fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending February 22, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. February 23, 2004 Report Code FL-CW0804 Weather Summary Report Cool and mostly dry weather let fieldwork progress at a normal pace during the week of February 15 through 21. Temperatures in the major cities averaged two to five degrees below normal for the week. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s with very few reports of at least one high in the 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 30s and 40s with only extreme southern Peninsula localities reporting lows averaging in the 50s. Rainfall totaled from none in several localities to about a third inch in Immokalee. Most rain totals were none to only traces for the week. On Sunday, February 22, temperatures warmed into the 80s along the Atlantic coast and some inland areas. Field Crops Report Sugarcane harvesting continues in the Everglades. Tobacco beds are in good condition in the northern Peninsula and Panhandle. Land preparation for peanut planting remains active. Most topsoil and subsoil moisture is rated short to mostly adequate. Some areas of surplus soil moisture exist in Madison and Brevard counties while spots of some very short supplies were reported for Broward and Union counties. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 1 4 1 1 9 Short 14 14 31 14 14 24 Adequate 81 80 63 82 83 66 Surplus 4 5 2 3 2 1 Vegetable Report The cool temperatures slowed some harvesting with most on schedule. Potato digging is active in southern Peninsula localities. Other vegetables and non citrus fruit available include snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, peppers, radishes, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. Livestock Report Pasture in the northern half of the State ranges from very poor to excellent with cold temperatures limiting some growth. In the Panhandle, cattle are in fair to good condtion and most pasture is in good condition. Some pasture renovation started. Permanent pasture grass is starting to regrow. Winter forage is coming on strong and clover looks good. In the north and Big Bend areas, cattle and pastures are in fair to good condition. Winter grazing is taking off following recent rain andwarmer days. In the central area, range and pasture condtion varies from very poor to good. In the southwest area, most of the range is in good condition with some locations poor to fair. Statewide, cattle are mostly in good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 4 5 0 0 Poor 10 15 5 10 Fair 40 45 25 40 Good 45 35 70 50 Excellent 1 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Wide ranging temperatures with lows in the 30s and highs in the 70s prevailed during the week as a dry cold front moved through mid-week. Most stations reported very little rainfall. Growers are reporting abundant feathery new growth and bloom buds beginning to show on oranges and grapefruit. Cultural practices in anticipation of bloom are beginning and include fertilizating and hedging following harvest. Most fresh fruit packinghouses are packing all available varieties with emphasis on the export of grapefruit. Varieties being packed include oranges (Pineapple and Valencia), white and colored grapefruit, Honey tangerines, and Temples. Processing plants are receiving and processing fruit on a continuous basis with weekly volumes of oranges declining as grapefruit amounts increase. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 8 Feb 15 Feb 22 Navel oranges 24,000 7,000 2,000 Early and Mid oranges 7,375,000 6,478,000 5,089,000 Valencia oranges 129,000 238,000 889,000 Grapefruit 1,569,000 1,838,000 2,207,000 Early tangerines 6,000 4,000 4,000 Honey tangerines 130,000 152,000 127,000 Tangelos 33,000 36,000 11,000 Temples 123,000 109,000 124,000 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.