fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending February 10, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. February 11, 2002 Report Code FL-CW0602 Weather Summary Scattered rains fell in many localities during the week of February 3 through 9. However, more rain is needed to ease prolonged dryness in many northern, central and southern Peninsula areas. Homestead, Ft. Lauderdale and Pensacola reported about two inches of rain for the week while Dover recorded about an inch. Other stations measured from traces to nearly an inch while Ft. Pierce reported no measurable rain for the week. Tempera tures at the major stations averaged from two degrees below normal at Jacksonville to three degrees above at Miami. Pensacola tempera tures averaged five degrees below normal. Daytime highs averaged in the 50s, 60s and 70s while nighttime lows were in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Field Crops Report Topsoil moisture supplies are short to adequate with some west central Peninsula localities reporting very short supplies. Subsoil moisture supplies are mostly short to adequate with very short supplies reported by some west central Peninsula localities. The danger for wildfires is increasing over most of the Peninsula. Sugarcane planting and harvesting remain active in the Everglades. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 4 0 4 Short 47 47 44 58 Adequate 53 49 56 38 Surplus 0 0 0 0 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, the condition of cattle is fair to good and pasture is fair. Small grain pastures are looking very good after recovering from earlier hard freezes. In some locations, winter forage is finally coming out. There is high use of hay in some locations this winter. In the central part of the State, unseasonably warm weather has kept pastures producing longer this year. The pasture condition is good and the cattle condition is fair. Recent rains have turned pasture grasses green, however, supplemental feeding of hay continues. Statewide, the cattle condition is fair to good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 10 0 0 Poor 25 20 0 5 Fair 50 65 75 65 Good 25 5 25 30 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report There were several spotty showers with a few good hard rains this week. The east coast citrus counties received 3 to 4 inches in most areas. More rain is needed as growers continue to use irrigation to maintain good tree condition for the upcoming bloom period. Trees in all areas have started to produce feathery new growth with pin head bloom buds. The cool temperatures during the early part of the week reduced the growth rate. Warm weather in the next few weeks could produce an early bloom. Harvest of early and midseason oranges is slowing with some areas depleting their supplies. A few processing plants are limiting loads as the early orange harvest winds down. Valencia harvest is increasing for both fresh and processing. Most of the fresh grapefruit are coming from the lower east coast. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops. Dead trees are being pushed out and burned. Growers are continuing to fertilize to generate new growth for the bloom period. A few resets are being planted in the warmer locations. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 27 Feb 3 Feb 10 Navel oranges 104,000 113,000 122,000 Early & Mid oranges 7,541,000 7,786,000 7,259,000 Valencia oranges 4,000 74,000 118,000 All grapefruit 923,000 1,327,000 1,650,000 Early tangerines 50,000 22,000 11,000 Honey tangerines 178,000 149,000 126,000 Temples 62,000 80,000 119,000 Tangelos 154,000 104,000 94,000 Vegetable Report Growers around Quincy are preparing land and laying plastic for the planting of spring crop tomatoes. Scattered rains interrupted some planting and harvesting activities with most progressing normally. Vegetables available include tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, celery, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, squash, sweet corn and strawberries. Comments/Contact Information To receive this report via e-mail, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov with the following message: subscribe usda-fl-crop- weather your.name An example: subscribe usda-fl-crop-weather John Smith. The report will be e-mailed automatically to your e-mail address each week.