HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending October 27, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. October 28, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: Clear and sunny skies dried central and southern Peninsula fields during the week of October 20 through 26 and enabled growers to get most planting and harvest ing back on schedule. Most stations recorded no measurable rain for the week with only from a trace to about a third inch falling in Vero Beach, Panama City, Key West, and some West Central coastal localities. Cool temperatures persisted early in the week with lows in the 40s and 50s felt in most northern, central, and southern areas. Highs were mostly in the mid to upper 80s. Temperatures averaged from two to five degrees below normal in most inland areas with coastal averages normal to one degree below. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly short to adequate throughout the State with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 0% (0%), short 22% (5%), adequate 76% (42%), and surplus 2% (53%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 9% (4%), adequate 82% (46%), and surplus 9% (50%). Peanut harvest is reported at 91% complete. Cotton harvest is active. Haying is winding down. Soybean harvest is active. Sugarcane mills are starting to open for the 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 65% (55%), and excellent 0% (10%). Grass pasture is almost gone in the northern counties as the fall season ends. Water is subsiding in northern and southeastern pastures where there were standing water problems last week. The State's cattle herds were rated at fair 20% (15%), good 80% (75%), and excellent 0% (10%). CITRUS: There were plenty of cool temperatures in all areas of the citrus belt the first of this week. There was virtually no rain during the period except for a few showers on the East Coast. New growth is slowing due to shorter days associated with less rain. Most early fruit is showing various stages of on-tree color break. Harvest of the early fruit is gaining momentum as more groves are passing minimum maturity tests. At least eleven processing plants are open taking packing house eliminations. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have grown tall and out of control. Some growers are cutting tall weeds next to their groves for fire prevention. A few sprays and fertilizations are still being applied. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 13 Oct 20 Oct 27 1,000 boxes Navel oranges 91,000 132,000 183,000 Early and Mid-oranges 94,000 171,000 264,000 All grapefruit 391,000 547,000 626,000 Tangerines 78,000 141,000 196,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 17,000 15,000 24,000 Tangelos 0 1,000 10,000 VEGETABLES: Producers were able to get most field work back on schedule. Workers replaced fertilizer leached by recent heavy rains with most plants recovering well. Harvesting of major crops is active with tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, squash, radishes, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, and okra avail able. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Bush varieties are recovering slowly from yellowing due to leaching as producers replace lost fertilizer. Oldest bush fields are blooming with good volume expected during the last half of November. Pole varieties were not hurt by recent heavy rainfall with most plants now at top of poles. Growers expect picking of pole crop to begin in about 15 days. Everglades- -Harvesting is expected to begin within the next 7 to 10 days. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition with plants recovering well from recent adverse weather. Light harvesting is beginning with fair to mostly good quality beans picked. Planting continues at a slow but steady pace. West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Picking is increasing seasonally with fair to good quality beans of good size and color available. Southwest--Crop is recovering nicely from the recent winds and rain with condition rated good. Planting progress is steady. CABBAGE: Hastings, Central--Planting active. West Central-- Planting active. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Plants growing well with good stands. CARROTS: Zellwood--The crop is in good condition. Planting is active. Digging will start about mid-December. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, North--Harvest is active. Supplies are light. Quality is fair. Everglades--The supply is light as picking gets underway. Dade--Condition is good. Plants are recovering from recent adverse weather with growers replacing fertilizer leached by recent heavy rains. Planting is active. East Coast--Oldest acreage is in mostly good condition. Field prepara tions are very active as ground dries out from the recent heavy rains. Planting continues at a slow but steady pace. Southwest-- Plants are recovering well from recent wind effects with condition rated good. Planting continues at a steady pace. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Condition is rated fair to good. Harvest is active with fair to good quality picked. Sizes are running small to medium with some large sizes available. Growers are planting a small acreage for harvest early next year. East Coast--The crop condition remains fair to good. Some plants show effects of the recent adverse weather with recovery expected. Supplies are light as harvesting gets underway. Quality is good. Color is mostly good. Growers are packing some super select, select, and 24 count cartons. Volume is expected to increase as more fields reach maturity. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is starting with good sizes of fair to good quality available. Planting continues to gain speed. Dade--Pickle plants are growing fast and making good vines. Picking is expected to begin this week with yield outlook rated good. Planting is continuing. Zellwood--Pickles are in good condition. Picking continues. Yields are below usual due to poor pollination. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Regular, Italian varieties are in good condition. Cutting increasing as more acreage reaches maturity. Fancy and some choice grades of regulars are available. Quality of both regular and Italian types is excellent. Color is good. Trans planting continues. Dade--The crop looks very good. Plants are expected to begin blooming this week. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting of small fields is steady. Cutting is starting with fair to good quality fruit harvested. Some fruit shows scarring caused by recent strong winds. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Supplies are light as harvest gets underway. Quality is fair to good. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvest is active with light supplies available. Quality is fair to good. OKRA: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Harvest continues to increase. Quality and yield are good. PEPPERS: East Coast--Crop condition is rated mostly good. Warmer temperatures are speeding fruit maturation. Transplanting of Bell varieties is continuing. Harvest of Bell varieties is increas ing rapidly with mostly good quality fruit of medium to large to extra large sizes available. Picking of long hot, cubanelle, and Hungarian wax varieties is active with excellent quality fruit available. Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Planting is steady. Fruit is starting to mature on the oldest plants. West Central--Condition of the crop is fair to good. Some fields are being harvested as U-Pic with commercial picking expected to begin soon. POTATOES: Southwest--planting increasing in activity. Dade--Growers starting to plant. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Most producers are digging on a daily basis. Planting is active. Some rain and wind damage from recent adverse weather reported. SQUASH: North--Harvest is active with light supplies available. West Central--Condition is rated fair to good. Planting of a small acreage is active. Picking is increasing. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Cutting is active with zucchini, yellow types of fancy and medium grades being packed. Quality and color are excellent. Growers are clearing some blocks completely picked. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. Picking is gaining momentum with fair to good quality available. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Most acreage is recovering well from recent wind damage. Dade--Transplanting is active. TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking continues. Palmetto-Ruskin-- The crop remains in fair to good condition. Most plants have set fruit with sizing continuing to improve. Picking started with a very light volume available. Quality is fair to good with mostly medium sizes available. Southwest--Crop condition is mostly good. Planting is steady. Fruit set and sizing are good. Picking is expected to begin within the next 7 to 10 days. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Warmer temperatures are boosting fruit maturation. Picking is expected to start within the next 7 to 10 days. Dade--The crop condition is improving. Clear weather allowed growers to get field work back on schedule with transplanting, staking, and spraying very active. Workers made second ties in some fields. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Harvest is gaining momentum. Fruit quality is fair to good. Fruit sizes and color are fair. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting remains steady. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Harvest is gaining momentum. Fruit of fair to good quality and good color is available with some scarring evident. Sizes are normal. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condi tion. Transplanting is active. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is rated fair to good. Picking is increasing seasonally. Quality is fair to good with small and medium sizes available. Southwest--The crop is in good condition.