fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending February 2, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. February 3, 2003 Report Code FL-CW0503 Weather Summary Report Cool, dry conditions persisted during the week of January 26 through February 1. Temperatures in the major cities averaged from one to three degrees below normal. Daytime highs were mostly in the 60s while most nighttime lows varied from the 30s to the 50s with most Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities recording at least one low in the 20s. Marianna recorded almost a quarter inch of rain for the week while Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jay, Quincy and West Palm Beach reported traces. Most other localities received no measurable rain for the week Field Crops Report Dry, windy weather continues to lower soil moisture supplies which are rated short to adequate. Very short supplies are reported for the Panhandle and the southeastern coast. Producers in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula are beginning to prepare land for spring crop planting. Pine tree planting is active in northern areas. Sugarcane harvesting continues in the Everglades with very little cold damage noticed for the crop being cut. However, the recent cold damaged some foliage on new plantings and the ratoon crop with plants expected to recover. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 1 0 0 2 0 Short 54 29 44 35 13 43 Adequate 45 69 56 65 84 57 Surplus 0 1 0 0 1 0 Vegetable Report Cool temperatures continued to slow crop development with the recent cold weather lowering the amount harvested of the more tender vegetables. Vegetables available include snap beans, cabbage, celery, cilantro, sweet corn, eggplant, miscellaneous herbs, parsley, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes, and lighter supplies of carrots, cucumbers, endive, escarole, lettuce and strawberries. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, unusually cold weather and drought continues to slow growth of small grain forage. Hay and protein supplementation is necessary to maintain cattle condition. Dusty and windy conditions, along with fluctuating temperatures, are causing respiratory problems in cattle. In the north, the pasture condition is very poor to poor due to cold, disease and low rainfall. In central Florida, the pasture is in poor to fair condition due to cold, frost and drought. In the south, the pasture condition is poor due to drought and cold. Statewide, cattle and calves are mostly in fair condition Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 15 10 0 0 Poor 45 45 10 10 Fair 40 35 70 50 Good 0 10 20 40 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: This was a very nice and mild week in Florida's citrus belt. Nighttime temperatures were in the upper 40s and lower 50s with 60s for daytime highs. Due to the freezing temperatures on January 24, many growers have been running their irrigation equipment to help minimize the effects of the low temperatures. New growth has started to pop out in the form of pin head bloom buds in a lot the terminal leaf axles. Daytime temperatures in the 70s will help to develop this new growth, which is very normal following cold weather. Harvest of early and midseason oranges is slowing in some areas as supplies are running low. Valencia movement is increasing as more of these late season fruit pass minimum maturity tests. Processors are limiting deliveries from the field so that they may distribute the remaining supplies of the early and midseason fruit. Fresh fruit packing houses are slowing down due to the slow retail demand. Some varieties have glutted the markets following the cold weather. Fresh shipments of both white and colored grapefruit are active in virtually all of the east coast packing houses. Harvest of Temples is increasing for both fresh and processing. Caretakers are very busy cutting cover crops for fire protection and prior to harvesting. Dead trees are being removed and burned when permits can be obtained. Hedging and topping continues in harvested groves in all areas. Growers are fertilizing to help promote new growth and bloom buds. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 20 Jan 26 Feb 2 Navel oranges 130,000 121,000 100,000 Early & Mid oranges 8,331,000 6,458,000 7,086,000 Valencia oranges 2,000 10,000 65,000 All grapefruit 1,473,000 1,293,000 1,357,000 Early tangerines 3,000 2,000 6,000 Honey tangerines 122,000 101,000 125,000 Tangelos 217,000 142,000 87,000 Temples 66,000 88,000 125,000 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.