fl-crop-weather Week Ending November 6, 1999 November 8, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Temperatures remained cool during the week of October 31 through November 6, averaging from one to four degrees below normal for the week. Some Northern areas recorded lows in the 30s. Lows ranged from the 30s in the North to the 50s in the South. Most highs averaged in the 80s. Rainfall at the major stations varied from no rain in West Palm Beach to over two inches in Tallahassee. FIELD CROPS: Moisture in the Panhandle is adequate. Soil moisture in the southern Peninsula is adequate to surplus with scattered areas of standing water. Topsoil moisture in the northern and central Peninsula is mostly short to adequate with scattered areas of very short or surplus moisture. First frost of the season in Panhandle and northern Peninsula was on Novem ber 4 but no severe damage reported. Winter pasture seeding is active. Winter pasture growth is improving with increased moisture. Haying and soybean harvest is winding down. Sugarcane grinding was active. Ninety-nine percent of the peanuts for nuts are reported harvested. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 5 1 2 4 Short 16 12 13 12 Adequate 52 62 49 58 Surplus 27 25 36 26 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Statewide, the pasture con- dition was mostly good. In the Panhandle and Northern counties, recent rains improved planting condition of small grains for winter forage. Stock pond levels were still low after recent rains. Frost hurt the warm season pastures. In the Central counties, grass growth was much slower due to seasonally cool weather. In the west-central area, pasture growth slowed due to cool weather. In the southeast, heavy rain left many pastures with standing water. Cows and calves were in fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 20 45 15 35 Good 75 45 85 65 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Cool temperatures were the rule in areas of Florida's citrus belt this week. Low readings were in the mid to upper 40s the middle of the week moderating to the 50s by the week's end. Daytime highs in the 70s were ideal for harvesting. There was a little irrigation on high sand hills by the end of the week to help maintain good tree condition. There is very little new growth due to cooler weather. Fresh fruit packing houses were very active this week shipping Navels, Ambersweet and Hamlin oranges, white and colored grapefruit, early tangerines, K-Early citrus fruit and a few tangelos. Caretakers have been cutting cover crops preparing for the winter season. There have been several clean-up sprays to help prevent brown rot. Dead tree removal continues along with some resetting in the larger groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 24 Oct 31 Nov 7 Navel oranges 88,000 136,000 187,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 139,000 339,000 889,000 All grapefruit 476,000 468,000 643,000 Tangerines 157,000 211,000 249,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 3,000 4,000 3,000 Tangelos 0 0 12,000 VEGETABLES: Cooler temperatures continued to help plant blooming, fruit setting, and sizing of older fruit. Development of most crops was generally slow to normal for the week. Vege- tables marketed during the week include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pickles, squash, sweet corn, okra, eggplant, and watermelons. SNAPBEANS: Dade--Beans are looking better as fields grow out. Young fields look very good. Harvest should increase in 10 days as the first bush beans start. A small volume of picking is underway with poor to fair quality and yield. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good and improving. Planting is steady. Growth and development are slow to normal. East Coast--Older crop is in fair shape. The younger crop is in better condition. Planting is light. A light volume of hand harvesting is underway. West Central_Condition is fair to good. Growth and develop ment are slow to normal. Picking is expected to start in about two weeks. CABBAGE: West Central_Transplanting is steady. Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Hastings, North Central_Transplanting is active. Growth and development are normal. Crop is in good condition. CELERY: Everglades--Transplanting continues. Rain dam aged acreage is recouping. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Crop is trying to recover from the abundant rains. Everglades--Crop is improving from the earlier rain showers. East Coast--Field activity is increasing for the November planting as the fields are drying out. Plant growth and development are fair but slow. Dade--Corn planting is active with many fields up to good stands. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good with normal development. Picking continues to increase. Quality is fair to good with variable size. Yields are off some. East Coast--Crop conditions are fair to good. Some plantings have been set back due to strong winds and lack of pollination. Plantings after Irene have mostly good germination. Growers are harvesting some super selects and selects with mostly good quality and color. There is some foliage burn from the strong gusty winds. Plantings are slowly underway. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is winding down. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is gaining with good quality and size. PICKLES: Zellwood--Harvesting continues with small sizes. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Quality and sizes are fair to good. Dade--Plants are improving with a light production underway. Planting is active. Young fields planted after Irene look good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--The younger plants' growth and development are mostly good. Strong, gusty winds are blowing sand and causing some foliage burn. Growers are cutting regular and specialty eggplant. Harvesting of a light to moderate volume is underway. Quality and color remains mostly good. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is steady and light. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is gaining with fair to good quality and sizes. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady with fair quality and variable size. Dade-- Eggplant looks good with most fields making a good, healthy bush. Some fields are showing bloom. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Acreage is recovering but will have reduced yield and quality. LETTUCE: Everglades--Acreage continues to recover with reduced yield and quality prospects. OKRA: Dade--Harvest continues with good quality and yield improving. Fields look good. Fields cut off for second crop are starting to grow. PEPPERS: East Coast--Crop condition is in fair to variable shape. Plant growth and fruit development are slow. Some fields nearing maturity are showing a lighter set on crown fruit. Harvesting of Bell's crown and second picks is underway. Some light volume was picked on reds and specialty types. Young plant growth and fruit development are progressing slowly. Strong winds are affecting plants. Spraying for disease continues when weather permits. Transplanting continues for winter crop. Southwest--Crop condition is fair in the older plants and good in the younger plants. Planting is steady. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest continues to gain momentum with fair quality and size. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. POTATOES: Dade, Southwest--Planting is gaining momentum. West Central--Planting is gaining momentum. The crop is in fair condition. Growth and development are normal. RADISHES: Everglades--Planting remains active. SQUASH: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is increasing with good quality and color. Sizes are variable. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is steady. Development is normal. Harvest is steady. Quality and sizes are good. East Coast--Crop condition in younger plantings are improving. New growth is appearing. Fruit set is slow due to pollination prob lems. Strong winds are causing some problems and there is some foliage burn. Cutting of a light volume is underway. Dade-- Harvest is underway with fair quality and yield. Planting is active. Young fields look good. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Development is normal. Picking of a small volume is underway. Size and quality are fair. Plant City--Cooler tempera tures are greatly helping development. Transplanting is com plete. Picking of a very light volume in underway. Volume is expected to increase near the end of the month. TOMATOES: East Coast--Fieldwork slowed during the first of the week delaying laying of plastic and transplanting. Other areas received less rainfall and had little affect on fieldwork. In some of the fields damaged from Irene, plants are slow to recover. Strong, gusting winds throughout the week are affecting young and mid-growth plants. Growers are watering young plants to einsure adequate moisture after transplanting. Harvest ing is underway with variable quality and sizes available. Volume is anticipated to increase as more fields reach maturity. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Plant growth is good. Fruit setting is complete with fair to good sizing. Harvest has increased a little this past week. Fruit quality is fair to good with a fair yield. Spraying is heavy for diseases. Tying is active. Development is slow. Quincy--Volume is decreasing seasonally. Southwest--Overall crop condition is fair to good with improvement in most areas. Older plants are showing damage while younger plants are putting on new growth. Planting is steady. Plant growth is improving. Fruit set is fair and sizing is good. Harvest is underway but light at this point. Fruit quality is poor to fair due to scarred fruit and shoulder damage on some fruit. Yield is fair. Packout is below normal. Dade--Crop is looking much better in most fields. Planting has resumed as plastic has been replaced or relaid. Plants are growing well with some blooms starting to show. Spraying is active to prevent disease. Staking is active. Ties are being made in some fields. Irrigation is needed in some fields as winds this week dried out the fields. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is gaining with fair to good quality and size. Southwest-- Crop condition is fair to good and improving. Growth and development are slow to normal. Planting is steady. Harvest is underway with fair to good quality and sizes. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Development is slow to normal. Harvesting continues with fair to good quality and size. Southwest_Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are slow to normal. Planting is steady. Harvest is underway with fair to good quality and sizes. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Quality is fair. Sizes are small to medium. Some earlier disease is still around but looking better. Southwest--Crop condition is poor. Harvest is winding down. Quality and size are fair. 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