fl-crop-weather Week ending June 25, 2000 Released 4:00 P.M. June 26, 2000 WEATHER SUMMARY: Welcome rains including scattered showers and thunderstorms varied by area over most of the State. Rainfall for the week at the major stations ranged from nearly a quarter of an inch in the West Palm Beach area to over an inch and a half in the Tallahassee area. Some smaller areas reported over five inches of rain. Temperatures during the week at the major stations averaged mostly one degree above normal. Highs were in the 90s while lows were in the upper 60s and 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Flooding occurred in areas that received excessive amounts of rain. Some farmers in areas that received rain, are replanting poor stands of peanuts. Irrigated tobacco is in good condition. Tobacco harvest is started. The irrigated sugarcane crop is in good condition. Sand land sugarcane is being stressed by drought. The dry land corn crop is lost. Haying is being delayed because of the lack of plant growth. Growers reported peanut condition at 58% poor, 31% fair, and 11% good. Growers reported 22 percent of the peanuts are pegged. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 47 38 63 52 Short 37 42 35 41 Adequate 16 20 2 7 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures at several locations in the Panhandle received rain which spurred grass growth. In the central counties, pasture and range condition improved at many locations following daily afternoon rains. However, stock ponds and lakes are very low or dried up. In west central counties, pasture growth was up slightly, but the overall condition is still poor to fair due to drought. In the southwest, the pasture condition is fair, and the condition of cattle and calves is fair to good. Statewide, cattle and calves are mostly in poor to fair condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 25 5 5 5 Poor 60 65 60 25 Fair 15 30 35 65 Good 0 0 0 5 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Rains finally came to Florida's citrus belt this week. Virtually all citrus groves received varying amounts of the much needed moisture. The west coast and isolated other areas received between one and five inches of rain during afternoon showers and thunderstorms. More rain is needed to refill the lakes, ponds and streams that have been badly depleted during this winter and spring's drought. Citrus trees and new crop fruit have shown improvements with the help of the recent moisture. Valencia harvest is continuing to slow as supplies are running out. Grapefruit supplies have nearly been exhausted. Honey tangerine harvest is down to the last few groves of late bloom fruit. Caretakers are cutting cover crops and herbiciding. Summer sprays and fertilizations are active in all areas. Hedging and topping continue. Some burn permits are now being issued for grove debris and trash. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jun 11 Jun 18 Jun 25 Valencia oranges 4,393,000 4,897,000 2,534,000 All grapefruit 499,000 283,000 107,000 Honey tangerines 16,000 10,000 4,000 VEGETABLES: Recent rains continue helping to replenish soil moisture with more needed. Major vegetables available include watermelons, okra, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Harvesting is finished. SWEET CORN: North--Picking is active. Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting is virtually finished. PICKLES: Harvesting is complete. EGGPLANT: North--Harvesting of a very small supply continues. OKRA: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Harvesting continues. Good supplies are expected to continue. PEPPERS: Harvesting is finished. POTATOES: North--Harvest is virtually finished. SQUASH: Harvesting is finished. TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvest is active. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is virtually finished. CHERRY TOMATOES: The season is finished. PLUM TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking is active. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin, Southwest--Harvesting is finished. WATERMELONS: North and Panhandle_Picking is active with a decreasing volume being harvested. Quality is mostly good. West Central_Harvesting is virtually complete. 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.