fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending June 9, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. June 10, 2002 Report Code FL-CW2302 Weather Summary Afternoon showers brought welcomed rains to many areas and especially to many Panhandle localities during the week of June 2 through June 8. Rain totaled from about a quarter inch at Tallahassee to about four and a third inches at West Palm Beach. Warm temperatures continued during the week with averages ranging from normal at Miami to four degrees above at Jacksonville. Daytime highs were in the 80s and 90s. Pierson recorded at least one high at 101 degrees. Nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture varies from very short to adequate depending on the amount of rain received recently. Moisture supplies in the Panhandle are mostly short to adequate while supplies in the Big Bend and northern Peninsula areas are mostly very short to short. Southern Peninsula soil moisture is mostly short while central Peninsula supplies are short to adequate. Most cotton and peanut acreage is germinating well with some cotton germinating in three days. Cotton planting is nearing the end with some producers planting after the small grain harvest is finished. Some cotton fields are showing uneven plant growth due to uneven soil moisture supplies. Ninety-five percent of peanuts are planted, slightly above the 93 percent last year but equal to the five-year average. Peanuts are in fair to mostly good condition while cotton and tobacco condition is rated mostly good. Irrigated corn is in good condition. Growers are combating insects in a few cotton and peanut fields. Rainfall delayed some oat harvesting in the Panhandle. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 31 26 16 13 13 26 Short 54 57 59 66 77 53 Adequate 15 17 25 21 10 21 Surplus 0 0 0 0 0 0 Livestock Report The overall condition of pastures in the State worsened, however, the condition was better in many locations following the start of seasonal rains. In the Panhandle, the cattle condition is good while pasture condition is fair. In the northern counties, the drought continues in many areas and fire hazard remains. Cattle condition is fair and pasture is poor. Some supplemental hay feeding continues. In the central area, cattle condition is good and pasture condition is fair following the rains of the previous week. Statewide, cattle condition is mostly fair. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 30 10 5 5 Fair 50 65 80 75 Good 15 20 15 20 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: Finally, there were several good rains and thunderstorms in most areas of Florida's citrus belt. Rainfall amounts varied depending on location. However, the vast majority of groves had almost an inch or more of the much needed moisture. Some coastal groves received up to three inches of rain as the sea breezes were big influences this week. Most trees in the well-cared-for groves are showing an abundance of new growth. New crop fruit continues to make good progress and a lot of the oranges are now golf ball size. Some grapefruit are about baseball size. Valencia harvest is slowing with supplies running out in some areas. Several processors are closed for the season. Grapefruit movement was very slow this week. Most fresh fruit packing houses are closed. Caretakers are very busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops. Growers are removing vines that started covering the tops of trees and shading new foliage. Hedging and topping have been reported in harvested groves. Dead tree removal continues at a rapid pace so that growers can replant during the summer rains. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 26 Jun 2 Jun 9 Valencia oranges 6,686,000 5,255,000 4,995,000 All grapefruit 361,000 292,000 224,000 Vegetable Report Rainfall curtailed the harvesting of some crops for a day or two. Tomato harvesting is very active in the Quincy area. Watermelon picking is very active in the northern Peninsula and Panhandle, as weather permits. Supplies of most vegetables are declining rapidly as harvesting moves to northern states. Other vegetables and melons available include potatoes, cantaloupes, okra and very light supplies of squash, cucumbers, eggplant and peppers. 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.