fl-crop-weather Week ending January 23, 2000 Released 4:00 P.M. January 24, 2000 WEATHER SUMMARY: Mostly dry weather continued during the week of January 16 through 22. Rainfall totaled from none at several locations to about a quarter inch at Ocklawaha and Tavares. The passage of a cold front caused temperatures to dip into the 20s and 30s about mid-to-late week in many northern and central areas. The cold temperatures caused some frost and freezing in some northern and central Peninsula areas. The Palmetto-Ruskin region reported frost for one morning that caused no significant damage. Temperatures at the major stations averaged normal to three degrees below except for three and seven degrees above normal at Tallahassee and Pensacola, respectively. Daytime highs were mostly in the 60s and 70s while nighttime lows were mostly in the 40s and 50s. Jacksonville reported an average low of 39 for the week. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is mostly short with scattered areas of very short or adequate moisture. Tobacco farmers are caring for tobacco beds. Pine tree planting is active. Sugarcane grinding and planting are active. Wild fire hazard rating continues to increase due to dry conditions. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 8 12 3 3 Short 56 56 68 50 Adequate 36 32 29 47 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Statewide, the condition of pastures is mostly poor to fair, while the condition of cattle is mostly fair. Limited rains during the week helped winter pastures in some areas of the State. In the northern counties, the condition of pasture is poor to fair due to drought and cattle are in poor to fair condition. In the central counties, cattle and calves are in fair condition and pasture condition is poor to fair due to the drought. In the south, cattle and pastures are mostly in fair condition. The fire hazzard conditions are increasing due to the dry conditions. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 35 30 5 10 Fair 40 55 60 65 Good 20 10 35 25 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: This week was mostly cool, dry. However, there were scattered showers Sunday night and Monday the 24th. Many growers are still irrigating to maintain good tree condition. Saturday morning temperatures dropped to the mid to low thirties in cold spots in the northern citrus counties. There was some frost but temperatures warmed up rapidly with no resulting damage to new growth. Harvest of early and midseason oranges for processing is very active in all areas. Most processing plants are running at full capacity and are limiting supplies delivered so that all fruit can be processed within 12 to 24 hours after arrival. Fresh fruit packing houses are active with grapefruit, Temples, tangerines and tangelos. Growers are hedging and topping harvested groves and a few blocks with fruit remaining on the trees such as Valencia oranges and grapefruit. Late winter and early spring herbiciding are underway in the well-cared-for groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 9 Jan 17 Jan 23 Navel oranges 119,000 173,000 125,000 Early & Mid oranges 7,455,000 9,281,000 7,949,000 All grapefruit 1,082,000 1,591,000 1,082,000 Early tangerines 213,000 189,000 64,000 Honey tangerines 36,000 83,000 98,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 3,000 3,000 6,000 Tangelos 105,000 197,000 166,000 Temples 27,000 85,000 64,000 VEGETABLES: Cold temperatures slowed some plant growth. Strong, gusty winds and blowing sand damaged some foliage and fruit. Major vegetables harvested during the week include tomatoes, peppers, endive, escarole, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, snap beans, squash, strawberries, sweet corn, and eggplant. SNAP BEANS: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting remains active. Harvesting continues with a good volume of both hand and machine picked available. Quality and yield are good. Growers are discing some acreage completely picked and replanting. Workers are irrigating as needed. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Youngest plants are bushing out well and showing blooms. Strong winds are causing some leaf burn. Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Picking and planting are steady. Quality is good. CABBAGE: West Central--Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is gaining momentum. Fruit quality is fair to good. Size is variable. Hastings, North Central--Transplanting is active. Growth and development are normal. The crop is in good condition. Heads are smaller than normal in some areas. Harvest is gaining momentum. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting is active. SWEET CORN: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting is nearing the end. Harvesting is gaining momentum with volume expected to increase over the next seven to ten days. Quality and yield are good. Producers are irrigating as needed. East Coast--Young plants are growing well. Tasseling is increas ing in older fields. Growers are cultivating, fertilizing and spraying as needed. Everglades--Planting for the spring crop remains active. Winter crop picking is expected to start in February. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: East Coast--Plant growth is good with youngest acreage germinating well. Wind gusts caused some light leaf burn. Planting is active. Harvesting of a limited acreage is winding down. Quality and color are good. Workers are cleaning acreage completely picked. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continues at a slow pace. Harvest ing is active with a small volume picked. Quality is fair to good. Dade--Harvesting started with a light volume picked. Quality and yield are good. PICKLES: Dade--Harvesting is finished. Spring crop planting started. EGGPLANT: East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condi tion. Cutting of a light volume of regular varieties is active with good quality and color available. Harvesting of specialty types is producing a light volume of mostly good quality. Southwest-- Condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Harvest ing is steady with good quality available. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Recent strong winds caused some scarring due to wind-borne sand. Cutting is active with good quality available. Yield is good. Volume is fair. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting is active. LETTUCE: Everglades, Lake Placid--Harvesting continues. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting for the local market is active. Volume is light. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continues at a steady pace. Harvesting of good quality remains active. East Coast--Spring crop transplanting is active. Recent gusty winds and blowing sand burned and scarred leaves of younger plants. First picks of green Bells are producing good quality and sizes. Harvesting of cubanelles, jalapeno, and other hot varieties is providing a light volume of good quality. Workers are laying plastic and removing strings and stakes from acreage completely picked. Dade--Condition is good. Picking of a light volume of hot varieties continues. POTATOES: Dade--Potatoes are looking very good. Planting is complete. Harvest should start the last of February. Irrigation is needed in some fields. Spraying is active and fields are free of disease. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Southwest--Planting is winding down. The crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Growers are getting ready to start harvest. Hastings--Planting is active. The crop is in good condition. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Digging is increasing. Quality is mostly good. SQUASH: Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Planting of a limited acreage is active. Harvesting is steady with good quality available. Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting continues. Picking is yielding good quality. Volume is good. Workers are irrigating as needed. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Young plant growth is good with fruit starting to gain size. Strong winds are causing some leaf burn. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Dover, Lithia--Cold tempera tures slowed some berry development. Picking remains active. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in good condition. Picking is steady with good quality available. Color is fair to good. Sizes are good. Dade--Cooler temperatures are aiding berry development. U-Pic harvesting remains active. Quality and yield are good. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Transplanting continues to slow as producers finish. Picking is mostly steady with some activity slowed due to the low market. Quality is good. East Coast--Acreage planted after Hurricane Irene passed is in very good condition. Gusty winds and blowing sand are causing some foliage burn and fruit scarring. Trans planting of spring crop acreage continues. Picking continues. Crown picks are yielding large sizes and mostly good quality. Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Harvesting is active with some producers skipping a pick due to the low prices. Quality and yield are good. Sizes are mostly 5x6 and 6x6. Volume is good with growers getting good packouts. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is good. The cooler temperatures are slowing some plant growth. Transplanting remains active with some producers delaying planting until the cold front passes. Some plants were reset due to wind damage with a very limited acreage affected by the wind. U-Pic harvesting is active. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. Picking is steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Transplanting continues with some growers finished. Fall crop picking is finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Transplanting remains steady. Harvesting of good quality remains active. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition with cooler temperatures slowing some plant growth and development. Transplanting is increasing. WATERMELONS: West Central--Planting is expected to begin over the next five to seven days. 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.