fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending October 20, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. October 21, 2002 Report Code FL-CW4202 Weather Summary Cooler weather finally arrived during the week of October 13 through 19. Temperatures averaged from one degree below normal to two degrees above in the major cities. Daytime highs were mostly in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Several northern Peninsula and Panhandle localities recorded at least one low in the 40s. Scattered showers, triggered mostly by fronts crossing over the state, brought from about a quarter inch of rain at Citra and Homestead, to nearly four and a third inches at Apopka. Several localities, from the Panhandle to West Palm Beach and Immokalee, recorded from an inch to about two and a half inches. Field Crops Report Rainfall over the Panhandle and northern Peninsula improved soil moisture conditions in many localities. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies, statewide, are mostly short to adequate with surplus soil moisture reported in areas recently receiving heavier amounts of rain. The rains and high humidity continue to delay some peanut harvesting with 85 percent of the crop dug. Last year by this date 84 percent of peanuts were dug while the five-year average progress is 86 percent harvested. Sugarcane harvesting is active in the Everglades. The picking of cotton continues in the Panhandle. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 0 5 7 0 5 6 Short 25 20 33 25 20 26 Adequate 70 70 59 70 70 63 Surplus 5 5 1 5 5 5 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and north, cooler temperatures allowed better growth of small grains for grazing. Statewide, cattle were mostly in good condition, up slightly from the previous week. 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 0 Fair 40 30 25 20 Good 55 65 65 80 Excellent 5 0 10 0 Fruit Report Citrus: A moderate cold front pushed through the citrus belt with some needed rain and lower temperatures. Cooler night time temperatures helped harden off a lot of the new foliage that was generated from the September rainfall. Most of this State's citrus trees and new crop fruit are in very good to excellent condition. Many of the early types of fruit are showing fairly good on-tree color break and earlier than normal maturity development. Juice levels are generally high and acids are low for the last of October. Harvesting crews are very busy moving Navels, Hamlin and Ambersweet oranges, white and colored grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos. Most of this early fruit is going to the packing houses with only limited quantities going directly to the few processors that are open at this time. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops prior to harvesting. Some vines are still being cut out of the trees before shading the fruit and foliage. Dead trees are being pushed, cut out and burned. Few resets are still being planted. Fall sprays and fertilizations are nearly completed. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 20 Navel oranges 56,000 90,000 111,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 81,000 110,000 114,000 All grapefruit 311,000 414,000 522,000 Tangerines 98,000 90,000 98,000 Tangelos 1,000 3,000 1,000 Vegetable Report Tomato picking remains active in the Quincy area while southern Peninsula growers slowly get harvesting underway. Strawberry planting is 65 percent finished in the Plant City area with recent rains boosting crop development. Producers continue to harvest very light but increasing supplies of cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, squash and watermelons. Okra harvesting continues in 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.