fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending December 14, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. December 15, 2003 Report Code FL-CW4503 Weather Summary Report Cool, dry conditions continued during most of the week of December 7 through 13, except for heavy rains over the Panhandle at the end of the week. Temperatures for the week averaged from four degrees below normal to six degrees above in the major cities. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s. Nighttime lows were in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Several Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities recorded at least one low in the 20s. Rainfall for the week totaled from none in most Peninsula areas to a little over three inches in Jay. Pensacola reported two inches falling during the week. The passage of a cold front over the Peninsula on Sunday, December 14 brought from about one- third to over three inches of rain to most areas. Field Crops Report Panhandle growers are finishing the cotton harvest with most acreage already picked. Sugarcane harvesting continues in the Everglades area. Rainfall over many Panhandle areas improved soil moisture with most supplies rated adequate. Some Big Bend and a few localities of the central and southern Peninsula reported very short to short moisture supplies. Elsewhere, soil moisture is rated mostly adequate. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 10 10 0 5 8 1 Short 15 20 10 15 17 7 Adequate 74 69 60 79 74 58 Surplus 1 1 30 1 1 34 Vegetable Report Northern growers are preparing land for spring crop watermelons. Harvesting in the central and southern Peninsula is very active as producers satisfy the holiday demands. Strawberry picking in the Plant City-Dover area is gaining momentum. The cutting of cabbage and other leafy crops is in full swing around Hastings. Cole crops in Madison County are in good condition. Harvesting of fall crop okra is nearing the end. Other vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes. Heavy rains in some central and southern Peninsula localities on Sunday, December 14 lowered the quality of some of the more tender crops. Livestock Report Warm season, permanent pasture production in most of the northern half of the State has ended dueto heavy frost. Cool season forages are almost ready for cattle to graze. Winter pasture planting is nearly complete, with rain needed. However, some scattered showers are causing haying delay. Pastures not yet touched by heavy frost still retain some forage for cattle and horses. Statewide, the 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 2 0 0 Poor 5 8 5 5 Fair 30 35 15 30 Good 60 50 75 60 Excellent 0 5 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Rainfall this week occurred in all citrus areas in conjunction with a cold front that moved through the State late in the week. Most reporting stations recorded over one inch while some coastal areas recorded over three. Temperatures were near normal levels for this time of year with highs in the 60s and lows in the mid 40s on several mornings. Most growers have reduced irrigation to force trees into a semi-dormant condition. Cover crop control ahead of harvest and dead tree removal and replacement continue. 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 and packing for fund raising groups. Varieties being packed include early and midseason oranges (Navels, Hamlins, and Pineapple), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst tangerines, 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 increasing. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 30 Dec 7 Dec 14 Navel oranges 290,000 483,000 411,000 Early and Mid oranges 6,702,000 7,527,000 8,596,000 Grapefruit 639,000 758,000 844,000 Tangerines 231,000 291,000 306,000 Tangelos 59,000 124,000 109,000 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.