HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending March 30, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. March 31, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Hot temperatures continued throughout the week of March 23 through 29. Most highs were in the 70s and 80s while most lows were in the 60s and 70s. Northern cities recorded lows in the mid to upper 40s on at least one morning as cold fronts passed over the State. Temperatures for the week averaged three to seven degrees above normal. Scattered showers dropped varying amounts of rain across the State at the end of the week and over the weekend of March 29 and 30. Official totals covering Sunday through Saturday ranged from none to a little over a half inch. Some localities in Dade County received less than half an inch while others received less than an inch. Some southwestern localities recorded up to one and a half inches of rain for the week. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is short to adequate throughout the State with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Tobacco transplanting and field corn planting are active. Growers are making preparations to start peanut planting. Ground preparation for spring planted crops is active. Small grains are heading. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 2 0 3 6 Short 52 49 44 22 Adequate 45 47 52 72 Surplus 1 4 1 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Northern pasture conditions have improved, though some hay feeding continues. Pastures have been fertilized and are starting to grow. Spring pasture conditions improved in the central area due to the recent rain and warmer temperatures. Grass growth is still slow. Mole cricket damage and weed problems are showing up in some pastures. The general condition of the cattle is poor to good, unchanged from last week. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 15 15 5 5 Fair 60 35 45 45 Good 25 50 50 50 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Groves in all areas of the citrus belt are in good condition, although rain is needed. There were heavy downpours associated with the passage of a front near the end of the week. Many caretakers and growers continue to run their low volume irrigation to maintain good tree condition. Most trees have completed blooming and petal drop. There are still some trees that have not had complete petal drop, but they are going in that direction. There is an abundance of new foliage on trees of all ages. Harvest of Valencia oranges is active in most areas, with only limited crops moving from the lower east coast. Seedless grapefruit are going to both fresh and process markets. Temples and Honey tangerines are slowing as supplies are limited. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops to help save surface moisture. Hedging and topping are going on in all areas. Some growers are pushing live trees to change varieties. Post bloom nutritional sprays are being applied following bloom petal drop. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Mar 16 Mar 23 Mar 30 Early and Mid oranges 491,000 207,000 16,000 Valencia oranges 2,887,000 4,019,000 4,677,000 All grapefruit 3,815,000 3,178,000 2,887,000 Tangerines 131,000 106,000 77,000 Temples 165,000 133,000 98,000 VEGETABLES: Hot temperatures continued to accelerate plant growth and fruit development. Gusting winds that accompanied scattered storms caused only minor damage. Vegetable volume leaders: cabbage, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, strawberries, celery, squash, carrots, eggplant, lettuce, and endive/escarole. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Growers are picking fields that were planted after the January freeze. Volume is good. Quality is fair. Price remains low. A good volume remains available through mid- April. Everglades--Harvesting is active. Quality is good with a good volume available. East Coast--Recent plantings continue to germinate well. Machine and hand harvesting are yielding good quality. Cultivating and fertilizing are active. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Picking is making steady progress. Quality and yield are good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central-- Harvest steady. Crop in good condition. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size mostly small to medium. Cutting very active. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Weekly cuttings on cabbage continue with normal yield and good quality until mid-April. Warm weather not doing fields any good. CARROTS: Zellwood--Harvesting is very active. Quality and yield are very good. SWEET CORN: Everglades--Pulling is underway. Yield is good. Quality is very good. Dade--Harvesting continues. Quality is good. A fair volume remains available over the next two weeks. East Coast--The crop remains in good condition. Pulling remains active with good quality available. Yields continue to improve. Southwest--The crop condition is rated good. Picking is gaining momentum. Quality is good. Zellwood--Plant growth is excellent with warm temperatures speeding development. Picking will begin in late April. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Harvest of a moderate volume is yielding super selects, selects, smalls, and 24 count cartons. Growers are getting a good packout. Quality and color are good. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Harvest progress is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Picking will start within the next four weeks. Dade--Picking of pickles continues. Quality is good with a fair volume available through most of April. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Condition of the crop is good. Cutting of a moderate volume is producing excellent quality and color. Growers are packing fancys, large fancys, and a few choice. Grade-out is light. Workers are cleaning acreage completely harvested. Dade--Cutting remains active. Yield is fair. Quality is good. Growers expect to continue cutting throughout April. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Cutting is expected to start soon. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Cutting continues at a steady pace with a light volume available. Quality is good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting continues with a good volume available. Quality is good. LETTUCE: Zellwood--Harvesting continues with a good volume available. Quality and yield are good to excellent. Everglades-- Harvesting is active. Quality is good with a good volume available. OKRA: Dade--Recent showers boosted growth and development. Oldest acreage is blooming. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop condition is rated good. Picking remains steady with good quality and yield. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Green Bell harvesting is very active with good quality available. Crown picks are providing double extra large, extra large, and large sizes. Picking of red, yellow, and suntan Bells continues with a light volume available. The volume of Bells is increasing as more acreage reaches maturation. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is rated fair to good. Picking will begin within the next seven to ten days. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition good. Growth and development good. Harvest steady. Quality and yield good. Dade --Digging underway in all fields. Quality good. Yield lower than expected. Growers hoping it will improve on later diggings. Volume will be good until April 10th or 15th and then slack off. West Central--Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development normal. Harvest gaining. Quality fair to good. Size variable. Yield low but expected to increase as digging continues. Hastings--Growers getting ready to start harvest. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Spraying to keep blight under control. RADISHES: Everglades--Digging is active with very good quality available. Zellwood--Harvesting remains active with a good supply available. Quality is good. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking remains steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Picking is underway. Quality, size, and color are fair to good. East Coast---Crop condition is good. Young acreage has good plant growth, blooming, fruit setting, and fruit sizing. Growers continue to cut zucchini and yellow varieties with fancy and medium grades being packed. Dade--Young fields are in good condition with workers irrigating as needed. Harvesting of mature acreage is active. Quality and yield are good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Picking is slowing seasonally. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Picking is winding down. Berry quality and color are fair. Sizes are variable. Dade-- Hot temperatures and windy weather have caused a limited supply of U-Pic. Cooler temperatures are needed to bring on another picking. TOMATOES: Southwest--Overall crop condition is good. Harvesting is becoming more active as more acreage reaches maturity. First picks are producing good quality and a good supply of extra large to large sizes. Second and third picks are yielding good quality fruit of mostly large and medium sizes. Packout is about normal with a small amount of fruit not meeting grade due to earlier freeze damage. Dade--Youngest acreage is in good condition. Picking continues with good quality available. First picks are yielding good sizes and packouts. Windy, hot weather is lowering the condition of some second and third picks. Grade-out of second and third picked fruit is above normal. East Coast-- Condition is good. Warm temperatures continue to accelerate fruit maturation. Harvesting is very active with extra large, large, and medium sizes available. Quality is good. Yield and packout are improving. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition remains fair to good. Fruit setting is improving. Fruit sizing is fair to good. Picking will begin soon over the next seven days. Quincy--About eighty to eighty-five percent of planned acreage has been transplanted. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting will begin over the next seven to ten days. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is increasing seasonally. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition remains fair to good. Picking will start within the next seven to ten days. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Cutting will start in early April. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting will get underway in a few weeks. Oxford, Pedro--Planting is nearly finished. Baker County--Planting underway. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------