FLORIDA WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending September 28, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. September 29, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Hot temperatures and scattered afternoon showers continued over the State until the end of the week of September 21 through 27 when a low pressure system passing over the northern part of the State dumped heavy rains over the West Central region, some parts of the Southwest and East Coast area, and Dade County. Unofficial reports show about nine to sixteen inches of rain fell in the Palmetto-Ruskin area. This includes amounts from another storm earlier in the week. The Hillsborough, Manatee, Little Manatee, Myakka, and Peace Rivers, as well as Horse Creek are expected to crest today or tomorrow with some land around these flooding. Tampa recorded over ten inches of precipitation from this storm. Jacksonville and Valparaiso showed over three inches accumulation for the week while other official stations reported weekly rainfall at about one to one and three quarters inches. Most temperatures for the week averaged normal to two degrees above normal with Jacksonville showing three degrees above and Valparaiso reporting five degrees above. Daytime highs averaged in the upper 80s with most stations recording at least one high in the 90s. Lows averaged in the 70s with Daytona Beach, Orlando, and Valparaiso recording at least one low in the upper 60s. Last week (September 14 through 20) the official stations showed zero to three quarters inches of rain falling and temperatures averaging from three degrees below normal to five degrees above. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is mostly very short to short in the Panhandle and northern Peninsula with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Central and southern Peninsula moisture is short to adequate. Peanut condition: very poor 4%, poor 35%, fair 59%, good 1%, excellent 1%. Sixty one percent of the peanut acreage for nuts has been harvested. Peanuts are being harvested early in some cases as vines are dying. On some farms the soil is too hard for harvesting peanuts. The dry weather has been excellent for hay harvest, but poor for forage growth. Growers are starting to defoliate cotton in the Panhandle. Sugarcane growth is normal. Tobacco marketing is starting to wind down. 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 16 11 9 6 Short 33 40 31 31 Adequate 50 49 57 63 Surplus 1 0 3 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Range and pasture conditions were generally worse throughout the State. In the Panhandle, some bermuda grass pasture has been damaged by the prolonged drought. The quality of the grass was poor in the north counties. Army worms and loopers are numerous in the west central pastures. Most of the cattle and calves in the State were in fair to good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 5 0 0 Poor 10 10 0 5 Fair 25 35 20 35 Good 60 45 75 55 Excellent 5 5 5 5 CITRUS: Groves in all areas of the ctirus belt were dry the first part of the week only to give way to cloudy skies and much needed rain during the weekend. Heavy rains pelted Florida's West Coast Friday and Saturday with accumulations totaling 6 to 14 inches in various locations. Many groves in the west and west central counties were wet and soggy from the two days of rain. Several caretakers in the dry areas have been irrigating and pumping water to help ensure sufficient water for any continued irrigation. The hot and dry conditions have produced a few groves with afternoon wilt. New crop fruit continues to be a little advanced for the last of September. Picking crews are actively moving Ambersweet, Navel and Hamlin oranges, Fallglo and Robinson tangerines, Satsumas, K-Earlys, white and colored grapefruit. There were two processing plants open this week receiving packing house eliminations. Some of the packing house eliminations are being sent directly to the pastures for destroying. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing tall and woody cover crops that have grown out of control. There are few fall miticides and herbicides being applied between the afternoon rains. Pushing and burning of dead and abandoned trees continues in all areas. VEGETABLES: The rainy weather at the end of the week reduced the effectiveness of pesticides and delayed spraying of pesticides in affected areas with growers concerned about the spread of disease. Watermelons, cantaloupes, snap beans, and cabbage were adversely affected by the heavy rains in the Palmetto-Ruskin region with total damage currently being assessed. Tomato picking started around Quincy. SNAP BEANS: North--Picking will begin within seven to fourteen days. East Coast--Crop condition remains mostly good. Planting continues at a steady pace. Germination is good. Dade-- Crop condition is rated good. Planting of larger fields is beginning. Wet soils and warm temperatures are speeding plant emergence. West Central--The crop condition is poor due to the excessive rain. Some losses are expected. Total damages are currently being assessed. Southwest--Condition is good. Planting continues at a steady pace. CABBAGE: West Central--Planting gaining. Crop condition is poor because of the excessive rain this past week. Some of the crop will be replanted. Central--Planting gaining. CARROTS: Zellwood--Effects of the recent rain are currently being assessed. SWEET CORN: North--Harvesting active. Zellwood--Harvest is anticipated to begin soon. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting is steady. East Coast--The limited acreage planted is in very good condition. Ground preparations continue with winter crop planting to begin soon. Dade--Planting is expected to start in November. CUCUMBERS: West Central--Damage from the excessive rain is currently being assessed. Southwest--Crop condition remains good. Planting is steady. Zellwood--Some field work was delayed by the heavy rain. Planting continues. East Coast--The recent seeding has good germination. Planting continues to increase. Workers are thinning older acreage. Dade--Pickle condition is rated very good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Recent transplants are off to a good start. Staking and tying are increasing. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. Dade--Planting of a small acreage is underway. Most growers are waiting for weather to improve before starting to plant. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Zellwood, Everglades--Planting continues as weather permits. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Planting active between showers. OKRA: Dade--Rainfall boosted growth of older acreage with condition rated good. Harvest is slowing seasonally. A limited winter crop acreage has emerged and is in good condition. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is steady. West Central--Damage from the recent rain is currently being assessed. East Coast--Crop condition is good. The oldest fruit is gaining size in Bell variety fields. Some specialty varieties are blooming and setting fruit. Transplanting is active. Workers continue to prepare land for winter crop planting. RADISHES: Everglades, Zellwood--Planting active as weather permits. SQUASH: West Central--Crop condition is fair. Planting is slowing seasonally. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Growers continue steady planting. East Coast--The crop is in good condition. Fruit is setting and sizing well. Harvesting of the oldest acreage continues with very good quality marketed. Volume is light. Dade--Only a small acreage planted. Most producers will begin to plant about mid-October. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Some field work and transplanting were delayed due to heavy rain. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Heavy rainfall and threat of flooding are delaying the laying of plastic. TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking is underway with rainfall delaying some activity. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Winds from storms knocked off blooms and young fruit. Rainfall reduced the effectiveness of pesticides. Producers prevented from spraying some acreage due to flooding of access roads. Southwest--The crop is in good condition with growers making steady plantings. Hot temperatures caused some bloom drop which resulted in a light fruit set on the first two to three hands. Producers pumped water on most acreage during the first part of the week to ensure proper soil moisture supplies. East Coast-- Condition remains mostly good. Recent transplants are off to a good start. Planting continues. Dade--Most of the crop is in good condition. A limited acreage will be reset due to losses caused by heavy rainfall during the past two weeks. Producers are laying plastic for fields to be transplanted in October. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. Southwest--Condition remains good. Planting continues at a steady pace. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting remains steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Planting continues to near the end. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition affected by the recent heavy rainfall with losses expected. Total damage is currently being assessed.