fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending July 20, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. July 21, 2003 Report Code FL-CW2903 Weather Summary Report Scattered rains continued during the week of July 13 through 21. Rain totaled from traces in the southeastern Peninsula and some Panhandle and Big Bend localities to nearly four inches at Daytona Beach. Temperatures in the major cities averaged mostly one to three degrees below normal except for some localities in the southeastern Peninsula whose temperatures were normal to one degree above. Daytime highs were in the 80s and 90s. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 70s. Field Crops Report Peanuts are in mostly good to excellent condition. Excessive rains over some Jackson County peanut fields caused spotty pegging. Statewide, peanuts are 85 percent pegged compared with 86 percent pegged by this date last year and the five-year average of 79 percent pegged. Wet spots in some Okaloosa County peanut and cotton fields still lag behind normal growth and development with most in very good condition. Washington County cotton is in very good condition except for low lying areas that are retaining moisture. Pressure from armyworms is increasing in some Washington County hay fields. Scattered afternoon showers continued in Union County with the baling of some second hay cuttings delayed. Union County tobacco harvest is about 70% finished. Corn silage harvesting continued in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are mostly adequate in the Panhandle except for some short supplies in those areas skipped by the recent rainfall. Northern Peninsula soil moisture is short to adequate depending on the recent rainfall. Central and southern Peninsula soil moisture is rated mostly adequate to surplus with very short to short supplies reported for the southeastern coast. 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 0 0 2 Short 19 19 11 5 5 13 Adequate 65 75 34 80 85 31 Surplus 15 5 54 15 10 54 Vegetable Report Tomato harvesting is finished around Quincy. Some Union County growers are selling southern peas and butterbeans at the local Farmer's Market. Dade County growers continue to harvest okra. Field preparation for fall crop planting remains active. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, some Bermuda hay fields have quite a bit of armyworm pressure. In the central and southern areas, afternoon rains are delaying the second cutting of hay. Excess moisture in Osceola County is reducing forage quality, and insect pests are a challenge to livestock. Stock ponds' water levels are near normal, finally. Statewide, the condition of cattle is mostly good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 10 5 15 5 Good 75 85 75 90 Excellent 15 10 10 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Typical summer weather continues with hot and humid conditions and limited, widely scattered rainfall. Thunderstorms were heavy in some areas with a severe lightening storm in the northern and central areas on Friday. Storms were widely scattered with some areas receiving up to three or four inches from one storm and other areas receiving nothing. West Coast and interior areas received more rain than the East Coast. Growers and caretakers continue with summer cultural practices including cover crop control, summer spraying for mites and insects, and dead tree removal. Replanting continues in all areas. 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.