fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending January 16, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. January 18, 2005 Report Code FL-CW0305 Weather Summary Report Warm temperatures kept field work on schedule during the first part of the week of January 10 through 16. However, towards the end of the week, significant showers brought much needed rains to many areas. Most localities received from over an inch to almost three inches of rainfall. Orlando received over three and half inches of rain and Homestead received less than half an inch. A few other areas received under an inch of precipitation. Temperatures at the major stations averaged from five to eleven degrees above normal. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 40s and 50s with a few locations recording at least one low in the 60s. Alachua, Hastings, Jay, Live Oak, MacClenny, Pierson and Putnam Hall all recorded at least one low in the 30s. Field Crops Report Rain during the week delayed some field activity, but lowered the danger of wild fire especially in the Panhandle and central Peninsula areas. Some northern and southern Peninsula localities remain mostly dry. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are short to mostly adequate with very short supplies existing in a few spots of the southeastern coast. Some lowland areas that received heavier rains this week have 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 1 1 8 1 0 6 Short 39 46 27 24 18 24 Adequate 55 47 65 70 71 70 Surplus 5 6 0 5 11 0 Vegetable Report Harvesting of cabbage was slowed due to rain and wet fields. Hastings growers expect to start harvesting a small acreage of potatoes with planting for the spring crop active. Growers in the Quincy area are preparing land for spring crop tomatoes. Vegetables and non citrus fruit being marketed include snap beans, broccoli, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, peppers, radishes, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, growing conditions vary from poor to good for winter forage. Warm temperatures and below normal rainfall have pastures stressed. Grazing of rye grass is active. Hay feeding is active in the northern areas. Cool season forages are doing well on wetter sites. Some greening of warm season pastures is occurring due to warm temperatures. In the central areas, the range is mostly poor due to short moisture conditions. In the southwest, pasture and cattle are in fair condition. Pasture is suffering from drought and cold. Statewide, the condition of cattle is poor to good 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 30 25 5 10 Fair 50 60 60 60 Good 20 15 35 30 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: The beginning of the week of January 10 through 16 was dry and warm. A front passing over the state at the end of the week brought rain to most areas in the citrus belt. Stations in the center and on the west coast of the state had more rainfall on Friday than the combined three weeks since Christmas; the most being recorded was two and a half inches in Lake Alfred. On Sunday, temperatures dipped to the high 30s and low 40s in all citrus areas. Caretaking practices included limited mowing, hedging and topping, and continued removal of hurricane damaged trees. Late oranges are beginning to color in all areas with early and mid oranges being picked for mostly processing. Fresh fruit packing houses are still running early oranges (Navels and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst tangerines, decreasing amounts of Tangelos, small amounts of Temples, and increasing quantities of Honey tangerines. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 02 Jan 09 Jan 16 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Early & Mid oranges 4,982 6,697 6,483 Navel oranges 47 60 74 Grapefruit 335 458 612 Tangelos 76 85 114 Sunburst tangerines 97 76 38 Honey tangerines 28 66 156 Temples 6 14 29 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.