fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending October 9, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. October 11, 2005 Report Code FL-CW4105 FLOODING PREVENTED FIELD ENTRY, SOME AREAS Weather Summary Report The passage of Tropical Storm Tammy along the eastern seaboard during the week of October 3 through 9, along with the clash of the sea breezes, brought abundant rains to some eastern Panhandle and many Peninsula localities with flooding preventing the entry into some fields. However, mostly dry conditions in the western Panhandle allowed growers to advance peanut and cotton harvests. Rainfall for the week ranged from none at Monticello to nearly five inches or more at Alachua and Daytona Beach. Most other Peninsula areas received from about an inch of rain to three inches for the week. Temperatures remained hot with weekly temperatures averaging two to six degrees above normal. Most daytime highs were in the upper 80s with 90s recorded on at least one day in several localities. Nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s with Jay reporting lows in the upper 50s on October 8 and 9. Field Crops Report Rains from Tropical Storm Tammy slowed field activities in some areas while other areas where able to accelerate harvesting of some field crops. Favorable weather conditions in Washington County allowed peanut and cotton harvesting to advance at a steady pace. However, scattered rains from Tropical Storm Tammy brought peanut harvesting to a halt in Suwannee County with most peanut yields average to slightly above average. Cloudy and damp conditions slowed peanut harvesting in Jackson County. Hay baling was active in most areas. Statewide, peanut condition was rated 10 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 38 percent good and 19 percent excellent. Peanut harvesting was 47 percent done by October 9, compared with 63 percent finished by this date last year and the five-year average of 66 percent completed. Hay baling was behind in Brevard County due to continuous rainfall with hay quality in poor condition. Warm temperatures helped decrease some insect problems in Leon County. Sugarcane harvesting will get underway this week with mills expected to start opening October 12. Soils dried in areas missed by Tropical Storm Tammy. Moisture supplies in some Panhandle and northern Peninsula areas were rated short to adequate with some spots of very short and surplus supplies. Soil moisture supplies throughout the central and southern Peninsula were rated short to mostly adequate with some pockets of surplus supplies. Percentage of Peanuts Harvested to date: This year Last year 5-year average 47 63 66 Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating week week year week week Year Percent Very short 1 3 1 0 3 1 Short 15 24 6 16 21 5 Adequate 56 67 54 58 65 45 Surplus 28 6 39 26 11 49 Vegetable Report Drier conditions in some central and southern Peninsula areas allowed planting and harvesting to stay mostly on schedule. However, saturated soils in Miami-Dade County delayed some planting. Snap bean, squash and sweet corn picking got underway with very light amounts available. Tomato harvesting in the Quincy area, pickle picking in the central and southern Peninsula regions and watermelon cutting remained active. Okra cutting in Miami-Dade County continued. The harvesting of eggplant and peppers is expected to start within the next few days. In St. John’s County, rains from Tropical Storm Tammy and sea breeze clashes accounted for an abundance of rain throughout the area which suspended cabbage planting until fields dried out a little. Livestock Report Pasture in the Panhandle ranges from poor to excellent with most in fair condition. Rain is needed where pasture condition is poor. The planting of small grains for winter grazing has begun. The pasture condition in the northern counties is poor to excellent. The cattle condition is mostly fair. The pasture condition is poor in the interior counties due to drought, while the counties bordering the Atlantic have surplus moisture. The pasture condition in the central counties is poor to good. The cattle condition is mostly good. In the southwest areas, the pasture condition is poor to good. A considerable amount of pasture in the Atlantic coast counties is under water due to the unusual September rainfall and Tropical Storm Tammy. The cattle condition in the southwest is mostly good. Statewide, most of the cattle are 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 26 0 5 Fair 40 40 15 25 Good 50 40 75 65 Excellent 5 5 10 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Citrus producing areas had cooler temperatures at the beginning of the week and warmed up towards the middle, which brought average temperatures for the week slightly above normal for this time of year. Highs reached the mid 80s to lower 90s in all areas. Tropical Storm Tammy brought some rain to the east coast and center of the citrus belt. The maximum rainfall recorded was in Ft. Pierce at just under two inches. Trees are in good condition with new foliage abundant on most varieties. New crop fruit is generally quite uniform and maturity levels are running slightly behind normal compared to previous seasons. Early oranges and grapefruit are showing good color break. Grove owners are mowing middles, pulling vines and cleaning groves, getting ready for harvesting. Eight fresh fruit packing houses and three small juice plants are open. Varieties packed included Fallglo tangerines, Ambersweet and Navel oranges and grapefruit. 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.