WEATHER: Mostly dry conditions during July allowed producers to prepare land for fall crop planting with Palmetto-Ruskin and East Coast growers starting to plant, and Quincy growers finishing tomato planting by late July. Rainfall during July ranged from about two and a third inches at Pensacola to about nine and three-fourths inches at Melbourne with most central and southern Peninsula localities recording from four to almost nine inches for the month. The July rains were slightly above normal at some stations but most others were a half inch to over five inches below normal. July temperatures were one degree below normal to four degrees above at the major stations with most daytime highs in the 80s and 90s. Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Umatilla each recorded at least one high at 100 or more in July. Nighttime lows during July were mostly in the 70s and 80s with several stations recording at least one low in the 60s. Producers in southern Peninsula areas delayed some fieldwork early in late August as Hurricane Debby approached but found relief when the storm broke up before hitting the State. Southwestern producers began fall crop planting in late August. Rainfall during August ranged from about two and a quarter inches at Bunnell to almost eleven inches at Hollywood. August rainfall for most localities remained below normal for the year. Temperatures in August averaged from one degree below normal to two degrees above at the major stations. Tropical weather during September caused some fieldwork delays. Heavy rains accompanying the tropical storms reduced yield prospects of some crops and caused some abandonment in flooded fields. The passage of Hurricane Gordon and Tropical Storm Helene off the west coast and over the big Bend area in late September brought abundant rainfall to some northern areas. During the last week of September, strong winds from the Atlantic brought significant precipitation to many eastern coastal localities. September rainfall ranged from about one and two-thirds inches at Lake Alfred to over twenty-three inches in the Jacksonville area. Most localities recorded normal to above normal rainfall for the month. Temperatures for September at the major stations ranged from highs in the 80s and 90s to lows mostly in the 60s and 70s. Both Tallahassee and Pensacola recorded at least one low in the 50s during September. Most September temperatures averaged normal to one degree above. A tropical disturbance passed through the Florida Straits in early October brought heavy rains to many southern and central Peninsula localities. These heavy rains flooded some Dade County fields with actual damages and losses currently being assessed.

SNAP BEANS: Planting was active in the southern areas during September. The Dade County crop is in good condition. In other areas the crop is in fair to good condition. (Southeast, 5,000, 5,000; Southwest and Everglades, 4,000, 4,600; other areas; 1,500, 2,400; All areas, 10,500, 12,000)

CABBAGE: Planting was starting in the Hastings area in late September. The crop was reported in good condition. (All areas, 900, 900)

CUCUMBERS FOR FRESH MARKET: Planting started during early September in the Palmetto-Ruskin region. East Coast and southwest started planting in late September. The crop is in good condition as of the first of October. (West Central, 2,300, 2,050; Southwest, 1,800, 1,550; Southeast, 950, 850; other areas, 350, 250; All areas, 5,400, 4,700).

EGGPLANT: Planting began in August in the East Coast area and continues in the Dade and the southwest areas at the present time. Oldest fields are in good condition. Workers are staking and tying as needed. (All areas, 700, 700)

SWEET C0RN: By mid-September plants were knee-high in the Zellwood area. Hurricane Gordon and Tropical Storm Helene caused no significant damage to the fall acreage after mid-month. Planting started in the East Coast and Southwest regions during the last half of September. Acreage in the Everglades is in good condition. (Everglades, 1,700, 3,000; Central, 1,000, 900; other areas, 1,100, 1,300; All areas, 3,800, 5,200).

BELL PEPPER: East Coast producers started planting in early August, while growers in the Palmetto-Ruskin and Immokalee regions started planting after mid-month. By mid-September oldest plants started to show blooms in the East Coast area. High temperatures and gusty winds increased the need for irrigation during the last half of September. (Southwest, 2,700, 2,850; Southeast, 1,700, 1,600; West Central and other areas, 2,600, 2,850; All areas, 7,000, 7,300).

TOMATOES: Growers in the Quincy area finished planting in mid to late July with harvest to begin in late September. Producers in the southern Peninsula areas delayed some fieldwork early in late August as Hurricane Debby neared but found relief when the storm broke up before hitting the State. Palmetto-Ruskin growers started planting in early August while East Coast producers began about mid-month. Southwestern growers around Immokalee commenced transplanting in late August. Most southern Peninsula acreage escaped damage from Hurricane Gordon and Tropical Storm Helene as they passed by the Gulf of Mexico coast ant traveled inland over the Big Bend area. Acreage around Quincy received some rain from Helene but most acreage avoided significant harm. Quincy growers began picking a very light volume during the last week of September. The oldest fruit reached golf-ball sizes in the Palmetto-Ruskin area in late September with harvesting started by early October. (Southwest, 8,200, 6,500; Palmetto-Ruskin, 5,800, 6,100; East Coast, 1,500, 1,300; other areas, 1,600, 1,500; All areas, 17,100, 15,400).

SNAP BEANS: Fall fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 19,900 acres, up 2 percent from last year and 24 percent more than 1998. Georgia's rainfall slowed the planting of this year's crop. New Jersey's night tempera tures were much lower than normal which slowed the growth of snap beans. Virginia's fall harvest began in September and will continue until frost.

CABBAGE: Fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 6,700 acres, up 5 percent from last year and 20 percent above two years ago. Georgia's recent rainfall slowed planting. Conditions in New Jersey were favorable and beneficial to the fall cabbage. Texas is experiencing a severe drought, leaving irrigation water in short supply.

SWEET CORN: Fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 9,700 acres, up 17 percent from last year but 3 percent less than 1998. California's crop had a good start, but erratic weather patterns and occaional reports of worm damage in some areas affected quality.

ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 750 acres, the same as 1999 but 15 percent above 1998. Below normal temperatures and excessive moisture adversely affected New Jersey's crop.

BELL PEPPER: Fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 8,100 acres, 26 percent less than 1999 and 7 percent less than 1998. Severe drought conditions in Texas affected growers planting decisions.

TOMATOES: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 26,000 acres, 11 percent below last year and 1 percent below 1998. California's fall tomato crop is in good condition and maturing normally. There are no reports of major pest problems.

WATERMELONS: Arizona acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 900 acres, down 10 percent from 1999 and 18 percent below 1998. Above average temperatures had no influence on harvest and use of irrigation prevented damage to the crop.

Vegetables for fresh market, prospective acreage for harvest, October, November, and December, by States, 2000 with comparisons.
Selected crops and States	Usual harvest period	Fall acreage			2000 area for harvest as percent of 1999
		Harvested		For harvest 2000
		1998	1999
		Acres			Percent
SNAP BEANS:
Florida	Oct-Dec	7,800	10,500	12,000	114
Georgia	Oct-Dec	2,600	4,000	4,000	100
Maryland 1/	Oct-Oct	400	400	--	--
New Jersey	Sep-Nov	2,600	2,100	2,000	95
South Carolina 1/	Oct-Dec	600	600	--	--
Virginia	Sep-Oct	2,100	1,900	1,900	100
Total 2/		16,100	19,500	19,900	102
CABBAGE:
Florida	Oct-Dec	800	900	900	100
Georgia	Oct-Dec	3,000	3,400	3,500	103
New Jersey	Sep-Nov	1,000	700	700	100
Texas	Sep-Nov	800	1,400	1,600	114
Total		5,600	6,400	6,700	105
SWEET CORN:
Florida	Oct-Dec	5,600	3,800	5,200	137
California	Oct-Dec	4,400	4,500	4,500	100
Total		10,000	8,300	9,700	117
CUCUMBERS:
Florida	Oct-Dec	3,500	5,400	4,700	87
South Carolina	Oct-Dec	800	900	900	100
Texas	Sep-Nov	900	1,200	1,400	117
Virginia	Sep-Oct	2,400	2,200	1,300	59
Total		7,600	9,700	8,300	86
EGGPLANT:
Florida	Oct-Dec	700	700	700	100
ESCAROLE/ENDIVE:
Florida 4/	Oct-Dec	150	350	--	--
New Jersey 4/	Sep-Nov	500	400	--	--
Total		650	750	--	--
BELL PEPPERS: 3/
Florida	Oct-Dec	7,500	9,900	7,300	74
Texas	Sep-Nov	1,200	1,000	800	80
Total		8,700	10,900	8,100	74
TOMATOES:
Florida 5/	Sep-Dec	15,300	17,100	15,400	90
California	Oct-Dec	11,000	12,000	10,600	88
Total 5/		26,300	29,100	26,000	89
TOTAL OF CROPS LISTED
Florida		41,350	48,650	46,200	95
United States		75,650	85,350	79,400	93
TOTAL OF CROPS ESTIMATED
United States 5/ 6/		195,750	206,950	191,800	92
1/ Seasonal estimate discontinued. Estimates to be published in the Vegetable 2000 Summary, released January 2001. 2/ Percent calculated excluding MD and SC. 3/ Includes fresh market and processing. 4/ Not published in 2000 to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 5/ 1999 revised. 6/ Total of crops listed plus broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, head lettuce, cantaloups, honeydew melons, and watermelons.