fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 7, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. November 8, 2004 Report Code FL-CW4504 Weather Summary Report Several parts of the western Panhandle, a few eastern Panhandle localities and a few spots along the extreme southeastern coast received significant rains during the week of November 1 through 7. Most rainfall, elsewhere, totaled from none to less than a third inch. Precipitation for the week ranged from one to nearly three inches where heavier rains fell. Temperatures in the major cities averaged from two to seven degrees above normal. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Most nighttime lows were in the 50s and 60s with several northern and central Peninsula, and some Panhandle areas reporting at least one low in the 40s. Quincy recorded at least one low in the upper 30s. Field Crops Report Peanut harvest is 96 percent complete compared with 99 percent completed by this date last year and the five-year average of 98 percent. Favorable weather conditions in Madison County allowed peanut and cotton picking to be completed. Cooler temperatures early in the morning slowed hay baling in central Peninsula localities. Topsoil and subsoil moisture over most of the State is rated short to adequate. Spots in Broward County remain very short on soil moisture supplies. Soil moisture remained surplus in some areas of Polk, Volusia and Union counties. Percentage of Peanuts Harvested To Date This year 96% Last year 99% 5 - year average 98% Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 0 1 0 0 1 Short 23 20 7 17 5 7 Adequate 75 70 84 62 80 83 Surplus 1 10 8 21 15 9 Vegetable Report Clear weather allowed central and southern Peninsula producers to advance field work and harvesting. Cold temperatures around Quincy did not last long enough to significantly affect tomatoes; however, tomato picking slowed seasonally as central and southern growers began picking. Other vegetables marketed included snap beans, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, pickles, squash, sweet corn and watermelons with supplies significantly below normal. Livestock Report Cool temperatures are slowing warm season grass production for hay and grazing. Armyworms are still very active. In the Panhandle, small grain planting for winter grazing con-tinues. Cooler weather is having positive impact on milk production. Armyworms are very active. In the northern counties, cattle, calves and pasture are in good condition. In the central areas, range is in poor to good condition, with some locations still hurt by excess soil moisture. Cattle are in fair to good condition. In the Southwest, the condition of cattle and range was fair to good. Statewide, the condition of cattle was fair to excellent, with most in fair condition. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 25 15 0 5 Fair 40 45 55 50 Good 30 39 40 40 Excellent 5 1 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Conditions were hot and dry in the citrus producing areas during most of the week. A record high temperature was reported in Immokalee in the middle of the week, and near record highs were reported in three other stations across the state. For the second week in a row, little to no rain has been the case in all citrus areas. The west coast station reported the most rainfall, accumulating to less than half of an inch for the week. The lack of rain is continuing to cause drying in both the trees and surface soils. Growers are beginning to irrigate to compensate for the lack of precipitation and warm weather over the past few weeks. Limited mowing, chopping and discing of cover crops is going on. Some fall fertilizing, spraying, and herbiciding is also taking place. Fruit growth and maturity appears to be behind normal, with color break showing on all crops of early tangerines, early oranges, some mids, and grapefruit. Still only about half of the fresh fruit packing houses are open with only about three processing plants running. Varieties being packed include early oranges (Navels, Ambersweet, and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Fallglo tangerines and small amounts of Sunburst tangerines. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 24 Oct 31 Nov 7 In thousands of 1 3/5 bu. boxes Early & Mid oranges 88 97 122 Navel oranges 69 80 90 Grapefruit 122 163 293 Tangerines 118 103 137 Tangelos 0 2 3 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.