fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 16, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. November 17, 2003 Report Code FL-CW4203 Weather Summary Report Warmer than normal weather continued during the week of November 9 through 15. Temperatures in the major cities averaged one to three degrees above normal with a cold front bringing near freezing temperature to Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities during the period. Daytime high temperatures averaged in the 80s and 70s. Nighttime lows averaged in 40s and 50s in the north with at least one report in the 30s at some locations. The southern Peninsula reported nighttime temperatures were in the 50s and 60s. Rainfall reports ranged from none to just over one half inch. The central Peninsula areas received the larger amounts with Apopka and Pierson reporting over one half inch. Field Crops Report Santa Rosa cotton harvest is about 90 percent finished. Cotton harvest is progressing rapidly in Washington County. Peanut harvest is nearly complete compared with 97 percent completed by this date last year and the five-year average of 99 percent. Sugarcane harvest is active in the Everglades area. Soil moisture is better this year than last year at this time. Statewide, topsoil moisture is rated mostly adequate. Peanut Progress Chart Percentage of Peanuts Harvested To Date This year 100% Last year 97% 5 - year average 99% Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 0 1 3 0 0 3 Short 20 4 25 14 5 22 Adequate 80 85 63 84 85 70 Surplus 0 10 9 2 10 5 Vegetable Report Producers are harvesting to help meet the Thanksgiving Day demand. Tomato picking is gaining momentum in the Palmetto-Ruskin, Immokalee and East Coast areas. Winter vegetables coming along nicely. Potato field preparation is in full swing in St. John's County. Planting of strawberries for the late crop in Hillsborough County. Other vegetables and fruit available including snap beans, cantaloups, sweet corn, cucumbers, pickles, eggplant, okra, peppers, squash, and watermelons. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, permanent pasture grass growth is seasonally done. Small grains of rye, oats, wheat, and ryegrass for winter graze are growing quickly and nicely. Small grain forages in some locations have severe damage from mole crickets. Some hay feeding is being done. In the north, the winter forage is looking good, but most is not yet ready for grazing. Perennial pasture grass growth is almost finished for the year. Pasture in the central area is mostly fair due to drought and cooler temperatures. In the southwest, range is in mostly good condition. Statewide, most of the cattle 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 0 0 0 Fair 35 20 35 15 Good 55 70 60 75 Excellent 5 10 5 10 Fruit Report Citrus: Virtually no rainfall occurred in the citrus producing areas of the state as a cold front moved through in the middle of the week. Only trace amounts occurred in interior areas. Most growers are irrigating in the sand hill groves to maintain surface moisture levels and to keep fruit growing. Warmer temperatures prevailed early in the week and then turned cooler as the front passed through on Thursday. Cover crop control and dead tree removal and replacement continues in some groves. Fruit growth is reported good and the majority of trees are in excellent condition. Natural color break is showing on all crops of early tangerines, early oranges, and grapefruit. Most fresh fruit packing houses are open. Varieties being packed include early oranges (Navels, Ambersweet, and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst tangerines, and Nova and Orlando tangelos. Several processing plants are receiving eliminations and others are opening as harvesting crews arrive for the winter. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 2 Nov 9 Nov 16 Navel oranges 158,000 154,000 189,000 Early and Mid oranges 1,356,000 2,531,000 4,338,000 Grapefruit 750,000 738,000 438,000 Tangerines 244,000 298,000 315,000 Tangelos 3,000 7,000 25,000 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.