fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 29, 2004 Released 4:00 P.M. December 6, 2004 Report Code FL-CW4904 Weather Summary Report Most areas experienced drier, cooler weather during the week of November 29 through December 5. Although Jay and West Palm Beach recorded nearly an inch of rain for the week, virtually all other areas reported from none to only traces falling. Temperatures in the major cities averaged from four degrees below normal in Tallahassee to one degree above in Miami and West Palm Beach. Most daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s with Miami averaging daily highs in the 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50s and 60s with Tallahassee averaging daily lows in the 30s. Hastings, Jay, Citra and Alachua also recorded at least one low in the 30s. Field Crops Report Sugarcane harvesting in the Everglades is progressing normally. Picking of most cotton acreage is finished in the Panhandle. Gadsden County growers continue to harvest soybeans. Pecans that are being harvested in Jefferson County do not look as good as the earlier crop, since most pecan trees were damaged by past tropical storms. Mostly dry conditions across the State lowered soil moisture supplies. Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle as well as areas throughout the northern and central Peninsula is mostly adequate with some areas reporting short supplies. Soil moisture in the southern Peninsula is mostly short to adequate with scattered pockets of very short moisture supplies. Jackson County reported surplus soil moisture supplies. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 15 0 7 13 0 6 Short 20 15 21 13 15 16 Adequate 52 75 71 60 70 77 Surplus 13 10 1 14 15 1 Vegetable Report Clear weather allowed growers to keep planting and harvesting on schedule. Harvesting of Romaine lettuce, endive and escarole is underway. Strawberry picking is slowly increasing. Other vegetables available include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes. Livestock Report In the Panhandle and northern areas, cool season range is doing well as warm season pasture declines. Small grains and rye grass are approaching grazing height. Bahia pasture is short and in poor condition. Some planting of small grains for foragecontinues. Recent rainfall in the Big Bend area was good for forage. In the central and southwest areas, the condition of cattle is fair to excellent, with most in fair condition. Range condition is poor to good, with most in fair condition due to drought. Statewide, the condition of cattle is mostly fair. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 15 30 0 10 Fair 40 35 45 40 Good 45 35 40 45 Excellent 0 0 15 5 Fruit Report Citrus: All stations in the citrus producing areas reported average temperatures for the week with the coolest weather on Saturday morning, where low readings were in the mid 40s in all areas. Rain was very light across the State with only the northernmost and southernmost stations reporting rainfall, at less than two tenths of an inch in each area. Color continues to improve on early tangerines, early and midseason oranges, and grapefruit. Fall cultural practices include cover crop control, dead tree removal and replacement. The majority of the fresh fruit packing houses and processing plants are running. Varieties being packed include early oranges (Navels and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst tangerines and increasing amounts of tangelos. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 21 Nov 28 Dec 05 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Early & Mid oranges 1,180 1,784 3,785 Navel oranges 122 103 246 Grapefruit 332 246 339 Tangerines 221 138 218 Tangelos 59 39 112 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.