fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending July 15, 2001 Released 4:00 P.M. July 16, 2001 Report Code FL-WE8300 Weather Summary Hot and mostly humid weather marked conditions during the week of July 8 through 14. Temperatures averaged from two degrees below to three degrees above normal at the major stations. Highs were in the 80s and 90s while lows were mostly in the 70s. Several stations recorded at least one low in the 60s. Rainfall totaled from about three quarters of an inch at Pierson to over ten inches in Immokalee. Although recent rains replenished soil moisture supplies, many localities remain dry. Lake and pond water levels remain below normal. Field Crops Report Topsoil moisture supplies are rated mostly adequate with scattered areas of short and surplus supplies. Subsoil moisture supplies are mostly adequate to short with some areas reporting surplus and a few localities, very short supplies. Peanut acreage is 75 percent pegged while the crop condition is rated five percent fair, seventy-five percent good and twenty percent excellent. Tobacco harvesting is nearing the end. Hay making continues with some activity delayed due to wet fields. Irrigated cotton, corn and sugarcane are in good condition. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 13 0 1 1 Short 18 10 53 27 Adequate 68 73 46 55 Surplus 1 17 0 17 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, pasture condition improved following recent rainfall. In the central area, forage crops grew well following good rainfall and cattle condition improved. However, stock ponds and streams are still low. In the Southwest part of the State, pasture condition improved at most locations. Some cattlemen are still feeding supplemental feed because the Bahia grass has not yet fully recovered from the drought. Pasture condition was lower in some areas because of standing water from recent rains. Statewide, cattle condition is mostly fair to good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 0 5 0 Fair 45 30 40 25 Good 50 65 55 70 Excellent 0 5 0 5 Fruit Report CITRUS: There were numerous rains and thunderstorms throughout Florida's citrus belt this week, and then on Saturday a summertime "cold front" passed through dumping several more inches of rain in many areas. There were a lot of puddles and ponding on grove roads. Some of the lakes, streams and water reservoirs are showing signs of refilling. The abundant rainfall generated new growth on most trees of all ages in most areas. New crop fruit is progressing well with good fruit sizes. Valencia harvesting crews completed moving most of the fruit to the processors this week. All of the major processors are now closed for this season. Very few grapefruit were picked this week and those were for the fresh-squeeze markets. Caretakers are very active mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that are making excellent growth with the aid of the heavy summer rains. Growers are applying fertilizers and sprays between rains. Hedging and topping continue in all areas. Burn permits are being issued in virtually all grove locations. Burning of dead trees and general grove debris has been reported in all areas. Vegetable Report Growers are preparing land for fall crop planting. Okra harvesting continues in Dade County. Tomato picking is finished in the Quincy area. Watermelon harvesting is virtually complete. Comments/Contact Information 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Return to the Table of Contents for Publications