fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending July 25, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. July 26, 2004 Report Code FL-CW3004 Weather Summary Report Scattered rains continued during the week of July 18 through 24. Daily high temperatures were mostly in the upper 80s and lower 90s with a few cities reporting in the upper 90s. Most low temperatures were in the high 60s and low 70s. Average temperatures were normal in some of the major stations while Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach were one to two degrees below normal. Tampa received more than seven and a half inches of rain whereas other stations reported having less than a tenth of an inch to over four inches. Some Peninsula and a few Panhandle localities recorded no measurable rain for the week. Field Crops Report The scattered rains left some areas dry in the Panhandle and Peninsula. Dryer conditions in Jefferson County allowed producers to make progress on cutting hay. Soil moisture conditions improved in drier areas of the central and northern Peninsula. Peanuts are in mostly good to excellent condition with some tomato wilt virus showing up in Jackson County. Peanuts are 93% pegged compared with 89 percent last year and the five-year average of 86 percent. Peanut condition is rated 20% fair, 50% good, and 30% excellent. Some parts of the Panhandle are reporting worm pressure in cotton. Percentage of Peanuts Pegged To Date This year 93% Last year 89% 5 - year average 86% Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 5 1 1 5 0 Short 19 10 8 19 20 5 Adequate 60 83 69 70 73 80 Surplus 20 2 22 10 2 15 Vegetable Report Field preparation for fall crop planting remains active. Okra harvesting continues in Dade County. Harvesting of vegetables for local markets is active. Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern areas, pasture and cattle are in fair to excellent condition. Pasture is mostly in good shape with good growth following timely showers. In the central areas, cattle are in good condition and pasture is in excellent condition. High heat and plenty of moisture have pasture growing really well. In the southwest, pasture condition varies from fair to excellent, depending on recent rainfall. Some areas received good rainfall while other areas are far below normal. Statewide, most cattle are 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 0 10 0 0 Fair 25 5 20 15 Good 50 80 70 80 Excellent 25 5 10 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Variable weather continued over the citrus areas of the state with hot, humid afternoons. High temperatures were in the low and mid 90s all week. Thunderstorms developed over wide areas with some receiving heavy, violent storms and others only light rainfall. Most areas are deficient in rainfall amounts for the last three months. Many areas received some rainfall with the west coast areas receiving heavy amounts from a slow moving storm system early in the week. 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. East coast stations reported less than an inch but areas just a few miles inland received 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 resetting of young trees. Summer sprays are being applied to crops designated for fresh use as rainfall permits. 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.