HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending December 29, 1996 Released 4:00 P.M. December 30, 1996 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warmer temperatures returned to the "Sunshine State" during the week of December 22 through 28. Although some Panhandle, northern Peninsula, and central Peninsula areas recorded lows in the 30s, the average low temperatures for the week were in the 40s and 50s. The Keys', Dade County's, and some southeastern coastal localities' low temperatures averaged in the 60s. Highest temperatures soared into the 70s and 80s. The weekly average temperatures were two to six degrees above normal. Rainfall for the week totaled from none to about one-fourth inch. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula with scattered areas of surplus or short moisture. The southern Peninsula moisture is short to adequate. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 3% (10%), short 55% (40%), adequate 37% (41%), and surplus 5% (9%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 3% (0%), short 35% (41%), adequate 57% (65%), and surplus 5% (5%). Cotton harvest is complete. Sugarcane harvest and planting are active. Growers are taking soil samples and preparing fields for spring crops. Tobacco bed construction is underway. Pine tree planting is 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 10% (15%), fair 55% (55%), and good 35% (30%). Recent seasonal cold and freezing temperatures have hurt the permanent pastures of the northern and central counties. Pastures need moisture to grow. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 5% (0%), fair 35% (55%), and good 60% (45%). CITRUS: Above average temperatures and morning fog covered the citrus belt this week. There was very little rain except for a few spotty showers along both coasts. Cool night temperatures are preventing citrus trees from producing new growth. Picking crews are very active moving early and midseason oranges. Most of these oranges are going to processing plants. Movement of all seedless grapefruit is most active on the lower east coast. Tangerines and tangelo harvest continue active for the fresh markets. Caretakers are cutting cover crops prior to harvest. There are some rust mite sprays being applied on crops going to the fresh trade. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Dec 15 Dec 22 Dec 29 Navel oranges 699,000 508,000 141,000 Early and Mid oranges 9,489,000 9,614,000 5,840,000 All grapefruit 1,206,000 1,152,000 466,000 Tangerines 347,000 501,000 182,000 Temples 0 3,000 2,000 Tangelos 384,000 343,000 206,000 VEGETABLES: Harvesting slowed for the holiday with activity picking up later in the week to meet the New Year's holiday demand. Below normal rainfall during most of December has prompted growers to irrigate most fields to ensure proper soil moisture. Volume leaders: tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, cucumbers, sweet corn, celery, snap beans, squash, strawberries, and carrots. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Young acreage remains in good condition. Planting is active. Harvesting continues to increase. Quality is good. Yield is average. Volume is rising. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly good. Machine and hand harvesting is steady. Quality and color are good. Workers are cleaning fields completely picked. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. The recent cold winds burned leaves and increased bloom drop. Plants are expected to recover but future yield prospects are down. Planting continues at a steady pace. Fall crop harvesting is finished. West Central--Virtually all fall crop harvesting is finished. CABBAGE: Hastings--Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest active. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size medium. Color good. Yield increasing but slowly. Planting winding down. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Cutting a little slow this week. Dade- -Harvest volume very low but will increase in January. Crop looks good, making good heads with cool weather helping. Growth and development good. Irrigation needed. CARROTS: Zellwood, Everglades--Picking is increasing. SWEET CORN: Everglades--Harvesting continued. East Coast--Fields nearing maturity are in mostly good condition. Picking is increasing. Quality is good. Yield is improving. Producers are discing fields completely picked with some acreage planted for spring crop harvesting. Dade--Crop condition is good. More ears are tasseling. Harvesting of a low volume continued with supply to increase about mid-January. Zellwood--Virtually all harvesting is finished. Southwest--Crop condition is rated good. Recent cold winds caused no significant damage. Planting remains steady. CUCUMBERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Recent adverse weather caused significant damage to most plants. Planting of winter acreage is finished. Picking continued with fair to good quality available. East Coast--Overall crop condition is mostly good with young acreage rated good. Harvest of a small acreage is yielding good quality and color. Workers are cleaning up fields completely picked and starting to plant spring crop acreage. West Central--Virtually all harvesting is completed. Dade--Pickles are in very good condition. Harvesting continued. Quality and yield are good. Supply expected to reach normal levels within the next 5 to 7 days. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Young fields are in good condition. Older acreage is blooming and setting fruit with fruit gaining size. Harvest of a light volume continues. Quality and color are good with fancy and some large fancy grades being cut. Planting of spring crop acreage is underway. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. Harvest of a light volume is active. Quality is good. Dade--Picking is increasing as more acreage reaches maturity. Quality and yield remain good. Good volume is expected for the rest of the season. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades--Harvest is active. LETTUCE: Everglades--Picking continues. OKRA: Dade--Crop condition is improving with recent cooler temperatures slowing recovery from the mid-November cold winds. Harvesting is active. Supply is slowly increasing. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. The recent cold winds caused some damage with plants recovering well. Planting and picking are steady. Quality and yield are good. Some wind-scarred fruit is not meeting grade. East Coast--Crown picks are providing very good quality, size, and color. Green and red Bells, and yellow and red gourmets are being harvested. Picking of a lighter volume of cubanelles, long hots, finger hots, jalapeno, and Hungarian wax is active. Quality of all varieties is good. Growers are preparing land and laying plastic for the spring crop. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality and color are fair to good. Sizes are fair. POTATOES: Southwest--Planting winding down. Crop condition good. Growth and development normal. Dade-- Planting virtually complete. Crop looks very good at this time. Soil moisture is good in most fields with a few needing irrigation. West Central--Planting winding down. Crop condition good. Growth and development normal. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting remains active. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Some fields show damage from the recent cold snap, while others show virtually no damage. Planting remains active. Picking is steady. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Young plants are showing blooms and setting and sizing fruit. Harvest of zucchini and yellow varieties continues at a moderate pace with fancy and mediums available. Color and quality are good. Workers are mowing down acreage completely picked. Dade--Young acreage is in very good condition. Harvesting continues to increase. Quality and yield are good. West Central--Virtually all fall crop harvesting is finished. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Recent cool temperatures boosted fruit quality. Harvesting is increasing seasonally. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Harvesting is underway. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is fair to good. Dade--U-Pic harvesting is increasing. Sizes are good. Ample supplies are available. TOMATOES: Southwest--Overall crop condition is fair to good. Some plants show burned leaves and scarred fruit caused by the recent cold weather but no major damage occurred. Planting is on schedule. Picking of a heavy volume continues. First picks are producing extra large to large sizes; second picks, extra large, large, and some medium sizes; third and later picks, large and medium sizes. Quality and yield are good. East Coast- -Most fields are recovering well from the mid-November cold winds with plants blooming and setting fruit. Harvesting is steady. Crown picks are yielding good quality and sizes. Second pick sizes are improving. Volume is slowly increasing. Dade-- The crop is in very good condition. Warmer temperatures are aiding plant growth and fruit setting. Yield prospects are very good. Planting remains active. Harvest of a low but increasing volume continues. Quality and size are good. Palmetto-Ruskin- -The crop is in fair condition. Picking of a low volume continues. Quality is fair. Growers are preparing land for spring crop transplanting with a lot of plastic already laid. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Some plants show light leaf damage caused by the recent cold spell. Planting is winding down. Picking is steady with good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. Picking remains steady with fair to good quality available. Sizes and color are good. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Some plants show damage caused by the recent cold weather. Harvesting continued with good quality fruit picked. Palmetto- Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvest continues to slow seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. Volume is declining as the season nears the end. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition is fair. Harvesting is nearing the end. Quality is fair. Palmetto-Ruskin--Virtually all fall crop picking is finished.