fl-crop-weather Week ending October 31, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. November 1, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Temperatures remained cool during the first part of the week of October 25 through 30 but warmed during the last part. Temperatures averaged two to four degrees below normal for the week. Some northern and north central localities recorded lows in the 30s with frost reported in a few Panhandle and extreme northern localities. Most lows were in the 40s and 50s while most highs averaged in the 70s and 80s. Most localities recorded no measurable rain for the week although a few reported from traces to a half inch. FIELD CROPS: Soil moisture in the Panhandle and north was reported very short to short. In the central counties, soil moisture was short to adequate. Some East Coast and Glades fields were still flooded, but most fieldwork returned to normal. Fields in the southeast dried out and soil moisture was adequate. Soil moisture in the southwest was mostly adequate to surplus, but some more northern locations were short on moisture. Soybean and cotton harvest continued in the Panhandle. Peanut yields were reported low in the northern counties, with 97 percent of the crop dug. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 1 5 1 2 Short 17 16 16 13 Adequate 25 52 30 49 Surplus 57 27 53 36 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Stock pond levels are very low in the Panhandle. Planting of small grains for forage is delayed due to the dry soil condition. Already planted small grains are suffering from lack of moisture. A frost hit early last week in the Panhandle and northern counties, slowing grass growth more than usual. Hay quantity will be high but quality may be low. The coolest weather of the season was reported in the central area. Also, less army worms were noted with the worm infestation not as bad as that of last year. In the west- central area, grass growth slowed seasonally. Some pasture in the southwest is in good shape but other pasture still has standing water from Hurricane Irene. Cattle and calves are in mostly good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 5 0 Fair 40 20 25 15 Good 55 75 70 85 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Most of this week was cool and dry with some wind near the coasts. A few growers on the high sand hills used their irrigation to maintain good tree condition. New growth slowed due to cooler temperatures and shorter days. The current crop of early fruit is now showing good on-tree color break. There are some isolated groves where there is increased fruit droppage from splitting and brown rot. Most of this droppage is due to the heavy rains during October. Harvesting crews had excellent weather for picking fresh fruit this week. Packers are shipping Navels, Ambersweet and Hamlin oranges, white and colored grapefruit, early tangerines and K-Early citrus fruit. Most of the processors are taking packing house eliminations and a few are now excepting field run fruit. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that made good growth during the October rains. Many growers are currently spraying fungicides to help prevent brown rot. Road maintenance continues to repair holes created by the heavy October rains. Dead trees are being pushed out and new resets are being planted. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 17 Oct 24 Oct 31 Navel oranges 25,000 88,000 136,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 68,000 139,000 339,000 All grapefruit 297,000 467,000 468,000 Tangerines 107,000 157,000 190,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 1,000 3,000 4,000 VEGETABLES: Cooler temperatures helped plant blooming, fruit setting, and sizing of older fruit. Cucumber harvesting began in the East Coast region. Picking of squash started in the Palmetto-Ruskin area. Harvesting of regular, plum, and cherry tomatoes started around Immokalee. Vegetables marketed during the week include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pickles, squash, sweet corn, okra, eggplant, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Most plants are growing well with some recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irene. Some acreage planted just before the storm is making a good stand. Growers continue to make scheduled plantings and to replant acreage lost to the storm. Southwest--Condition improved and is rated fair to good. Plants are recovering well from the effects of Hurricane Irene. Planting remains steady. East Coast--Condition is fair. Most acreage is recovering from the excessive water caused by Hurricane Irene. The leaching of fertilizer is affecting some plant growth. The yield prospects for older plants are reduced. Spraying is active. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Picking is expected to start in two to three weeks. Everglades-- Planting is increasing seasonally. A small acreage planted before Irene passed over was lost. CABBAGE: West Central--Transplanting is active. The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal but slow. Hastings, North Central--Transplanting is active. Growth and development are normal. The crop is in good condition. CELERY: Everglades--Transplanting continues. Yield pros pects for the oldest, rain damaged acreage are reduced. SWEET CORN: North--Picking of a small supply is active. Quality is good. Zellwood--Abundant rain over the past two months caused a reduction of quality. Picking of some acreage will be by-passed. East Coast--Growers replaced fertilizer leached by the rains from Hurricane Irene. A small acreage affected by the rains is starting to recover. Ground preparation for November planting is increasing as fields dry. Dade-- Condition is good. Planting is increasing. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--The crop is in fair condition. Picking continues to increase. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. Sizes are variable. East Coast--Crop condition is variable. Growers are injecting fertilizer on some acreage. Planting and spraying are active. Picking began. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting of a small acreage remained mostly steady. PICKLES: Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Sizes are small. Everglades--Irene caused no significant acreage loss but reduced yield prospects due to lower quality. Planting is virtually finished. Harvesting is expected to begin over the next five to seven days. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking continues to increase. Quality is good. Sizes are normal. Dade-- Acreage salvaged from Hurricane Irene is recovering slowly. Growers replanted most acreage. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young plant growth is good. Older plant growth and fruit development are improving. Cutting of a light to moderate volume of regular and specialty types is active. Quality and color are fair to good. Some scarred fruit graded out which reduced yield. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is steady. Cutting is steady with fair to good quality available. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Produc ers are replanting the limited acreage lost to flooding. Staking is active. West Central--Condition is fair. Harvesting is gaining momentum. Quality is fair. Sizes are small to medium. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Growers are plowing and replanting some acreage severely damaged by Irene. Other acreage is recovering but will have reduced yield and quality. Scheduled planting is active. Harvesting is expected to begin around mid-November. LETTUCE: Everglades--Irene's rains reduced yield and quality prospects. Some acreage is recovering with harvesting to start around mid-November. OKRA: Dade--Condition is good. Harvesting continues. Growers mowed some of the oldest fields to make a second crop. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting remains steady. Picking is gaining momentum. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Cooler, drier weather improved crop prospects. However, strong winds at mid-week blew sand over some fields. Planting of winter crop acreage is active. Growers made some spot resets and pulled up a some plants flooded by Irene's rains. Harvesting of Bell and specialty types continued. Sizes are variable. Yield is below normal. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth and fruit develop ment are normal but slow. POTATOES: Dade--Growers are starting to plant. Most planting is on schedule. West Central--Planting is gaining momentum. The crop is in fair condition. Growth and develop ment are normal. Southwest--Planting gained momentum. Some fields washed away which growers rebedded. RADISHES: Everglades--Planting remains active. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting and picking continue at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is com pleted. Picking is starting at a slow pace. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are small to medium with some large sizes available. Color is good. East Coast--Cooler weather is aiding crop development. Growers picked the oldest acreage and pulled up the plants. Younger acreage is providing a light volume of mostly good quality. Sizes are variable. Yield is below normal. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated good. Planting is finished. Picking of a very small volume of fruit started. Plant City--Plants need cooler temperatures for proper development. Transplanting is virtually done. Picking of a very small volume is getting underway over the next five to seven days. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Plant growth is good. Fruit set is fair. Fruit sizing is good. Cooler temperatures are aiding the control of disease. Picking started. Packout is below normal due to scarred fruit and water damage to stems and shoulders causing more grade out. Planting remains steady. Quincy--Picking remained active. Volume is decreasing seasonally. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--Cooler weather is helping plant growth and fruit development. Growers made spot resets of plants damaged by Irene's flooding. Strong winds at mid-week caused some plant dehydration. Transplanting is active. Picking is increasing. Quality and sizes are variable. Some grade out is above normal. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Plant growth is good. Most fruit has set. Fruit sizing is fair to good. Picking resumed late in the week with progress expected to be slow for two to three weeks. Fruit quality is good with 5x6 and 6x6 sizes picked. Yield is light. Dade-- Most fields are in good condition. Oldest plants have set the crown hands. Producers are preparing land for replanting acreage lost to flooding. Growers removed and replaced plastic ruined by Irene and repaired other plastic blown by the storm's winds. Spraying for the control of disease and insects is very active. Transplanting is gaining momentum. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is mostly steady. Quality, color, and sizes are fair. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking is underway with fair to good quality available. PLUM TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvesting continues. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvest ing is gaining momentum. Quality, color , and sizes are fair to good. Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Picking is underway with fair to good quality available. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Cutting continues to increase. Quality is mostly fair to good. Sizes are mostly medium. Color is normal. Southwest-- Condition is fair. Harvesting of a light volume is active. Quality is fair to good. 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.