fl-crop-weather State Florida Crop Weather Week Ending/Released Dates Week ending December 11, 2005 Released 4:00 P.M. December 12, 2005 Report Code FL-CW4905 VEGETABLE GROWERS PROVIDING HOLIDAY MARKET NEEDS Weather Summary Report Rains helped increase depleted soil moisture supplies in most of the Big Bend area, some other northern Peninsula, a few central Peninsula and some southeastern coastal localities during the week of December 5 through 11. Rainfall ranged from less than a tenth inch in Immokalee to over four and a half inches in Alachua. Temperatures in the major cities averaged normal to three degrees above. Daytime highs averaged in the 70s and 80s while nighttime lows averaged in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Several localities recorded at least one low in the 30s. Jay reported a maximum daily high of 68 degrees and a minimum daily low of 29 degrees. Frost occurred in several Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities during the week. Field Crops Report Mostly mild conditions kept sugarcane harvesting active around Lake Okeechobee. Pine tree planting was active in Taylor County. Recent cool, moist weather boosted growth of small grains in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Soil moisture supplies improved during the week as needed rains fell over southeastern, central, northern and Panhandle areas. Most southern Peninsula localities reported short to adequate supplies while, elsewhere, soil moisture is mostly adequate. Columbia, Holmes, Jackson, Washington, Osceola, and Brevard counties reported some spots with surplus soil moisture. Soil Moisture Chart Topsoil Subsoil Moisture This Last Last This Last Last Rating week week year week week Year Percent Very short 0 1 8 0 1 8 Short 10 18 22 17 25 10 Adequate 65 64 66 58 60 73 Surplus 25 17 4 25 14 9 Vegetable Report Mostly clear weather around the Palmetto-Ruskin, Immokalee and Homestead areas allowed planting and harvesting to proceed at a normal pace with growers shipping crops for the holiday market. Rain over the Plant City and Dover areas slowed some strawberry field work with picking slowly gaining momentum. Vegetables available included snap beans, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, radishes, squash and tomatoes with very light amounts of cabbage, sweet corn, endive, escarole and okra also marketed. Livestock Report In the Panhandle, pasture condition is poor to excellent, with most in fair condition. Recent rains have greatly improved growing conditions for rye and ryegrass pasture. Winter pasture planting and growth is generally behind because of earlier dry soils. Most cattlemen began feeding much earlier this year because of the drought effects on late grazing in permanent pastures and poor growth of earlier planted temporary forage. Hay feeding of livestock is active. Pasture in the northern areas is poor to good, with most in good condition. Frost has damaged some pasture. In the central areas, cattle and pasture are in fair condition. The pasture condition is lower due to cold and frost. In the southwest, range condition is mostly fair with soil moisture short to adequate. Statewide, the 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 35 20 0 5 Fair 45 35 35 35 Good 15 40 60 55 Excellent 0 0 5 5 Fruit Report Citrus: Continued rainfall in the northern citrus producing area totaled over three and a half inches, and on the east coast just less than three inches. Other areas had about an inch or less for the week. Daytime temperatures, at two to three degrees above normal, reached the high 70s to low 80s in all citrus areas. Horticultural practices include limited fertilizing, mowing and spraying. The east coast has enough moisture to sustain without irrigation, while other areas are lightly irrigating to keep moisture in the soils. Harvesting of early and midseason oranges is beginning to pick up, but due to high acids and late maturity it is not at the level it was at this time last season. A larger percentage of grapefruit is being picked for processing this season compared to last season. Other varieties being picked are Sunburst tangerines, and Tangelos. Most of the major packing houses and twelve processing plants are open with two more processing plants expecting to open next week. Estimated boxes harvested - week ended Crop Nov 27 Dec 4 Dec 11 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel boxes Navel oranges 106 324 367 Early and Mid oranges 470 2,611 4,052 Grapefruit 265 519 488 EarlyTangerines 160 255 261 Tangelos 25 85 112 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.