HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending November 10, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. November 12, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: The passage of cold fronts brought cooler temperatures to most areas during the week of November 3 through 9. Minimum temperatures dipped into the 30s and 40s over most of the state at both ends of the week. Low temperatures stayed in the 50s and 60s in Dade County and some coastal localities as the cold fronts passed. Warmer weather during most of the week kept average temperatures near normal to three degrees above at most stations. Rain totaled a half inch or less in most localities although almost two inches fell around West Palm Beach. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is short to adequate throughout the State with scattered areas of very short. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 13% (0%), short 34% (47%), adequate 53% (53%), and surplus 0% (0%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 39% (34%), adequate 61% (66%), and surplus 0% (0%). Peanut harvest is reported at 99% complete. Cotton harvest is active. Haying is virtually complete. Soybean harvest is winding down. Sugarcane harvest and planting are active. LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of the State's ranges and pastures was rated from very poor to excellent (previous week's rating in parentheses): poor 15% (10%), fair 65% (45%), good 10% (45%), and excellent 10% (0%). The condition of the State's pasture decreased due to dryer weather and seasonal coolness. The quality of warm season grasses is poor in the north. Some pastures in the north were hit by a freeze last week and have turned brown. Dry soil conditions are holding up winter pasture seeding in some north central areas. Earlier seeded winter pasture is emerging. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 5% (5%), fair 60% (25%), good 25% (70%), and excellent 10% (0%). CITRUS: It was dry again this week except for a few passing showers Friday, November 8. Very cool and pleasant temperatures during the weekend followed the light rain. Production of new foliage is virtually over for the year in the upper and interior areas of the citrus belt. Some young tree groves in the southern and coastal regions are still showing some young growth. Most of the early oranges, tangerines, tangelos, and grapefruit are showing various stages of on tree color break. Harvest is increasing for both fresh and processed utilization. More than half of the State's processing plants are open. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops for fire control prior to harvesting. Some cover crops that have grown tall and out of control are causing various problems with low volume irrigation water distribution. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 27 Nov 3 Nov 11 Navel oranges 198,000 211,000 258,000 Early and Mid oranges 290,000 547,000 2,037,000 All grapefruit 688,000 778,000 1,029,000 Tangerines 208,000 216,000 329,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 23,000 20,000 8,000 Tangelos 31,000 47,000 101,000 VEGETABLES: Harvesting is increasing to meet the holiday demand with the clear weather speeding progress. Many growers are irrigating fields to ensure proper soil moisture supplies. Dry conditions are affecting the development of greens in Union County. Crop marketings include: tomatoes, sweet corn, peppers, cucumbers, snap beans, squash, eggplant, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, endive, escarole, okra, strawber ries, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Picking is underway with very good quality available. Yield is good. Volume is low but is expected to increase as more acreage reaches maturity. Planting continues. Workers are irrigating young fields as needed. Everglades, North--Harvesting is active. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Planting is slow. Germination of recent plantings is good. Machine picking is increasing slowly. Quality and color are good. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. U-Pic harvesting continues with commercial harvest to start over the next 7 to 10 days. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are medium. Color and volume are good. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting is slowing seasonally. Picking is gaining momentum with good quality available. Yield is fair to good but is expected to increase as growers begin harvest in more fields. Union County--Harvest is active. Some fields are at pin bean stage with some picking to begin in a couple of weeks. 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 well with good stands. Plants look good with cool nights helping. All need irrigation CARROTS: Zellwood--The crop is in mostly good condition. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, North, Everglades--Harvest is active. Dade--Crop condition is good. More fields are starting to tassel. Planting is active. Picking is expected to start during the last half of November. East Coast--Recent plantings show good germination and plant growth. Older fields are making good stands. Land preparation for winter crop acreage is continuing. Southwest--Condition is rated good. Ears are developing normally with good quality available. Harvest is expected to begin within the next five days. CUCUMBERS: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is active with fair to good quality of mostly medium sizes available. Volume is increasing. East Coast--The crop condition is mostly good. Some planting continues. Harvest continues to increase with good quality and color available. Growers continue to pack super selects, selects and 24 count boxes. Workers are mowing and cleaning acreage completely picked. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is steady. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Yield is mostly good. Dade--Pickle harvest is picking up momentum with good quality available. Yield is good. Volume is low but is expected to increase slowly over the next two months. Zellwood--Pickle picking is continuing. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Condition of regular and Italian types is very good. Growers are cutting fancy and some choice grades to good to excellent quality and color. Some transplanting of winter crop acreage is active. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Cutting is expected to start by early December. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting of a limited acreage is steady. Harvest of a light volume continues. Quality and yield are good. West Central-- Crop condition is fair to good. Harvest is gaining momentum. Quality is fair to good with good sizes and color available. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvest is increasing seasonally. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvest of mainly Romaine and a small volume of other leafy types continues. OKRA: Dade--The crop looks very good. Harvest volume continues to increase seasonally. Quality and yield are good. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop condition is rated good. Planting is steady. Picking is increasing seasonally. Quality is good. Yield is good for most first picks. East Coast--The crop condition is good. Young plants have good foliage development. Acreage nearing maturity has a good fruit set with fruit sizing well. Planting of winter crop acreage is active. Harvest is increasing with both first and second picks made. Green Bell quality is very good with some red Bells available. Growers also are picking cubanelle, jalapeno, long hot, and Hungarian wax varieties of good quality, color, and size. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop condition remains fair to good. Commercial harvesting will begin over the next 7 to 10 days. POTATOES: Southwest--Planting steady. Crop condition good. Growth and development normal. Young plants in good shape. Dade-- Planting active. All look good. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging is increasing seasonally. SQUASH: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is active with fair to good quality, size, and color available. East Coast-- Plant growth and fruit development are good. Fruit is setting and sizing well. Growers are cutting fancy and medium grades of good to excellent quality and color. Workers are preparing land for winter crop acreage with acreage completely picked being cleaned. Southwest-- Crop condition is good. Planting remains steady. Harvest is active with good quality picked. Yield is good. Dade--Harvest of a light volume remains active. Quality and yield are good. Volume is low but is expected to increase slowly through early December. Planting is continuing. North--Picking of a low volume continues. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Cooler temperatures are aiding crop development. Harvest of a low volume continues with most being sold locally. Volume is expected to increase slowly over the next two weeks with a good volume available by the last week in November. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Transplanting is virtually finished. Dade--U-Pic acreage is growing well with planting almost complete. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Young acreage is in good condition while some of the oldest fields show effects of earlier adverse weather and some disease. Transplanting continues. Picking of a low volume is active as oldest fields reach maturity. Quality is fair to good with extra large, large, and some medium sizes available. Yield is light for the first picks. Grade out remains above normal. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is increasing with fair to good quality available. Sizes are improving. Yield is increasing. Quincy--About ninety percent of harvesting is complete. Some good to excellent quality is available. Some growers will get a 3rd pick with a low volume available. A low volume of greens is available over the next 10 days. Some growers are finished picking. East Coast--The crop remains in good condition. Harvest is slowly increasing. Crown picks are providing good quality fruit of extra large, large, and some medium sizes. Picks of second hands also are yielding good quality. Grade out is normal. Transplanting of winter crop acreage continues at a slow but steady pace. Dade--Cool nights and warm, sunny days are aiding plant and fruit development. Older plants show many blooms which are holding well. Transplanting is very active. Picking of a small volume is expected by mid-December. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Harvest is increasing. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. Volume and yield are increasing. Southwest--Condition is good. Planting of a small acreage is active. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Picking is gaining momentum. Quality is fair to good. Planting of a limited acreage is steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvest is increasing. Quality is good. Sizes and color are good. Yield is improving. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is increasing. Quality is fair to good with good color available. Sizes are mostly medium. Southwest--Crop condition is good.