fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending August 7, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. August 8, 2005 Report Code FL-CW3205 Weather Summary Report DISEASE INCREASING, WETTER AREAS Daily storms dropped ample amounts of rain over many areas during the week of August 1 through 7. Rainfall for the week ranged from less than a quarter inch in Balm to over six and half inches in Marianna. Several areas throughout the central and southern Peninsula received mostly two to three inches of rain with a few areas receiving only about an inch. Citra and Ft. Lauderdale received over four inches of precipitation. Numerous localities in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula received substantial rainfall ranging from two to four inches with Quincy and Tallahassee receiving over five inches. Carabelle recorded over six inches of rainfall for the week while Jay reported only about one and a third inch. Temperatures mostly hovered around normal at the major stations but were four degrees below normal in Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Daytime highs were in the 80s and 90s. Pleasant evening lows were in the 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Peanut growers continued to be delayed in making timely applications of pesticides due to muddy fields with the incidence of disease now high in some areas resulting in lower yield prospects. In drier areas, plant growth and nut development progressed nicely. Peanut condition was rated one percent very poor, one percent poor, twenty percent fair, sixty-nine percent good and nine percent excellent with most plants pegged. In Santa Rosa County, younger cotton lost more blooms and squares due to recent storms passing over the area after suffering significant yield losses to the early July tropical storms. This will cause a late cotton harvest putting the crop in jeopardy from freezing weather in late September and early October. Soybean producers in Jackson County were also unable to make timely applications of pesticides due to wet fields. The hours available for aerial pesticide spraying were shortened because of rainfall. The pecan crop in Jefferson County is in fair condition although some incidence of scab was reported. Harvests of corn for silage are finished in some Panhandle localities. Showers during the week delayed some hay mowing and baling. Taylor County reported some armyworms infesting fields. In Suwannee County, tobacco producers hope to finish harvesting within the next two weeks. Percentage of Peanuts Pegged to date: This year Last year 5-year average 99 99 95 Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 3 2 0 0 1 Short 5 17 11 6 17 9 Adequate 59 66 73 57 59 76 Surplus 35 14 14 37 24 14 Vegetable Report Wet conditions continued to slow field preparations for the planting of fall crops in some southern and central Peninsula localities. Okra harvesting remained active in Dade County. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture condition was rated fair to excellent with most in good condition. Cattle are in good condition. In the northern areas, some pasture is in fair condition due to surplus moisture. In the central areas, pasture is in fair to good condition with the fair condition of some pasture due to drought. Also, some armyworm damage was reported. Statewide, cattle are mostly in good condition. . Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 10 10 5 10 Good 70 70 90 85 Excellent 15 15 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: For the third consecutive week, all monitored citrus bearing counties had temperatures reaching into the mid to upper 90s with Sebring recording the highest temperature at 97 degrees. The beginning of the week was relatively dry. Towards the end of the week, thunderstorms passed across the State bringing rain to all areas. The most recorded in the citrus area was at Sebring with almost four inches. Trees look good. Field workers report fruit in similar sizes from a uniform bloom. Growers in some of the southern counties are still pumping excessive water out of their groves. In other areas, caretakers are using limited irrigation to prevent tree wilt from the hot afternoons. Normal practices continue including fertilizing, spraying, and young tree care. 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.