fl-crop-weather Week ending September 13, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. September 14, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Hurricane Frances kept skies mostly dry during the week of September 6 through 12 by drawing moisture from the atmosphere. Feeder bands from Frances dropped some rain over western Peninsula localities and heavy rain over the western Panhandle as it became a low pressure center. Rain totaled from about a tenth inch at Daytona Beach to about one and two thirds inches at Jacksonville. The Homestead region received about an inch of rain at the end of the week but was dry for most of the period. The Palmetto-Ruskin area reported from one to three inches of rain falling during the week. The Immokalee area reported from traces to at least four inches of rain falling during the week. The Quincy area dodged most of rain. Cooler temperatures arrived during the week with most highs averaging in the 80s, while lows averaged mostly in the 70s. Weekly average temperatures were normal to three degrees below normal. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle was adequate while in other areas of the State moisture was reported mostly adequate with scattered areas of short or surplus moisture. Haying is active in most areas. Tobacco marketing is active. Strong winds from Hurricane Earl blew a lot of cotton onto the ground. There is a problem with fall army worms in hay fields and white mold in many peanut fields. Foliage feeders are coming back to some peanut fields. Sugarcane planting is active. Peanut condition: fair 73%, good 27%. Ten percent of the peanuts for nuts are reported harvested. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 13 4 10 5 Adequate 74 93 79 82 Surplus 13 3 11 13 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Army worms are a serious pest and have caused considerable loss to pastures in the Panhandle and northern counties. Permanent pastures in the central Peninsula counties made good growth under favorable moisture conditions. West central grass growth has slowed seasonally. Statewide, cattle and calves were in fair to good condition. 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 15 30 25 Good 80 75 70 70 Excellent 0 10 0 5 CITRUS: The first slow moving cold front of this season passed through the citrus belt during the middle of the week. There were just a few scattered showers in the upper counties, however the central and southern areas generally received a needed soaking. A few growers and caretakers on the high sand hills are irrigating to maintain a constant available moisture source to help increase fruit sizes. New growth continues to show on trees of all ages. New crop is making good progress in well-cared-for groves. Those groves receiving minimal care have fruit of varying sizes and maturity. Early harvesting for the 1998-99 crop season is slowly gaining momentum. A few more fresh fruit packing houses opened this week packing mainly white and colored grapefruit. There are one or two crops of early bloom Navels that are close to passing the maturity tests and will be picked very soon. Caretakers are mowing, chopping and discing cover crops. Growers are applying their fall sprays and fetilizations. Hedging, topping, dead tree removal and trash burning continue in all areas. VEGETABLES: Most southern Peninsula growers irrigated young plants to maintain proper moisture levels for growth and fruit development. SNAP BEANS: East Coast--Growers continued light planting. Oldest plants are emerging and making good stands. Dade-- Producers planted small acreages with larger amounts to be planted in late September. Southwest--Growers started planting. CABBAGE: West Central--Cabbage planting has started and the crop is in good condition. SWEET CORN: East Coast--Producers disced land and cleaned drainage ditches in preparation of planting. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting gained momentum. Plant growth is normal. East Coast--Producers prepared fields for planting. Dade--Growers are to begin large plantings over the next two to three weeks. PICKLES: West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition as growers begin planting. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Oldest acreage is showing good growth and development with oldest plants blooming. Planting continued on schedule. Workers staked and tied as needed. West Central--The crop remained in fair to good condition. Planting is completed. Dade--Planting started with growers irrigating as needed. OKRA: Dade--Winter crop planting continued. Cutting of the summer/fall crop continued with fair quality and yield. PEPPERS: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Plant growth and development are normal. Planting gained momentum. West Central--The crop is rated fair to good. Plant development is normal. Planting continued to increase seasonally. East Coast-- Oldest acreage is in mostly good condition with plants blooming and setting fruit. Some fruit gained size on oldest plants. Transplanting continued. Hot temperatures and high humidity hindered growth of young plants with growers making spot resets as needed. Workers staked and tied younger plants. SQUASH: West Central--Planting started at a slow pace with the crop rated good. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Plant development is normal. Planting slowly gained momentum. East Coast--Oldest plantings made a good start. Recent plantings are emerging well. Dade--The smallest, oldest plantings emerged with hot temperatures hindering some plant growth. Planting will increase over the next two to three weeks. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin, Lithia, Floral City--Ground preparations are active. TOMATOES: Quincy--Crop condition is good. No significant rain has moisture at ideal levels. Plants are showing blooms and fruit with picking to begin in late September and early October. East Coast--Most plants are in good condition. However, hot temperatures continued to hamper development of weaker plants with producers making spot resets to ensure good stands. Oldest plants are bushing out well and making bloom buds. Transplanting continued with growers maintaining proper moisture through irrigation. Workers leveled land and laid plastic at a steady pace. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth is normal with fruit to start setting very soon. Harvesting is expected to start in five to six weeks. Tying and staking are active. Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Planting is increasing seasonally. Plant growth is normal. Producers are providing water as needed due to below normal rainfall in some localities. Workers plowed and laid plastic as weather permitted. Dade--Producers made beds and started laying plastic with transplanting to begin over the next two to three weeks. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Planting is winding down seasonally with some growers finished. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is steady. Plant development is normal. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is rated fair to good. Transplanting is steady. Plant growth is normal. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally with some producers finished. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plant growth is normal. Planting is slowing seasonally with some growers finished. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowly gaining momentum. To receive this report via e-mail, send an e-mail message to nass-state-releases@news.usda.gov with the following message: subscribe fl-crop-weather. 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