fl-crop-weater Week ending October 18, 1998 Released 4:00 P.M. October 19, 1998 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered rains dropped varying amounts of precipitation during the week of October 11 through 17. The Palmetto-Ruskin region received from traces to four inches, while the Southwest reported from traces to one an a half inches. The Homestead area reported two inches for the week while Miami recorded about two and two thirds inches. Jacksonville and Daytona Beach reported about one third inch while the other major stations recorded from none to a tenth inch. Temperatures averaged normal to three degrees above. Daytime highs were mostly in the 80s while nighttime lows were mostly in the 60s and 70s. Tallahassee reported at least one low in the 50s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the State is mostly adequate with scattered areas of short or surplus. Fields are drying out so harvests of cotton, peanuts, and soybeans are in full progress. Haying is active with excellent conditions. Tobacco marketing is winding down and the last sales day will be October 20. Farmers are starting to plant temporary winter pastures. Sugarcane harvesting is starting. Sugarcane planting is active. Sixty-seven 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 2 30 2 11 Adequate 81 68 77 83 Surplus 17 2 21 6 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: In the northern counties, small grains planted for winter grazing started to emerge. In the west central area, grass growth was slow, and army worms were still a problem. In the southwest, some ranchers were cutting pasture weeds. 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 40 60 35 35 Good 55 40 60 65 Excellent 5 0 5 0 CITRUS: This was a normal and mild October week. There were very few scattered showers in isolated areas this week. A few growers on the drier, high sand hills have started running their drip and micro jet irrigation systems to maintain good tree and fruit condition. New growth continues to slow in all areas. New crop fruit is sizing well in those groves that have had adequate and continuous cultural care. Field representatives from most of the major fresh fruit packing houses are continuing to test early fruit for maturity levels in all areas. Packers are shipping early oranges, white and colored grapefruit and early tangerines along with a few Satsumas. There are only a few processing plants open and receiving packing house eliminations. Caretakers are cutting cover crops that have grown tall and out of control. Most growers have completed their fall fertilizations and sprays. Drainage ditches are being reworked during the dry weather. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Oct 4 Oct 11 Oct 18 Navel oranges 10,000 50,000 101,000 Early & Mid oranges 4,000 68,000 133,000 All grapefruit 142,000 402,000 601,000 Tangerines 28,000 72,000 132,000 VEGETABLES: Cooler temperatures aided fruit development. Major crops shipped included snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, pickles, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: East Coast--Crop condition remained fair to good. Younger acreage shows good plant growth. Oldest acreage is developing well and blooming. Recent planting germinated well. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Showers boosted plant growth and bean development. Planting continued to become more active. Harvesting is expected to begin by early November. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting remained steady. West Central--Crop condition is poor to fair. Plant growth and bean development are slow. CABBAGE: West Central--Cabbage planting is steady. The crop is in fair to good condition. Crop growth and development are normal. Hastings--Planting is active. CARROTS: All areas--Planting continued at a steady pace. CELERY: Everglades--Planting remained active. SWEET CORN: Zellwood, North--Mostly clear skies allowed picking to continue at a steady pace. Yield is below normal but is expected to improve. A good volume is available through mid- November. East Coast--Growers prepared fields for winter crop planting. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: West Central--Condition is fair to good. Planting is active. Harvesting gained momentum with fair to good quality available. Volume remained low as the season gets started. East Coast--Oldest fields are making runners, blooming, and setting fruit. Oldest fruit is gaining size with picking to begin within the next five to seven days. Germination of recent plantings remains good. Producers thinned stands. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting remained steady. Picking is underway with good quality available. PICKLES: West Central--Crop condition remains fair to good. Picking increased seasonally with fair to good quality available. Volume is increasing seasonally. Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Plant growth and fruit development are good. Dade--Planting started. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is good. Fruit setting is good. Planting of a limited acreage is active. Cutting of specialty types is active with a very low volume harvested. Quality and color are good. West Central--The crop is in fair to good condition. Plants are developing normally but at a slow pace. Dade--Planting remained steady. Growers staked and tied oldest plants. Southwest--Condition remained fair to good. Light planting remained active. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--Growers expect harvesting to begin in early November. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting is expected to start in early November. OKRA: Dade--Crop condition is rated good. Rainfall boosted plant growth. Harvesting continued with good quality available. Yield is good. PEPPERS: East Coast--Crop condition remained mostly good. Planting continued with some spot resets made to ensure good stands. Harvesting of Bell types increased slightly. Picking of specialty types began with good quality available. Volume is light. Workers laid plastic, staked, tied, and sprayed as needed. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting remained steady. Picking of specialty types started with good quality available. West Central--Crop condition improved with rating at fair to good. POTATOES: Dade--Growers are making preparations to start planting. Southwest--Planting is gaining momentum. RADISHES: Everglades--Digging is getting underway. SQUASH: East Coast--Oldest plants are setting and sizing fruit well. Harvesting of zucchini and yellow varieties produced good quality and color with fancy and medium sizes available. West Central--Crop condition is rated poor to fair. Picking of a small acreage is starting. Quality is fair with small to medium sizes available. Southwest--Crop condition remains fair to good. Planting continued at a steady pace. Picking started with fair to good quality available. Dade--Crop condition is good. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is good. Transplanting remained steady. TOMATOES: Quincy--Clearer skies and cooler temperatures aided fruit development. Harvesting continued. Quality is good. East Coast--Crop condition is mostly fair to good. Cooler temperatures aided fruit development with oldest fruit nearing maturity. Picking is expected to begin within the next five to seven days. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Fruit set is rated fair for first hands with fruit sizing fair to good. Picking is expected to begin in late October or early November. Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Fruit set is light on the lower hands. Transplanting is steady. Dade--Crop condition is good with plants making good stands. Transplanting continues. Growers are irrigating as needed. Oxford--Staked crop is in very good condition. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting increased with fair to good quality available. Volume is fair. Southwest--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting continued at a steady pace. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is fair to good. Planting remained steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is expected to begin about early November. WATERMELONS: Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking gained momentum. Fruit quality is fair to good with small to medium sizes available. Volume will increase over the next two to three weeks. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Cutting started with good quality available. Yield is low. 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