fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending July 14, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. July 15, 2002 Report Code FL-CW2802 Weather Summary Rainfall over nearly all locations in the State helped build up soil moisture supplies during the week of July 7 through July 13. Rainfall totaled from around a half of an inch at Jacksonville to over seven inches at Miami. The rainfall and cloud cover caused average temperatures to range from normal to four degrees below normal at the major stations. Daytime highs averaged mostly from 79 to 83 degrees with most daily maximums in the upper 80s and low 90s. Lows were in the upper 60s and low 70s. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions in the Panhandle improved with scattered showers. However, some Panhandle and northern Peninsula locations remain dry with moisture conditions varying from short to surplus. Showers in the southern Peninsula areas resulted in surplus moisture supplies with the majority of reports showing adequate to surplus moisture for the area. Peanuts are in mostly good condition. Eighty-three percent of the peanuts are pegged, compared to 73 percent pegged by this date last year and the five-year average of 72 percent. The incidence of tomato spotted wilt virus in peanut fields is higher than it has been in several years. A few peanut and hay fields have been sprayed for foliage feeders. Most cotton is looking good to excellent. Rainfall has interrupted some hay making. Tobacco is in good condition with harvesting very active. 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 2 1 5 1 Short 4 7 11 14 9 31 Adequate 46 63 72 39 57 53 Surplus 49 29 15 46 29 15 Livestock Report In the Panhandle, cattle and pasture conditions are mostly good. In the northern counties, the pasture condition improved to fair and cattle are gaining weight. However, stock ponds are going down. The central area pasture and cattle condition is good. In the west central area, there are some pastures flooded. In the southeast, the cattle and pasture conditions are good, although pastures have not fully recovered from an earlier drought to the point they would normally be at this time of year. Statewide, the 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 0 0 0 Fair 5 15 10 10 Good 85 75 80 90 Excellent 10 10 10 0 Fruit Report CITRUS: This was another wet and soggy week in Florida's citrus belt. There were numerous rains and thunderstorms that left many groves too wet to drive and work in. Most areas reported rainfall accumulations from one to four inch range. However, some growers in the Vero Beach and Fort Pierce areas reported more than five inches of recent rain before this past weekend. Citrus trees are looking very healthy and good with new crop fruit looking excellent and sizing well. The overwhelming majority of the new fruit is regular bloom. The only Valencias and grapefruit being harvested now are going to the fresh squeeze operations. All large processors have closed for the season. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have made good growth with help of the abundant summer rains. Young trees and resets are being fertilized and herbicided to take advantage of the current ideal growing conditions. The second, third and fourth summer sprays are being applied on some crops being grown for fresh utilization. Hedging and topping continues in all areas. Vegetable Report 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.