fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending September 8, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. September 9, 2002 Report Code FL-CW3602 Weather Summary Tropical Storm Edouard brought significant showers to some Peninsula areas during the week of September 1 through 7. Another tropical system also dropped significant rains on some areas of the western Panhandle as Tropical Storm Fay formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rainfall for the week ranged from traces at Dover to about four and a third inches at Homestead. Temperatures in the major cities averaged mostly one degree above normal. Daytime highs were in the 80s and 90s. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 70s with Alachua recording at least one low in the 60s. Field Crops Report Soil moisture supplies in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula are short to adequate while central and southern Peninsula moisture is adequate to surplus. Recent showers disrupted some hay harvesting. Corn harvesting is active. Peanuts are fair to mostly good with a limited acreage in poor condition. Peanut digging is increasing slowly as producers start harvesting early maturing varieties. Cotton bolls are opening with some fields being defoliated. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 2 1 2 3 0 Short 14 19 26 14 29 30 Adequate 49 61 62 54 53 65 Surplus 36 18 11 30 15 5 Livestock Report In the Panhandle, the condition of pasture ranges from poor to good with most in fair condition. However, armyworm and mole cricket activity is evident. The condition of cattle is mostly good. In the north, the condition of range is fair to good, with most pastures doing well. The cattle condition is good. Stock ponds are low. In the central areas, the range condition is fair to good, with most in good condition. The condition of cattle is mostly good. In the south, the condition of range is good to excellent, with most in good condition. Statewide, cattle 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 0 0 0 0 Fair 10 15 5 10 Good 80 70 85 75 Excellent 10 15 10 15 Fruit Report Citrus: The first part of this week was wet, hot and windy. Tropical Storm Edouard influenced the weather patterns over Florida's citrus belt until Thursday when the system cleared the west coast. Breezes, showers and a few thunderstorms were the rule Monday through Wednesday. Rainfall accumulation amounts were in the one to four inch range. Some groves were very wet as there had been considerable rain the preceding week. However, the persistent showers produced a lot of new growth and good fruit sizes on most of this State's citrus trees. A little of the early fruit is starting to split as the skin cannot grow as rapidly as the inside is maturing. Splitting is not a major problem at this time. Fresh fruit packing houses all over the State are testing early bloom fruit for shipments. A few early tangerines and grapefruit were packed and shipped last week. Caretakers are very active mowing, chopping, discing cover crops. Growers are removing vines that covered trees and new crop fruit. Dead trees are being removed and burned. Resets are still being planted. Many fresh fruit growers are applying sprays every other week or so due to the constant rains. September fertilizations and herbicides are going on in all areas. Vegetable Report Okra harvesting is active in Dade County. Fall crop planting remains active with no significant damage from recent storms reported. Tomatoes around Quincy are in good to excellent condition with picking expected to begin during late September. Comments/Comntact 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.