HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending October 20, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. WEATHER SUMMARY: Some central and southern Peninsula areas experienced heavy rains as Hurricane Lili passed to the south during the week of October 13 through 19. Homestead reported over five inches of rain for the week. Some East Coast localities received around an inch and a half of rain, while Daytona Beach reported almost three inches. Most northern localities escaped the heavy precipitation. Weekly temperatures mostly averaged within a degree or two of normal. Lows dipped into the 40s and 50s in many northern and central Peninsula areas while most highs remained in the 80s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate to surplus throughout the State with scattered areas of short moisture. Topsoil moisture condition is reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 0% (0%), short 5% (3%), adequate 42% (51%), and surplus 53% (46%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 4% (2%), adequate 46% (53%), and surplus 50% (45%). Peanut harvest is reported at 80% complete. Wet field conditions have delayed cotton and peanut harvest in some areas. Tobacco markets are closed for season. Haying is active. Corn harvest is virtually complete. Soybean harvest is starting. Sugarcane mills are starting to open for harvest season. 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): fair 35% (35%), good 55% (50%), and excellent 10% (15%). Winter pasture is being planted in the northern counties, and early seedlings are emerging. Some pasture has standing water in northern and Big Bend counties and East Coast pastures in marsh areas are wet from rainfall of the previous week. Grass is short in the west central area but recent rain boosted growth. State's cattle herds were rated at fair 15% (10%), good 75% (75%), and excellent 10% (15%). CITRUS: Low pressure from the north and feeder bands from Hurricane Lili supplied the southern and coastal parts of the citrus belt with plenty of moisture this week. Generally, the interior and the upper areas of the citrus industry received very little rainfall during the week. Some groves have started to harden up due to shorter days and cooler weather. Some young trees are still producing a lot of new growth, which is normal at this time. Harvest is increasing as more crops are passing maturity tests. Packing houses are shipping colored and white grapefruit, Navels, Hamlins, and Ambersweet oranges, early tangerines and a few Satsumas. Field testing of early fruit continues for fresh packing and shipping. Caretakers are cutting cover crops prior to harvesting and the upcoming winter season. A few fall miticides are still being applied for fresh fruit crops. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 20 Navel oranges 102,000 99,000 132,000 Early & Mid oranges 115,000 92,000 171,000 All grapefruit 370,000 382,000 547,000 Tangerines 65,000 82,000 141,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 9,000 16,000 15,000 VEGETABLES: Rains delayed some field work over the central and southern Peninsula. Wind and rain from Hurricane Lili's bands tossed plants and scarred some fruit in some localities. Vegetable volume leaders: sweet corn, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, snap beans, eggplant, peppers, watermelons, cantaloupes, pump kins. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Crop rated in very good condition. Cloudy, wet weather boosting growth of young plants. Field work delayed by adverse weather but expected to increase rapidly as weather clears. East Coast--Crop condition remains mostly good. Some plants blown by strong winds with some beans split but no serious damage reported. Rain, wind increased bloom drop. Initial picking to begin this week. Planting continuing at slow pace. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Picking active with fair to good quality beans of good size, color available. Southwest--Crop condition rated fair to good. Some wind, rain damage apparent but plants expected to recover. CABBAGE: Hastings, Central--Planting is active. West Central-- Planting is active. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Growers making preparations to start planting. CARROTS: Zellwood--Condition mostly good. Harvest to begin mid-December. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, North--Picking continuing. Most acreage escaped effects of rain, wind. Dade, Everglades--Condi tion variable with some plants showing wind, rain damage. Oldest Dade plants about a foot high. Most Dade acreage to be planted in November. Picking light in Everglades. East Coast--Field work slowed by adverse weather. Oldest fields in mostly good condition. Planting continuing between showers. Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Some plants laid over by strong winds but expected to straighten. Planting steady. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Condition fair to good. Picking increasing for both fresh market, pickles. Quality fair to good, sizes fair, color good. East Coast--Young fields protected by wind breaks show fair to good growth. Oldest acreage forming runners but pollination, fruit set, fruit sizing slow. Harvest of light volume underway. Quality mostly good. Planting active. Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Wind burned some leaves, broke some foliage but plants expected to recover. Planting increasing seasonally. Dade--Wet weather speeding growth. Oldest acreage showing small pickles. Harvesting to begin within 7 to 10 days. Zellwood--Pickle harvest active. Most fields escaped wind, rain damage. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition mostly good. Bloom ing, fruit set, fruit sizing slowed by overcast skies. Some picking active prior to storms with mostly good quality available. Fancys, some choice cut. Planting slow but steady. West Central-- Condition fair to good. Plant growth, fruit development normal. Dade--Crop in very good condition. Blooming expected over next few days. Planting slowed by rains. Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Planting gaining momentum. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvest of very light volume active between showers. Plants expected to grow out of any wind, rain damage received. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Plants to recover from wind, rain damage. Very light supply Romaine, head varieties available. OKRA: Dade--Crop in very good condition. Wet conditions speeding growth. Harvest increasing as more acreage reaches maturity. Quality good. Yield fair. PEPPERS: East Coast--Plants in mostly good condition. Winds increased bloom loss. Most plants tied prior to storms with less damage received. Bell, specialty variety picking increasing. Quality, size good. Southwest--Crop in fair to good condition. Wind increased bloom drop, broke off some leaves but plants expected to recover. Planting steady. West Central--Crop condition rated fair to good. POTATOES: Southwest--Growers starting to plant. Southeast-- Growers making land preparations. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Very light volume available as oldest acreage reaches maturity. SQUASH: North--Picking continuing. West Central--Crop in fair to good condition. Picking steady. Quality, sizes fair to good. Color good. East Coast--Crop in fair to good condition. Strong wind, rains affected most acreage. Planting, harvesting slowed by showers. Zucchini, yellow type of good quality, color available. Fancy, medium sizes cut. Southwest--Crop in fair to good condition. Winds burned leaves, broke stems but recovery expected. Planting increasing seasonally. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condi tion fair to good. Transplanting steady. Dade--Transplanting beginning with most acreage to be set in November. TOMATOES: Quincy--Good weather allowed picking to proceed normally. Harvest completion nearing half way. Workers making 1st, 2nd, 3rd picks with later maturing varieties beginning to reach maturity. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition fair to good. Fruit setting, sizing improving in some fields. Picking underway. Fruit quality fair. Sizes running medium to large. Southwest--Condition fair to good. Rain, winds caused some plant damage, increased bloom drop. Some immature fruit scarred. Plants already tied show less damage. Transplanting active. East Coast--Crop in mostly good condition. Overcast skies slowing fruit setting, fruit sizing. Winds caused some bloom loss, foliage breaks on plants not yet tied. Only very minimal damage from adverse weather. Picking expected to begin within next 12 to 14 days. Dade--Crop in good condition but needing dry, sunny weather. Most transplanting delayed by rains. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition fair to good. Picking getting underway. Quality fair to good. Sizes improving. Color good. Yield increasing. Southwest--Crop condition rated fair to good. Planting steady. Strong wind caused some damage, mainly to plants not yet tied. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop in fair to good condi tion. Planting steady. Untied plants suffered some damage from strong winds. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition rated fair to good. Picking underway. Quality fair to good. Sizes normal. Color good. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition fair to good. Harvest gaining momentum. Quality fair to good. Sizes mostly medium. Color good. Southwest--Condition rated fair to good. Plants show some wind damage but recovery expected.