fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending January 18, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. January 20, 2004 Report Code FL-CW0304 Weather Summary Report Cool temperatures continued during the week of January 11 through 17. Temperatures averaged normal to four degrees below in the major cities. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s with Palmdale recording at least one high in the 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Several Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities recorded at least one low in the 20s. No rain fell in most areas. Some central Peninsula and a few western Panhandle localities recorded traces to slightly over an inch of rain for the week. Storms on Sunday and Monday, January 18 and 19 brought traces to over an inch to most Panhandle and Big Bend areas, and to some central and southern Peninsula localities. Field Crops Report Sugarcane harvesting is active in the Everglades region. Topsoil and subsoil moisture is rated adequate in most areas of the Panhandle with recent rains replenishing supplies. Elsewhere, soil moisture is short to adequate with very short moisture in scattered spots of Union, Volusia, Hillsborough, Highlands and Broward counties. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 10 3 1 8 2 1 Short 25 32 17 22 28 8 Adequate 65 64 76 70 69 85 Surplus 0 1 6 0 1 6 Vegetable Report Mostly dry conditions allowed planting and harvesting to proceed at a normal pace. Planting of table type potatoes around Hastings is active, but a lack of contracts for chipping type potatoes is limiting processing type acreage. Vegetables and noncitrus fruits available include snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, peppers, radishes, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. Livestock Report Pasture condition Statewide is mostly fair. In the Panhandle and northern areas, pasture condition is fair. Short soil moisture and cold temperatures are slowing cool season forage growth. In the central area, small grain forage growth is not normal this season because of warm weather before Christmas coupled with lack of rainfall. In the south, small grain pastures are not producing as expected due to lack of moisture. Statewide, most cattle are in fair to good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 10 5 1 0 Poor 20 10 9 0 Fair 50 50 45 30 Good 20 35 45 69 Excellent 0 0 0 1 Fruit Report Citrus: Typical winter weather prevailed during the week with cool nights and moderately cool days early in the week. On the weekend, a cold front passed slowly through the State bringing varying amounts of rainfall to almost all citrus areas. Temperatures were in the mid to high 30s in some locations on several mornings with daytime highs in the 60s and 70s. Rainfall through the weekend totaled up to 1.80 inches in some locations with most receiving over one-half inch. Some growers have 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. Some growers are starting to fertilize groves in anticipation of springtime new growth emerging. Growers and packers report good natural color and excellent external appearance on tangerines, early oranges, and grapefruit. Most fresh fruit packinghouses are packing all available varieties with emphasis on 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 Jan 4 Jan 11 Jan 18 Navel oranges 84,000 47,000 43,000 Early and Mid oranges 9,147,000 9,533,000 7,651,000 Valencia oranges 1,000 3,000 15,000 Grapefruit 944,000 996,000 1,360,000 Early tangerines 98,000 59,000 27,000 Honey tangerines 92,000 149,000 152,000 Tangelos 33,000 46,000 46,000 Temples 24,000 51,000 54,000 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.