GENERAL: Scattered showers during July 1998 lessened the threat of wild fires while temperatures soared to record-high levels. Many stations recorded temperatures at 100 degrees or higher during July with the heat indexes much higher. The threat of bad weather from Tropical Storm Alex disappeared in late July as the storm weakened and veered away from the State. By early August, land preparation for fall crop planting gained momentum over the Peninsula. Dry soils in a few areas, especially around Immokalee and in western Manatee County, hindered the preparation of land for fall crop planting during early August. Pepper, eggplant, watermelon, and tomato planting started in most southern Peninsula vegetable areas by mid-August. Dade County producers began to plant a limited acreage of squash during the last half of August. Rainfall dropped off in late August and early September as Hurricanes Bonnie and Danielle passed parallel to the eastern coast and drew moisture from the atmosphere. Hot temperatures during early September affected plant growth with growers resetting weaker tomato and pepper plants. Hurricane Frances kept skies mostly dry by drawing moisture from the atmosphere as it made landfall about mid- September with southern Peninsula producers irrigating young plants to maintain proper moisture levels. However, feeder bands from Frances dropped some rain over western Peninsula localities, including the Palmetto-Ruskin and Immokalee areas with minor flooding reported in Dade County and some plant beds washed out in the East Coast region. Most fieldwork halted during late September as Hurricane Georges passed by and made landfall over Biloxi, Mississippi. Some bloom loss occurred in a few localities due to strong winds with most crops suffering no significant damage. Cloudy skies during the last half of September slowed maturation of the Quincy tomato crop with some scheduled harvesting delayed.

This first quarterly release for the 1998-99 season shows acreage for harvest during fall months of October through December based on conditions existing October 1. Estimated acreage for harvest by growing areas is presented in the following order: area, previous year (1997), current year (1998).

SNAP BEANS: Planting was active in the southern areas during September. In Dade, the crop is in good condition. In other areas the crop is in fair to good condition. (Southeast, 2,000, 2,200; Southwest-Everglades, 1,700, 2,100; other areas, 3,000, 2,600; all areas, 6,700, 6,900).

CABBAGE: Planting was active in the West Central area during September. Planting will start in the Hastings area around mid- October. (All areas, 1,000, 900).

CUCUMBERS FOR FRESH MARKET: Planting started by early September in the Palmetto-Ruskin region with some East Coast planting delayed by rainfall in mid and late September. The crop showed no significant damage from the strong winds and heavy rains caused by tropical disturbances during September. (West Central, 1,600, 1,300; Southwest, 1,050, 1,100; Southeast, 450, 300; other areas, 500, 300; all areas, 3,600, 3,000).

EGGPLANT: Planting began in August in the East Coast area with the oldest plants blooming by mid-September. By the end of September the crop was developing and sizing fruit well. (All areas, 500, 600).

ESCAROLE-ENDIVE: Planting of a limited acreage began in both the Zellwood and Everglades region by early September. (All areas, 400, 300).

SWEET CORN: Planting started during September. Some planting was delayed due to the threat of bad weather from passing hurricanes. (Everglades, 2,600, 3,000; Central, 2,600, 1,700; other areas, 1,400, 800; all areas, 6,600, 5,500).

BELL PEPPERS: Planting started during early August along the southeastern coast with growers in the Immokalee area beginning by mid-month. Palmetto-Ruskin producers started planting during late August. Oldest plants showed blooms and began to set fruit by mid-September. Strong winds caused by the near-by passage of hurricanes during late September knocked a few blooms off plants, but caused no significant damage to the crop. (Southwest, 2,800, 2,600; Southeast, 1,870, 2,100; West Central and other areas, 2,430, 2,300; all areas, 7,000, 7,000).

TOMATOES: Transplanting began in southern Peninsula areas during late July. Growers in the Quincy area virtually finished planting by early August. Hot temperatures during August and September caused producers to make some spot resets of weaker transplants. Tropical waves crossed over the Peninsula around mid-September and brought rain to most localities with some field activities delayed. The Quincy area escaped significant damage from hurricanes Earl and Georges as they made landfall during September with Earl dropping six to seven inches over the area, and Georges, five or more inches. (Southwest, 6,800, 7,200; Palmetto-Ruskin, 5,500, 6,000; East Coast, 1,350, 1,200; other areas, 1,650, 1,600; all areas, 15,300, 16,000).

GENERAL: The prospective area for harvest of 13 selected fresh market vegetables during the fall quarter is forecast at 182,400 acres, down 2 percent from last year and off 1 percent from 1996. Acreage reductions for snap beans, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, and cucumbers offset increased acreage of cauliflower, celery, eggplant, head lettuce, and tomatoes.

SNAP BEANS: Fall fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 14,500 acres, down 10 percent from last year and 8 percent less than 1996. Conditions in some eastern areas were dry and unfavorable for planting. New Jersey experienced a normal season.

CABBAGE: Fresh market acreage for harvest is forecast at 7,400 acres, down 6 percent from last year but 4 percent above 1996. Growing conditions in New Jersey have improved since the dry summer weather.

SWEET CORN: Fresh market acreage for harvest is estimated at 9,500 acres, down 9 percent from last year, and 12 percent less than 1996. Extremely dry conditions in New Jersey affected fall planting. In California, quality has improved due to recent seasonable temperatures. Harvest is expected to proceed with no unusual problems.

CUCUMBERS: Acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 7,700 acres, 8 percent below last year and 3 percent below 1996.

ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is forecast at 700 acres, down 22 percent from both 1997 and 1996.

BELL PEPPERS: Fall acreage for harvest is forecast at 11,000 acres, 3 percent less than both 1997 and 1996.

TOMATOES: Fresh market acreage for fall harvest is estimated at 26,800 acres, 2 percent above last year and 6 percent above 1996. In California, recent cooler temperatures helped relieve the stress of extremely hot temperatures early in the season. Harvest is on schedule with few problems reported.

Vegetables for fresh market, prospective acreage for harvest, October, November, and December, by States, 1998 with comparisons.
Selected crops and States	Usual harvest period	Fall acreage			1998 area for harvest as percent of 1997
		Harvested		For harvest 1998
		1996	1997
		Acres			Percent
SNAP BEANS:
Florida	Oct-Dec	6,700	6,700	6,900	103
Georgia	Oct-Dec	3,500	4,300	2,600	60
Maryland	Sep-Oct	300	300	400	133
New Jersey	Aug-Oct	2,600	2,300	2,400	104
South Carolina	Oct-Dec	600	500	600	120
Virginia	Sep-Oct	2,100	2,100	1,600	76
Total		15,800	16,200	14,500	90
CABBAGE:
Florida	Oct-Dec	800	1,000	900	90
Georgia	Oct-Dec	4,200	4,600	4,500	98
New Jersey	Sep-Nov	1,200	1,200	1,200	100
Texas	Sep-Nov	900	1,100	800	73
Total		7,100	7,900	7,400	94
SWEET CORN:
Florida 1/	Sep-Dec	7,500	6,600	5,500	83
California	Oct-Dec	3,300	3,800	4,000	105
Total 1/		10,800	10,400	9,500	91
CUCUMBERS:
Florida 1/	Oct-Dec	3,500	3,600	3,000	83
South Carolina	Oct-Dec	800	700	800	114
Texas	Sep-Nov	900	1,100	900	82
Virginia	Sep-Oct	2,700	3,000	3,000	100
Total		7,900	8,400	7,700	92
EGGPLANT:
Florida	Sep-Dec	600	500	600	120
ESCAROLE/ENDIVE:
Florida 1/	Oct-Dec	400	400	300	75
New Jersey	Sep-Nov	500	500	400	80
Total		900	900	700	78
BELL PEPPERS: 2/
Florida 1/	Oct-Dec	7,100	7,000	7,000	100
Texas	Sep-Nov	4,200	4,300	4,000	93
Total 1/		11,300	11,300	11,000	97
TOMATOES:
Florida 1/	Sep-Dec	13,400	15,300	16,000	105
California	Oct-Dec	11,900	11,100	10,800	97
Total		25,300	26,400	26,800	102
TOTAL OF CROPS LISTED
Florida		40,000	41,100	40,200	98
United States		79,700	82,000	78,200	95
TOTAL OF CROPS ESTIMATED
United States 3/		200,400	205,600	201,600	98
1/ 1997 revised. 2/ Includes fresh market and processing. 3/ Total of crops listed plus broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, head lettuce, cantaloups, honeydew melons, and watermelons.