fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 23, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. November 24, 2003 Report Code FL-CW4303 Weather Summary Report Cooler temperatures were felt in most areas during the week of November 16 through 22. Temperatures averaged normal to five degrees above in the major cities. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50s and 60s with MacClenny and Brooksville recording at least one low in the 30s. Rainfall ranged from none at Tavares and Umatilla, to one and three quarters inch at Quincy. Most Peninsula localities reported a half inch or less of rain for the week. Field Crops Report Cotton harvesting in Santa Rosa County is over 90% complete with showers delaying some progress. Peanut digging is virtually done. Sugarcane harvesting remains active in the Everglades region. Rains in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula increased soil moisture with supplies rated mostly adequate. Light showers over the central and southern Peninsula maintained most soil moisture supplies at adequate levels. Only the southeastern coastal area and a few spots in the northern Peninsula reported very short to short soil moisture supplies. Some localities in Okaloosa, Seminole and Brevard counties reportedly have surplus topsoil moisture. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 0 1 1 0 1 Short 19 20 11 19 14 19 Adequate 79 80 78 79 84 71 Surplus 1 0 10 1 2 9 Vegetable Report Potato field preparation and planting are active in the Hastings area. Growers continued harvesting to help meet the holiday demand. Harvesting of leafy crops in the Everglades and central Peninsula areas is getting underway. Tomato picking around Quincy is nearly done while harvesting in central and southern Peninsula areas is increasing seasonally. Other vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, squash and watermelons. Livestock Report Statewide, pasture is in good condition with several locations hurt by drought. In the Panhandle and northern areas, winter forage crops are mostly planted with a few ranchers still sowing. Earlier planted small grain forage has received enough moisture to grow well, and some will be ready for grazing by Thanksgiving Day. Bahia grass is playing outseasonnally, though warm daytime temperatures are permitting some grass growth. Patchy frost is reducing grass growth. In the west central areas, pasture greened up following light rains. Southwest, the condition of most of the cattle and range is good. 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 5 5 0 Fair 25 35 15 35 Good 65 55 70 60 Excellent 5 5 10 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Very limited 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 most areas with up to one half inch reported by some stations. Most growers are irrigating in the sand hill groves to maintain surface moisture levels. Warmer temperatures prevailed early in the week and then turned cooler as the front passed through the State. Cover crop control ahead of harvest and dead tree removal and replacement continues. Fruit growth is reported good and the majority of trees are in excellent condition. Growers and packers report good natural color and excellent external appearance on 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. All processing plants are reported open and receiving eliminations and field run fruit. As more harvesting crews arrive, volume for processing is expected to increase. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 9 Nov 16 Nov 23 Navel oranges 180,000 189,000 264,000 Early and Mid oranges 2,856,000 4,338,000 5,340,000 Grapefruit 700,000 438,000 893,000 Tangerines 291,000 315,000 308,000 Tangelos 11,000 25,000 35,000 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.