fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending January 11, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. January 12, 2004 Report Code FL-CW0204 Weather Summary Report Warm temperatures during the first part of the week of January 4 through 10 plunged to below normal during the last half as an Arctic cold air mass covered the State. Temperatures averaged from one degree above to three degrees below normal in the major cities. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s with several localities recording at least one high in the 80s. Nighttime lows averaged in the 40s, 50s and 60s with several reports of at least one low in the 30s and 20s. Frosts and hard freezes hit the Panhandle, most northern Peninsula and some central Peninsula localities. Most areas received only traces of rain. Several Panhandle and central Peninsula localities recorded from about a quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain. The danger of wildfire is increasing in several Big Bend, northern Peninsula and southeastern Peninsula counties. Field Crops Report Sugarcane harvesting continues in the Everglades area. Rainfall replenished some soil moisture supplies but dry weather in most areas lowered supplies. Most soil moisture supplies are short to adequate. Very short soil moisture supplies were reported for spots in Columbia, Baker, St. John's, Lake and Broward counties. Surplus soil moisture was reported for a few areas of Seminole County. In higher elevations of Miami-Dade County, growers are running irrigation at 125 percent of normal or more. In low lying areas of Miami-Dade County, groundwater levels are still high enough that some areas are permanently wet. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 3 2 1 2 2 1 Short 32 38 4 28 33 4 Adequate 64 60 80 69 65 76 Surplus 1 0 15 1 0 19 Vegetable Report Strawberry producers in the Plant City area kept nighttime surveillance as temperatures plunged to near freezing levels during the latter part of the week with picking remaining active. Tomato harvesting is near the end in the Palmetto-Ruskin region, steady in the Immokalee-Naples area and increasing around Homestead. Potato planting is delayed in the Hastings region because of a lack of available contracts. Cabbage and broccoli harvesting around Hastings is active with good quality available. Other vegetables available include snap beans, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, peppers, radishes, squash, and tomatoes. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture and cattle are mostly in good condition. In the north and central areas, pasture is in fair condition. Most of the winter forage crops are at a standstill because of drought and cold temperatures. Pasture in the southwest is in fair to good condition. Statewide, range and pasture are mostly in fair condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 10 15 0 5 Fair 50 70 30 35 Good 35 14 69 59 Excellent 0 1 1 1 Fruit Report Citrus: More typical winter weather prevailed during the week. Virtually no rainfall occurred in citrus areas. Morning lows reached into the 30s on several mornings with daytime highs into the low 70s. Some growers returned to irrigation to maintain tree condition and encourage continued fruit growth. With the colder weather, trees are hardy and should withstand any later cold weather. Growers and packers report good natural color and excellent external appearance on tangerines, early oranges, and grapefruit. Most fresh fruit packinghouses returned to normal packing schedules with emphasis on the export of grapefruit increasing. Varieties being packed include early and midseason oranges (Navels, Hamlins, and Pineapple), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst and Honey tangerines, tangelos, and Temples. Processing plants are open to receive and process fruit on a continuous basis with volumes reaching peak levels. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 28 Jan 4 Jan 11 Navel oranges 78,000 57,000 47,000 Early and Mid oranges 5,502,000 8,854,000 9,536,000 Grapefruit 539,000 721,000 995,000 Early tangerines 131,000 95,000 59,000 Honey tangerines 29,000 78,000 149,000 Tangelos 26,000 26,000 46,000 Temples 4,000 21,000 51,000 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.