fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Report Code FL-CW2702 Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending July 7, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. July 8, 2002 Weather Summary Rainfall over some Panhandle localities helped ease dry conditions during the week of June 30 through July 6 while daily showers continued over the Peninsula. Rainfall totaled from traces at Putnam Hall and Jacksonville to over four and one third inches at Daytona Beach. Temperatures averaged one to three degrees below normal at the major stations. Daytime highs averaged mostly in the 80s with several daily maximums in the 90s. Lows were in the 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Some topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions in the Panhandle improved with scattered showers. However, some Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities remain dry with moisture conditions varying from very short to short to mostly adequate. Daily showers in some southern Peninsula areas resulted in surplus moisture supplies with the majority of reports showing adequate moisture supplies for the area. Peanuts are in mostly good condition with prospects improving greatly in areas that received rain. Sixty-five percent of the peanuts are pegged, below both the 69 percent pegged by this date last year and the five-year average of 60 percent. Growers are combating spotted wilt virus in some peanut fields and fall army worm infestations in some hay fields. Most cotton is showing good stands except for some uneven development in oldest fields. Rainfall interrupted some hay making. Silage harvesting is nearing the end in some northern Peninsula localities. Tobacco is in good condition with harvesting very active. Most tobacco yields are near last year's average or above except for some low yields from dryland acreage. Delivery points for contracted tobacco are expected to start opening on July 23. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 1 12 5 4 2 Short 7 10 19 9 22 52 Adequate 63 48 66 57 39 44 Surplus 29 41 3 29 35 2 Livestock Report Panhandle pastures improved slightly from the previous week following good rains. Armyworms are active and some pastures and hayfields have been treated for fall armyworms. In the north, good rains have revitalized the pastures and hay fields. Haying is active, weather permitting. Central area pastures are in fair to good condition while range in the southwest is in fair to excellent condition. Statewide, cattle are in fair to good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 5 0 5 Fair 15 15 10 20 Good 75 75 90 75 Excellent 10 5 0 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: All areas of Florida's citrus belt had rains and thunderstorms the first half of the week. Then, some of the central and upper interior counties received only light scattered rains, while the lower east coast and the southern counties continued to get daily soakings. Some groves in Indian River, St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties have gotten more than 20 inches of rain since the middle of June. Growers and caretakers in the wetter groves are ditching and pumping out excessive water. Lakes, ponds and general water reservoirs are refilling following a relatively dry spring. Trees and new crop fruit are all making very good progress as a result of the recent tropical weather. Valencia and grapefruit harvest are both over for the season. There are still a few smaller fresh squeeze operations running late bloom fruit and a few scattered crops. Caretakers have been very busy cutting cover crops, discing and deep plowing to help dry out soils and move some of the standing water. Dead trees are being removed and burned. Resets are being planted in all areas now that the summer rains have arrived. Spray and fertilizers are being applied between the rains. Vegetable Report Producers continue to market light supplies of watermelons and tomatoes. Okra harvesting continues in Miami-Dade County. 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.