spring crop. Fruit is sitting and sizing. Recent showers were helpful in some areas. Older fields are declining and being cleaned up. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Some U-pic fields are open. POTATOES: Dade--Some rain but did not stop digging. Quality and yield are good. If digging is not stopped by rain, harvest will be done by the end of the first week in May. Southwest--Crop is in fair condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is winding down. Tuber quality and size are good. West Central--Harvest is winding down. Quality and size are fair to good. The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Hastings--Crop is in excellent condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is active. Yields are good to very good. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Quality is good. Harvest should be finished in about two weeks. SQUASH: Dade--Squash yields and quality are good. Volume should be good for another two weeks and then volume will drop. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and develop ment are good. Harvesting continues at a steady pace with fair to good quality. East Coast--Harvest volume was light, quality and color remain good. Younger crop setting and sizing fruit. Older plants are on the decline and are being picked over and cleaned up. West Central--The crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is gaining. U-pic fields are active. Quality is good. Size is variable. Color is good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvest is complete. Dade--Most U-pic fields finished but a few fields are open. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is still underway. The rain almost every day has slowed harvest this past week. Quality is fair to good. All sizes are available. The season is winding down for the year. Spraying is steady to control insects and disease. Workers are pulling stakes and plastic from fields that are finished for the year. Dade--Season is about over but some fields were picked this past week as price improved a little. Good size and quality from the third picks. Heavy rain in some areas will probably hasten the end of the season. Harvest is about over but some growers may pick this week if rains do not ruin the crop. Growers picking last week had good size and good packout. Volume will be very low this week as season ends. Growers are cleaning fields and removing plastic from most fields. East Coast--New fields are coming into production and the crown picks provide good quality and size. The second picks are also providing good quality and size. Slight increase in the market is providing incentive for some third picks. Some areas starting to receive some needed moisture this past week which was helpful in the growth and development of younger plants. Fruit is setting and sizing on older plants. Harvest is active with good volume from most picks. Workers busy on harvest, removing stakes and string, and pulling up plastic from previous crop. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvest is increasing. Fruit quality and yield are fair to good. Size and color are good. The volume outlook is not as good as at the beginning of the season. May get only two pickings. Spraying is active. Quincy--Crop is in good condition. The dry season has not hurt the tomato crop. Harvest could start as early as May 21. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Harvesting is steady with fair to good quality available. Growth and development are normal. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvesting is steady. Quality and color are good. Size is normal. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Picking is steady. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop is in fair to good condition, picking is starting. Growth and development are slow to normal. Fruit quality is good. Yield is fair to good. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvest is steady with fair to good quality available. Growth and development are normal. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop remains in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest will be starting shortly. North--The irrigated crop is in good condition. 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.