fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending November 17, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. November 18, 2002 Report Code FL-CW4602 Weather Summary Rains during the week of November 10 through 16 delayed some field work in nearly all areas. Rainfall ranged from three quarters of an inch to about five inches with the heavier amounts falling over parts of the Panhandle and Big Bend areas, and the southwestern and central Peninsula. Temperatures during the week averaged one to four degrees above normal in the major cities with a cold front bringing near freezing temperatures to some Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities at the end of the period. Most daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s while most nighttime lows were in the 50s and 60s. At the end of the week, temperatures dipped into the 30s and 40s in most areas except for the extreme southern Peninsula. The cold crept south on Sunday, November 17 with Melbourne recording a low of 39 and West Palm Beach, a low of 45. Field Crops Report The abundant rains during the week replenished topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies, especially over the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Topsoil and subsoil moisture is rated adequate to surplus over the Panhandle and mostly adequate over the Peninsula with pockets of short and very short supplies. Rainfall continued to reduce the quality and yield of cotton across the Panhandle with harvesting in some counties severely delayed. Peanut harvesting is at a standstill with only 97 percent of the crop dug, equal to last week. Last year, 99 percent of peanuts were dug by this date while the five-year average progress is also 99 percent dug. The recent rains lowered the quality and yield of some peanuts, too. Sugarcane harvesting was active between showers in the Everglades region. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 3 3 9 3 3 5 Short 25 25 24 22 25 26 Adequate 62 70 57 70 70 59 Surplus 10 2 10 5 2 10 Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern counties, the warm season pasture grass is almost gone and cool season forages are not developed enough to graze. Some ranchers began feeding supplemental hay. In the central areas, the conditions of pasture and cattle is mostly fair. In the southern areas, the pasture is in good condition due to good growing conditions. The cattle are 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 5 0 0 0 Fair 50 35 35 35 Good 40 65 60 65 Excellent 5 0 5 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Temperatures and moisture varied greatly this week. The first of the week was generally dry with only a few light scattered showers. The rains started Friday night and lasted until Sunday afternoon. Temperatures Saturday night and Sunday were only in the 60s and going lower Sunday night. The moisture was needed as these were just about the first significant rains of November. Most foliage on older trees has turned dark green. Some young trees are still showing a little new growth. Harvest of all early fruit is increasing rapidly as virtually all of the processors are open or plan to open this week. Many crops of Hamlins, Parson Browns and Ambersweet oranges have low acid levels and are going lower. Fresh fruit packers are busy shipping Navels and other early oranges, white and colored grapefruit, tangerines and tangelos for the Thanksgiving markets. Caretakers are busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops. Fresh fruit growers are still spraying a few crops for later shipments. Dead and dying trees are being pushed out and burned. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 3 Nov 10 Nov 17 Navel oranges 169,000 261,000 172,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 1,102,000 3,126,000 3,980,000 All grapefruit 693,000 856,000 542,000 Tangerines 221,000 312,000 208,000 Tangelos 25,000 39,000 76,000 Vegetable Report The harvesting of fall acreage expanded as growers try to meet the Thanksgiving Day demand. Rains delayed some picking, especially around Immokalee. Vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes and very light supplies of Chinese cabbage, endive, escarole, strawberries and watermelons. Strawberry growers around Plant City and Dover welcomed the cold temperatures at the end of the week to help fruit maturation. 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.