FLORIDA WEEKLY WEATHER-CROP NEWS Week ending December 14, 1997 Released 4:00 P.M. December 15, 1997 WEATHER SUMMARY: Rains arrived in northern and central areas during the first part of the week of December 7 through 13. The cold front that brought the rains slowly moved over the Peninsula with most localities receiving some rainfall by the end of the week. Cooler, windy weather followed as the front cleared the Peninsula. Palmetto-Ruskin reported rainfall totaled from five to twelve inches through Saturday. Plant City reported that nine inches fell from Wednesday through Sunday, December 14. East central localities recorded from two and a half to almost twelve inches through Sunday. Dade County reported two inches fell Saturday and another one inch fell on Sunday after a week of mostly clear, sunny days. Southwestern localities had cloudy but dry weather until Thursday. Official weather stations showed the following rain totals through Saturday: Jacksonville, about six inches; Tampa, almost seven inches; Orlando, almost five inches; Daytona Beach, almost four inches; West Palm Beach, about an inch and a half; and Miami, about an inch. Rivers were nearing flood stage at the end of the week in some western Peninsula counties. Most temperatures for the week averaged normal to two degrees above. Lows averaged in the upper 40s to upper 60s, while most highs averaged in the 60s and 70s. FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture is adequate to surplus in the Panhandle and northern and Central Peninsula. Southern Peninsula moisture is adequate. Completion of cotton harvest has been delayed by wet field conditions. Sugarcane planting and harvest are active. Winter wheat planting is complete. Moisture Topsoil Subsoil Rating Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very short 0 0 0 0 Short 7 0 5 13 Adequate 78 74 71 62 Surplus 15 26 24 25 LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Growth of fall-seeded small grain pasture was good. Many pastures in the Panhandle and the central and southern areas have standing water due to recent heavy rains. Supplemental feeding of cattle picked up in the Panhandle and northern counties. The condition of the cattle was fair to good. Range Cattle Condition Last week This week Last week This week Percent Very poor 0 0 0 0 Poor 5 5 0 0 Fair 45 55 15 45 Good 40 40 75 50 Excellent 10 0 10 5 CITRUS: Rain, rain and more rain. The upper interior and the west coast were inundated with continuous showers this week. The southern and central areas had scattered rains until the weekend when they also were soaked. The west coast northwest to Orlando was hit with rains all week and some counties were recording record rains for the month of December and we are only half through the month. Harvest for both fresh and processed uses were greatly reduced this week in those counties that had the most rain. Many picking crews in the drier areas worked long days and overtime to keep the juice plants supplied with fruit for continuous running. Caretakers have been active discing, chopping, and mowing cover crops. A little hedging and topping were reported this week in the southern district. Sprays and fertilizer applications are limited at this time. Some young trees in the coldest areas have been banked with dirt for cold protection. A few heaters have been placed and fueled in northern groves. Estimated boxes harvested week ended Crop Nov 30 Dec 7 Dec 14 Navel oranges 244,000 628,000 682,000 Early & Mid oranges 6,447,000 7,785,000 8,274,000 All grapefruit 650,000 1,016,000 1,002,000 Tangerines 245,000 249,000 267,000 K-Early Citrus Fruit 1,000 1,000 0 Tangelos 116,000 228,000 250,000 VEGETABLES: Growers are increasing most harvesting to meet the demand for the end of year holidays. The abundant rain during the week flooded some fields around Palmetto-Ruskin and in the Everglades area of Dade County. Quality of some crops may be reduced because of the rain with full effects currently being assessed. Vegetables marketed during the week include snap beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, radishes, squash, Chinese cabbage, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelons. SNAP BEANS: Dade--Condition is very good. Planting remains active. Picking continues to produce good yield and quality. Volume is increasing seasonally with maximum amounts expected for January through March. East Coast--Crop condition remains good. Growers continue to pick a moderate volume by machine and hand. Quality is good. Color is good to excellent. Southwest-- Crop condition is good. Planting and picking are making steady progress. Quality is good. Everglades--Harvesting is active. East Central--Recent rainfall significantly reduced fall yield. West Central--Picking is virtually finished. CABBAGE: Dade--Cabbage fields were good with cool weather helping. Harvest to start in mid-December. West Central-- Planting is steady. Crop condition is fair to good. Growth and development are normal. Harvest slowed due to weather. Head quality fair to good and size medium to small. Central, Hastings-- Planting is active. Crop conditions are normal. Growth and development are normal. Harvest slowed by wet weather. Quality is mostly good. Hastings' harvest is starting. Everglades--Harvest is getting underway. CARROTS: Zellwood--Condition remains very good. Harvesting is gaining momentum. SWEET CORN: Everglades--Picking is steady. Yields are above average. Quality is mostly good. Harvesting will continue through January due to late planting. Southwest--The crop remains in good condition. Picking is steady. Quality and yield are good. Dade-- The crop is in very good condition. Older fields are starting to tassel. Condition of some young plants in low lying areas was reduced by the rain with most expected to recover. East Coast-- Crop condition is good. Young plants are making good stands. Older acreage is silking with picking expected to begin within the next few days in the oldest fields. Cultivation and fertilization continue. Zellwood--Picking is finished. CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Condition is good. Fruit is setting and sizing well. First picks are providing good quality and color. Volume from all picks is moderate with super select, select, and a few smalls available. Workers are mowing and cleaning acreage completely picked. Southwest--Crop condition is fair to good. Harvesting is winding down. Quality is good. Planting is virtually complete. West Central--Crop condition is fair. Harvesting is winding down. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. Yield is below average. Dade--Pickle picking is steady with good volume and quality. Zellwood--Pickle harvesting is steady. Quality is good. EGGPLANT: East Coast--Condition is rated very good. Fruit set and sizing are good. First cuts are yielding excellent quality and color. All picks are producing a mostly light volume of fancy, a few large, and a very few choice grades. Southwest--Condition is good. Planting is winding down. Harvesting is steady. Quality is good. Dade--Cutting is underway with good quality and yield available. West Central--Condition is fair. Cutting is winding down with some activity slowed by the rain. Quality is fair to good. Sizes are mostly medium. North--Cutting is virtually finished. ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Zellwood, Everglades--Harvesting continues. Quality is mostly good. LETTUCE: Everglades--Harvesting of Romaine, head, and leaf varieties continues. Quality is good with good volume for most types available. Zellwood--Harvesting continues. Quality is mostly good. OKRA: Dade--Harvesting of a low volume continues. Quality and yield are good. PEPPERS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality and yield are good. West Central-- Condition is fair to good. Harvesting continues with some activity slowed by the rainfall. Some growers have finished picking of the fall crop. Quality, size, and color are fair to good. East Coast-- Condition is good. Crown picks of green Bells are producing very good quality and sizes with limb picks yielding good quality and sizes. Volume is moderate to heavy. Volume of red Bells picked is light to moderate with good quality available. Quality of cubanelles, Hungarian wax, jalapeno, and other hot varieties is good. Workers continue transplanting. POTATOES: Southwest--Crop is in good condition. Planting is steady. Growth and development are good. Dade--Heavy rains are causing flooding problems in the potato fields. Potato plantings are being delayed by the wet field conditions. West Central--Crop is in good condition. Potato planting is slow this week due to the rain. Growth and development are slow. Hastings--Growers are making preparations to start planting. RADISHES: Zellwood, Everglades--Digging is active. Quality is good. SQUASH: Southwest--Crop condition is rated good. Planting and harvesting continue at a steady pace. Quality and yield are good. East Coast--Condition is rated generally good. Cutting of zucchini and yellow varieties is yielding a light volume of good quality and color. Fancy and medium grades are available. Planting on bare ground and plastic is active. West Central--Harvesting of the fall crop is nearing the end. Quality is fair. Dade--Crop condition is good. Picking is producing good quality and yield. Planting continues with activity on schedule. STRAWBERRIES: Plant City--Mature fruit was damaged by the rains. Growers expect more fruit to reach maturation within the next three to five days. Dade--U-Pic harvesting is expected to start in late December. TOMATOES: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Transplanting continues at a steady pace. Picking is steady with first picks yielding mostly extra large and large sizes; second picks, extra large, large, and medium; third picks, mostly large and medium. Quality and yield are good. Gradeout is normal. East Coast--Crop condition is good. Harvesting is producing a moderate volume of mostly good quality. Sizes from first picks are running extra large to large with second and third picks yielding mostly large and medium and a few extra large sizes. Gradeout is normal. Rainfall at the end of the week delayed some picking. Dade--Crop condition is rated very good. Picking of a low volume of good quality and size continues. Sizes are good with good packout. Yield is good. Planting remains active. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Condition is fair. Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Fruit quality is mostly fair to good with sizes running mostly large to medium with some extra large sizes available. Wet fields delayed spring crop land preparations. CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking continues at a steady pace with rains delaying some activity. Quality is fair to good. Sizes and color are good. Southwest--Crop condition is good. Planting and harvesting are steady. Quality is good. PLUM TOMATOES: Southwest--Condition is good. Harvesting and planting are steady. Quality is good. Palmetto-Ruskin--Crop condition is fair to good. Picking is steady with activity slowing seasonally. Rainfall delayed some activity. Quality is fair to good. Color and sizes are good. WATERMELONS: Southwest--Condition is fair. Cutting is nearing the end. Quality is fair to good. Palmetto-Ruskin-- Harvesting of the fall crop is finished.