fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending July 04, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. July 06, 2004 Report Code FL-CW2404 Weather Summary Report Daily showers brought abundant rain to many localities during the week of June 27 through July 3. Rainfall ranged from no rain at Lake Alfred to over four inches at Tampa. Most major stations got over one to three inches of rainfall. Fort Lauderdale and Immokalee received less than a quarter inch of precipitation. Despite all of the rainfall temperatures remained average to two degrees above normal with Pensacola and Tallahassee three degrees below normal. Daytime highs were in the 90s in most locations. Most nighttime temperatures were in the high 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Tobacco harvesting is underway in the northern Peninsula and Panhandle area with contract delivery centers scheduled to open on August 3. Hay baling is active in drier localities. Excessive rain in some areas is preventing the timely application of pesticides to peanuts. The condition of peanuts is rated one percent poor, twenty- four percent fair, fifty percent good and twenty-five percent excellent. Abundant rains increased soil moisture in most localities but skipped some areas, leaving soils dry. Most Panhandle soil moisture is rated adequate to surplus while soil moisture in the Peninsula areas vary from short to adequate to surplus, depending on the amount of rain received. St. Lucie and Broward counties continue to report some spots with very short soil moisture. Percentage of Peanuts Harvested To Date This year 70% Last year 68% 5 - year average 57% Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 5 5 1 5 5 0 Short 15 30 5 20 15 5 Adequate 65 55 52 70 70 54 Surplus 15 10 42 5 10 41 Vegetable Report Most supplies are declining seasonally with hot temperatures and rainfall bringing most vegetable harvesting to an end. Okra harvesting continues in Dade County. The recent, abundant rains caused significant damage to the Quincy tomato crop. Vegetables and non-citrus fruit available include sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, grass growth is good due to ample moisture and warm weather. In the northern counties, the condition of the pasture is fair to good with pasture in the Big Bend area fair due to limited soil moisture. In the southwest, the condition of pasture ranges from poor to excellent with most pasture in good condition. Statewide, the condition of the cattle is mostly good. Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 30 25 25 25 Good 60 65 70 70 Excellent 5 5 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Contrasting weather patterns prevailed over the citrus areas of the state with generally hot, humid afternoons but varying amounts of rainfall. Thunderstorms developed over wide areas with some receiving heavy, violent storms and others only light rainfall. Most areas received some rainfall, up to 4.3 inches reported at one location. Even though reporting stations may report minimal amounts, areas nearby may receive more because of the widely scattered nature of these fast developing, sometimes intense storms. Some coastal stations reported less than an inch but areas just a few miles inland received much more. Growers in most areas report trees in good condition with a flush of new growth showing in groves that received rainfall. Cultural practices are continuing including fertilizations, hedging, mechanical and chemical weed control, and the resetting of young trees. Some summer sprays are being applied as rainfall permits. Most fresh fruit packinghouses are closed for the season. Valencia orange weekly harvest is declining with only two plants reported open. 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.