HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending October 13, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. October 15, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: Strong winds, some heavy rains occurred when Tropical Storm Josephine made landfall in the Big Bend area early in the week. Milder weather during the rest of the period allowed field work to get back on schedule. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate to surplus 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 0% (0%), short 3% (0%), adequate 51% (72%), and surplus 46% (28%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 2% (11%), adequate 53% (69%), and surplus 45% (20%). Peanut condition is re ported: 5% (2%) very poor, 31% (26%) poor, 28% (30%) fair, 20% (36%) good, and 16% (6%) excellent. Peanut harvest is reported at 67%. Wet field conditions have delayed peanut harvest in some areas. Tobacco markets are scheduled to close this week. Cotton harvest is active. Haying is active. Corn harvest is virtually complete. Soybean harvest is starting. Sugarcane mills are making preparations to open. Sugarcane planting is active. 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): poor 0% (5%), fair 35% (20%), good 50% (70%), and excellent 15% (5%). The condition of the pastures in the north and central areas was hurt by local flooding. Also, cooler weather has slowed pasture growth, especially in the northern counties. The State's cattle herds were rated at fair 10% (15%), good 75% (80%), and excellent 15% (5%). CITRUS: Most citrus groves were thoroughly drenched Monday and Tuesday. Rains with Tropical Storm Josephine and bands of moisture associated with that storm covered most rural grove areas with amounts up to 7 inches. High temperatures were in the mid- 80s and low were in the mid to low 60s for the coolest weather of the fall. Harvest of early season fruit is increasing as many more groves and trees are now passing minimum maturity tests. Hamlins, Navels, Amersweet oranges, Satsumas, Fallglo tanger ines, white and colored grapefruit are increasing in volume as several packing houses are now open and running even though the weather last week caused a temporary slow down. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops. Limited spraying is still going on in some fresh fruit groves. Dead tree removal continues. VEGETABLES: Field work slowed as heavy rains fell in most areas early in the week. Strong winds reduced yield prospects due to bloom loss and fruit scarring. Drier weather during the rest of the period allowed crops to recover and field work to get back on schedule. Harvesting of sweet corn, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, eggplant, and peppers continued. SNAP BEANS: North--Picking slowed by storms first part of week but resumed during latter part. Dade--Most acreage in good condition. A few plants in low spots covered by water, lost. Everglades--Some water, wind damage reported. Some acreage replanted. East Coast--Crop condition mostly good. Picking to begin in about 2 weeks. West Central--Condition rated fair to good. Planting nearing end. U-Pic harvesting starting. Southwest- -Crop in fair condition. Wind, rain damaged some foliage, scarred some pinbeans. CABBAGE: Hastings, Central--Planting active. West Central-- Planting active. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. CARROTS: Zellwood--Crop in very good condition. Planting active. Digging expected to start about mid-December. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, North--Crop in good condition. Yield outlook good with some wind damage reported. Picking increasing as more acreage reaches maturity. Everglades--Wind, rain tossed some plants but foliage recovering. Light harvesting underway. East Coast--Oldest fields in good condition. Wind, rain slowed field work. Planting slow but germination good. Dade--Crop in good condition. Most acreage to be planted in November. Southwest--Crop in fair to good condition. Wind tossed plants but recovery expected. Planting continuing at steady pace. CUCUMBERS: North--Picking slowed by storm. Some hydro ponic type available. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Pickle harvesting continuing. Some U-Pic harvesting active. Fruit quality fair to good. Sizes fair. East Coast--Some plants, runners tossed by strong winds with some foliage broken. Most acreage protected by windbreaks. Fruit beginning to set in oldest fields. Planting active. Southwest--Crop in fair condition. Strong winds damaged some foliage, scarred some young fruit. Recovery expected. Planting continuing at steady pace. Dade--Most fields in good condition. Zellwood--Pickle harvesting underway. Some water damage reported. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Initial cuts yielding fancy, choice grades of mostly good quality. Adverse weather slowed blooming, fruit setting, fruit sizing. Planting steady. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--Harvesting yielding light supply. Recent rains caused some damage with recovery expected. Zellwood--Harvest to begin within 7 to 10 days. LETTUCE: Everglades--Recent adverse weather caused some damage with recovery expected. Light supply Romaine, head varieties available. Zellwood--Harvest to start soon. OKRA: Dade--Rain boosted growth, development. Harvest of oldest fall acreage beginning. PEPPERS: East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Bloom ing, fruit setting, fruit sizing slowed by rain, wind. Planting continuing. Picking of Bell, specialty varieties underway. Bell quality mostly good with sizes running large, extra large. Good quality cubanelles available. Southwest--Condition fair to good. Some foliage damage from recent rain, wind but expected to recover. Planting steady. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. POTATOES: Southwest--Growers starting to plant. Southeast-- Growers making land preparations. RADISHES: Zellwood--Digging beginning. Quality good. Everglades--Harvesting to begin soon. SQUASH: North--Rain delayed some harvesting but most activity on schedule. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Planting active. Picking gaining momentum. Quality fair to good. Sizes, color good. East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Dark skies slowed fruit setting, sizing. Strong winds broke some stems but only slight damage occurred. Harvest of zucchini, yellow types slowed by adverse weather. Quality mostly good with fancy, medium grades available. Southwest--Condition fair to good as plants recover from wind, rain damage. Planting gaining momen tum. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Some wind damage but plants expected to recover. TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking slowed by storms, soggy soils. Growers straightened some plants blown over with recovery expected. Producers have about 30 to 35 percent of harvesting completed. Other North--Some hydroponic type fruit being marketed. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair condition. Recent strong wind knocked off some blooms. Rainfall reduced effectiveness of pesticides. Growers starting to remove pinks from oldest acreage. Southwest--Overall condition fair to good. Strong wind, heavy rain blew off blooms, scarred some young fruit. Transplanting on schedule. East Coast--Crop condition mostly good. Strong winds burned some foliage with recovery expected. Dade--Crop in fair condition. Water standing in some row middles but growth not affected. Workers made first ties in oldest fields, continuing to spray for insect, disease control. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop in fair to good condition. Some plants tossed by wind. Southwest--Crop in fair to good condition. Planting active. Wind, rain affected yield prospects. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition fair to good. Planting active. Plants tossed by wind with some bloom loss, some scarring of fruit. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition fair to good. Harvesting to start in 7 to 14 days. WATERMELONS: North--Picking active after storm delay. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition fair to good. Some wind damage reported. Harvest increasing slowly. Quality fair to good. Color fair. Small, medium sizes available. Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Plants tossed by winds with some rain damage reported.