fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending March 21, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. March 22, 2004 Report Code FL-CW1204 Weather Summary Report Welcomed rain fell in most areas early in the week of March 14 through 20. Rainfall totaled from traces at Quincy, Tallahassee, Carrabelle, Immokalee and Homestead, to nearly five inches at Hastings and a little over four inches at Pierson. Several localities reported one to two inches of rain for the week while a few others recorded a quarter to a half inch. Temperatures for the week averaged from one to five degrees above normal. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s while nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Field Crops Report Producers are preparing land for cotton and peanut planting in Santa Rosa County. Tobacco transplanting is finished in Union County. Dry soils in a few Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities are preventing some planting. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are rated short to adequate in the Panhandle and in the northern and southern Peninsula. Central Peninsula soil moisture supplies are rated mostly adequate. Broward County reported very short topsoil moisture. Flagler County reported surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies while Osceola and Okeechobee counties reported adequate to surplus topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 1 5 0 0 4 Short 19 29 10 25 30 7 Adequate 77 68 70 72 65 75 Surplus 3 2 15 3 5 14 Vegetable Report Rainfall caused very few interruptions in planting and harvesting with most on schedule. Cabbage cutting around Hastings slowed until soils drained the abundant rain. Oldest potato fields in the Hastings area are starting to bloom with most digging to begin about mid-April. Oldest sweet corn plantings are starting to emerge in the Hastings area. Rain showers delayed some strawberry picking in the Plant City area with most on schedule. Other vegetables and non citrus fruit available include snap beans, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, escarole, endive, lettuce, potatoes, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes. Livestock Report In the Panhandle area, pasture condition is mostly good, with rain needed. In the northern counties, pasture condtion is mostly fair due to drought and cold. Pasture is greening up, but haying of livestock is still active.In the central area, pasture is mostly fair with some areas poor due to cold and short moisture. In the southwest area, range condtion is mostly fair with cattle in poor to excellent condtion. Statewide, the condition of the cattle is poor to excellent with most in fair condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 5 10 10 10 Fair 65 65 50 55 Good 30 20 35 30 Excellent 0 0 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Spring like, mild weather prevailed for another week in the citrus belt with daytime high temperatures in the mid 80s and lows only into the upper 40s on one morning. The only rainfall was associated with a cold front that passed through the State early in the week. Rainfall was variable. Some areas received over two inches and others less than one-half inch. The rainfall was welcome by growers at this critical bloom stage. Most growers are returning to frequent irrigation as trees are in all stages of bloom. Growers are reporting abundant new growth and full open bloom statewide. Lower interior areas are showing abundant petal drop while coastal and upper interior areas are in full, open bloom. Cultural practices 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, and Honey tangerines. 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 Mar 7 Mar 14 Mar 21 Navel oranges 6,000 4,000 2,000 Early and Mid oranges 1,634,000 1,135,000 146,000 Valencia oranges 2,403,000 4,292,000 6,684,000 Grapefruit 2,419,000 2,432,000 2,108,000 Early tangerines 1,000 2,000 0 Honey tangerines 170,000 166,000 177,000 Tangelos 1,000 0 0 Temples 157,000 140,000 52,000 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.