fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending February 18, 2001 Released 4:00 P.M. February 20, 2001 Report Code FL-WE61 Weather Summary Warm and mostly dry weather continued during the week of February 11 through 17. Tempera tures at the major stations averaged seven to eleven degrees above normal. Most daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s while nighttime lows were mostly in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Most stations reported no rainfall. Tampa reported less than one half inch. Jacksonville recorded about an inch. Spotty showers on February 18 brought additional amounts to some Peninsula localities. Dry, breezy conditions are hampering efforts to control fires in the central Peninsula. Field Crops Report Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Moisture throughout the Peninsula is very short to short. Dry weather is increasing the wild fire hazard in the State. Field preparation underway for spring crops. Sugarcane harvest is making good progress. Growers are harvesting the frost damaged sugarcane as fast as possible. The State's winter pastures are under drought stress. Some ranchers have a problem getting hay due to short supply. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 48 55 50 55 Short 47 44 50 45 Adequate 5 1 0 0 Surplus 0 0 0 0 Livestock Report In the Panhandle, the condition of winter forage improved somewhat due to mild temperatures, spotty rains, and fog. Some prescribed burns were undertaken where it was not too dry. In the north counties, the condition of winter pasture is fair due to drought. The cattle condition is good. In the central area, the pasture and cattle conditions continue fair. Stock ponds are low or dried up. In the west central counties, the condition of the cattle declined. The pasture condition is very bad with no grass growth due to drought. Water holes are drying up. In the southwest area, the condition of the pasture is poor. Some permanent grass is starting to sprout. Statewide, the cattle condition is mostly poor to fair. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 30 25 0 5 Poor 60 50 30 40 Fair 10 25 65 50 Good 0 0 5 5 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: It remains very dry in all areas. High temperatures in most of Florida's citrus belt were in the mid to upper 80s on two or more days this week. Rain is badly needed. Growers are irrigating with all types of equipment, including flooding the middles of groves. Good, clean irrigation water is limited due to salt intrusion and low water levels. In spite of the current drought conditions, most well-cared-for groves are in good condition with new growth and pin head bloom buds showing. All of the newly flushed growth continues to be extremely vulnerable to frost or freezing conditions should either arrive before spring. Most picking crews are winding down their early and mid orange harvest. Some crews are moving over to field run grapefruit for processing. A few cold damaged Valencias continue to be delivered to the juice plants. Fresh fruit packing houses are shipping oranges, grapefruit, Temples, tangelos and tangerines. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops prior to harvest for fire protection. Hedging and topping have been reported in all areas. Some resets are being planted in the warmer locations. Burning of grove debris and dead trees has been restricted due to the dry conditions. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 4 Feb 11 Feb 18 Navel oranges 64,000 38,000 40,000 Early & Mid oranges Including Ambersweet 8,066,000 8,040,000 7,877,000 All grapefruit 1,645,000 1,621,000 1,608,000 Early Tangerines 8,000 4,000 2,000 Honey Tangerines 119,000 96,000 115,000 Tangelos 93,000 69,000 70,000 Temples 74,000 77,000 82,000 Vegetable Report The dry weather is aiding planting and harvesting progress but increasing the need for irrigation. Vegetables available include tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, sweet corn, squash, potatoes, strawberries, snap beans, radishes, eggplant, lettuce, escarole, endive, Chinese cabbage, and parsley. SNAP BEANS: Dade--The crop is in good condition. Planting is slowing seasonally. Picking is increasing as growers start to harvest acreage not affected by the earlier freeze. Quality is variable but mostly good. East Coast_Crop condition is good. Plants continue to bloom and form pin beans. Hand picks are producing a very light volume of good quality. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is steady. Picking of a very light volume is active. Quality is fair to good. Supplies are expected to increase over the next two weeks. Everglades-- Planting continues. West Central_The crop is in good condition as planting gets underway. CABBAGE: Dade--Scheduled cuttings continue with good quality and average yield. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is gaining. Quality, size, and color are fair to good. Yields are improving. Hastings, Zellwood--The crop is in good condition. Growth and development are normal. Growers are actively harvesting cabbage. SWEET CORN: Dade--Picking is active. Quality and yield are good. Everglades--Planting continues. East Coast_Crop condition is rated mostly good. Picking started with a light supply available. Quality is good. Zellwood--Planting continues. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is completed. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--Planting is starting for the spring crop. Growth and development are normal. Crop is in good condition. East Coast--Crop is in good shape at all stages of growth. Oldest plantings increasing in growth. Germination was good in recent plantings. Thinning active in young plantings. Southwest--Crop in fair condition. Planting is steady. Harvest is light. Fruit quality is fair. PICKLES: West Central, Zellwood--Harvest is complete for the season. Dade--Few cukes are being picked with fair quality and yield. Planting active this week. Cukes planted last week up to a good stand. Southwest--Crop is in fair condition. Planting is light. Growth and development are slow. Harvest is light and quality is fair. EGGPLANT: Dade--Harvesting is active. Quality is good. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Cutting of a light volume continues with fair to good quality available. East Coast_Crop condition is mostly good. Cutting continues. Volume is very light. Quality and color are good. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting continues. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting is active. OKRA: Dade--Planting is expected to start in late February or early March. BELL PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is nearly done. Harvesting is steady with fair to good quality available. East Coast_The crop is in good condition. Transplanting continues. Harvesting of green, yellow and red Bells is active. Quality is good. West Central_The crop is rated in fair to good condition. Transplanting is steady. HOT PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is nearing the end. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is good. POTATOES: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Digging is increasing seasonally. Quality is good. West Cen tral--The crop is in fair to good condition. Hastings--Plantings active. Digging is expected to begin in mid to late April. RADISHES: Everglades, Lake Placid--Digging is steady. Quality is good. SQUASH: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Planting is starting to slow seasonally. Harvesting is active with good quality available. Yield is fair. Workers are irrigating as needed. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is steady. Harvesting of a light volume is active. Quality is good. East Coast_Plant growth is improving. Harvesting of zucchini and yellow types is active. Supply is light. Quality and color are good. West Central_The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continues to increase seasonally. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Floral City--Picking is increasing. Quality is variable and ranges from fair to mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin_The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking remains steady. Quality, sizes and color are good. Dade- -U-Pic harvesting continues. Quality is good. TOMATOES: Dade--Condition is very good. Plants are setting good hands. Fruit is sizing well. Picking continues with volume increasing. Sizes are running 6x6 and larger. Quality is good. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Warm weather is improving plant growth and fruit sizing. Fruit set is good. Picking is active. Volume is light. Quality is fair. East Coast_Young plants are in very good condition. Oldest plants are showing an uneven fruit set. Transplanting continues. Harvesting is active with mostly good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin_T he crop is in fair to good condition. Warmer temperatures are aiding plant growth and fruit development. Transplanting is slowing seasonally. Quincy--Growers are preparing beds for transplanting which is expected to begin in a couple of weeks. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is finished. Harvesting is steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin_Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting continues to slow seasonally. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is nearing the end. Harvesting remains steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin_Condition is fair to good. Planting continues to slow seasonally. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting remains steady. Palmetto-Ruskin_The crop is in good condition. Planting is increasing seasonally. To receive this report via e-mail, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov with the following message: add usda- fl-crop-weather your-email-address your.name (optional) An example: add usda-fl-crop-weather jsmith@qtm.com john smith. The report will be e-mailed automatically to your e-mail address each week.