fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending May 16, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. May 17, 2004 Report Code FL-CW2004 Weather Summary Report Scattered showers occured in some but not all areas during the past week of May 9 through May 15. Rainfall totals for the week were mostly less than a quarter of an inch. Apopka, Live Oak, and Putnam Hall had over one half of an inch while Citra reported nearly an inch and a quarter. Temperatures at the major stations averaged from one degree below normal at Key West to two degrees above normal at Tampa and West Palm Beach. Daytime highs were in the 80s with one area reaching the 90s. Nighttime lows ranged from the 50s to the 70s. Field Crops Report Cotton and peanut planting continued at an active pace in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. In some areas, most of the peanuts are planted but fields are needing more rain to give the crops a good start. Most fields of corn were in good condition. Haymaking was active in many areas. Irrigated crop production is progressing well. Most areas report short to adequate soil moisture supplies while Davie reported very short topsoil moisture and Wauchula reported surplus moisture supplies. As a general rule, most areas could use more rain. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 5 10 21 4 10 11 Short 40 30 39 38 35 36 Adequate 49 59 40 52 54 53 Surplus 6 1 0 6 1 0 Vegetable Report Vegetable harvesting activites continued to prepare for the Memorial Day demand. Vegetables and non-citrus fruit available include snap beans, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupes, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, okra, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, tomatoes and watermelons. Livestock Report In the Panhandle and north areas, pastures are just now starting to respond to rain which fell the end of last week. Warm, dry, and windy conditions together with cool nights are keeping grass growth to a minimal. In the central counties, the condition of cattle varies from fair to good, with most in fair condi-tion. In the southwest, most of the cattle are in good condition, with a range of poor to good. Range condition varies from very poor to good, with most in good condition. Statewide, cattle are mostly in fair to good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 10 10 5 5 Fair 40 70 35 45 Good 45 20 60 50 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Dry and warm weather covered the citrus belt this week with daytime high temperatures reaching into the mid and upper 80s and lows into the mid 60s. No rainfall was recorded the entire week. Growers in all areas returned to frequent irrigation to maintain surface moisture levels. Cultural practices are continuing including fertilizations and hedging following harvest. Scouting for insect populations is active to protect fresh fruit crops. Several fresh fruit packinghouses have closed for the season as tangerine and grapefruit harvest nears completion. Other packinghouses continue to pack Valencia oranges for domestic and export. Processing plants are receiving and processing fruit with weekly volumes of grapefruit declining. Valencia orange harvest is at peak levels, near eight million boxes weekly. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 2 May 9 May 16 Navel oranges 3,000 2,000 1,000 Valencia oranges 8,982,000 7,813,000 8,378,000 Grapefruit 896,000 650,000 310,000 Honey tangerines 67,000 45,000 16,000 Temples 5,000 0 0 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.