fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending February 17, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. February 19,2002 Report Code FL-CW0702 Weather Summary Some southern and southeastern coastal localities received significant rainfall during the week of February 10 through 16. West Palm Beach recorded almost six inches of rain for the week. Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Pierce reported around two inches. Elsewhere, rainfall totaled from traces to about two-thirds inch. The danger of wildfire continues to increase over the northern and central Peninsula and in a few western Panhandle areas. Temperatures at the major stations averaged from one degree below normal to two degrees above. Daytime highs were mostly in the 60s and 70s with several localities recording at least one high in the 80s. Most daily lows were in the 40s, 50s and 60s with lows averaging only 39 degrees in Tallahassee. Jacksonville and Pensacola each recorded at least one low in the 30s. Field Crops Report Topsoil moisture supplies are short to mostly adequate with some surplus moisture reported for the Everglades. Subsoil moisture supplies are short to mostly adequate with scattered areas of very short supplies over the western Panhandle and over the northern and central Peninsula. Surplus subsoil supplies exist in the Everglades region with producers draining fields as needed. Land preparations for the planting of tobacco, pastures and other crops are slowly increasing in the northern Peninsula and Panhandle areas. Transplants in tobacco hot beds are doing well. Excessive rains in the Everglades region delayed some sugarcane harvesting with most on schedule. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 4 0 4 2 Short 47 31 58 35 Adequate 49 63 38 57 Surplus 0 6 0 6 Livestock Report In the Panhandle, small grain pasture is in good shape. Permanent pasture Bahia grass began to green up following warmer temperatures. In the north counties, cool season forage picked up. However, some ranchers are concerned as hay supplies are running low. Statewide, cattle are in fair to good condition, up slightly from the previous week. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 10 0 0 0 Poor 20 25 5 5 Fair 65 60 65 60 Good 5 15 30 35 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: There were spotty showers during the week in virtually all areas of the citrus belt as a fast moving cold front finally settled Saturday night and Sunday morning. Surface soil moisture is generally adequate on the east coast and lower interior as a result of a few hard rains. Most other areas are still irrigating to maintain good tree condition for the upcoming bloom period. Some trees in all areas have varying amounts of open bloom, however, most of the feathery new growth and pin head bloom buds are just starting to proliferate. Early and midseason harvest is slowing as supplies are running low in many of the major producing areas. Grapefruit harvest for processing is increasing as more of the juice plants are now taking field run fruit. Fresh grapefruit movement continues strong on the lower east coast. Caretakers are busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops for fire protection and prior to harvesting. New trees are being set in the warmer locations. Dead and dying trees are being pushed and burned in all areas. Late winter and early spring fertilizations are being applied in most counties. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 3 Feb 10 Feb 17 Navel oranges 113,000 122,000 41,000 Early & Mid oranges 7,786,000 7,259,000 6,800,000 Valencia oranges 74,000 118,000 275,000 All grapefruit 1,327,000 1,650,000 2,055,000 Early tangerines 22,000 11,000 14,000 Honey tangerines 149,000 126,000 134,000 Temples 80,000 119,000 142,000 Tangelos 104,000 94,000 86,000 Vegetable Report Spring crop planting is gaining momentum in the Palmetto-Ruskin area. Planting and harvesting continue at a normal pace around Immokalee, Jupiter and Stuart. The rain delayed some vegetable harvesting around Homestead with most on schedule. Growers continue to harvest 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.