fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week Ending December 8, 2002 Released 4:00 P.M. December 9, 2002 Report Code FL-CW4902 Weather Summary Cool and mostly dry weather prevailed during the week of December 1 through 7. Most temperatures in the major cities averaged four to seven degrees below normal. West Palm Beach and Miami temperatures averaged normal to three degrees above, respectively. Daytime highs were mostly in the 60s and 70s. Nighttime lows ranged from the 30s to 60s. Hard freezes occurred in some Panhandle and northern Peninsula areas. Rainfall varied from none to about an inch for the week. On December 8 and 9, a cold front crossing the state and a disturbance over the southeastern and extreme southern coast brought more rain totaling from a tenth to over two inches. Most localities received some rain from these systems. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are mostly short to adequate with some very short supplies reported for the southeastern coastal counties. The mostly clearer, drier weather over the Panhandle and northern Peninsula enabled producers to pick some cotton as well as dig a few peanuts. Sugarcane harvesting in the Everglades is progressing normally. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 5 10 2 10 13 Short 39 20 40 28 25 32 Adequate 60 70 50 70 64 54 Surplus 0 5 0 0 1 1 Vegetable Report The cool and mostly dry weather in the major vegetable producing areas allowed field work to progress normally. Vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes and very light supplies of Chinese cabbage and watermelons. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, small grain winter forages are emerging. Some forage was set back by heavy frosts but should recover with warmer weather. Some early planted oats were damaged by a virus. Small grain plantings need rain to promote germination. In the north, the pasture condition is poor as the warm season grass is gone and the cool season forage is too young. Small grain growth is hindered by short soil moisture in some localities. In the central area, pasture and range are in poor to fair condition due to heavy frosts and drought. Rainfall is needed for proper growth of the winter small grain forage. In the south, pasture is in poor to good condition. Statewide, cattle are in mostly good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 20 10 5 0 Fair 45 45 20 25 Good 35 45 75 75 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Most of this week was mild with a fast moving cold front moving through the State Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Low temperatures on Thursday and Friday were in the 40s, however highs Saturday and Sunday were in the upper to mid 70s. There were a few thunderstorms associated with the cold front. Growers and caretakers are irrigating where needed. Most well-cared-for groves are in very good to excellent condition. There is very little new growth except on some young trees in the southern part of the citrus belt. Harvest of early and midseason fruit is very active in all areas. Fresh fruit packers are shipping Navels, other early oranges, white and colored grapefruit, tangelos and tangerines. Most processors are working long hours to move some of the lower acid and higher ratio fruit. Caretakers are very busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops for the winter season and for fire protection. Dead trees are being cut, pushed out and burned. Resets are still being planted in some of the warmer locations. Growers in the coldest pockets have fueled and placed heaters. A few resets have been dirt banked. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 24 Dec 1 Dec 8 Navel oranges 229,000 235,000 465,000 Early & Mid oranges including Ambersweet 6,002,000 5,894,000 7,637,000 All grapefruit 713,000 568,000 921,000 Tangerines 230,000 194,000 345,000 Tangelos 74,000 77,000 193,000 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.