fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending September 18, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. September 19, 2005 Report Code FL-CW3805  DRY WEATHER ALLOWED INCREASED FIELDWORK Weather Summary Report Drier conditions continued throughout the week of September 12 through 18. No precipitation was recorded in most areas across the State. In areas reporting rainfall, it ranged from less than a tenth of an inch at Belle Glade, Bronson, Carabelle, Macclenny and Fort Lauderdale to a little over two inches in Dade County. Temperatures for the week hovered around normal. Daytime highs were in the 90s with evening lows in the 60s and 70s. Field Crops Report Dry weather permitted fieldwork to advance with most on schedule. Peanut digging is increasing slowly with most activity expected over the next two weeks. The Amount of peanuts dug by September 18 was reported at 10 percent versus 24 percent last year and the 5-year average of 20 percent. In Jackson County, some producers stopped digging peanuts due to hard soils. Peanut condition was rated 5 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 53 percent good and 9 percent excellent with tomato spotted wilt virus infestations lowering yield prospects in many fields. Growers began defoliating the oldest cotton acreage with picking expected to begin by early October. In Washington County, corn harvesting is expected to be completed in the next 5 to 7 days. Corn picking was also active in Madison County. Some earlier corn harvests were stopped due to the low supply of diesel fuel. Insects are pressuring soybean fields in Washington County. The dry weather allowed increased hay baling in all areas with most on schedule. The lack of rain lowered both topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies with Holmes, Washington, Suwannee, Union and Brevard counties reporting spots of very short moisture. Some localities with surplus soil moisture supplies were reported in Okeechobee, Hernando, Brevard and Holmes counties. Panhandle counties reported mostly short to adequate soil moisture supplies while Peninsula counties reported short to mostly adequate supplies. Percentage of Peanuts Harvested to date: This year Last year 5-year average 10 24 20 Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating Week week year week week Year Percent Very short 8 0 1 3 1 0 Short 32 19 1 26 9 1 Adequate 54 65 32 55 66 29 Surplus 6 16 66 16 24 70 Vegetable Report Growers continue to market light supplies of okra in Dade County. Drier conditions around Quincy allowed the tomato crop to improve with picking to start in early October. Fall crop planting is active in central and southern Peninsula localities. Livestock Report Livestock and Pastures: In the Panhandle, north, and central areas, and in part of the southwest area, the pasture is showing drought stress. In the Panhandle, land preparation for winter forage planting started. In the southwest, the pasture condition is poor to excellent. Some pasture could use rain, but surplus soil moisture remained a problem in other locations. The cattle condition is poor to excellent with most in good condition. Statewide, the condition of cattle ranges from poor to excellent 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 15 10 5 5 Fair 35 35 30 25 Good 45 50 60 60 Excellent 5 5 5 10 Fruit Report Citrus: Hot, dry weather prevailed throughout the week in all citrus producing counties. Highs reached the low to mid 90s on a daily basis with no rainfall being recorded in any of the monitored stations. Growers implemented irrigation practices where there has been consistently dry weather. Trees are generally in good condition with little to no tree wilt showing in well-cared-for groves. Scattered fertilizing, liming, mowing, and clean-up continued in all areas as groves are being prepared for the picking season. With fruit maturity levels running behind normal, packinghouses and juice plants have not yet opened for business. Grove access is limited in some areas due to the canker eradication program in full progress. 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.