fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending July 18, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. July 19, 2004 Report Code FL-CW2904 Weather Summary Report The week of July 11 through 17 was hot and wet in most parts of Florida. Only traces of rain fell in some central and southern Peninsula areas, but most localities received one to four inches. Precipitation totaled from under a tenth of an inch in Immokalee to over seven inches in Hastings. Temperatures in the major cities hovered within a degree of normal. Daytime highs averaged mostly from 90 to 95 degrees with most daily maximums in the low 90s. Nighttime temperatures were in the upper 60s and low 70s. Field Crops Report Abundant rainfall in most areas of the Panhandle boosted growth of cotton and peanuts. Cotton condition is mostly good in Jackson County. Statewide, peanut condition is rated one percent poor, nineteen percent fair, fifty percent good and thirty percent excellent. The percentage of peanut acreage pegged reached ninety percent versus eighty percent last year and the five-year average of eighty-one percent pegged. Tomato wilt virus caused some moderate to severe damage to crops in Jackson County. The rainy weather reduced the effectiveness of herbicides in some Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities resulting in some rampant weed growth in peanut fields. Most field work is on schedule despite the abundant showers. Tobacco harvesting is active. Soil moisture was replenished by rainfall in most areas of the northern and central Peninsula and the Panhandle. However, the rains missed some spots in the extreme western Panhandle and central Peninsula and in several southern Peninsula localities. Percentage of Peanuts Harvested To Date This year 90% Last year 84% 5 - year average 81% 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 10 15 19 20 25 5 Adequate 83 70 68 73 65 81 Surplus 2 10 12 2 5 14 Vegetable Report Northern Peninsula growers are still picking very light supplies of watermelons. Tomato harvesting is finished around Quincy. Dade County growers continue to harvest okra. Light supplies of sweet corn and potatoes are available. Most southern Peninsula growers are preparing fields for fall crop planting which is getting underway. Livestock Report In the Panhandle and central areas, pasture is in good to excellent condition following good rains and warm temperatures. In the Big Bend and southwest areas, grass growth is limited in some locations by low soil moisture. Statewide, the condition of the cattle varies from fair to excellent with most in good condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 10 5 0 0 Fair 5 20 15 20 Good 80 65 80 70 Excellent 5 10 5 10 Fruit Report Citrus: Changeable weather prevailed over the citrus areas of the state with hot, humid afternoons early in the week and moderate conditions by the end. High temperatures were in the low and mid 90s early in the week but moderated to only the upper 80s by the weekend. Thunderstorms developed over wide areas with some receiving heavy, violent storms and others only light rainfall. Most areas have not received even average rainfall amounts for the last three months. Many areas received some rainfall with the interior areas receiving more than coastal locations. 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. Cultural practices continue including fertilizations, hedging, mechanical and chemical weed control, and the resetting of young trees. Summer sprays are being applied to crops designated for fresh use as rainfall permits. Fresh fruit packing houses are closed for the season. Valencia orange harvest is complete with only fresh squeeze 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.