fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending August 25, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. August 26, 2002 Report Code FL-CW3402 Weather Summary Scattered showers brought varying amounts of rainfall to the State during the week of August 18 through August 24. Rainfall in the major cities ranged from almost 1.50 in. at Daytona Beach and Tallahassee to none in Jacksonville. Average temperatures were in the 80s for the State. Daytime highs were in the low to mid 90s. Nighttime lows were in 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions in the State are mostly adequate with scattered areas reporting very short, short or surplus moisture. Some areas of the State have flooded fields. Peanut harvest is starting. Cotton harvest should start in two weeks. Haying is active when weather permits. Hay quality is reported poor, with fair yields in some areas. There is severe armyworm pressure in some pasture, crops, and hay fields. Aphid populations are up in cotton. Farmers are beginning to see white fly populations in some cotton fields. Peanuts are in mostly good to excellent condition. Tobacco harvest is complete. 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 2 1 2 Short 11 20 17 16 28 17 Adequate 62 71 60 57 57 62 Surplus 26 8 21 25 14 19 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, armyworm damage is severe in many pastures and hay fields. The condition of the cattle is fair to good. The condition of the pasture and range is poor to good, depending on soil moisture. In the central area, the condition of the cattle is good and pasture is good to excellent. There is damage from armyworms in pasture and hay fields. Some pastures are floodedalong the east coast. Statewide, cattle and calves are mostly in good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 15 10 10 5 Good 65 80 85 90 Excellent 15 5 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: There were fewer afternoon rains this week. However, groves in all areas have sufficient to surplus moisture levels for this time of year. There is very little, if any, irrigation currently being applied. Trees of all ages in all areas have a tremendous amount of new growth as a result of the tropical-like summer weather patterns. New crop fruit is in very good condition and sizing well. Fresh fruit packing houses have field representatives testing early fruit for September shipments. Some of last year's late bloom Valencias and grapefruit are still being picked in small quantities for the fresh juice operations. Caretakers are active mowing, chopping and discing cover crops and removing vines that are covering tree tops and are shading out new crop fruit. Dead trees are being removed and burned in all areas of the citrus belt. Resets are being planted in the larger groves where there is sufficient irrigation and maintenance. Some hedging and topping continues along with herbiciding, spraying and fertilizing. Vegetable Report Fall crop planting continues actively in southern Peninsula areas. Okra harvesting remains active 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.