HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending May 11, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. May 12, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Cool temperatures and mostly dry weather predominated during the week of May 4 through 10. Temperatures averaged mostly one to six degrees below normal except for near normal temperatures along the southeastern coast and in Dade County. Temperatures ranged from highs mostly in the 80s to lows in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Some northern localities recorded at least one low in the upper 40s. Virtually no rain fell during the period except for a trace reported in the West Central region and from a half inch to an inch accumulating in Dade County at the beginning of the week. Most localities received varying amounts of rain on Sunday and Monday, May 11 and 12 as a low pressure system from the Gulf of Mexico crossed the Peninsula. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate in the Panhandle with scattered areas of short moisture. Moisture in the Peninsula is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Forty percent of the peanuts have been planted this year compared to 61 percent in 1996. Cotton planting has been delayed by cool, wet weather conditions. Growers are starting to plant soybeans. Haying is starting. Corn, sugarcane, and tobacco have growth normal. Growers are making preparation to start small grain harvest. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 11 34 14 16 Adequate 77 63 73 80 Surplus 12 3 13 4 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures were generally improved from the Panhandle to the southwest areas of the State due to rain storms of a week ago. Some dry pockets exist in the northern counties. Cooler temperatures held back pasture grass in the north and central areas. Some pastures have been overgrazed due to slow growth of the grass. 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 0 0 0 0 Fair 20 35 40 40 Good 75 60 55 60 Excellent 5 5 5 0 CITRUS: This was a normal first of May week in Florida's citrus belt. There was virtually no rain, temperatures were warm to hot and the love bugs were everywhere. Growers have been irrigating to maintain good tree condition during this all important fruit set period. There continues to be an abundance of new growth on recently fertilized younger trees. New crop fruit is making normal progress in well-cared-for groves. The Valencia remaining for harvest are in very good condition with excellent quality. Move ment of the late oranges is slowing in some areas as supplies are starting to run low. Harvest of all seedless grapefruit remains active with most of the fruit coming from the lower east coast. These late harvested grapefruit are holding well with very good to excellent quality. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops. Post bloom nutritional sprays are nearly complete with some crews currently applying their second spray applications on fresh fruit crops. Pushing, resetting continues in the larger groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Apr 27 May 4 May 11 Valencia oranges 7,383,000 6,950,000 8,028,000 All grapefruit 1,850,000 1,435,000 1,525,000 Tangerines 36,000 23,000 25,000 VEGETABLES: The harvesting of most crops is almost over in Dade County. Growers delayed some picking of squash due to the low market. Major vegetables shipped: potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, sweet corn, peppers, and cucumbers. SNAP BEANS: North, North Central--Harvesting continues with mostly good quality available. Dade--Picking is slowing season ally. Quality good. Yield is lower due to disease. Harvesting will remain active over the next 7 to 10 days. Southwest--Condition is good. Picking continues to slow seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. U-Pic harvest remains very active with good quality available. Sizes are normal. Color is fair to good. East Coast--Harvesting of a light volume continues with only a limited acreage remaining to be picked. Quality and color are good. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest winding down. Quality good. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest winding down. Quality is variable. West Central--Harvest winding down. Quality good. Size variable. Color good. Crop in fair to good condition. Volume slowing. Dade--Cabbage season over. CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging continues with generally good quality available. SWEET CORN: Zellwood--Picking continues to increase seasonally. Quality is variable but mostly good. Growers are preparing for the festival over the weekend of May 17 and 18. Everglades--Picking continues with excellent quality available. Supplies are available through late May. Southwest--Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Quality and yield are good. East Coast- -Pulling of a very limited volume continues as the season nears the end. Quality is good. Dade--Harvesting for local sales is active. CUCUMBERS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is mostly steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is fair. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Fruit setting and sizing are mostly good. Harvesting is active with volume declining seasonally. Growers packed super selects, selects, and 24 count cartons. Quality and color are fair to mostly good. Workers are cleaning acreage completely harvested. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is winding down. Quality is good. Zellwood--Pickle harvesting is very active. Quality is mostly good. Dade--Pickle harvesting is slowing as the season nears the end. Quality and yield are fair. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Plant growth and fruit development are mostly good. First cuts are yielding excellent quality and good color. Mostly fancy grade is available with some large fancy grade cut. Growers are cleaning fields completely harvested. Palmetto- Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good with a decreasing supply available. Sizes are variable. Southwest--The crop is in fair condition. Cutting is winding down. Quality is fair. Dade-- Harvesting is finished. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting of seasonally declining supplies is active with the season nearly finished. LETTUCE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvest is nearly completed. OKRA: Dade--Picking active with good quality available. Yield is good with good supplies available through June. PEPPERS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Picking is mostly steady but is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable with some good sizes available. Color is fair to good. East Coast--Plant growth and fruit development are good for youngest acreage. Harvesting of a moderate to heavy volume of green Bells continues with crown picks providing excellent quality and double extra large to large sizes. Producers continue to pick a lighter volume of red Bells of good quality and sizes. Workers are spraying and pulling stakes and plastic from acreage completely harvested. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting is winding down. Quality and yield are good. POTATOES: Southwest--Harvest virtually complete. Dade-- Harvest complete. Fields are being cleaned and cover crops planted. West Central--Harvest complete. Hastings--Harvest active. Crop is in poor condition. The crop has rot problems caused by 6 to 18 inches of rain over the weekend of April 26-27. Growers report losses ranging from 20% to 100%. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting continues to slow as the season nears the end. Quality is mostly good. SQUASH: North, North Central--Harvesting continues. Quality mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin, Plant City--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Harvesting is steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. East Coast--Most acreage is in good condition. Fruit setting and sizing are good. Harvesting of zucchini and yellow types continues. First cuts are providing good quality and color with fancy and medium grades available. Workers are mowing and pulling plastic from acreage completely harvested. Southwest--Picking is winding down. Quality is good. Dade--Harvesting is nearing the end with activity to continue for the next 7 to 10 days. Quality is mostly good. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The season is over. TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Fruit setting and sizing are rated fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. Sizes are extra large to large. Yield is fair to good. Southwest--Plant condition is fair. Picking is slowing seasonally. Sizes are mostly large to medium. Quality is good. East Coast--Condition is mostly good. Plants nearing maturity have a good foliage canopy. Harvesting is active with good quality and extra large to large sizes available. Quincy--Drier conditions helped plants recover from recent wind and rain damage. Dade-- Harvesting is finished. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is mostly steady but beginning to slow seasonally. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are good. Southwest-- The crop is in fair condition. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is good. PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking remains steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Southwest--Crop condition is fair as picking winds down. Quality is good. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking continues to increase with a mostly steady volume available. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are large and medium. Color is good. Southwest--Harvesting is winding down. Quality and yield are good. Jefferson County--Plant growth and fruit development are good.