fl-crop-weather Week ending August 22, 1999 Released 4:00 P.M. August 23, 1999 WEATHER SUMMARY: High temperatures continued with rain occurring in many areas for the week of August 15 through 21. Temperatures were down from last week but still averaged in the high 80s to low 90s. Nighttime lows averaged in the 70s. Scattered rains from one half inch to over three inches fell in many areas. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is mostly short to adequate with scattered areas of very short or surplus moisture. Crops are showing heat stress in some areas. Cotton is in good condition. Corn harvest is active. Tobacco harvest is winding down. Tobacco marketing is active. Hay making is active. Cotton, soybeans and sugarcane condition continues mostly normal. Peanut growers are starting to harvest. Peanut condition: fair 36%, good 43%, and excellent 21%. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 5 4 4 Short 30 32 18 25 Adequate 68 43 78 55 Surplus 2 20 0 16 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Most of the range and pasture in Florida was reported to be in good condition. Adequate soil moisture and hot temperatures were good for grass growth at most locations. Some central locations were getting dry which lowered the pasture condition. In the southwest, stock pond levels rose some. Statewide, the condition of cattle and calves was mostly good. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 0 0 0 0 Fair 50 40 20 15 Good 45 60 75 85 Excellent 5 0 5 0 CITRUS: There were frequent rains and thunderstorms in most citrus producing counties this week. The abundant moisture and warm temperatures are continuing to produce new foliage on trees of all ages in all areas. New crop fruit is making very good progress in those areas that have received the most rainfall. Some of the later bloom crops are sizing well and a few are even catching up to the regular bloom fruit in size. There are a few fresh fruit packing houses testing early bloom grapefruit for September shipments. Caretakers are mowing, chopping, discing cover crops that have made good growth with the help of the recent rains. Summer sprays and fertilizations are being applied in all areas. Dead tree removal and pushing of abandoned groves continues. There are reports of resetting of older and established groves. VEGETABLES: Land preparation and planting continues for fall crops. Activities in the major growing areas follow: Quincy--Tomato transplanting is finished. Palmetto-Ruskin--Tomatoes are in mostly good condition as planting increases. Staking is active and spraying for disease and insects is heavy. Workers are making first ties on a small amount of acreage. Planting is steady for watermelons, cherry and plum tomatoes, and eggplant. Growers are getting ready to plant peppers. East Coast--Wet conditions caused some delays in field activities. Growers are laying plastic, planting peppers, and planting tomatoes when weather permits. Spraying tomatoes and peppers continues to keep disease and insects in check. Southwest--Producers continue laying plastic for the tomato transplanting. Dade--Okra harvesting continues with good quality available. Growers continue field preparations for planting tomatoes, snap beans, eggplant, and squash. 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.