fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending March 3, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. March 4, 2002 Report Code FL-CW0902 Weather Summary Mostly drier, cooler weather allowed field work to progress at a normal pace during the first half of the week of February 24 through March 2. Temperatures plunged to freezing and near freezing levels over the western Panhandle and much of the northern and central Peninsula near the end of the week. Temperatures at the major stations averaged five to ten degrees below normal for the week. Most daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s. Most lows were in the 30s around Jacksonville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, in the 40s around Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa, and in the 50s around Miami and West Palm Beach. Tallahassee recorded at least one low in the teens while Jacksonville and Pensacola recorded at least one low in the 20s. A frontal system brought significant rains to the western Panhandle and northern Peninsula at the end of the week. Most southern and central Peninsula areas to received no rain. Tallahassee recorded three and a half inches. The frontal system continued to cross the State on Sunday and Monday March 3 and 4 with rain continuing over the western Panhandle and northern Peninsula as well as many central and some southern Peninsula localities. The rains continue to decrease the danger of wildfires in most areas. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are short to mostly adequate. A small area of the Panhandle that missed some of the recent rainfall is still reporting very short subsoil moisture. A few central Peninsula areas that received the recent rains reported surplus moisture. This week's rains replenished soil moisture in most western Panhandle and northern Peninsula areas. Low temperatures in the teens retarded growth of some small grains in the western Panhandle. Land preparation for the planting of field crops continued until the end of the week rainfall and cold temperatures arrived. Soil Moisture Chart Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 4 0 4 2 Short 22 13 34 26 Adequate 74 78 62 68 Surplus 0 9 0 4 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, small grain, ryegrass forage condition was hurt by a hard freeze on February 28 and again by a frost on March 1. Stock pond levels are low and the fire hazard was high through mid-week. The killing frost extended to many counties in the central area. Pasture condition is good in much of the central areas as a result of excellent rains February 22nd and 23rd. Much of the southwest range is dry and the pasture condition is fair. Statewide, the condition of the cattle varies from poor to good. Levestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 15 15 0 20 Fair 50 65 60 30 Good 35 20 40 50 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: A fast moving cold front dropped temperatures to near freezing in many areas of Florida's citrus belt on the morning of February 27th. There was very little frost due to the winds. There was minimal leaf burn in the coldest northern locations. Temperatures were not low enough long enough to do significant damage to the fruit remaining to be harvested. Also, there were several rains and showers during the week in just about all areas that continued to enhance the current tree condition. Bloom is making very good progress with virtually all trees showing some stage of new growth and bud development. Harvest of early and midseason oranges is just about complete as the picking crews are starting to move Valencia oranges and grapefruit to the processors. The fresh fruit packers are continuing to ship Temples, tangerines and white and colored grapefruit. Caretakers are discing, mowing and chopping to try to help activate some of the trees into producing new growth and bloom buds. Growers are hedging and topping mostly harvested groves. Dead tree removal and total grove pushing continue. Burn permits are being limited in some areas due to high winds and dry grasses. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 17 Feb 24 Mar 3 Navel oranges 41,000 29,000 11,000 Early & Mid oranges 6,800,000 5,147,000 3,860,000 Valencia oranges 275,000 575,000 1,164,000 All grapefruit 2,055,000 2,065,000 2,151,000 Early tangerines 14,000 7,000 9,000 Honey tangerines 134,000 147,000 159,000 Temples 142,000 192,000 175,000 Tangelos 86,000 59,000 32,000 Vegetable Report Planting and harvesting continued at a normal pace with the southern areas of production remaining mostly dry for the week. Vegetables available include tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, celery, cucumbers, 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.