fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending January 19, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. January 21, 2003 Report Code FL-CW0303 Weather Summary Cold conditions continued during the week of January 12 through 18. Temperatures averaged from five degrees below normal to ten below in the major cities. Lows varied from the 20s to the 50s with all northern, most central and a few southern Peninsula localities recording at least one low in the 20s. Highs were in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Most areas received only traces of rain for the week except from about a half inch to nearly an inch falling at Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. During the weekend of January 19 and 20, freezing temperatures dipped into the Everglades with some crop damage reported. Field Crops Report Dry weather lowered soil moisture especially in the northern Peninsula and some localities of the Panhandle. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are rated short to mostly adequate. Very short soil moisture supplies are reported for the southeastern Peninsula, while some surplus still exists in the northeastern Peninsula. Sugarcane harvesting continues in the Everglades region with some leaf damage to new plantings and the ratoon crop caused by the cold temperatures. Plants are expected to recover slowly. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 1 1 1 1 0 Short 19 4 27 9 4 37 Adequate 75 85 72 85 80 63 Surplus 5 10 0 5 15 0 Vegetable Report Freezing temperatures caused damage to some crops in the Everglades region with some minor supply shortages expected. Strawberry growers continued to run overhead sprinklers to form ice caps on plants as cold protection to save the plants and immature fruit during the colder nights. Vegetables available include snap beans, cabbage, celery, cilantro, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, miscellaneous herbs, parsley, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes, strawberries and very light supplies of carrots. Foliage and Floriculture: Producers of leatherleaf ferns, other cut greens and potted foliage in the Pierson and Apopka areas used sprinklers and heaters to help protect most plants from the recent cold temperatures with some loss expected. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, cold weather slowed growth of winter pastures for grazing. Hay supplies are adequate for the present. In the north, small grains for forage are doing satisfactorily with compacted soils limiting some root growth. In some locations the poor condition of pasture is due to drought. Some disease is present in the rye fields. In the central counties, the condition of pasture ranges from very poor to good with most in poor to fair condition due to the cold andfrost. In the south, range is poor to good with most range in good condition. Statewide, the condition of cattle and calves is mostly good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 30 15 5 5 Fair 20 35 35 20 Good 50 45 60 75 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: A large mass of arctic air covered Florida's citrus belt Friday through Sunday night. Temperatures flirted with the freezing mark in most central and southern areas of the State. Some of the coldest areas had readings below 32 degrees. However, temperatures did not go low enough long enough to do any significant damage to citrus trees or fruit. There was widespread frost on Sunday and Monday killing most of the grasses and ground covers. The cold weather will help hold most citrus trees in a semi-dormant condition and prevent any widespread immediate flushing of new growth. Virtually all of the fruit in the coldest pockets and low lands has already been harvested. Harvesting for processing is very active in all areas. Some processing plants are limiting deliveries so that they may have an orderly flow of fruit for the next several weeks. Fresh fruit packing houses are also limiting their deliveries so that they do not have fruit waiting to be moved. Shippers and packers are waiting for an increase in export movement. Caretakers are busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops for fire protection and prior to harvesting crews arrival. Dead trees are being pushed out and burned where burn permits can be obtained. Hedging and topping continue in harvested groves. A few growers in the southern and coastal counties are applying fertilizers. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 5 Jan 12 Jan 20 Navel oranges 113,000 166,000 130,000 Early & Mid oranges 8,114,000 8,220,000 8,331,000 Valencia oranges 0 1,000 2,000 All grapefruit 887,000 981,000 1,473,000 Early tangerines 28,000 8,000 3,000 Honey tangerines 108,000 147,000 122,000 Tangelos 226,000 275,000 217,000 Temples 23,000 44,000 66,000 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.