fl-crop-weather
State
Florida Crop Weather

Week Ending/Released Dates
Week ending October 24, 2004
Released 4:00 P.M. October 25, 2004

Report Code 
FL-CW4304

Weather Summary Report
Scattered rains covered many localities throughout the
State during the week of October 18 through 24 with totals ranging from a
tenth inch in Daytona Beach to nearly three inches in Homestead. However, a
few areas received less than a tenth inch of rain, such as Balm, Bradenton,
Jacksonville, Lake Alfred, MacClenny, Okahumpka, Ona, Pensacola, Putnam
Hall and Tampa. Temperatures in the major cities averaged from normal in
West Palm Beach to eight degrees above normal in Pensacola. Most daytime
highs were in the 80s while nighttime lows were in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Field Crops Report
Rainfall over some Panhandle and southern Peninsula localities
improved soil moisture, while in other areas the soil moisture supplies
dried. The few localities getting rain the Panhandle and southern Peninsula
reported surplus moisture levels while scattered areas in the northern and
central Peninsula and in the Panhandle reported short to adequate supplies.
Very short soil moisture was reported for spots in the southeastern
Peninsula. In Taylor County, hay making was active as well as in other
areas as weather permitted. Rains delayed cotton and peanut harvesting in
Washington County around mid-week; however, by the end of the week
harvesting resumed. Nearly 35 percent of cotton picking was completed in
Santa Rosa. Peanut digging progress reached 91 percent finished. Last year
by this date, 94 percent of peanuts were dug with the five-year average at
92 percent completed.

                  Percentage of Peanuts Harvested To Date
                                                   This year      91%
                                                   Last year      94%
                                            5 - year average      92%

Soil Moisture Chart
                            Topsoil                     Subsoil
     Moisture
     Rating         This      Last     Last      This     Last      Last
                    week     week      year     week      week     Year
                                           Percent
       Very short        1        1         4        0         1        4
            Short       11        9        29        3         9       27
         Adequate       55       70        65       64        70       63
          Surplus       33       20         2       33        20        6

Vegetable Report
Disease is affecting cucurbits in Dade County. Cabbage and
broccoli planting remained active in the Hastings region with a very
limited acreage of potatoes already planted. Most potato producers around
Hastings plan to start planting in late December and early January.
Panhandle producers, around Quincy and Chipley, continued to pick tomatoes
with a strong demand and light supplies driving prices to record high
levels. Producers continued to pick watermelons with very light supplies
available. Other vegetables available include okra, sweet corn and
 pickles. Harvesting of snapbeans, eggplant, peppers and squash is getting
underway with very light supplies available.

Livestock Report
The condition of range and pasture is mostly good
in all but the central areas. In the Panhandle, north and Big Bend areas,
pasture grass growth has slowed down due to cooler night temperatures.
Haying was active and the planting of winter grazing continued. Pasture and
winter grazing in some locations could stand a little rain. In the central
areas, pasture condition is mostly poor as some pastures are still flooded
and cattle condition is mostly fair. Statewide, the condition of the cattle
is mostly good.

Livestock Condition Chart
                                 Range                    Cattle
       Condition            This     Last            This         Last
                           week      week            week         week
                                              Percent
 Very poor                        0            5           0            0
 Poor                            20           15           0            5
 Fair                            25           35          30           30
 Good                            50           40          60           60
 Excellent                        5            5          10            5

Fruit Report
Citrus: Light rainfall occurred across the citrus areas, mostly towards the
beginning of the week, with only northern and central stations receiving
more than an inch for the entire reporting period. The coastal areas were
dryer, with the east coast reporting less than a half-inch, and the west
coast reporting less than a tenth of an inch for the week. Warm
temperatures were predominant throughout the week, with cooler temperatures
coming through towards the end of the week, dropping to the low 60s by
Sunday in all areas. Groves are beginning to dry out significantly due to
the small amounts of rain and mild weather over the past few weeks.
Moderate temperatures helped encourage color break in early and mid oranges
as well as grapefruit. About half of the fresh fruit packing houses are now
open with only about three processing plants running. Varieties being
packed include early oranges (Navels, Ambersweet, and Hamlins), white and
colored grapefruit, and Fallglo tangerines.

                    Estimated boxes harvested week ended
                       Crop      Oct 10         Oct 17          Oct 24
                                    In thousands of 1 3/5 bu. boxes
         Early & Mid oranges               9             34             62
               Navel oranges               3             27             58
                  Grapefruit              40             95            115
                  Tangerines              49            112            127

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