fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending March 30, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. March 31, 2003 Report Code FL-CW1303 Weather Summary Report Storms crossed over mainly central Peninsula areas during the week of March 23 through 29. Rainfall ranged from less than a tenth inch at Marianna to over three and a half inches at Pierson. Temperatures in the major cities averaged normal to four degrees above. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 50s and 60s with several localities recording at least one low in the 40s. A cold front crossing the State on March 30 and 31 caused both high and low temperatures to fall well below normal with Crestview recording a low temperature of 28 and West Palm Beach, a low of 50 on Monday, March 31. Field Crops Report Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies remain mostly adequate. Some short soil moisture supplies exist in pockets of the southeastern Peninsula and in a few northern Peninsula localities. Some surplus moisture conditions are reported for the central Peninsula and the Big Bend area. Producers in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula continue to prepare land for planting. Sugarcane harvesting 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 1 1 2 0 1 2 Short 9 4 45 10 4 37 Adequate 80 80 53 80 80 61 Surplus 10 15 0 10 15 0 Vegetable Report Growers are currently assessing the recent cold temperature damage to tomatoes around Quincy. Okra harvesting is underway in Dade County with very light supplies available. Other vegetables available include cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, sweet corn, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, tomatoes and very light supplies of blueberries, eggplant, endive and escarole. Lettuce harvesting is virtually finished. Livestock Report The condition of pasture improved in all areas. In the Panhandle, the condition of the cattle and pasture are mostly good. However, the ground is quite wet. In the northern counties, pastures are greening up, but growth is slow as grasses recover from frost. Some low lying pastures were damaged by standing water. In the central area, warmer weather caused forages to green up. In the southwest, cattle are mostly in good condition and pasture is mostly in fair condition. Overall, the cattle in the State are in 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 15 0 10 Fair 40 55 40 65 Good 55 30 55 25 Excellent 0 0 5 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Most areas in Florida's citrus belt had at least two days or nights of scattered rains this week. Weak cold fronts moved up and down Florida's Peninsula during the week depositing varying amounts of very useful moisture. Most citrus groves are in very good to excellent condition as a result of the abundant rainfall during March. This year's bloom cycle is just about over. There are still a few groves that are lagging behind the majority of this state's citrus. Some of the older grapefruit, tangerine and tangelo trees are still in bloom and will have petal drop very soon. Harvest of Valencia oranges continues to increase in all areas for both fresh and processing. However, there are some Valencia groves with multiple bloom fruit that are not passing minimum maturity tests at this time. Several processors are now taking grapefruit packing house eliminations and field-run fruit. Tangelo harvest is just about over for this season. There are still some Honey tangerines and Temples going to the fresh trade and to the juice plants. Caretakers are very busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops. Postbloom nutritional spraying is very active in all areas. Hedging and topping continue in harvested groves. Dead, dying and diseased trees are being pushed out and burned where the groves are nonthrifty. Resets are being planted as many areas have adequate surface soil moisture. Growers are working on and cleaning their ditches and main canals for adequate water movement. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Mar 16 Mar 23 Mar 30 Navel oranges 4,000 1,000 2,000 Early & Mid oranges 77,000 131,000 2,000 Valencia oranges 4,413,000 5,642,000 6,677,000 All grapefruit 2,438,000 2,001,000 1,748,000 Honey tangerines 147,000 142,000 127,000 Tangelos 2,000 1,000 0 Temples 63,000 36,000 12,000 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.