fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending June 23, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. June 24, 2002 Report Code FL-CW2502 Weather Summary Rains fell over the central and southern Peninsula throughout the week of June 16 through 22 with some northern Peninsula areas receiving rainfall by the end of the week. Rainfall at the major stations ranged from less than two tenths of an inch at Tallahassee to over nine and a half inches at West Palm Beach. Cloud cover kept temperatures down with weekly temperatures at the major stations averaging two to four degrees below normal. Daytime highs were mostly in the 80s while nighttime lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies improved in some northern Peninsula and Big Bend localities that received recent rains, and are rated adequate to short. Moisture supplies remain mostly short to adequate in the Panhandle. Moisture supplies over the central and southern Peninsula vary according to the amount of rain received with supplies rated short to mostly adequate. A few localities receiving daily rains along the Atlantic coast are reporting surplus supplies while a few pockets of very short supplies exist in drier areas of the Peninsula. Peanuts are in fair to mostly good condition with 40 percent of the crop pegged. Last year, 59 percent of peanuts were pegged by this date while the five- year average of peanuts pegged by this date is 40 percent. Peanut growers are combating diseases in some fields. Most cotton is in good condition with blooms starting to show. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 2 4 4 10 20 Short 22 55 49 54 45 46 Adequate 70 43 45 35 45 34 Surplus 7 0 2 7 0 0 Livestock Report Statewide, pasture and range are in slightly better condition than the previous week. Recent rainfall had minimal effect on range condition but lowered fire danger. In the Panhandle, most pastures and hay fields are green and in good condition, but grass growth is still poor in dry locations. In the central counties, pasture condition ranges from very poor to good. Lakes and stock ponds are still low. In the southern Peninsula, pasture is in fair to good condition. Statewide, cattle are mostly in fair to good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 10 5 10 5 Fair 50 65 45 70 Good 35 30 45 25 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: Rain, rain, welcomed rain fell in all areas of Florida's citrus belt on several days this week. Rainfall accumulations varied from a little more than an inch to more than five inches in some coastal locations. Irrigation systems have finally been turned off for some much needed maintenance following the dry spring. The summer rains have arrived. Virtually all resets and young trees are covered with an abundance of new foliage. All well-cared-for groves look very good too excellent. New crop fruit continues to make excellent progress with good sizes and minimal droppage. Harvest of Valencia oranges was limited this week as most of this late season crop has been picked. Very few processors remain open and only a handful of fresh fruit packers are running. Grapefruit movement is down to the last several thousand boxes. Caretakers are actively mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops. A few growers are deep plowing and discing to help control excessive moisture problems. Hedging, topping and burning of dead trees and limbs was reported in all areas. Summer fertilizations, sprays and herbicides are being applied. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jun 9 Jun 16 Jun 23 Valencia oranges 4,995,000 3,030,000 1,839,000 All grapefruit 224,000 61,000 64,000 Vegetable Report Okra harvesting continues in Dade County. Watermelon picking is slowing seasonally in some northern Peninsula and Panhandle areas with supplies expected to be available into early July. Tomato harvesting is past the peak in the Quincy area. Potato digging is virtually finished. 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.