HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending February 2, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. February 3, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Clear skies and mostly warm temperatures allowed fieldwork to progress at a normal pace during the week of January 26 through February 1. Rainfall. totaled from none at several stations to about a half inch, with extreme southern areas receiving from about three fourths to almost two inches. Temperatures ranged from lows in the 30s, 40s, and 50s to highs in the 60s and 70s, with 80s recorded in some extreme southern and southeastern coastal localities. Temperatures for the week averaged from one to five degrees above normal at most stations. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle. Some low areas flooded along creeks and rivers in the Panhandle. Northern Peninsula topsoil moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus 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 0% (1%), short 44% (53%), adequate 50% (40%), and surplus 6% (6%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (1%), short 35% (36%), adequate 61% (59%), and surplus 4% (4%). Sugarcane harvest is active. Heavy rains slowed growers field preparations for spring crops in the Panhandle. Small grains are recovering from the earlier freeze damage. Growers are maintaining tobacco plant beds. Digging of pecan and other nursery stock is well underway. 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): very poor 5% (15%), poor 50% (40%), fair 20% (40%), good 25% (5%), and excellent 0% (0%). The Panhandle and central areas received storms and heavy rains. Some pastures in the Panhandle flooded. Pasture growth in the Panhandle has been slow. In the northern counties, the ground is wet from excessive rain. Tropical soda apple has shown up in the southeast. Some pasture burning is being done in the southwest and ranchers are feeding hay and supplements where pastures are poor. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 10% (10%), fair 55% (65%), good 35% (25%), and excellent 0% (0%). CITRUS: Warm days, cool nights and very little rain except on the east coast typified the weather this week. Those trees that have lost foliage from freezing temperatures and or frost January 19 are mostly showing signs of leafing out with pinhead bloom buds. This new grwoth is very vulnerable to adverse weather and temperatures. Early and mid orange harvest was very active this week. Picking crews are rapidly moving any damaged fruit to the processors. Grapefruit movement is very active on the east coast for both fresh and process utilization with abundant supplies. Caretakers are discing and cutting in dead cover crops for fire protection. A few growers are applying spring fertilizers. Hedging and topping are underway in most areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 19 Jan 26 Feb 2 Navel oranges 266,000 180,000 217,000 Early and Mid oranges 11,053,000 7,308,000 10,214,000 Valencia 9,000 19,000 213,000 All grapefruit 1,624,000 1,222,000 1,476,000 Tangerines 349,000 185,000 191,000 Temples 124,000 98,000 182,000 Tangelos 402,000 250,000 226,000 VEGETABLES: Planting is getting back on schedule with replanting of acreage damaged by the recent cold weather continu ing. Most young acreage is in fair to good condition. Growers are irrigating and fertilizing some older fields hurt by the recent cold weather in hopes of recovery. Vegetable volume leaders: tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, celery, sweet corn, carrots, strawberries, snap beans, eggplant, squash. Northern growers are preparing land for watermelons. Planting in the Webster area is expected to start in about ten days. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Condition of young acreage is improving. Growers are hoping to recover some older acreage damaged by the recent frost by irrigating. A considerable acreage has been replanted. Harvest volume is very low. East Coast--Crop condition of young acreage is improving. Older plants are showing blooms with pin beans forming. Harvest of oldest fields by machine and hand is producing mostly good quality. Volume is light. Some planting of spring acreage is active. Southwest-- Planting of fields killed by the recent freeze is active. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest active. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size improving. Yield and volume fair. Planting steady. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Cabbage looks good and weekly harvest is underway. Good quality and average yield. Growth and develop ment are good. CARROTS: Zellwood--Harvesting continues. SWEET CORN: Dade, Everglades--Young fields are recovering from the recent spotty frost damage. Picking is active with good quality available. Yield is down due to the recent frost damage. East Coast--Older fields are in variable condition. Recent plantings are spiking through the ground. Pulling is increasing. Quality is variable. Volume is light. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Crop condition is improving. Picking of a light volume continues. Quality and color are fair to mostly good. Planting continues. Workers are thinning younger fields. Southwest--Most of the oldest acreage is in poor condition due to the recent freeze damage. Planting is underway. Picking of a small acreage protected from the recent freeze by crop covers is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. Dade--Growers will begin replanting acreage lost to the recent frost within the next two weeks. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Older fields are in variable condition. Younger fields are slowly improving. Plants at mid-growth stage are blooming with fruit setting and gaining size. Planting is active. Cutting of a light volume continues with choice and some fancy grades available. Some scarred fruit is not meeting grade. Dade-- Young acreage is improving. Producers are salvaging fruit from older fields. Supply will be low for the next three weeks. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting of a light volume remains active as plants continue to recover from the recent freezing temperatures. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades---Supplies remain light as plants continue to recover from the recent cold temperatures. OKRA: Dade--Growers are expected to begin planting in late February or early March. PEPPERS: Southwest--Young acreage is in good condition. Older plants are in poor to fair condition. Picking continues at a steady pace with fair quality available. East Coast--Most fields are in good condition. Producers harvested a light to moderate volume of green Bells and a light supply of red and yellow Bells. Crown picks are providing good sizes and quality. Transplanting is active. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Planting is steady. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition poor. Growth and development slow. Young plants showing signs of coming back from freeze damage. Harvest starting. Quality and size good. Dade--Potatoes look fairly good but showing some damage from rain and cold. First fields killed. The first harvest will start in 3 weeks. West Central--Crop condition fair. Growth and develop ment normal. Hastings--Planting active. Growth and development normal. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting continues. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition for very young plants is fair to good. Planting is gaining momentum. East Coast--Crop condition is variable for older fields. Growers picked a light volume of fancy and medium grades. Quality and color are mostly good. Workers are cleaning fields completely picked. Dade-- Young acreage is beginning to recover from the effects of the recent frost. Growers are trying to recover older acreage signifi cantly damaged by the recent cold temperatures. Replanting of some fields is active. Picking of a very low volume continues. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Warmer weather is increasing the amount of marketable berries with a seasonal increase of Sweet Charlies available. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Harvest remains steady. Quality, sizes, and color are fair. Volume is below normal. Dade--The U-Pic crop is in good condition with picking active. Quality and yield are good. TOMATOES: Southwest--Recent plantings are in good condi tion. Older spring crop acreage is in fair condition while growers are making salvage picks from the oldest winter crop acreage. Quality is fair. Sizes are variable. Gradeout is high due to freeze and sun damage. East Coast--Crop condition is improving. Young plants are recovering from the recent cold weather with new growth appearing. Harvest continues with a moderate volume picked. Crown picks are providing good quality and sizes. Dade-- Young fields are in good condition. Oldest acreage is greening up. Growers are cleaning up frost damaged acreage that has been picked twice. Picking continues with good quality and sizes available. Volume is down due to above normal gradeout of fruit damaged by the recent cold weather. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Planting is getting back on schedule. Workers are beginning to stake. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Planting remains active. Picking of fall and winter acreage is finished with harvest shortened by freeze damage. Southwest--The crop is in poor condition due to cold weather damage. Producers are making salvage harvests. Fruit quality is fair. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in poor to fair condition. Picking is steady. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Planting is mostly steady. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition of recent plantings is good. Planting continues at a steady pace. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Planting is beginning. Crop condition is rated fair.