fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 10, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. November 12, 2002 Report Code FL-CW4302 Weather Summary Cold fronts crossing from the Panhandle to the southeastern Peninsula brought abundant rains to many Panhandle and a few northern Peninsula localities during the week of November 3 through 9. Rainfall totaled from none to nearly two inches. A half inch to nearly two inches of rain fell over Brooksville, Jay, Lake Alfred, Marianna, Quincy, Daytona Beach, Pensacola, and Tallahassee. Many northern Peninsula and most central and southern Peninsula areas received less than a quarter inch of rain for the week. Most temperatures averaged from a degree below normal to a degree above. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s while most nighttime lows were in the 50s and 60s. Several Panhandle and a few northern Peninsula localities recorded at least one low in the 40s with Tallahassee and Alachua reporting at least one low in the 30s. Several reports of record daily highs were received during the week. On November 10 and 11 a cold front spawned severe storms and at least two tornadoes, one near Bratt in Escambia County and the other, near Ponce de Leon in Holmes County. Winds from these storms were clocked at 60 miles per hour at the Panama City-Bay County airport. Field Crops Report Abundant rainfall continued to delay peanut and cotton harvesting in the Panhandle and some northern Peninsula localities, especially Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. However, the rains replenished soil moisture supplies with surplus supplies reported for a few Panhandle and northern Peninsula areas. Most topsoil and subsoil moisture is rated adequate to short with a few localities, scattered from the northern to the southern Peninsula, reporting very short supplies. Peanut harvesting slowed due to the rains with 97 percent dug. Last year, 99 percent of peanuts were dug by this date while the five-year average progress is also 99 percent harvested. Some northern producers are making the last cutting of hay for the year. Sugarcane cutting continues in the Everglades. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 3 1 13 3 3 8 Short 25 24 27 25 29 28 Adequate 70 68 55 70 65 56 Surplus 2 7 5 2 3 8 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, pasture is still green, with some “standing hay” going into dormancy. Growth of pasture grass slowed due to seasonally cooler temperature. Planting of small grains for winter forage was slowed by wet field conditions. The central andBig Bend area pasture is in fair condition due to drought. Pasture in the southern peninsula is mostly in good condition. Statewide, cattle and calves 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 35 25 35 15 Good 65 70 65 80 Excellent 0 5 0 5 Fruit Report Citrus: This was a very mild and generally dry week. There was minimum rainfall with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s by the weekend. Many caretakers are irrigating to maintain good tree condition. The cooler days and longer nights slowed new growth. Virtually all of the early fruit has good on-tree color break. Harvest of early oranges for processing is increasing as more processing plants are opening. Shipments of Navels, Hamlin and Ambersweet oranges, white and colored grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos are very active for the upcoming Thanksgiving markets. Most of the juice plants are taking packing house eliminations. Caretakers are very active cultivating and mowing cover crops for the winter season. Dead trees are still being removed and burned where permits are available. Few sprays are still being applied for crops going to the fresh markets. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 27 Nov 3 Nov 10 Navel oranges 119,000 169,000 261,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 250,000 1,102,000 3,126,000 All grapefruit 621,000 693,000 856,000 Tangerines 153,000 221,000 312,000 Tangelos 2,000 25,000 39,000 Vegetable Report Harvesting of fall crops continues to increase over the central and southern Peninsula as growers begin to meet the Thanksgiving Day demand. Vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes and a very light supply of watermelons. Quality is mostly good. Strawberry harvesting is getting underway in the Plant City region although warm weather continues to hinder proper berry development. 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.