fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending November 27, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. November 28, 2005 Report Code FL-CW4705 DRY WEATHER ALLOWS HARVESTING TO ADVANCE Weather Summary Report Cooler temperatures moved into most areas of the State during the week of November 21 through 27. Temperatures at the major stations averaged one to four degrees below normal. Daytime highs were in the 70s with a few areas hitting the low 80s. Cooler temperatures at night brought lows into the 40s and 50s with several localities recording at least one low in the 30s. Light rains across the State did not hinder crop progress since most localities received less than a quarter of an inch of precipitation. Marianna and Jay recorded over an inch of rain; Tallahassee recorded the most rainfall for the week at over two inches. Field Crops Report Cotton harvesting remained active during the week with rains over parts of the Panhandle and northern Peninsula slowing some field activities. Haymaking continued in some central Peninsula localities with some low quality reported, especially in Brevard County. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies are rated short to mostly adequate, statewide. Soil moisture supplies increased in areas receiving rainfall; however, many localities reported none to less than a quarter inch during the week, especially in the central and western Panhandle and parts of the central and southern Peninsula. Brevard County reported soil moisture supplies ranging from very short to surplus while Marion County reported very short to short supplies. Osceola County reported adequate to surplus soil moisture while St. Lucie reported all surplus supplies. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating week week year week week Year Percent Very short 10 11 0 5 5 0 Short 30 17 16 20 18 15 Adequate 45 65 75 60 77 70 Surplus 15 7 9 15 0 15 Vegetable Report Mostly clear weather allowed field work to progress on schedule. Fall crop harvesting gained momentum in central and southern Peninsula localities. Blueberry harvesting is underway. Tomato picking around Quincy is nearly complete while harvesting in the central and southern Peninsula areas is increasing seasonally. Cooler temperatures aided strawberry development around Plant City and Dover. Producers marketed snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, peppers, squash and tomatoes. Light supplies of eggplant and okra were also marketed. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture condition is mostly good. Planting of winter forage is held up by drought in several locations. Livestock owners are feeding supplemental hay. In the central areas, the condition of pasture and range is poor to good with most in fair condition. Drought, weeds and pests are lowering pasture conditions. In the south, range condition is poor to good with most in good condition. Statewide, cattle condition is mostly good. Livestock Condition Chart Range Cattle Condition This Last This Last week week week week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 20 10 0 5 Fair 30 20 25 20 Good 50 65 70 75 Excellent 0 0 5 0 Fruit Report Citrus: A cold front on Tuesday morning brought temperatures down to the 40s in all areas with the lowest temperatures of the season recorded in all monitored stations. After warming up in the afternoon, the rest of the week was relatively warm and mild. For the third consecutive week, it has been dry across most of the citrus region. Growers are turning on irrigation to keep the trees healthy as the picking season is underway. They are maintaining middles and preparing trees for harvesting. Harvesting was halted on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday, but resumed on Friday as the weather was near perfect for picking. Most of the packinghouses and processing plants are now open. Varieties being packed for fresh use included Hamlin, Ambersweet and Navel oranges, Fallglo and Sunburst tangerines, limited amounts of tangelos, and colored and white grapefruit. Estimated boxes harvested - week ended Crop Nov 13 Nov 20 Nov 27 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Navel oranges 99 161 106 Early and Mid oranges 472 943 470 Grapefruit 383 478 265 EarlyTangerines 124 209 160 Tangelos 9 28 25 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.