fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending February 6, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. February 7, 2005 Report Code FL-CW0605 Weather Summary Report One to two and a quarter inches of rain fell over the central and western Panhandle during the week of January 31 through February 6. Elsewhere, the weekly rainfall totaled from none in the Palmetto-Ruskin and Immokalee areas, to about a third of an inch in Alachua. Temperatures for the week averaged one to five degrees below normal in most of the major cities with most nighttime lows averaging in the 40s and 50s. Tallahassee reported at least one low in the 20s with lows for the week averaging in the 30s. Daytime highs averaged in the 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Harvesting of sugarcane in the Everglades region was active. Producers prepared land for the planting of spring acreage in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula areas. Pine tree planting was active in the northern areas. Mostly rainy conditions over the central and western Panhandle helped increase soil moisture supplies. Washington, Jackson and Union counties reported some spots of surplus moisture with other counties in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula reporting short to adequate soil moisture supplies. Soils are drier than needed for optimum ground tillage and germination of spring plantings in Jefferson County. Most central and southern Peninsula localities also reported short to adequate soil moisture with soils getting drier where recent rainfall was limited. Very short moisture supplies were reported for Broward County. Soil moisture supplies in Hernando and Brevard County ranged from very short to surplus. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture Rating This Last Last This Last Last week week year week week Year Percent Very short 2 1 1 1 1 1 Short 48 34 18 38 24 27 Adequate 44 64 77 60 74 71 Surplus 6 1 4 1 1 1 Vegetable Report Mostly dry weather allowed planting and harvesting to proceed on schedule in the Palmetto-Ruskin and Immokalee areas. Producers are digging a very small amount of potatoes in the Hastings area with harvesting expected to increase over the next two to three weeks. Growers around Quincy are laying plastic for the planting of spring crop tomatoes. Highbush blueberries have started blooming in Hernando County. Other vegetables and non citrus fruit available include snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, peppers, squash and tomatoes. Dade County growers are providing a very small amount of okra. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, recent rains greatly improved pasture conditions. Cattle and pasture are in good condition. In the northern areas, recent extreme cold and drought was very tough on the winter grazing. Cool season forages are fair to good with grass growth limited by drought. The feeding of hay to livestock is active. In the central areas, most pasture is in poor condition, while pasture in the southwest area ranges from very poor to good. Statewide, the condition of the cattle is fair to good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 40 45 5 15 Fair 30 25 45 50 Good 24 25 50 35 Excellent 1 0 0 0 Fruit Report Citrus: All citrus producing areas had mild weather throughout the week. Temperatures were in the mid 40s in most locations at night, and daytime highs were in the upper 70s on several days. Light amounts of rainfall were recorded in only two citrus areas: the northern most station and the center of the state. No bloom is being reported as of yet. Caretakers are continuing to mow, hedge and top, to apply herbicides and are still removing hurricane damaged trees. Continued irrigation was stepped up in many areas, compensating for lack of rain. Late oranges are coloring at normal consistency in all areas; picking of early and mid oranges is continuing with the large majority going to processing. Small quantities of Sunburst tangerines and tangelos are still being picked for processing. Fresh fruit packing houses are still running oranges (Navels and Pineapples), white and colored grapefruit, small amounts tangelos, and increasing amounts of Temples, and Honey tangerines. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 23 Jan 30 Feb 06 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Early & Mid oranges 6,171 5,498 5,759 Navel oranges 74 66 47 Late oranges 0 7 24 Grapefruit 556 608 512 Tangelos 112 110 72 Sunburst tangerines 7 11 7 Honey tangerines 126 94 90 Temples 30 24 35 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.