fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending March 31,2002 Released 4:00 P.M. April 1, 2002 Report Code FL-CW1302 Weather Summary Afternoon storms provided limited moisture to some localities during the week of March 24 through 30. Rainfall ranged from mostly traces to over an inch at Okahumpka and Pensacola. Several sites reported no measurable rain for the week. The danger for wildfire is high in most localities. Temperatures averaged from one degree below normal at Pensacola to five degrees above at many central and southern Peninsula localities. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Most nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are mostly adequate to short. Sugarcane harvesting is nearly finished with several mills closed. Tobacco transplanting is gaining momentum. Producers are preparing to plant cotton and peanuts with some to start in about two to three weeks. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This week Last week Last This week Last week Last year year Percent Very 1 6 28 2 2 28 Short 44 49 38 34 56 45 Adequate 55 45 29 64 42 27 Surplus 0 0 5 0 0 0 Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture condition is poor to fair due to dry soil conditions. Recent near freezing temperatures hurt the grass in some locations. In the northern area, pasture condition is fair due to drought. Cool season forages are start ing to head, and warm season permanent grass is greening-up. In the central counties, pasture condition is fair. Stock ponds are very low. Southwest, pasture condition is mostly fair. Statewide, the condition of cattle is fair to good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This week Last week This week Last week Percent Very poor 10 0 0 0 Poor 15 5 10 0 Fair 55 75 50 65 Good 20 20 40 35 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: This was a very windy, warm and dry week. Rain is needed in all areas. Growers are irrigating with all types of equipment. Many single and two row bed groves are being flood irrigated. Many counties have reported below average rainfall for the month of March. The recent warm and dry weather has helped bring this year's bloom cycle to a conclusion. Citrus trees are now starting to set next year's crop of fruit. The Valencia harvest is very active with virtually all of these late type fruit going to the processors. Grapefruit movement is also very busy with most of the fruit being processed. However, many white and colored grapefruit are still being packed for fresh utilization. Honey tangerine and Temple harvest are both slowing as supplies are running low. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops prior to harvest, to help generate new growth and for fire protection. Hedging and topping continue in harvested groves. Dead and dying trees are being removed and burned. Resets are being planted in all areas where there is sufficient irrigation. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Mar 17 Mar 24 Mar 31 Navel oranges 1,000 0 0 Early & Mid oranges 1,362,000 193,000 221,000 Valencia oranges 3,435,000 6,642,000 6,877,000 All grapefruit 2,887,000 2,684,000 2,504,000 Early tangerines 3,000 1,000 0 Honey tangerines 180,000 165,000 143,000 Temples 90,000 51,000 27,000 Tangelos 8,000 1,000 1,000 Vegetable Report Mostly dry weather increased the need for irrigation over the central and southern Peninsula. 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.