fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 28, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. November 29, 2004 Report Code FL-CW4804 Weather Summary Report Cold fronts sweeping the State during the week of November 22 through 28 brought rainy weather to many localities, statewide, and caused temperatures to dip to near freezing in several northern Peninsula and Panhandle areas. Rainfall totaled from traces in several central Peninsula and a few southern Peninsula localities to three inches or more in Jay, Pensacola, Providence in Union County and some areas of Baker County. Elsewhere, precipitation totaled from one half inch to two and a half inches. Temperatures averaged one to five degrees above normal in the major cities. Most daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s while most nighttime lows were in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Several Panhandle and northern Peninsula locations recorded at least one low in the 30s. Field Crops Report Cotton and soybean harvesting is nearing the end in Jackson County. Sugarcane harvesting is active in the Everglades region. Peanut digging is virtually done. Rains during the week replenished soil moisture supplies in many localities. However, short soil moisture supplies still remain in a few spots of Suwannee, Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Brevard, Okeechobee, Broward and Dade counties. Surplus moisture supplies also were reported for parts of Jackson, Baker, Union, Marion, Hernando, Brevard and Okeechobee counties. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 0 1 1 0 0 1 Short 15 24 23 15 18 15 Adequate 75 72 75 70 70 83 Surplus 10 3 1 15 12 1 Vegetable Report Harvesting continued to increase although most growers paused for the Thanksgiving Day observance. Vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes. Strawberry supplies are very light with picking to gain momentum over the next two weeks. Celery, endive and escarole harvesting is expected to begin around early December. Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern areas, most of the pasture is in good condition. Grass growth is slow due to low nighttime temperatures. In the central areas, the condition of cattle and range is fair to good. In the southwest, the condition of the range is mostly good. Statewide, the condition of cattle is fair to good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 30 20 10 5 Fair 35 35 40 40 Good 35 44 45 54 Excellent 0 1 5 1 Fruit Report Citrus: Primarily the temperatures in the citrus producing areas were warm for the week, with cooler weather on Friday, where most stations reported morning lows in the high 40s and low 50s. Rain was scattered across the State with the west coast station reporting the most rain at almost an inch and a half and the least amount being reported on the east coast at two tenths of an inch. Color continues to improve on early tangerines, early and midseason oranges, and grapefruit. Hedging, topping and mowing is common practice in some areas. Growers are continuing to fertilize in order to see maximum growth and leaf production. Irrigation practices on surface roots and ground is occurring in dry areas. About half of the fresh fruit packing houses are open with a half dozen processing plants also running. Field run early oranges are being received at processing plants. Varieties being packed include early oranges (Navels and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Fallglo and Sunburst tangerines and increasing amounts of tangelos. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 14 Nov 21 Nov 28 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Early & Mid oranges 160 1,180 1,784 Navel oranges 101 122 103 Grapefruit 312 332 246 Tangerines 201 221 138 Tangelos 9 59 39 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.