fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending June 1, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. June 2, 2003 Report Code FL-CW2203 Weather Summary Report Hot weather continued across the State, with highs mostly in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Low temperatures ranged from 55 degrees in Alachua to 67 degrees in some of the Central and Southern counties. Rainfall was extremely variable across the State. Stations around Fort Lauderdale, Homestead and Immokalee reported from 4 to 6 inches, filling drainage ditches. An inch or two was reported in some northern counties, and more would be welcomed. Many other localities around the State reported no rain at all. Field Crops Report Statewide, topsoil moisture decreased this week, but subsoil moisture remained about the same. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are adequate in most of the Panhandle counties, with good stands of peanuts and cotton reported. Some early planted cotton is beginning to square. Northern Peninsula counties reported short supplies of both topsoil and subsoil moisture. Short soil moisture supplies were also reported around Indian River and St. Lucie counties on the East Coast and in other Central counties. Soil moisture supplies are variable in South Florida, with some areas short and others surplus. Irrigated crops are doing well in North Florida. Potatoes are being dug in St. Johns County with movement slowing somewhat. Peanuts are 90% planted, compared to 75% last week and a 5- year average of 85%. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 7 1 23 5 2 13 Short 25 19 60 14 18 77 Adequate 66 70 17 79 70 10 Surplus 2 10 0 2 10 0 Vegetable Report Rains in some vegetable areas this week were helpful. Some growers are preparing fields for later crops. Vegetables available include cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes, and watermelons. Harvest continues to decline for snap beans, cabbage, celery and squash. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture condition is fair to excellent, and improved from the previous week by rain. Hay is being cut. In the north counties, pasture condition is fair to good. In the southwest counties, dry conditions weighed on pasture and cattle condition. Statewide, condition of the cattle is mostly good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 25 30 25 20 Good 60 55 70 70 Excellent 5 5 5 10 Fruit Report Citrus: Most areas of Florida's citrus belt received a soaking from two or more days of showers and thunderstorms. There were very few if any rains in the upper citrus growing counties. Some of the southern areas got so much moisture that caretakers had to close their gates due to the hazardous driving conditions. Following those rains, most groves on well drained soils looked very good. There was very little harvesting going on during the middle of the week when the tropical system slowly moved across south and south-central Florida. Picking crews got back into the trees as soon as the groves dried out. Valencia movement is slowing as supplies are running low in most areas. Several processors have closed for the season. Grapefruit harvest is all but over. Only a few Honey tangerines are remaining to be picked. Caretakers are very busy mowing, chopping and discing cover crops. Growers are removing vines before they get into the tops of trees and shade out the new crop fruit. Hedging and topping continue in all areas. Dead trees are being pushed out and burned. Some resets are being planted in the larger groves with permanent irrigation. Summer fertilizations and sprays are going on in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 18 May 26 Jun 1 Valencia oranges 5,926,000 5,609,000 4,198,000 All grapefruit 95,000 33,000 31,000 Honey tangerines 19,000 7,000 5,000 Comments/Contact Information To receive this report via e-mail, log onto http://www.usda.gov/nass/sso-rpts.htm Then click on “Subscribe” (upper right part of screen), then select “Florida Crop-Weather”, enter your name and your e-mail address, then click on “Subscribe”. The report will be sent automatically to your e-mail address each week.