fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending May 23, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. May 24, 2004 Report Code FL-CW2104 Weather Summary Report Mostly dry, sunny days with a few scattered showers occured in most areas during the past week of May 16 through May 22. Most rainfall totals for the week were less than a quarter of an inch. Exceptions were in Marianna, Key West, Tallahassee, and West Palm Beach were almost three quarters of an inch were reported. Temperatures at the major stations averaged from 3 degrees below at Key West to two degrees above at Jacksonville and Tampa. Daytime highs were in the 80s and 90s. Nighttime lows ranged from the upper 50s, 60s to 70s. Field Crops Report Cotton and peanut planting continued in the Panhandle and Northern Peninsula with some areas nearing completion. Growers report 60 percent of the peanuts planted compared to 40 percent last week and 68 for last year and the five year average. “Green peanuts” will continue to be planted later through the season. Rain is needed in most fields to help the crops get a good start. Haymaking remains active in many areas. Tobacco transplanting is underway. Most fields of corn could use some rain to maintain good condition. Soil moisture supplies vary by area with reports ranging from very short to adaquate. Most areas report a need for more rain. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 13 5 8 10 4 6 Short 50 40 24 50 38 23 Adequate 37 49 61 40 52 64 Surplus 0 6 7 0 6 7 Vegetable Report Vegetable harvesting activities continued at the normal pre-Memorial Day pace. 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, pasture condition improved following rains of a week ago. The condition of the cattle is mostly good. Mole crickets are evident. In the northeast counties, cattle are in fair condition. Drought is hurting the pasture, most of which is in fair condition. Pond water levels continue to go down. Mole cricket damage is in pastures and hayfields. Pastures are startingto green up and grow so cattle are looking better. In central Florida, pasture and cattle are in fair to good condition. In major cattle areas of the southwest, cattle and pasture are in very poor to good condition, with most in good condition. The low condition of the pasture is due to drought. Statewide, condition of cattle and calves is mostly fair. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 5 1 0 Poor 15 10 4 5 Fair 45 40 40 35 Good 35 45 50 60 Excellent 0 0 5 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Dry weather prevailed this week in the citrus belt with daytime high temperatures reaching into the 90s in most areas several days. Growers in all areas report needing rain as soil moisture levels have declined dramatically. Several stations reported some rainfall with the east coast recording up to one quarter inch in several locations. Irrigation is being used extensively to maintain soil moisture levels in this important fruit set period. Cultural practices are continuing including fertilizations, hedging following harvest, and resetting of young trees. Many fresh fruit packinghouses are closed for the season but several continue packing Valencia oranges and decreasing amounts of colored grapefruit and Honey tangerines. Processing plants are receiving and processing fruit with weekly volumes of grapefruit declining. Valencia orange harvest continues at peak levels, near eight million boxes weekly. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 9 May 16 May 23 Navel oranges 3,000 1,000 1,000 Valencia oranges 8,269,000 8,378,000 7,887,000 Grapefruit 525,000 310,000 265,000 Honey tangerines 43,000 16,000 1,000 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.