fl-crop-weather Week ending July 16, 2000 Released 4:00 P.M. July 17, 2000 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers and thunder storms around the State dropped varying amounts of rain during the week of July 8 through July 15. Rainfall at the major stations ranged from a trace at Pensacola to nearly four inches at Tampa. Dry conditions continued across most of the northern Peninsula and westhern Panhandle. Temperatures averaged normal and above at all major stations. Daytime highs were in the 90s with Pensacola and Tallahassee reaching 102. Night time lows were mostly in the lower 70s with Daytona Beach and Jacksonville lows in the upper 60s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are mostly short to adequate across the State with scattered areas of very short supplies. Scattered rains and showers improved moisture supplies in some areas, while other areas remained dry. Some producers are making their first cutting of hay. Growers continue to harvest tobacco with some areas reporting late harvesting. Markets are set to open on August 1. Most cotton is in fair to good condition. Sugarcane and soybeans are in mostly good condition. Peanut condition is rated at 2% very poor, 4% poor, 84% fair, and 8% good. Growers report that 65% of the peanuts are pegged. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 1 14 14 14 Short 66 43 55 47 Adequate 28 43 25 39 Surplus 5 0 6 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pasture improved somewhat from the previous week. In the Panhandle and northern Peninsula counties, pasture condition improved slightly in some areas but declined in others. Lightning started numerous fires in the drought stricken areas. Most stock ponds are still dry. In the central area, pastures greened up following rains, but there was only slight grass growth. Some hay cutting started. Statewide, cattle and calves were mostly in fair condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 5 0 Poor 10 10 10 10 Fair 80 70 65 75 Good 10 20 20 15 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Normal summer weather finally started during the past few weeks. There are few days without rain and then it will rain for a few days. The west coast, lower interior, and the lower east coast received the most rain this week, with Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota receiving three to five inches of the needed moisture. Ponds, lakes and streams are slowly refilling following the lengthy six month drought. There is an abun dance of new growth showing on trees of all ages. Some of the new growth has produced a little late bloom. There are occa sional smaller groves that were stressed this past spring that are now in full, open bloom. New crop fruit continues to make good progress in well-cared-for groves. Harvest of Valencia oranges is just about over for this season as major processors are closed. Very few grapefruit remain to be picked. There are a few fresh squeeze juice plants that will remain open most of the summer. Caretakers are very bushy cutting cover crops and herbicid ing. Summer copper and oil sprays are being applied in virtually all citrus counties. General fertilizations and hedging and topping continue along with burning of grove debris. VEGETABLES: Okra harvesting continues in Dade County. 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.