HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending June 23, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. June 24, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: Comments on the week's weather and its effect on crop conditions are included in paragraphs below. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate in the Panhandle and adequate to surplus throughout the Peninsula with scattered areas of short moisture. Recent rains have perked up the dryland crops. Peanut condition is reported as 35 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Percent of peanuts pegging is 64 percent. Cotton planting is complete. Soybean planting is virtually complete. Wheat harvest is complete. Tobacco harvest is underway. Hay cutting is active. Sugarcane is in good condition. LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of the State's ranges and pastures was rated from very poor to excellent (previous week's rating in parentheses): poor 0% (5%), fair 40% (35%), good 55% (55%), and excellent 5% (5%). Recent rains occurred in almost all areas, with some localized flooding, north central and southeast. There was some smut grass problem in the southeast. The State's cattle herd was rated at : poor 5% (0%), fair 30% (40%), good 60% (50%), and excellent 5% (10%). CITRUS: There were rains and thunderstorms in all areas of Florida's citrus belt this week. The east and west coast and southern interior received the most rainfall. There continues to be an abundance of new growth on trees of all ages in well-cared-for groves. New crop fruit is doing well with sizes progressing normally for the end of June. Harvest of Valencia oranges was slowed this week due to the rains and limited remaining supplies. Very few grapefruit were picked this week as the season is all but over. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops which are growing rapidly with the summer rains. Some herbicides are being applied where needed. Summer sprays and fertilizations are going on in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jun 10 Jun 17 Jun 24 1,000 boxes Valencias 3,363 1,791 NA All grapefruit 96 21 NA INTERNET ACCESS The weekly Weather and Crop News for Florida and other States is available on Internet each Monday shortly after 4:00 p.m. Access the NASS home page at http://www.usda.gov/nass then select NASS Publications. VEGETABLES VEGETABLES: Scattered rains of varied amounts continued to fall over much of the State this past week. Daytime temperatures continued to reach into the upper 80s and low 90s. The frequent rains caused no significant harvesting delays in the northern and remaining central areas. The Palmetto-Ruskin region received some spotty hail and varied amounts of rain ranging up to 8 inches. Market News Service preliminary rail and truck shipments (in 10,000 pound units) for the weeks ending June 22, 15, and 8 were 13,475; 18,297; 19,452, respectively. Shipments for individual crops are shown below in the same order and units. SNAP BEANS: (8; 17; 16) North--Harvest continuing. West Central--Some U-Pic harvest continuing. BLUEBERRIES: (5; 13; 23) North--Harvest almost over. CABBAGE: (0; 21; 48) North, West Central--Harvest virtually complete. Southwest, Dade--Harvest is complete. CARROTS: (11; 18; 35) Central--Season nearing completion. CELERY: (43; 72; 134) Central--Harvest slowing seasonally. SWEETCORN: (1,310; 1,220; 1,943) North--Picking active. Zellwood--Harvest active. CUCUMBERS: (49; 288; 662) North-- Picking continues. West Central--Some U-Pic harvesting active. Zellwood--Pickle harvest declining. EGGPLANT: (51; 118; 162) North--Cutting of a small acreage continuing. OKRA: (29; 28; 31) Dade--Picking active. Quality, yield fair to good. Good volume available throughout summer months. PEPPERS: (109; 358; 903) North-- Picking active. West Central--Very small amount of commercial harvesting left. U-pic harvesting continues. FLORIDA VEGETABLES Page 2 June 24, 1996 POTATOES: (1,683; 4,106; 4,966) Hastings, North--Harvest winding down. Dade, Southwest, Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvest over. RADISHES: (3; 5; 9) Central-- Digging virtually finished. SQUASH: (20; 24; 80) North--Picking declining. West Central--Some U-Pic harvesting continues. TOMATOES: (3,211; 2,909; 3,927) Gadsden County--Picking Continues. Palmetto-Ruskin--Most growers finished picking. Some U-Pic harvesting continues. CHERRY TOMATOES: (33; 62; 91) Gadsden County--Picking continues. PLUM TOMATOES: (Shipments included with round varieties of tomatoes) Gadsden County--Harvest continues. West Central--Harvest winding down. Quality fair to good, sizes normal. Volume and yield declining. WATERMELONS: (6,910; 9,025; 6,299) North-- Harvesting active. Quality fair to good. West Central--Picking winding down. Sizes variable.