fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending August 28, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. August 29, 2005 Report Code FL-CW3505 KATRINA SLOWED FIELD WORK Weather Summary Report The threat of strong winds and rain from Hurricane Katrina hindered most field work during the week of August 22 through 28 as the storm passed over the southern tip of the Peninsula and trekked northwest in the Gulf. Outer rain bands from the storm brought showers to nearly all areas at the end of the week as the storm headed to New Orleans. Rain for the week ranged from none at Putnam Hall to over twelve inches in some southern Miami-Dade County localities where the storm passed over. Most areas received a half inch to three inches of rain for the week with Brooksville reporting nearly four inches falling. Palmdale recorded over three and a half inches. Temperatures for the week remained mostly hot with the weekly temperature averaging one to four degrees above normal in most of the major cities. Miami’s weekly temperature averaged one degree below normal due to cloud cover from the storm. Daily highs were mostly in the 90s while nighttime lows were mostly in the 70s. Field Crops Report Scattered thunderstorms hampered field activities near the end of the week. Wide- spread flooding in parts of the southern Peninsula damaged some nursery crops as well as greenhouses. Continued wet conditions prevented some hay baling, in addition to lowering the quality. Tobacco harvesting in Suwannee County is expected to end within the next week. Development of soybean rust is anticipated by growers in Jefferson County due to cooler temperatures and moisture. Madison County producers rate soybeans in excellent condition and peanuts in good condition. Hit or miss rains in Madison County allowed hay harvesting to remain on schedule. Most cotton is in good condition in Jackson County. In Suwannee County, growers expect peanut digging to begin in about a week. Despite the increase in disease pressure in some Panhandle and northern Peninsula fields peanuts are in good condition with some dry land fields in need of rains. Statewide, peanut condition was rated 18 percent fair, 64 percent good and 18 percent excellent. Problems with insects and disease pressure increased in many Panhandle and northern Peninsula fields. Soil moisture supplies are mostly adequate to surplus with a few areas reporting some short supplies. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating week week year week week Year Percent Very short 0 1 1 0 0 1 Short 23 13 9 16 14 8 Adequate 68 65 41 73 61 51 Surplus 9 21 49 11 25 39 Vegetable Report Dade County crops suffered significant damage as Katrina passed over on August 25 with flooding hampering okra harvesting at the end of the week. Some Dade County growers cut as much okra as possible before the storm arrived. In the southern Peninsula, a few producers delayed some fall crop planting due to the threat of damage from Katrina with early reports showing the Immokalee and Palmetto-Ruskin regions virtually unharmed. Field preparation and the laying of plastic remained very active in regions not affected by the storm. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture and cattle are fair to excellent with most in excellent condition. In the northern areas, pasture and cattle are in fair to good condition. Armyworm damage increased. Pasture condition is fair in some locations due to drought, but otherwise in good to excellent condition. In the central areas, the pasture is in poor to excellent condition with most in good condition. Pasture grass growth is very good due to consistent rainfall and temperature. Armyworm damage increased. Pasture at some locations flooded. In the southwest, cattle and pasture conditions range from poor to excellent with most in good condition. Grass is getting tough this late in the season. Statewide, the condition of cattle ranges from poor to fair with most 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 10 0 5 Fair 40 30 15 20 Good 50 50 75 60 Excellent 5 10 10 15 Fruit Report Citrus: The week of August 22-28 had typical Florida summer weather in citrus producing counties with Ft. Pierce reaching 91 degrees and all other monitored counties reaching the mid 90s. Rainfall ranged from just over two inches in Sebring and Tavares to a low of less than an inch in the center of the State. Hurricane Katrina brought minimal rainfall to citrus producing counties as it passed across the southern tip of the Peninsula in the latter part of the week. Fruit and tree progress is good for this time of the year. Practices, including fertilizing, spraying, and young tree care continued. Grove access continues to be limited in some areas due to the canker eradication program. Avocados: Heavy winds and rain brought substantial loss to avocado fruit in the Homestead area. Fruit was blown from trees and limb breakage was widespread. Growers estimate that over one half of the fruit on trees was lost or will show wind scar. Because of standing water, some trees may also be lost. 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.