HDR101200019001 FL WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending February 9, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. February 10, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Warm and mostly dry weather permitted field preparation, planting, and harvesting to stay on schedule during the week of February 2 through 8. Temperatures averaged from four to ten degrees above normal. Lows for the week ranged mostly from the 40s into the 60s. Daytime highs were mostly in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Rainfall totaled from none at several stations to about a half inch, with the Milton/Whiting area recording almost an inch and a half. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle. Peninsula topsoil moisture is short to adequate with scattered areas of surplus moisture. Topsoil moisture condition as reported from very short to surplus (previous week's rating in parentheses): very short 0% (0%), short 35% (44%), adequate 60% (50%), and surplus 5% (6%). Subsoil moisture condition: very short 0% (0%), short 30% (35%), adequate 67% (61%), and surplus 3% (4%). Sugarcane harvest is active. Heavy rains slowed growers' field preparations for spring crops in some areas. Growers are maintaining tobacco plant beds. Pine tree planting is active. LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: The condition of the State's ranges and pastures was rated from very poor to excellent (previ ous week's rating in parentheses): very poor 5% (5%), poor 40% (50%), fair 25% (20%), and good 30% (25%). Warmer tempera tures and rainfall have small grains planted for pasture doing very well. Permanent pasture in the west central area is still brown from the mid-January freeze. Ranchers are active with feeding hay and supplements to the cattle. The State's cattle herds were rated at poor 10% (10%), fair 60% (55%), and good 30% (35%). CITRUS: There was very little rain and temperatures were mild this week in Florida's citrus belt. These weather conditions have helped promote new growth and pin head bloom buds on many trees of all ages in all areas. Those trees that lost foliage due to the cold conditions January 19 are generally flushing an abundance of new growth except where there is dead or dying wood. Growers on the high sand hills are irrigating to maintain good tree condi tion. Picking crews are working toward winding up harvesting schedules on their early and mid oranges. Some of the cold damaged Valencia oranges have been picked for processing. Movement of all seedless grapefruit continues very active on the lower east coast for both fresh and process use. Honey tangerine harvest is very active in all areas. Temples and tangelos are both being packed and processed. Caretakers are cutting cover crops in all areas. Spring fertilizations are underway. Hedging and topping are being done in both picked and unpicked groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Jan 26 Feb 2 Feb 9 Navel oranges 218,000 217,000 161,000 Early and Mid oranges 10,085,000 10,214,000 9,124,000 Valencia oranges 65,000 213,000 957,000 All grapefruit 1,391,000 1,476,000 1,662,000 Tangerines 233,000 191,000 141,000 Temples 152,000 182,000 213,000 Tangelos 315,000 226,000 153,000 VEGETABLES: Some acreage that was damaged by the recent cold weather is greening up. Northern producers are continuing to prepare fields for spring crop planting. Major crops being shipped include tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, potatoes, celery, sweet corn, carrots, strawberries, snap beans, eggplant, squash, endive, escarole, parsley, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, and miscella neous herbs. SNAP BEANS: Dade, Everglades--Young fields are in good condition. Planting is active. Picking of freeze damaged acreage continues with growers getting very low yields. Quality is variable. Volume is expected to increase by mid-March. East Coast-- Warmer temperatures are boosting plant growth and bean develop ment. Harvesting of a light volume by machine and hand is active. Quality and color are mostly good. Workers are cultivating and spraying with preparation of fields for spring crop planting active. Southwest--The crop is in good condition. Planting continues. CABBAGE: Hastings--Harvest steady. Quality good. Planting steady. Crop in good condition. Growth and development normal. Central--Harvest mostly salvage cutting. Quality will improve in several weeks. West Central--Harvest steady. Quality fair to good. Size fair to good. Color good. Yield and volume increas ing. Planting winding down. Crop in fair to good condition. Growth and development normal. Dade--Weekly cuttings on cabbage continue with good quality and average yield. Heads are sizing well and cold seems to make heads harder and quality better. Volume will remain steady thru March. CARROTS: Zellwood--Crop condition is improving. Digging remains mostly steady. Quality is generally good. Everglades-- Crop condition is good. SWEET CORN: Dade--Fields less affected by the earlier frost are in good condition. Picking continues with volume below normal. Quality is variable. Growers abandoned some acreage due to heavy frost damage. East Coast--Young acreage is in good condition. Other fields are in mostly fair to good condition. Planting continues with wet ground delaying activity for about two days. Southwest, Everglades--Crop condition is good. Planting of spring crop acreage is steady. Zellwood--Spring crop planting is expected to begin within the next seven to ten days. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Crop condition continues to improve. Young plants are blooming and forming runners. Older plants are setting and sizing fruit. Picking of a light volume is active with mostly good quality and color available. Spring crop planting remains active. Workers are cleaning acreage completely picked. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Planting of spring crop acreage is underway. Crop condition is fair. Dade--Growers starting to replant some pickle acreage lost to the recent cold weather. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Crop condition is improving with young acreage in good condition. Cutting of a light volume is active with fancy and choice grades packed. Workers are mowing fields completely harvested. Dade--Young acreage is in good condition. Salvage harvesting continues with fair quality and volume available. Growers mowed down some acreage completely picked. Palmetto-Ruskin--Planting of spring crop acreage is beginning. Crop condition is fair to good. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--The condition is improving. Harvest is active. Quality is generally good. Supplies are below normal but are expected to increase by early March. LETTUCE: Zellwood--Harvest continues. Everglades--The crop is recovering from the effects of the earlier cold weather. Harvest volume is expected to increase by early March. OKRA: Dade--Planting is expected to begin in about two to three weeks. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Salvage harvesting remains steady. Quality is fair to good. East Coast-- Most acreage is in good condition. Rain slowed harvesting slightly. Crown picks of green Bells are providing good sizes and quality. Harvesting of red Bells and specialty varieties is yielding a light volume with good quality available. Planting is slow with growers mowing fields completely picked. Dade--Picking of a very limited acreage is producing fair quality but low yields. Palmetto-Ruskin- -The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is increasing. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop condition fair to good. Growth and development good. Harvest gaining. Quality and size good. Dade--Fields killed with digging to start around the week of February 24-28. Looks like good yield but not as good as last year. West Central--Crop condition fair. Growth and develop ment normal. Hastings--Planting active. Growth and development normal. RADISHES: Zellwood--Digging is active. Quality is mostly good. Everglades--Harvesting of a light volume continues. Volume is expected to increase over the next seven to ten days. SQUASH: East Coast--Young plants show new growth. Acreage at the mid-growth stage is setting and sizing fruit. Harvest of a light volume of zucchini and yellow varieties is active with fancy and medium grades of mostly good quality and color available. Workers are cleaning fields completely harvested. Dade--Young acreage is in good condition. Planting remains active with some growers planting on plastic used for winter crop tomatoes. Salvage harvesting continues with producers getting very low yields. Volume will remain low for about three to four weeks then slowly increase. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting is steady. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Picking is increasing seasonally. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair. Harvest is steady. Quality, size, and color are fair to good. Quality is improving. Dade--Condition of U-Pic fields remains good with good quality available. Yield is good. TOMATOES: Southwest--Young plants are in good condition. Older acreage is in fair condition. Plant growth is good. Some older acreage has a fair fruit set for the crown crop. Salvage harvesting continues with fair to good quality available. Sizes are variable. East Coast--Plant growth, fruit setting, and fruit sizing are improving. Rain slowed field work slightly about mid-week. Growers are continuing to pick a light to moderate volume. Crown picks are yielding mostly good sizes and quality. Transplanting continues. Dade--The crop is in good condition. Some leaves burned by the recent frost are now starting to green up. Harvest is active. Quality is good. Packout is good. Sizes are running large to extra large from first and second picks with mostly large to medium sizes from the third pick. Yields are normal to above normal. Good volume is expected for the rest of the season. Some growers are planting squash on a few fields completely harvested. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is rated fair to good. Planting is active. Plant growth is improving. CHERRY TOMATOES: Southwest--Salvage harvesting continues with fair to good quality available. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is slowing seasonally. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking is steady with fair to good quality available. Palmetto- Ruskin--Crop condition is improving with most acreage in fair to good condition. Planting continues at a steady pace. WATERMELONS: Southwest--The crop is in fair to good condition. Planting is steady. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Planting is increasing.