fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending December 16, 2001 Released 4:00 P.M. December 17, 2001 Report Code FL-WE4400 Weather Summary Hot weather persisted during the week of December 9 through 15. Temperatures at the major stations averaged eight to fourteen degrees above normal. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 50s, 60s and 70s. A few localities received abundant rain with Citra and Jacksonville reporting over two inches for the week, and Putnam Hall and Alachua reporting over an inch. West Palm Beach received almost a half inch. Other areas reported only traces of rain, if any, for the week. Field Crops Report Rains over some western Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities helped ease dry conditions but topsoil and subsoil moisture remains mostly short to adequate over the region, especially in the Big Bend area. Most central and southern Peninsula soil moisture supplies are drying due to a lack of rain but remain short to mostly adequate. Hay making continues in some central and southern Peninsula areas. Cotton harvesting is almost complete. Sugarcane planting and harvesting continue. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 11 5 15 7 Short 40 37 32 40 Adequate 49 58 53 53 Surplus 0 0 0 0 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, the pasture and winter forage continue to suffer from the lack of significant rainfall. Some locations received scattered rain which reduced the fire danger. Cool season forages are still being planted. The condition of the cattle is poor. Ranchers are feeding supplemental hay. Some of the central area received rain and pasture and range is in good condition. In the west central counties, the pasture grass growth is short and the grass is browning due to short moisture. The cattle condition is holding. Statewide, cattle and calves are mostly in fair to good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 20 10 10 10 Fair 60 45 60 30 Good 20 35 30 55 Excellent 0 5 0 5 Fruit Report CITRUS: The lack of rainfall and hot weather along with increased use of irrigation have confused trees into thinking this is early spring weather and the time for new growth and bloom buds. The fewer hours of sunlight during the winter are one of the saving factors that are preventing more trees from starting to produce bloom buds. Some young trees in the southern part of the citrus belt have kept growing due to the unseasonably warm fall and winter weather. Harvesting crews have been very active picking early and midseason fruit for both fresh and processing. The fresh fruit packing houses started slowing down by Saturday and Sunday, but the crews moving juice fruit remained very busy in all areas trying to move as much of the higher ratio early oranges as possible. Caretakers have been very busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops for fire protection and prior to harvesting. Dead tree removal and burning continues. Irrigation equipment is receiving a lot of attention due to the constant use. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 2 Dec 9 Dec 16 Navel oranges 424,000 633,000 484,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 7,948,000 7,988,000 8,617,000 All grapefruit 699,000 835,00 876,000 Tangerines 304,000 371,000 413,000 Tangelos 106,000 175,000 173,000 Vegetable Report Harvesting to meet the holiday demand remains active. Growers continue to harvest tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, pickles, radishes, snap beans, squash, strawberries and sweet corn. SNAP BEANS: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Hot weather is speeding plant growth and development. Planting is active. Harvesting continues with a good supply available. Southwest-- Planting and harvesting continue. Quality is mostly good. West Central_Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. SWEET CORN: Everglades, Lake Placid--Harvesting is increasing seasonally. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Condition is good. Tasseling is increasing. Planting is finished. East Coast_Planting is active. Plant growth is good. CABBAGE: Hastings--Planting continues. Harvesting is increasing seasonally. Dade--Harvesting is on schedule. Quality is good. Zellwood--Harvesting is active. West Central_Crop condition is good. CUCUMBERS, fresh market: Southwest--Picking continues. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin, Plant City--Harvesting is declining seasonally. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--Picking is active. Quality is mostly good with super select and select grades available. Color is good. Workers are clearing acreage completely picked. CUCUMBERS, pickles: Southwest--Harvesting is active. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Growers are irrigating to ensure proper vine growth. Harvesting continues. Volume is light. Quality is good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Harvesting continues. Quality is good. Southwest--Cutting continues. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Condition is rated very good. Cutting continues to gain momentum. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality and color are good. Sizes are large to extra large. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Harvesting is active. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting continues. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting is almost completed. BELL AND OTHER SWEET PEPPERS: Southwest--Planting and picking are active. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--Planting and harvesting are active. Quality is good. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is mostly steady. Quality is fair to good with some misshaped fruit not meeting grade. HOT PEPPERS: Southwest--Picking continues. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--Harvesting continues with good quality available. Volume is light. POTATOES: Dade--Condition is rated very good with plants making good stands. Planting continues. Growers are irrigating as needed. Southwest--Planting remains steady. West Central--Crop condition is good. Planting remains steady. Hastings--Producers are preparing ground with planting to begin in late December or early January. RADISHES: Everglades--Harvesting is steady. Quality is good. SQUASH: Southwest--Planting and harvesting are active. Quality is mostly good. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Planting continues. Picking is active with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin-- The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. Sizes are variable. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Dover, Floral City, Palmetto-Ruskin-- Crop condition is good. Picking is increasing seasonally. Quality is mostly good. Dade--U-Pic harvesting is slow but is expected to increase in late December. Quality is mostly good. TOMATOES: Southwest--Transplanting and harvesting remain active. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Picking and planting continue. Quality is mostly good. West Central--Crop condition is mostly fair to good. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is mostly good with 5x6 and 6x6 sizes available. Color is fair to good. Spraying is active. Dade--Condition is rated very good. Plants are setting good hands. Transplanting is active. Picking of a small volume is expected to start in ten to fourteen days. Producers are irrigating as needed. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Planting and picking continue. Quality is mostly good. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Picking is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Planting continues. Harvesting is active. Quality is mostly good. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Picking is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair. Picking is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are small to medium. 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