fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending June 2, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. June 3, 2002 Report Code FL-CW2202 Weather Summary The clash of the sea breezes brought afternoon showers to many Peninsula localities during the week of May 26 through June 1. Rainfall totaled from traces to nearly three inches with Homestead reporting almost six inches falling during the week. Cooler temperatures early in the week gave way to very warm weather at the end. Temperatures at the major stations averaged normal to one degree below. Daytime highs were mostly in the 80s and 90s with many highs soaring to the mid 90s by Sunday, June 2. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s with several Peninsula localities recording at least one low in the 50s during the first part of the week. Field Crops Report The scattered storms left some areas dry. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are rated mostly short to very short. Some northern Peninsula localities, especially in the Big Bend region reported very short moisture supplies while most southern Peninsula moisture is short. Soil moisture in the Panhandle is short to adequate. Eighty percent of peanuts are planted compared with 85 percent a year ago and the five year average of 89 percent. Cotton planting is active. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 26 8 27 13 12 26 Short 57 76 66 77 76 66 Adequate 17 16 7 10 12 8 Surplus 0 0 0 0 0 0 Livestock Report Pasture condition in the Panhandle is rated mostly fair while most Big Bend and northern Peninsula pastures vary from very poor to fair. Central and southern Peninsula pastures are mostly fair with pockets of poor pastures where recent rain missed and good pastures where abundant rains fell recently. Cattle are in mostly fair condition with ranchers feeding supplemental hay in drier areas. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 5 5 5 Poor 10 40 5 5 Fair 75 45 80 85 Good 10 10 10 5 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: There were numerous rain showers and thunderstorms in most areas of the citrus belt the last half of the week. Coastal breezes from both the east and west coasts contributed to the much needed rains. Rainfall amounts were one to three inches with isolated growing areas getting four to five inches. Caretakers shut down their irrigation systems where they received the heaviest rains. Summer flushes of new growth are showing in virtually all well-cared-for groves. New crop fruit continues to make good progress as most trees have finished dropping the fruit they cannot carry for the next crop year. Harvest of Valencia oranges is slowing with supplies getting depleted in some areas. Some processors are limiting deliveries and are only running a few days a week. Grapefruit movement is basically limited to the lower east coast where a few fresh fruit packing houses and processors are still running. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops and removing vines. The weeds are making rapid growth with the help of the recent rains. Hedging and topping continues in harvested groves. Dead trees are being pushed, cut out and burned. New trees are being planted in all areas where supplies are available. Summer sprays and fertilizations are active all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 19 May 26 Jun 2 Valencia oranges 7,386,000 5,498,000 5,255,000 All grapefruit 656,000 360,000 292,000 Vegetable Report Watermelon harvesting is increasing in some northern areas. Other vegetables and melons available include tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, potatoes, radishes, squash and sweet corn. Comments/Contact Information To receive this report via e-mail, send message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov with the following message: subscribeusda- 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.