HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending April 27, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. April 28, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Significant rains dropped from one and a half to over six inches of precipitation at the major weather stations during the week of April 20 through 26. The Palmetto- Ruskin area recorded unofficial totals of four to almost nine inches of rain. Key West received only about a quarter inch and West Palm Beach about a half inch from these showers through Saturday. Temperatures ranged from normal to three degrees below for the week. Highs were mostly in the 80s with Orlando, Miami, and West Palm Beach reporting at least one daily high in the 90s. Lows averaged in the 50s and 60s with Key West lows averaging in the 70s. Some northern Peninsula localities recorded at least one low in the 40s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly adequate in the Panhandle with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Moisture in the Peninsula is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Fifteen percent of the peanuts have been planted. Growers are making preparations to start cotton planting. Ground preparation for spring planted crops is active. Haying is starting. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 39 19 34 20 Adequate 42 71 54 71 Surplus 19 10 12 9 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most southern and central area pastures received needed rain. Other central and northern areas were short of moisture. Cooler temperatures have limited growth of permanent pastures but have been good for haymaking on small grain pastures in the northern counties. Heavy rains in some southwest and central area pastures has caused flooding. Mole cricket damage is severe in some west central counties. Cattle were in generally fair to good condition throughout the State. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 10 5 0 0 Fair 50 40 55 40 Good 40 50 45 55 Excellent 0 5 0 5 CITRUS: Strong winds and pounding rain hit the citrus belt throughout the day Wednesday, April 23 with daylong showers and thunderstorms returning Saturday, April 26. Rainfall amounts varied, but generally there were accumulations of one inch or more in all citrus counties. Trees are in very good condition as a result of the rain last week. New crop fruit continues to make good progress as the trees drop unwanted fruit that cannot be carried for next season. Valencia harvest is still very active in all areas. Most of the oranges are currently going to the processors. Movement of all seedless grapefruit continues strong for the domestic fresh market from the lower east coast. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops prior to and following harvest to remove tall weeds, limbs, and brush. Post bloom nutritional sprays are being applied in all areas. Spring herbiciding continues. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Apr 13 Apr 20 Apr 27 Valencia oranges 7,015,000 6,251,000 7,534,000 All grapefruit 2,604,000 1,546,000 1,711,000 Tangerines 68,000 51,000 36,000 Temples 21,000 11,000 4,000 VEGETABLES: Strong winds and heavy rains caused some damage to plants and fruit around Palmetto-Ruskin and in some northern localities. Sweet corn picking is getting underway in the Zellwood area. Vegetable volume leaders: tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, peppers, cabbage, cucumbers, watermelons, celery, snap beans, eggplant, escarole and endive. SNAP BEANS: North--Harvesting of a light volume continues. Dade, Everglades--Picking of a light volume continues. Quality is good. Some acreage has reduced yield due to disesase. A light volume is available for the next two to three weeks. Southwest-- The crop is in good condition. Picking continues at a steady pace. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking continues to increase seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. East Coast--Condition is good. Picking of a small acreage continues. Quality and color are good. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central-- Harvest steady. Quality is variable. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size variable. Color good. Volume and yield good. Crop in fair to good condition. Dade--Cabbage season over. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging is steady. Quality remains generally good. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Picking is getting underway. Everglades--Harvesting continues. Quality is generally good. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Dade--The season is nearing the end. Pulling continues for local sales. East Coast--Condition remains good. Pulling is slowly winding down with growers still harvesting a small acreage. Ear quality is good. Workers are disking acreage completely harvested. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Condition is good. Harvesting continues. New blocks are providing good quality and color. All sizes are available. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good with some plants tossed by winds during recent storms. Picking is mostly steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Dade-- Pickle plant condition affected by recent strong winds blowing during storms. Picking remains active with a fair volume available for the next two weeks or more. Quality and yield are good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is mostly very good. Cutting of a moderate to heavy volume is active with large fancy and fancy grades available. A lighter volume of choice grades is also available. Quality and color are excellent. Dade--Cutting of a small volume continues with a light amount available for the next two to three weeks. Quality and yield are fair. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition is fair to good. Adverse weather slowed some harvesting. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are improving. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Quality remains generally good. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting remains active. OKRA: Dade--Picking of a heavy volume is active. Quality and yield are good. Volume will remain good through June. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking continues at a steady pace. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto- Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Recent rain and wind caused some plant and fruit damage. Picking continues to gain momentum. Fruit quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. East Coast--Crop condition is very good to excellent. Harvesting of a heavy volume of green Bells continues. Crown picks are yielding double extra large, extra large, and large sizes of excellent quality. Limb fruit picking is providing very good quality and sizes. Harvest of a light volume of red Bells and specialty varieties continues. Workers continue to clean acreage completely harvested. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition good. Growth and development normal. Harvest steady. Quality good. Dade-- Harvest starting to wind down. Skin not setting in 20 days as it should. Some fields taking 36 days for skin to set. Volume will be good for about 2 more weeks. Quality good. West Central-- Crop condition fair. Growth and development normal. Harvest winding down. Quality fair to good. Size variable. Spraying for disease. Hastings--Harvest active. Yield fairly good. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Spraying to keep blight under control. RADISHES: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting remains steady. Quality is mostly good. SQUASH: North--Picking continues to increase seasonally. Quality is mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop condition is fair. Picking continues to gain momentum. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is good. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. First picks are yielding good quality and color. Both fancy and medium grades are available. Dade--Harvesting continues with a good volume availble. Quality and yield are good. Most growers will continue picking over the next three weeks or so. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--U-Pic harvesting continues in remaining fields. Dade--Season completed. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Most plant growth and fruit development is fair to good. Some acreage was affected by recent hail and wind. Some plants were covered by water for a short period of time due to the recent heavy downpours. Picking continues to gain momentum. Fruit quality and sizes are good. Yield is increasing. Southwest--Crop condition remains fair to good. Most growers are making second picks. Quality and yield are good. Most acreage escaped the recent damaging storms. East Coast--Harvesting of a moderate to heavy volume continues. Crown picks are yielding good quality and extra large to large sizes. Dade--Growers have turned most of the acreage over to pinhookers. Quality is good. Sizes are running mostly medium to large. Workers are clearing fields completely picked and planting cover crops. Some packing facilities are closed. Quincy--Most acreage escaped significant damage from recent storms. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Some acreage sustained wind and rain damage. Harvest is gaining momentum. Quality is fair to good. Color is good. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Some plants received rain and wind damage. Picking continues to increase seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Cutting is steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Cutting is increasing slowly with weekend rains slowing some progress. Quality, color, and sizes are good. Yield is fair to good.