fl-crop-weather Week ending September 27, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. September 28, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Rain fell in many areas of the Peninsula from the outer bands of Hurricane Georges as it traveled through the Florida Straits on its way to Biloxi during the week of September 20 through 26. However, most agricultural regions escaped significant wind damage from the hurricane. Precipitation for the week mostly totaled from one and a quarter inches to almost three inches at the major stations with Jacksonville recording about six and a quarter inches. Homestead reported three inches of rain through Sunday, September 27 with winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour as the hurricane passed to the south. Palmetto-Ruskin reported from two and a half to six inches falling during the same period with wind gusting up to 50 miles per hour. Clewiston, Plant City, and Lake Alfred recorded from six to six and a half inches. Pensacola received only about a half inch through September 26. However, heavy rain from the hurricane fell in Escambia County where Pensacola is located, and in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties with up ten inches accumu lating on September 27, and an additional six to eight inches expected on September 28 as Georges drifted inland. Tempera tures for the week averaged normal to five degrees above with daytime highs mostly in the 80s, and nighttime lows mostly in the 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the State is mostly adequate to surplus. Haying was delayed by rain in most areas. Tobacco marketing is active. Fall army worms are a serious pest in hay fields and pastures. White mold is a serious problem in many peanut fields. Foliage feeders are coming back to some peanut fields. Cotton, peanut, and soybean harvest are delayed by rain. Sugarcane planting was being delayed by rain. Peanut condition: fair 28%, good 72%. Twenty-two 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 1 0 Short 22 0 14 2 Adequate 58 51 77 45 Surplus 20 49 8 53 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures in the counties along the Gulf Coast had surplus moisture from Hurricane Georges. Northern counties of the Peninsula have had considerable damage from army worms and loopers. The grass last week was short and wet. In the central area, pasture growth has slowed, and pastures were quite wet. 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 35 50 10 25 Good 60 45 85 75 Excellent 5 5 5 0 CITRUS: Hurricane Georges provided an over abundance of rain in the southern half of the citrus belt and the west coast this Thursday and Friday. The upper counties were soaked by a tropical low pressure system that lasted most of the early part of the week. The very wet conditions during the month of September have caused some splitting of early types of fruit. There has been some standing water in isolated areas where there is less than adequate drainage. New crop fruit is making good progress in well-cared-for groves. Harvest of white and colored grapefruit, Navels, and a few Fallglo tangerines is progressing slowly as most fresh fruit packing houses are searching for crops that will pass the maturity tests. Picking crews were slowed by the wet weather this week. Caretakers have been very busy cutting cover crops and controlling excessive water in their groves. Some growers are discing and deep plowing to help dry out the soggy soils. Pushing and cutting dead trees continues in all areas. VEGETABLES: Most fieldwork halted at the end of the week as Georges passed by the State. Some bloom loss occurred in a few localities due to strong winds. Most crops suffered no significant damage from the storm. SNAP BEANS: East Coast--Oldest plants are developing slowly. Germination is mostly good for recent seedings. Dade--The crop remained in good condition. Oldest plants are showing two leaves with furrows providing protection from the wind. Planting continued until the hurricane rains arrived on Thursday. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continued at a steady pace. CABBAGE: West Central--Cabbage planting is steady. The crop is in fair to good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. SWEET CORN: East Coast--Fieldwork halted as growers waited on the affects from Hurricane Georges. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continued at a mostly steady pace with some growers slowing seasonally. East Coast--Recent plantings show good germination and fair emergence. Workers started to thin older acreage with planting halted due to the threat of Georges. PICKLES: West Central--Condition is fair to good. Planting is mostly steady. Dade--Planting is expected to start in the next seven to ten days. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Oldest acreage is in mostly good condition with fruit setting and sizing on oldest plants. Growers delayed planting due to the threat of bad weather. West Central-- Condition is fair to good. Plant growth is slow but normal. Dade-- Condition is good. Most field work halted due to the hurricane. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting of a small acreage continued to increase. OKRA: Dade--Oldest acreage remained in good condition despite being blown by strong winds. Young acreage is in good condition. Cutting remained active with fair yield and quality. PEPPERS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting continued at a steady pace. West Central--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting remained active. East Coast--Oldest plantings are in good condition with fruit setting and gaining size. Strong wind caused some bloom loss. Young fields are in fair to good condition. Planting was limited with some delayed due to the hurricane. Spraying is active to control disease and insects. SQUASH: West Central--Crop condition is fair. Planting was mostly steady. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting continued to increase seasonally. East Coast--Oldest acreage is in fair condition with some plants starting to set fruit. Planting was active. STRAWBERRIES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Transplanting is expected to begin within the next five to seven days. TOMATOES: Quincy--Crop condition remained good with the strong winds and rain staying west of the area. Harvesting gained momentum. East Coast--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Most acreage escaped damage from the winds and rain with minimal bloom loss and a minimal amount of beds washed out and plastic needing repairs. Growers pumped water away from acreage prior to the rain and wind. Workers sprayed, staked, tied, and pruned at a busy pace to get activities back on schedule. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. The crop escaped significant damage from the bad weather. Fruit set is slow with small sizing. Workers continued to spray for the control of insects and disease. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting remained steady. Oldest acreage started to set fruit. Workers tied all plants tall enough for binding as protection against strong winds. Growers drained fields due to the threat of heavy rain. Damage from the hurricane is currently being assessed. Dade-- Strong winds and rain caused some plastic to bubble with most damage minor and repairable. Transplanting is expected to begin within the next seven to ten days. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair. Plant growth is slow but normal. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is increasing. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting increased. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting continued to slow. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Harvesting is expected to begin over the next two weeks. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting is finished. 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. The report will be e-mailed automatically to your e-mail address each week.