fl-crop-weather Week ending March 29, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. March 30, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Producers welcomed virtually dry conditions during the week of March 22 through 28 with the major weather stations recording zero to only traces of rain. Tempera tures were cool with most averages falling three to four degrees below normal. Daytime highs continued in the 70s and 80s while nighttime lows were in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. A few western Panhandle and northern localities recorded at least one low in the upper 30s with some areas reporting light frosts at the start of the week. Growing degree days (corn) for March 1 through 28 show accumulations that are five to twenty-five percent below normal. This reflects the below normal temperatures during the period. A corn growing-degree day is an index used to express crop maturity. The index is computed by subtracting a base temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit from the average of the maximum and mini mum temperatures for the day. Minimum temperatures less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit are set to 50, and maximum temperatures greater than 86 degrees Fahrenheit are set to 86. These substitu tions indicate that no appreciable growth is detected with tempera tures lower than 50 or greater than 86. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle and northern and southern Peninsula is mostly adequate to surplus with the central part of the State mostly surplus. Flooding is a problem in many areas. Tobacco transplanting is active. Sugarcane growth is normal. The first sugarcane mills have closed for the season. In a normal year all mills are closed at this time. Corn planting has started where farmers are able to get in the fields. Field prepara tions for spring planted crops are being delayed by wet conditions. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 0 0 0 0 Adequate 17 43 6 30 Surplus 83 57 94 70 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most pastures in the State were quite wet, but had dried out some as the rains had diminished. In the Panhandle, pastures were poor to fair, with permanent pasture greening up with new growth. In the northern counties, there was some light frost. It was still very wet. Some ranchers were preparing the land for summer forages. In the central area, water on pasture was not receding very fast as the ground was already saturated. Supplemental feeding of cattle was active. In the west central area, pastures had dried out somewhat and new grass growth was very visible. In the southeast, the cattle were in fair to good condition. The pastures were wet but most are in good condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 10 10 0 0 Poor 25 40 25 10 Fair 40 30 45 70 Good 25 20 30 20 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: Citrus groves had mild and dry weather this week. Most growers welcomed the absence of rain. New growth and bloom bud development rapidly advanced with the near ideal growing conditions. Some groves are in full open bloom with an abundance of honey bees working in and around the open flowers. Early and midseason orange harvest is just about over for this season. Movement of Valencia oranges is very active in all areas for both fresh and processed use. Harvest of white and colored grapefruit continues strong with most of the supplies coming from the lower east coast. Both Honey tangerine and Temple harvest is slowing as supplies are running low. Caretakers are cutting cover crops and herbiciding in all areas. Post bloom nutritional spraying is active in most locations. Hedging, topping, and cutting up debris has been reported in all areas. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Mar 15 Mar 22 Mar 29 Early & Mid oranges 475,000 203,000 20,000 Valencia oranges 6,032,000 6,414,000 7,324,000 All grapefruit 2,813,000 2,523,000 2,273,000 Honey tangerines 143,000 141,000 123,000 Temples 94,000 84,000 37,000 VEGETABLES: Strong breezes continue to stress plant growth and hinder the effectiveness of spraying. Vegetables harvested during the week include snap beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Young acreage is in good condition. Breezes are drying soils with some fields needing irrigation. Planting is about completed. Picking continues with good quality available. Volume is expected to be good over the next four weeks. East Coast--Plant growth and bean development are slow. Hand and machine harvesting continue to yield a light volume. Color and quality are generally good. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is active. Harvesting continues at a steady pace with fair to good quality available. West Central--Condition is variable. Producers lost some acreage due to recent storms. CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage is being cut on a weekly schedule with good quality and average yield. West Central--Crop condi tion is fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is steady. Head quality and color are fair. Size is variable. Yields are down from normal. Southwest--Harvest is complete. Central, Hastings--Harvest is steady. Head size is smaller than normal but larger than expected. CARROTS: Zellwood--Supplies are increasing. Quality is generally good. CELERY: Everglades--Harvesting continues. Zellwood--Drier weather is aiding crop development. SWEET CORN: Dade--Picking remains active. Quality is good. Yield is improving. Good volume is expected for at least two more weeks. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Picking of a light volume continues. Quality is good. Yields are improving with crates averaging 48 ears each. Everglades--Picking remains active. Quality is variable but mostly good. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is active. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Strong breezes tossed vines and dried soils with growers irrigating as needed. Planting is active. Germination is slow. Picking is slow with a light volume marketed. Sizes packed include super selects, selects, smalls, and some 24 count boxes. Southwest--The crop remains in fair to good condition. Planting is winding down. West Central--Condition is fair to poor with most acreage showing the effects of recent storm damage. Plant growth is slow. Dade--Pickles are in good condi tion. Plants are forming runners and starting to bloom. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Warmer weather is boosting plant growth and fruit development. Fruit set and sizing are slow but expected to improve with warmer conditions. Cutting of a light volume continues with some fancy and choice grades available. Quality is variable. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting remains steady. Quality is fair to good. Dade--The crop is improving. Harvesting continues with improved quality available. West Central--Crop condition is fair to poor. Plant growth and development remain slow. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting is active with a steady volume available. Quality is fairly good. LETTUCE: Everglades, Zellwood--Harvesting continues with light but steady supplies available. OKRA: Dade--Plant growth is slow due to strong breezes and cool temperatures. PEPPERS: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality is good. East Coast--Strong breezes and wind- borne sand are causing stress to plants. Plants nearing maturity show improved fruit set and sizing. Harvesting of a moderate volume of green Bells is active with crown picks providing good quality and sizes. Growers continue to pick a light volume of red Bells and specialty varieties. Spring crop planting is finished. Workers are staking and tying younger plants. West Central-- Condition remains fair to poor. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop is in fair to good condition. Growth and development are normal. Potato harvest is steady. Potatoes harvested are mostly of good quality. Dade--Potato harvest is peaking with yields. Young fields are improving and yields will probably be back to normal. Good volume and quality are expected until the middle of April. West Central--Crop is in poor to fair condition. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest should start in next 3 to 4 weeks. Hastings-- Potato planting is complete. Fields are recovering from leaf burn. The potato plants are growing slower than normal. Young fields look good. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Supply is steady. Quality is generally good. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. Picking continues with fair to good quality available. East Coast--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Strong breezes tossed vines. Recent plantings are germinating slowly. Fruit set and sizing are slow. Dade--Young acreage is in good condition but yield prospects are below usual. Harvesting continues. Volume is declining seasonally. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Picking remains active. Quality is variable and ranges fair to mostly good. Palmetto-Ruskin --U- Pic fields are in fair condition. Harvesting is very active. Dade--U- Pic harvesting continues. Quality is good. TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Fruit setting is fair to good. Fruit sizing is good. Harvesting continues at a steady pace. Yield is below usual due to gradeout of scarred fruit. Quality is fair to good with a good supply of all sizes available. East Coast--Strong breezes are affecting plant growth and fruit development. Fruit set and sizing are slow. Picking is active with quality and sizes improving. Crown yields are slowly improving. Dade--Condition is variable. Fruit set and sizing are slow with uneven maturation in some older fields. Strong breezes are affecting plant growth. Picking is active. Yield is below usual due to scarred fruit not meeting grade standards. Sizes are mostly 6x6 and 6x7 with a few 5x6 sizes available. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition is fair to poor. Scheduled plantings are finished with growers continuing to reset plants damaged by recent storms. Plant growth is improving slightly. Fruit setting is very slow. Quincy-- Crop condition is good. Planting is about 85 percent completed with some growers finished. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting remains active with fair to good quality avail able. Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to poor. Growers are resetting plants damaged by recent storms. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is active. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition is fair to poor. Producers are resetting plants damaged by recent storms. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting is nearing the end. West Central--Condition is fair with some plants lost to recent storms. Producers are making some resets. North--Transplanting is active.