fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending June 24, 2001 Released 4:00 P.M. June 25, 2001 Report Code FL-WE8000 Weather Summary Summer weather prevailed bringing significant rains and very hot temperatures to most localities during the week of June 17 through 23. Daily storms dropped from about a half inch to almost seven inches of rain over Peninsula localities. Rainfall at the major stations ranged from an inch and a half to almost three and a half inches. Temperatures ranged from lows in the 60s to highs in the 90s. Temperatures at the major stations averaged two degrees below normal to one degree above. Field Crops Report Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula is adequate with scattered areas of short or surplus moisture. The topsoil moisture in the rest of the State is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Tobacco harvest is starting. Cotton is starting to bloom. Irrigated corn, sugarcane, and tobacco are in good condition. Hay fields are improving in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Dry land crops and hay fields are showing drought signs in the central and southern Peninsula. Seventy-six percent of the peanuts are pegging. Peanut condition is 27% fair and 73% good. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 11 3 24 19 Short 41 50 33 48 Adequate 41 46 41 33 Surplus 7 1 2 0 Livestock Report Statewide, pasture improved following ample rain. There is less need for supplemental hay. In the Panhandle, the pasture and cattle are in good condition. In the northern counties, rain and warm temperatures dramatically improved pasture and hay fields. The fire danger is also greatly reduced. In the central area, the range and pasture condition improved. In the west central area, pastures received some needed rain. Grass is growing, but waterholes are still very low. In the southwest, the grass is growing following the rain. Statewide, the condition of cattle is mostly fair. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 15 5 10 5 Fair 55 70 75 80 Good 20 25 15 15 Excellent 5 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: Daily rains and thunderstorms covered the citrus belt this week. Most groves have had sufficient rain to discontinue irrigation. There is an abundance of new growth on virtually all young trees and many of the older trees. New crop fruit are all making very good progress. Fruit sizes on most new fruit are responding very well to the abundant rainfall. Harvest of Valencia oranges is slowing considerably as supplies have been depleted in many areas. Movement of all grapefruit has been limited to a few fresh fruit packing houses and a couple of processing plants. Honey tangerine harvest is over. Caretakers are very active mowing, chopping and discing cover crops that are making good growth with the help of the summer rains. Growers are currently applying their summer sprays and fertilizations. Hedging and topping continue along with burning of grove trash and debris. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop June 10 June 17 June 24 Valencia oranges 4,193,000 3,861,000 3,293,000 All grapefruit 148,000 210,000 118,000 Honey Tangerines 1,000 1,000 1,000 Vegetable Report Northern watermelon picking is starting to slow seasonally. Okra harvesting remains very active in Dade County. Major vegetables available include potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, eggplant and okra. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central, East Coast, Southwest--Harvest is complete. North--Harvest is virtually complete. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Cutting is nearly finished. Southwest--Harvesting is virtually done. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting continues with good quality available. BELL PEPPERS: West Central--U-Pic harvesting is active. POTATOES: Hastings--Harvesting is nearing the end. Quality remains mostly good. TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvesting is very active to meet the holiday demand. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Picking is nearly done with pinhooking very active. Quality is mostly good. PLUM TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking is increasing seasonally and is expected to continue through early July. Recent rains reduced some quality and interrupted some field work. Palmetto-Ruskin--Picking is virtually finished. WATERMELONS: North--Harvesting is active to meet the holiday demand with some growers finished. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is virtually done. 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