Florida Agricultural Statistics Service 1222 Woodward Street Orlando, Florida 32803 407 / 648-6013 WEATHER & CROP NEWS Week ending July 7, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. July 8, 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEATHER SUMMARY: Comments on the week's weather and its effect on crop conditions are included in paragraphs below. FIELD CROPS: Recent rains replenished topsoil and subsoil moisture in many central and southern Peninsula localities, but also skipped many crop production areas. Statewide ratings of topsoil moisture are: 22 percent very short to short and 78 percent adequate to surplus; versus last week's ratings of 9 percent very short to short and 91 percent adequate to surplus. Statewide ratings of subsoil moisture are: 12 percent very short to short and 88 percent adequate to surplus, almost equal to the prior week's ratings. Lack of rain is stressing some dryland crops in the Panhandle with peanut condition declining from the rating of 93 percent good to excellent last week, to this week's 63 percent good to excellent and 37 percent fair. Ninety-eight percent of the peanut acreage was pegged. Recent rainfall improved the condition of some tobacco with most fields already harvested at least one time. Tobacco markets are expected to open on July 23. Haymaking continued during the week. Corn, cotton, and soybean condition remains mostly good except in drier localities of the Panhandle. LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of the State's ranges and pastures was rated from very poor to excellent (previ ous week's rating in parentheses): very poor 5% (0%), poor 5% (0%), fair 5% (25%), good 70% (60%), and excellent 15% (15%). Rain has helped pastures in the southern part of the State while the Panhandle is hot and dry again. The State's cattle herd was rated at poor 0% (0%), fair 10% (25%), good 80% (55%), and excellent 10% (20%). Mosquitoes are bad on the livestock in some central areas. CITRUS: There were several days this week of abundant, hard rains and severe thunderstorms. A few areas on both coasts received 2 to 5 inches of rain. Also, some areas in the interior had heavy rain toward the end of the week. Generally, this was a very wet week in the citrus belt. There is new growth on trees of all ages in all areas. New crop fruit is making very good progress with near ideal growing conditions. Valencia harvest is nearly over for this season with very few fresh squeeze plants still taking fruit. Virtually all of the grapefruit have been picked. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops which are growing rapidly with the recent moisture. Summer fertilizations and sprays continue in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jun 24 Jul 1 Jul 8 1,000 boxes Valencias 770 82 NA All grapefruit 35 3 NA VEGETABLES: Daily, scattered showers occurred during the week with heavier amounts of rain recorded in central and north central localities. Hot temperatures continued in all areas. Central and northern growers continued sweet corn harvesting with supplies declining as the season nears the end. Most watermelon harvesting is finished for the season except to meet local demand. Tomato picking continued around Quincy with supplies in seasonal decline. Gadsden County growers are laying plastic for fall crop tomato transplanting. 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLORIDA VEGETABLES Page 2 July 8, 1996 Pastures in Florida were in good condition in early fall of 1995, but heavy rains in October pulled conditions down. Standing water was a problem in the southeast and central areas through November. Armyworms and mole crickets also hurt the permanent pastures. In the last months of 1995, the grass did not grow well due to colder than normal weather. Ranchers were feeding supplemental hay by late November. Frosts damaged much of the grass in the northern part of the State in December. Heavy rains came early in January. Several hard frosts in the north during January and February damaged the permanent pasture and delayed development of the fall-seeded winter pasture. Pastures in the northern part of the State suffered from freezing temperatures until the end of March, and cooler than normal weather delayed grass growth through April. Pastures were dry during March and April. Supplemental hay feeding continued until late April in many areas and feed became scarce and expensive. Pasture conditions slowly improved through May and June as temperatures and rainfall returned to normal.