FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending September 14, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. September 15, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers dropped varying amounts of rain during the week of September 7 through 13. Palmetto-Ruskin unofficially reported from a trace to three inches of rain falling while Dade County reported clear sunny weather after last weekend's two to five inches. The southwestern area reported scattered rains falling everyday with only traces accumulating near the end of the week. At the official stations rain amounts ranged from none to about two thirds inches. Temperatures for the week averaged mostly one to three degrees below normal with most stations reporting at least one low in the 60s. Highs averaged in the upper 80s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly very short in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula with scattered areas of short or adequate moisture. Central Peninsula moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus along the east coast. In the southern Peninsula the top soil moisture is adequate. Peanut condition: very poor 14%, poor 44%, fair 23%, good 18%, excellent 1%. Twenty-four percent of the peanut acreage for nuts has been harvested. On some farms, the soil is too hard for harvesting peanuts. The dry weather has been excellent for hay harvest. Sugarcane growth is normal. Tobacco marketing is active. Dry weather is adversely affecting field crops and forage in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 3 12 1 12 Short 14 28 11 20 Adequate 43 57 48 57 Surplus 40 3 40 11 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most of the Panhandle continued dry and the range and pasture condition was reduced to poor. The west central area was reported short on moisture and army worms were active in some pastures. In the central area, cooler temperatures compensated for the lack of moisture so pastures were in fair to good condition. Statewide, the condition of the cattle was fair to excellent. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 25 40 10 30 Good 45 45 80 65 Excellent 25 5 10 5 CITRUS: Florida's citrus groves, trees, and new crop fruit are all in very good to excellent condition. Most areas had plenty of rain except the upper interior which has been dry for the last week. New growth is slowing as the days get shorter. Lakes, ponds, and streams are generally at high levels as the summer rains supplied adequate moisture. Some of the early bloom oranges, grapefruit and tangerines are showing the beginning stages of natural color break on the trees. Harvest of the 1997-98 crop is underway and gaining momentum. Picking crews are moving Navels and Ambersweet oranges, white, and colored grapefruit, Fallglo, and Robinson tangerines, K-Earlys and a few Satsumas into the packing houses for fresh shipments. There are about 30 fresh fruit packing houses open for the new season. Most packing house eliminations have been sent to the pastures and/or destroyed as there are only a few processors taking the eliminated fruit. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops that have grown tall and out of control. Fall herbicides and miticides are being applied between rain showers. Lime and dolomite are being applied in some of the well-cared-for groves to raise the soil alkaline level. Dead tree removal and burning of debris continue in most areas. VEGETABLES: The somewhat cooler temperatures aided crop development over the southern Peninsula. Okra harvesting continued in Dade County with planting to become more active in October. Fall and winter crop planting is increasing around Immokalee. Palmetto-Ruskin growers continued mostly steady planting of fall acreage with some growers finished. Most planting increased in the East Coast region. Watermelon picking is expected to start within the next two to three weeks around Palmetto-Ruskin. SNAP BEANS: East Coast--Crop condition is good for the limited acreage planted. Growers are slowly increasing plantings with ground preparations continuing as weather permits. Dade-- Producers continue to plant a small acreage with larger amounts to be planted in October. West Central--The crop is in good condition as planting gains momentum. CABBAGE: West Central--Planting starting. SWEET CORN: East Coast--Light planting is active when weather permits with ground preparations continuing. Dade-- Planting is expected to start in November. Southwest--Planting started. Zellwood--Planting continued. CUCUMBERS: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting remains steady. East Coast--Planting is slowly gaining momentum. Growers are planting some acreage on plastic used for spring crops. Dade--Pickle planting is expected to begin in early October. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Plant growth and blooming are good with fruit starting to set in oldest blocks. Workers are staking and tying oldest acreage. West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Plant growth and fruit development is slow but normal. Planting is finished. Dade--Growers are making plant beds and laying plastic with planting to start soon. OKRA: Dade--Winter crop planting is underway. Harvesting of the summer/fall crop remains active. Quality is good but yield is declining slightly. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Plant growth and fruit development are slow. Planting continues at a steady pace. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is steady with some growers finished. Plant development is good although some plants show slow development. East Coast--Plant growth is good with some older fields having very good plant development and blooming. Fruit is starting to set on the oldest acreage. Planting is increasing with staking and tying active. SQUASH: West Central--Condition is fair. Planting is steady with some producers nearly finished. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is slowly increasing. East Coast-- Crop condition is good. Blooms are showing and fruit is setting and gaining size in oldest fields. Dade--Planting of a small acreage is underway. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin, Lithia, Floral City--Ground preparation and laying of plastic are active. TOMATOES: Quincy--Nearly ideal weather is boosting growth and increasing yield potential. Picking is expected to begin in late September. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting remains active but is slowing seasonally. Plant growth and fruit setting are slow with cooler temperatures needed for proper development. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continues. Plant growth is slow due to high temperatures. East Coast--Plant growth and fruit development are good. Transplanting continues. Plant survival is good with producers making only a very light amount of spot resets. Dade-- Transplanting of a small acreage is underway with most producers to begin planting by mid to late October. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant development is normal. Planting is completed. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting continues to grow in momentum. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant development is slow. Planting is increasing seasonally. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is rated fair to good. Plant growth is about normal. Planting is steady with some growers finished. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is winding down. Fruit is starting to set on oldest vines. Harvest of the oldest acreage is expected to begin in about two to three weeks. Southwest--A very small acreage is expected to be planted within the next seven to ten days.