fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending March 7, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. March 8, 2004 Report Code FL-CW1004 Weather Summary Report Virtually no rain fell during the week of February 29 through March 6 except for a quarter inch or less over some Panhandle and southeastern Peninsula localities. Temperatures in the major cities averaged from four to nine degrees above normal. Daytime highs averaged in the 70s and 80s while nighttime lows averaged in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Nearly all localities recorded at least one low in the 40s except for some southern Peninsula areas. Tallahassee, Live Oak, Marianna, MacClenny and Quincy reported at least one low in the 30s. Field Crops Report Dry conditions allowed field preparations and planting to resume in the northern Peninsula and Panhandle areas. Corn planting is active in Jackson County. Most soils dried during the week. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are mostly adequate over the central and southern Peninsula with short supplies reported for a few spots in Charlotte and Dade counties, and surplus in a few areas of Hendry, Marion, St. John's and Osceola counties. Broward County reported very short to short soil moisture. Northern Peninsula soil moisture is rated short to mostly adequate while soil moisture over the Panhandle is mostly adequate to surplus. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 0 10 0 0 9 Short 4 2 31 5 3 28 Adequate 80 68 42 80 72 58 Surplus 15 30 17 15 25 5 Vegetable Report Planting and harvesting returned to a normal pace. Warmer temperatures brought out the blooms on ornamental and non citrus fruit trees in Columbia County. Most potato planting is finished in the Hastings area. Cabbage cutting around Hastings and other areas, and potato digging in southern areas are increasing as growers begin to meet the mid-March holiday demand. Other vegetables and non citrus fruit available include snap beans, celery, sweet corn, peppers, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. Light supplies of eggplant, endive, escarole and lettuce are also available. Cucumber supplies are increasing seasonally while radishes are decreasing. Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern areas, clover is beginning to head out. Permanent grasses are returning where it is not being grazed. Cool season forage is fair due to recent cold weather. Winter weeds are growing rapidly in pastures. In the southwest, cattle condition is mostly fair with most in good condtion. 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 0 0 0 Poor 10 15 5 10 Fair 50 60 35 35 Good 35 25 55 50 Excellent 0 0 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Cloudy and mild weather dominated the citrus belt this week with daytime high temperatures in the middle to upper 80s and lows only into the upper 50s. All reporting stations reported no rainfall for the week. Growers are reporting feathery new growth and abundant bloom buds on oranges and grapefruit. Lower interior areas are showing full, open bloom on oranges and grapefruit while coastal and upper interior areas are lagging in open bloom. Cultural practices in anticipation of bloom are continuing including fertilizations and hedging following harvest. Most fresh fruit packinghouses are packing all available varieties with emphasis on export grapefruit. Varieties being packed include Valencia oranges, white and colored grapefruit, Honey tangerines and Temples. Processing plants are receiving and processing fruit with weekly volumes of early-mid oranges declining as grapefruit and Valencia orange amounts increase. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Feb 22 Feb 29 Mar 7 Navel oranges 6,000 1,000 6,000 Early and Mid oranges 4,915,000 3,641,000 1,897,000 Valencia oranges 700,000 1,404,000 1,802,000 Grapefruit 2,291,000 1,939,000 2,070,000 Early tangerines 2,000 0 2,000 Honey tangerines 154,000 169,000 153,000 Tangelos 16,000 13,000 3,000 Temples 130,000 102,000 147,000 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.