HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS WEATHER & CROP NEWS Week ending September 29, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. September 30, 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEATHER SUMMARY: Rainfall over the southern Peninsula during the week through Saturday September 28 ranged from none to less than half an inch, except for about an inch recorded at Tampa and Homestead. Several southern Peninsula localities received heavy rains and strong winds on Sunday, September 22. Temperatures for the week averaged one to three degrees below normal in some western Panhandle and northern Peninsula cities, but were normal to three degrees above over most of the central and southern Peninsula. Lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s with lows in the 50s recorded in Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Gainesville on at least one morning. Highs remained in the 80s and 90s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate throughout the State with scattered areas of short moisture. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 3% (10%), short 31% (16%), adequate 66% (64%), and surplus 0% (10%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 3% (0%), short 17% (17%), adequate 80% (64%), and surplus 0% (19%). Peanut condition is reported: very poor 0% (0%), poor 33% (18%), fair 12% (4%), good 22% (40%) , and excellent 33% (38%). Peanut harvest is reported at 51 percent complete. Tobacco marketing is active. Cotton harvest is starting. Hay cutting is active. Corn for grain harvest is winding down. Soybean growers are making preparations to start harvest. Sugarcane growers are starting to plant. LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of the State's ranges and pastures was, rated from very poor to excellent (previous week's rating in parenthesis); poor 5% (5%), fair 20% (25%), good 75% (70%), and excellent 0% (0%). The growth and quality of grass is beginning to diminish in the northern counties due to seasonally cooler weather. Pastures in the west central area could use some rain. The State's cattle herds were rated at fair 10% (10%), good 85% (85%), and excellent 5% (5%). Fall calving season is underway in central counties. CITRUS: Groves, trees and new crop fruit continue in very good to excellent condition. There was limited rainfall this week and many growers have started running their irrigation equipment. High day time temperatures were lower this week with some caretakers reporting highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. There are many early crops that have started to show first stages of color break. Packing houses are still testing Navels, Ambersweet oranges, Fallglo tangerines, Satsumas, and both colored and white grapefruit. Several thousand boxes of these types have been shipped to date. Four processing plants are open and receiving packing house eliminations. Caretakers are mowing, discing and chopping cover crops in all areas of the citrus belt. Herbiciding and Fall spraying continue. A few growers are liming and starting the late fall fertilizations. Young tree fertigating is still active in most counties. VEGETABLES GENERAL: Nearly ideal weather allowed planting and picking to proceed at a normal pace. The tomato harvest began around Quincy. Other vegetables being harvested include squash, cantaloupes, pickles, sweet corn, and watermelons. Picking is active in northern areas, and is beginning for a few crops in the West Central and East Coast regions. Snap bean picking is getting underway in the North. Dade County growers are continuing to harvest a limited volume of okra. SNAP BEANS: North--Harvest getting underway. Dade--Crop condition good. Planting slow but expected to increase over the next few weeks. East Coast--Crop condition rated good. Planting continuing at steady pace. Recent seedings germinating well. Blooming of oldest fields beginning. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting gaining momentum. Crop in fair to good condition. Planting slow but to increase over next two weeks. Southwest--Crop in good condition. Oldest plants just coming up. Planting gaining momentum. CABBAGE: Hastings--Growers starting to plant. West Central-- Planting starting. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. CARROTS: Zellwood--Crop in good condition. SWEET CORN: North--Picking of limited volume active with volume to increase in about 2 to 3 weeks. Zellwood, Everglades-- Crop condition mostly good. Picking to begin over next 7 to 10 days. East Coast--Planting active with field preparations continuing. Dade--Acreage to be harvested for local market in very good condition. Producers to plant larger fields over the next few weeks. Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting steady. CUCUMBERS: North--Picking to get underway over next 7 days. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting winding down. Growers starting harvest of pickles with fair to good quality fruit of fair to good sizes picked. East Coast--Most acreage in good condition. Recent plantings germinating well. Workers thinning some blocks, pulling weeds from acreage planted on used plastic. Southwest--Crop rated in good condition. Planting gaining momentum. Sumter County--Limited acreage in good condition. Dade--Rainfall at end of week boosted pickle growth with all plants making good stands. Growers to plant larger acreage of pickles over next few weeks. Zellwood--Pickles in good condition. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop in very good condition. Plants blooming, setting fruit with good fruit sizing. Transplanting continuing at steady pace. Staking, tying active. Dade--Scattered showers at end of week aided plant growth. Limited plantings making good stands. Larger fields to be planted over next few weeks with most plastic already laid. Workers spraying for control of insects, disease. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Plant growth, fruit development slow but normal. FLORIDA VEGETABLES Page 2 September 30, 1996 ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Crop in good condition. Planting continuing. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Most planting on schedule. OKRA: Dade--Crop in very good condition. Warm temperatures, scattered rain aiding plant growth with blooms beginning to appear. Producers continue to pick a limited volume of good quality from summer acreage. PEPPERS: North--Harvest to begin within next 10 days. Southwest--Crop condition good to excellent. Planting continuing at steady pace. Blooming increasing slowly. East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Oldest Bell acreage showing baseball size fruit with fruit sizing increasing. Initial pick of Bells to begin in about 2 to 3 weeks. Laying of plastic, transplanting steady. Specialty varieties developing very well with plants blooming; fruit setting, gaining size. West Central-- Crop in fair to good condition. Planting beginning to wind down with some growers finished . POTATOES: Southwest--Growers making field preparations. Planting to start in early October. RADISHES: Zellwood--Crop in good condition. Digging to start within next 7 to 10 days. SQUASH: North--Picking active. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting winding down with some producers finished. Harvest of oldest fields continuing. Quality fair to good. Sizes normal. Color good. East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Plant growth, development improving with fruit setting and gaining size. First cuts of light volume, both zucchini and yellow type, made in oldest fields. Quality mostly good. Southwest--Crop in good condition. Planting starting to increase. Dade--Oldest acreage in good condition with recent rain boosting development. Plants making good stands. Larger fields to be planted over next few weeks. Sumter County--Limited plantings developing well. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting slowly increasing. TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking underway with nearly ideal weather speeding progress. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition rated fair to good. Transplanting finished. Fruit setting, sizing fair to good with picking to begin in about 3 to 4 weeks. Staking nearly completed. Workers continuing to make 1st, 2nd, 3rd ties. Spraying for control of insects, disease active. Southwest-- Crop in good condition. Planting steady. Oldest plants beginning to set fruit. Producers drenching new transplants with water to ensure good stand, lessen resetting. Workers laying plastic, transplanting, staking, tying, pruning, spraying East Coast-- Crop condition mostly good. Most of oldest acreage setting fruit with fruit sizing increasing for crown crop. Transplanting continuing at slow but steady pace with growers continuing to provide water to new sets to ensure proper stands. Workers leveling land, laying plastic, planting, staking, tying, pruning, spraying. Dade--Limited acreage in good condition with plants making good stands. Scheduled spraying keeping insects, disease under control. Transplanting expected to increase over next few weeks. Lots of plastic being laid. Sumter County-- Limited acreage in good condition. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition rated fair to good. Planting completed. Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting continuing at steady pace. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition good. Planting steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition fair to good. Planting finished. WATERMELONS: North--Picking active. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition rated fair to good. Planting completed. Picking to begin over next 7 to 14 days.