fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 06, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. November 07, 2005 Report Code FL-CW4505 SOUTHERN GROWERS WELCOMED DRIER WEATHER Weather Summary Report Scattered showers brought an inch or more of rain to some western and central Panhandle localities and some southern and central Peninsula areas during the week of October 31 through November 6. However, only traces of rain were recorded in some localities and other areas reported no rainfall. Ft. Pierce reported over two inches of rain. Temperatures for the week averaged one degree above to two degrees below normal in the major cities. Daytime highs were in the 70s and 80s. Nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s with Tallahassee recording at least one low in the 30s. Field Crops Report Areas in the northern Peninsula are at risk for potential wild fires due to the lack of precipitation. Peanut yields are lower than anticipated earlier this season in the Panhandle and the northern Peninsula. Peanut harvesting slowed due to cool temperatures prolonging drying time in Suwannee County. Rains in Washington County softened soils which allowed growers to finish digging peanuts. Peanuts were 98 percent harvested by November 6 versus 96 percent by this date last year and the five-year average of 97 percent. Cotton harvest continued at a rapid pace in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. In areas of Jackson County, cotton yields have varied from above average to poor. Soybean harvesting has begun in Madison County. Drier weather over the Panhandle and northern Peninsula continued to lower soil moisture supplies with ratings ranging from very short to adequate. Wetter conditions over the central and southern Peninsula increased soil moisture in most areas with supplies rated short to mostly adequate and with pockets of surplus supplies. Percentage of Peanuts Harvested to date: This year Last year 5-year average 98 96 97 Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating week week year week week Year Percent Very short 5 10 1 5 4 0 Short 18 30 23 17 35 15 Adequate 59 40 74 62 43 65 Surplus 18 20 2 16 18 20 Vegetable Report Drier weather around Immokalee and Homestead helped drain fields saturated by Wilma’s rains. However, significant delays in the production of all vegetables are expected for most southern Peninsula areas. The following crops and areas suffered heavy damages and losses: okra, sweet corn, snap beans and tomatoes in Miami-Dade County; most bean fields south of Lake Okeechobee; almost all sweet corn around Lake Okeechobee; and peppers, watermelons and tomatoes in the Immokalee area. Producers in areas affected by Wilma continued salvaging older plants and replanting lost acreage with some activity hindered by a lack of labor. Very light amounts of sweet corn, snap beans, watermelons, cucumbers, peppers, squash and eggplant were available from other central and northern areas with modest amounts of tomatoes harvested around Quincy and in other central Peninsula production regions. Livestock Report Livestock and Pastures: In the Panhandle and northern areas, pasture condition is very poor to good; the low condition is due to drought. Planting of cool season forage started at locations that received rain at mid-week, but was on hold at other locations due to lack of moisture for germination. Cattle condition is fair to excellent in the Panhandle and northern areas. Livestock are being fed supplemental hay as winter forage is in poor condition. In the central areas, range and cattle conditions are mostly good. In the southwest, the range is in poor to good condition with many locations having flooded pasture. Statewide, cattle condition is mostly good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 5 5 0 0 Poor 15 15 10 5 Fair 15 20 25 45 Good 65 60 60 50 Excellent 0 0 5 0 Fruit Report Citrus: A cool front on Tuesday brought temperatures to the low 60s on the east coast and the mid 50s on the west coast and northern part of the State. The front also brought rain to the entire citrus belt, the most in Ft. Pierce at over two and a half inches. Canals are still full from Hurricane Wilma and water is a problem in some of the southern counties. Grove owners are assessing damage to trees and buildings. Many barns had roofs completely torn off. Fruit minimum maturity standards were adjusted to allow growers to salvage as much fruit as they can to be used for processing. Groves as far north as Indian River County were affected by the winds, especially those with grapefruit. Varieties packed for fresh use included Hamlin, Ambersweet and Navel oranges, Fallglo and Sunburst tangerines, and colored and white grapefruit. Several processing plants opened to receive eliminations and salvage fruit. Estimated boxes harvested - week ended Crop Oct 23 Oct 30 Nov 6 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Navel oranges 88 61 101 Early and Mid oranges 41 37 233 Grapefruit 79 120 225 Tangerines 124 104 103 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.