fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending January 23, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. January 24, 2005 Report Code FL-CW0405 Weather Summary Report Dry, cool conditions prevailed during most of the week of January 17 through 23 with a cold front bringing near freezing temperatures to most areas on January 24. Most localities recorded less than two tenths inch of rain with several reporting no measurable rain falling. Temperatures in the major cities averaged two to six degrees below normal. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s while nighttime lows were in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Most lows on January 24 were in the 20s and 30s. Field Crops Report Dry conditions allowed field work to progress on schedule. Sugarcane harvesting is active in the Everglades region with some growers concerned about the cold temperatures causing leaf damage to the new plantings. Pine tree planting is active in the Big Bend area. Topsoil moisture in most Panhandle localities is mostly adequate. Soil moisture throughout the Peninsula is short to mostly adequate with a few scattered pockets of surplus supplies. Hernando County reported very short to surplus moisture supplies. Very short moisture supplies were reported for spots of Broward County. In Volusia County some localities reported very short to adequate moisture supplies. Ferns and Foliage: Cut fern producers in the Pierson area and potted foliage growers around Apopka ran overhead sprinklers and heaters to protect plants from freezing temperatures on January 24. Growers are currently assessing effects of the freeze but it appears most plants escaped damage. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 2 1 6 0 1 6 Short 37 39 29 29 24 24 Adequate 60 55 65 67 70 70 Surplus 1 5 0 4 5 0 Vegetable Report Growers are currently assessing damage from the cold temperatures on January 24. Strawberry growers ran overhead sprinklers to form ice caps over plants and berries as protection from the freezing temperatures with most acreage escaping significant damage. Some vegetable producers covered plants with freeze cloths and also ran overhead sprinklers for cold protection. Some growers delayed harvest due to prices being below the cost of production. Vegetables and non-citrus fruit marketed by producers included snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, peppers, radishes, squash, strawberries and tomatoes with very light amounts of cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, Romaine lettuce and okra available. Livestock Report The western Panhandle pasture is in good condition following recent rains. In the eastern Panhandle and northern counties, cool season forages are in fair condition, as dry weather suppressed growth. Supplemental feeding of hay is active. In the central and southwest areas, pastures are poor to good with flooding in some locations and dry in others. Statewide, the condition of the cattle is mostly fair. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 0 0 0 Poor 25 30 10 5 Fair 45 50 55 60 Good 25 20 35 35 Excellent 0 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: Primarily the week of January 17 to 23 was cool and dry, with highs reaching the mid 70s during the day. Two cold fronts, one on Tuesday and one on Sunday evening dropped temperatures to the high and mid 30s in all citrus producing areas across the state. The cooler weather should help trees remain hearty for the colder weather forecasted early next week. Rainfall recorded for the week was between zero and two tenths of an inch. Caretakers are continuing to mow, hedge and top, and are still removing hurricane damaged trees. Limited irrigation is taking place in areas where there has been a lack of rain. Late oranges are coloring in all areas, with early and mid oranges being picked for mostly processing. Sunburst tangerines and tangelos are also being picked for processing. Fresh fruit packing houses are still running early oranges (Navels and Hamlins), white and colored grapefruit, Sunburst tangerines, increasing amounts of Tangelos, Temples, and Honey tangerines. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 09 Jan 16 Jan 23 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Early & Mid oranges 6,579 6,483 4,545 Navel oranges 71 74 58 Grapefruit 476 612 448 Tangelos 103 114 88 Sunburst tangerines 84 38 12 Honey tangerines 89 156 93 Temples 16 29 26 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.