fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending December 21, 2003 Released 4:00 P.M. December 22, 2003 Report Code FL-CW4603 Weather Summary Report Rain fell ahead of cold fronts crossing the State during the week of December 14 through December 20. Rainfall totaled from traces at Homestead and Jay to over three inches at Bradenton for the week. The cold fronts brought freezing temperatures to the Panhandle and most of the northern and central Peninsula. Temperatures averaged six to nine degrees below normal in the major cities. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s. Nighttime lows averaged in the 30s, 40s and 50s with several Panhandle and northern and central Peninsula localities recording at least one low in the 20s. Hard frosts and freezes hit many Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities, and some central Peninsula areas during the week. Light frost was reported for a few southern Peninsula localities. Field Crops Report Sugarcane harvesting remains active in the Everglades region. Widespread rainfall improved soil moisture supplies in most areas. Counties reporting short soil moisture supplies include Hamilton, Suwannee, Hillsborough and St. Lucie. Very short to short supplies were reported in Broward County. Counties reporting short to adequate supplies include Columbia, Union, St. John's, Highlands and Miami-Dade. Elsewhere, observers reported adequate soil moisture. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 10 1 1 5 1 Short 19 15 4 19 15 8 Adequate 75 74 56 79 79 55 Surplus 5 1 39 1 1 36 Vegetable Report Heavy rains slowed harvesting and lowered the quality of some central and southern Peninsula crops. Strawberry growers monitored temperatures closely during the colder nights with most berries escaping major damage. The colder temperatures brought fall crop okra harvesting to an end in Miami-Dade County as snap bean picking got underway. Celery cutting is getting underway in the Everglades area. Harvesting of cabbage is active in the Hastings area and in Lake County. Broccoli harvesting continues around Hastings. Most of the land for potatoes in the Hastings area is ready for planting. Other vegetables available include sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes. Livestock Report Small grain forage looks good in the Panhandle with some small grain grazing going on for two weeks. Many more producers will turn the cattle into the small grains in the next week. The permanent pasture is dormant until spring. In the northern areas, cool season forages are generally off to a good start. Forage growth is being held back by dry soil conditions in some locations. The feeding of livestock supplemen- tal hay is in full swing. In the central Peninsula, hard frosts and a lack of rainfall reduced green forage available for livestock. Winter pasture plantings are too young to graze due to late plantings and lack of moisture. In the south, pastures need rain. The pasture condtion was decreased due to a slight frost the morning of Dec 18th. 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 5 0 0 Poor 5 5 5 5 Fair 35 30 25 15 Good 55 60 70 75 Excellent 0 0 0 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Rainfall this week was widely scattered and heavy in some areas with very little in others in front of a strong cold front that passed through the State on Tuesday and Wednesday. Most reporting stations recorded under one inch with the exception of some in the lower interior which reported up to two inches. Other inland areas along the east coast reported up to five inches in localized areas. Temperatures were at or slightly below normal levels for this time of year with highs in the 60s and lows in the mid and low 30s several mornings. Some growers reported very short durations of temperatures in the upper 20s. There were some reports of scattered frost but no damage to leaves or fruit is reported. Most growers reduced irrigation to force trees into a semi-dormant condition. After several weeks of cold weather, trees are hardy and should withstand any colder weather later. Growers and packers report good natural color and excellent external appearance on 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 and Honey tangerines, and Orlando tangelos. All processing plants are reported open and receiving eliminations and field run fruit. As more harvesting crews arrive, the volume for processing is increasing. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 7 Dec 14 Dec 21 Navel oranges 546,000 411,000 189,000 Early and Mid oranges 7,901,000 8,596,000 8,280,000 Grapefruit 828,000 844,000 781,000 Early tangerines 304,000 306,000 276,000 Honey Tangerines 0 3,000 17,000 Tangelos 133,000 109,000 66,000 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. In cooperation with the Florida Cooperative Extension Service whose county directors participate in supplying field information.