fl-crop-weather Week ending June 6, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. June 7, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: Scattered showers continued during the week of May 30 through June 5. Rainfall ranged from traces to almost five inches at the major stations. Temperatures averaged near normal with daytime highs in the 80s and 90s. Nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture in the Panhandle is mostly adequate with scattered areas of short. Topsoil moisture in the Peninsula is very short to short with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Some cotton and peanuts were replanted due to poor stands. Tobacco is being irrigated. Blue mold has been found on tobacco. Hay fields are responding well in most cases to the rainfall. Farmers are cutting hay in some areas. Growers reported virtually all of the peanuts are planted. Peanut condition; poor 4%, fair 69%, good 7%, and excellent 20%. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 21 10 26 12 Short 55 51 53 72 Adequate 24 39 21 16 Surplus 0 0 0 0 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most locations received general rain and showers. Panhandle pastures were in generally good condition. In the north counties, hay supplies were running out. Some bales were bought as soon as rolled/baled. West central ponds were still down. Cattle were looking better. Pastures in the central counties were still quite dry. The first hay cutting started. Statewide, cattle were in fair condition. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 10 0 0 Poor 40 10 10 5 Fair 50 75 80 85 Good 10 5 10 10 Excellent 0 0 0 0 CITRUS: There are increasing summer rains and thunderstorms as is usual at this time of year. Most trees of all ages are showing new foliage as a result of the recent rains. Limited bloom continues in all areas. New crop fruit of all sizes is making good progress in well-cared-for groves. Valencia harvest is slow in most areas as supplies are running low. There are still 5 to 7 citrus processors taking grove run fruit and packing house eliminations. Grapefruit harvest is down to the last several thousand boxes. Temple and Honey tangerines are over for this season. Caretakers are cutting cover crops and applying herbicides. Many growers are still applying post bloom nutritional sprays and early bloom grapefruit are getting their second and third summer sprays. Pushing and burning of sick and dead trees continues in all areas. Resetting is active in virtually all areas of the citrus belt. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop May 23 May 31 Jun 6 Valencia oranges 3,834,000 3,208,000 1,841,000 All grapefruit 171,000 90,000 37,000 Honey Tangerines 5,000 2,000 2,000 Temples 2,000 1,000 0 VEGETABLES: Watermelon harvesting is gaining momentum in northern areas. Tomato picking is increasing around Quincy. Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peppers, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: North--Picking is virtually finished. East Coast--The season is nearing the end. Harvesting of a very limited volume is active. CABBAGE: West Central--Crop is in fair condition. Spring harvest is virtually complete. Hastings--Harvest is virtually complete. Dade, Zellwood--Harvest is complete. SWEET CORN: North--Harvesting is active. Quality is good. Zellwood--Picking continues. Quality is good. East Coast-- Harvesting for local sales remains active. CUCUMBERS, Fresh Market: North--Picking is slowing seasonally. Supplies are light. Quality is fair to mostly good. Southwest--Picking of a light volume continues. Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Harvesting has stopped. Growers abandoned some picks. Workers continue to mow vines and pull up plastic from fields completely harvested. West Central--The crop is in fair condition. Harvesting for the U-Pic market continues. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. PICKLES: West Central--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Picking is slowing seasonally with some growers finished. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are fair. Zellwood, North-- Harvesting of a declining volume remains active. EGGPLANT: East Coast--The crop is in mostly good condition. Plant growth is good. Fruit is sizing well. Cutting remains active with fancy grade available. Quality and color are good. Harvesting is expected to continue throughout June. Southwest--Harvesting of very light supplies remains active. Quality is fair to good. West Central--U-Pic harvesting continues. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. ENDIVE/ESCAROLE: Everglades--The season is finished. OKRA: Dade--The crop is in very good condition. Rainfall is increasing the yield. Harvesting remains active. Quality is good. A good volume is available for at least the next two months. PEPPERS: East Coast--Frequent showers slowed harvesting during the week. First picks of green Bells are yielding good quality and sizes. Other picks are producing good quality and variable sizes. Growers expect to complete first picks by next week. Workers continue to remove stakes and plastic from acreage completely picked. West Central--U-Pic harvesting is active. Quality is good. Sizes are variable. Color is good. Southwest--The season is virtually done. POTATOES: Dade, Southwest, West Central--Harvest is complete. Hastings--Crop is in excellent condition. Growth and development are normal. Harvest is active. Yields are good to very good. SQUASH: West Central--U-Pic harvesting remains active. Dade--The season is finished. TOMATOES: Quincy--Picking is gaining momentum. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair condition. Picking continues with some growers finished. Fruit quality is fair to good with large, medium, and a few extra large sizes available. Yield is fair. Supplies are light. Harvesting is expected to continue through mid to late June. East Coast--The crop is in fair to good condition. Rainfall delayed some field work during the week. First picks are yielding good quality and large to extra large sizes. Second picks are producing good quality and variable sizes. Producers expect to finish first picks by next week. Some growers are finished for the season with packing houses shut down. Southwest--The season is complete. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Harvesting is near the end. Quality is good. Southwest--The season is virtually done. PLUM TOMATOES: Quincy--Harvesting of light supplies is active. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Picking is near the end. Quality is fair to good. Southwest-- Harvesting is virtually finished. WATERMELONS: North--Picking is gaining momentum. Some dryland acreage has a poor fruit set due to reduced moisture. Southwest--Crop condition is fair. Harvesting is nearly finished. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin--The crop is in fair to good condition. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality and color are good. Sizes are variable. Supplies are light. 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.