HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending November 3, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. November 4, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: Dry weather and warmer tempera tures boosted growth of crops during the week of October 27 through November 2. Most stations recorded no rain during the week. Temperatures averaged four to eight degrees above normal at most inland locations and two to three degrees above in Dade County and at most coastal sites. Highs were mostly in the 80s while most lows were in the 50s and 60s. Some northern localities recorded lows in the 40s during the week. A passing cold front dropped lows into the 30s and 40s over most northern areas and over some central Peninsula sites on Sunday and Monday, November 3 and 4. Cloud cover over other central Peninsula areas during Sunday and Monday kept most low temperatures in the 50s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is short to adequate through out the State. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 0% (0%), short 47% (22%), adequate 53% (76%), and surplus 0% (2%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 34% (9%), adequate 66% (82%), and surplus 0% (9%). Peanut harvest is reported at 94% 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): poor 10% (0%), fair 45% (35%), and good 45% (65%). Pasture conditions have decreased in most of the State due to dry weather, and in the northern counties due to seasonally cooler temperatures. Pastures in the southwest improved as they dried off. Small grains for forage are being planted in the north and central areas. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 5% (0%), fair 25% (20%), and good 70% (80%). CITRUS: Virtually all areas of the citrus belt were dry for most of the week. There were scattered showers in some groves Saturday afternoon and evening November 2. Most caretakers on the high sand ridge counties are running their irrigation equipment. New growth has slowed with the absence of regular rain. New crop early fruit is making good progress, but a little behind last year to the same time. Fresh fruit packing houses are shipping Navels, Hamlins, and Ambersweet oranges, white and colored grapefruit, Robinson and Fallglo tangerines and early tangelos. Also, shipments of K-Earlys continue. There were 10-12 processing plants open this week for varying amounts of time. Caretakers are cutting cover crops prior to harvesting and for fire control. Few sprays are still being applied. Some winter or November fertilizations are going on at this time. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 20 Oct 27 Nov 3 Navel oranges 132,000 183,000 211,000 Early and Mid oranges 171,000 264,000 547,000 All grapefruit 547,000 626,000 778,000 Tangerines 141,000 196,000 216,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 15,000 24,000 20,000 Tangelos 1,000 10,000 47,000 VEGETABLES: The warm, dry weather continued to aid the recovery of crops from the recent wind and rain damage. Picking of major crops continued with tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, snap beans, squash, eggplant, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce, endive, escarole, okra, strawberries, watermelons, and cantaloupes available. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Plants continue to recover slowly with fertilizer applications aiding recuperation. Picking of oldest acreage will begin in about two weeks. Early yield outlook is below normal. Planting continues. Everglades--Picking getting underway. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Recent plantings are germinating well. Machine and hand harvesting are active. Quality and color are mostly good. West Central-- Condition remains fair to good. U-Pic harvesting is steady with commercial picking to begin in about two weeks. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are fair. Color is good. Southwest--Condition is good. Plant growth is excellent. Planting continues at a steady pace. CABBAGE: Hastings--Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Planting active. West Central--Planting steady. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Planting active. Plants growing with good stands. CARROTS: Zellwood--Warm, dry weather is aiding develop ment. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, North, Everglades--Picking contin ues. Dade--Plants continue to recuperate from the recent heavy rainfall. Oldest acreage is starting to tassel. Planting is continuing. East Coast--Oldest acreage is in good condition. Planting is steady but slow. Workers continue to prepare land for winter crop planting. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting remains steady. Plants recovered well from the recent adverse weather. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is increasing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are fair. Color is good. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Good weather is boosting plant growth and fruit development. Harvest is increasing with super selects, selects, and 24 count boxes of good quality and color available. Southwest--Crop condition remains fair to good. Picking is gaining momentum with good quality and yield reported. Planting is active. Dade--Pickle picking is underway. Quality and yield are good. Planting is active. Zellwood--Pickle harvest is active. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Transplanting continues at a slow pace. Harvest of regular and Italian varieties is producing fancy and some choice grades of excellent quality and color. Dade--The crop remains in very good condition. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is steady with fair to good quality available. West Central--Condition is fair to good. Cutting is getting underway with fair to good quality fruit of fancy and choice grades available. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvest of light volume is active. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Supply increasing slowly. OKRA: Dade--Crop condition continues to be good. Harvest is increasing as more acreage reaches maturity. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting continues at a steady pace. Initial picking began with fair to good quality available. East Coast--Bell varieties are in mostly good condition with growth accelerated by the warm, dry weather. Picking of Bell varieties continues to increase with crown picks yielding good quality. Volume will increase as more second picks are made. Harvesting of cubanelles, long hots, Hungarian wax, and a very light volume of red gourmets is active. Quality and color of specialty varieties is good. Planting is active. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Crop condition is fair to good. Commercial picking is expected to begin over the next two weeks. POTATOES: Southwest--Planting steady. Crop condition good. Growth and development normal. Dade--Planting under way. Most fields dried out and in fine shape to plant. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Planting and harvesting continues. SQUASH: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvest is increasing seasonally. Quality of zucchini and yellow types is fair to good. Fancy and medium grades available for yellow varieties. Zucchini sizes and color are good. East Coast-- The crop condition remains good for both zucchini and yellow varieties. Younger plants are blooming, setting and sizing fruit. Harvesting of fancy and medium grades is active. Quality and color are excellent. Workers are planting and cleaning acreage completely picked. Southwest--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Planting is steady. Harvest is increasing seasonally. Quality is good. Dade--Most acreage is in good condition. Plants are recovering from the slight damage caused by the recent strong winds and heavy rainfall. Harvest of a small volume continues with good quality available. Yield is good. Planting is active. North-- Producers continue to pick a light supply. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Picking of a very light volume is underway. The dry, warm weather is affecting fruit development. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Trans planting is active. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Trans planting is continuing. TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth, fruit setting, and fruit sizing are improving. Trans planting is on schedule. Picking of the oldest acreage began. Quality is fair to good. Grade-out is above normal due to earlier wind and rain damage. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop condition is rated fair to good. Fruit sizing is fair to good with progress slightly behind usual. Harvest is slowly increasing. Fruit quality is fair to good. Quincy--Harvesting continues. East Coast--Crop condition is rated good. Harvest is underway with good quality and color available. Crown picks are providing extra large, large, and some medium sizes. Transplanting is continuing. Dade--Condition is rated good. Oldest plants are showing small fruit. Transplanting continues. Producers are irrigating as needed. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Picking is very active with fair to good quality available. Yield is increasing. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Picking is active with progress to increase over the next two to three weeks. Quality is good. Southwest--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting continues at a steady pace. Picking is getting underway. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvest is very active. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are mostly medium with a few large sizes available. Southwest--The crop remains in good condition.