fl-crop-weather
State
Florida Crop Weather

Week Ending/Released Dates
Week ending November 20, 2005
Released 4:00 P.M. November 21, 2005

Report Code 
FL-CW4605                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          e-height:11.5pt'>
         VEGETABLE HARVEST INCREASING SLOWLY IN SOUTHERN PENINSULA


Weather Summary Report
Significant rains fell in some eastern Panhandle, Big
Bend and southeastern Peninsula areas during the week of November 14
through 20.  Preliminary reports showed less than half an inch of rain fell
in other areas with several stations recording no precipitation for the
week. Four inches fell at Carabelle. Pompano Beach reported about four and
half inches falling on the last day of the week. Temperatures averaged one
to three degrees above normal in the major cities. Daytime highs averaged
in the 70s and 80s while nighttime lows averaged in the 50s and 60s with
several Panhandle and northern Peninsula localities recording at least one
low in the 30s and 40s.

Field Crops Report
Growers are finished with peanut harvesting.  Some peanut
growers in Jackson County reported yields off by over 500 pounds.
Scattered showers throughout the week interrupted some cotton harvesting in
Jackson County with yields rated good to excellent.  Light showers over the
Panhandle and northern Peninsula were not enough to increase soil moisture
supplies with supplies rated very short to adequate. Rains in the central
and southern Peninsula maintained soil moisture supplies with supplies
rated mostly adequate.   Lee County reported short to adequate moisture
supplies and Indian River County reported surplus to adequate supplies.





                 Percentage of Peanuts Harvested to date:
               This year        Last year       5-year average

                  100              99                 99




Soil Moisture Chart
                              Topsoil              Subsoil
            Moisture
                         This  Last   Last   This   Last    Last
             Rating
                         week  week   year   week   week    Year
                                         Percent
          Very short        11     4       1      5      2      0
          Short             17    37      28     18     33     20
          Adequate          65    45      68     77     57     69
          Surplus            7    14       3      0      8     10




Vegetable Report
 Harvesting gained momentum over the central and southern
Peninsula with the volume of cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes increasing.
Lighter amounts of snap beans, eggplant and squash were also marketed
during the week. Tomato growers in the Quincy area continued picking during
the week with the volume decreasing as the season nears the end and
temperatures plunge to near freezing. A very light volume of sweet corn was
also picked in northern and central Peninsula localities. Okra harvesting
is starting back up in Miami-Dade County with very light amounts available.
Strawberry growers welcomed cooler temperatures at the end of the week
which enhanced berry development.



Livestock Report
In the Panhandle, pasture condition is fair to
good. Pasture in the northern counties is very poor to fair. Several
locations had frost and near freezing temperatures. Drought is lowering
winter forage production.  Cattle condition is mostly fair. Livestock
owners are feeding supplemental hay. In the central area, range and cattle
are in good condition. In the southwest, range is in fair to good
condition.  Statewide, cattle condition is mostly good.



Livestock Condition Chart

                              Range               Cattle
             Condition    This      Last     This       Last
                          week      week     week       week
                                        Percent
            Very poor           5        0          0         0
            Poor               10       10          5         5
            Fair               20       35         20        20
            Good               65       55         75        75
            Excellent           0        0          0         0




Fruit Report
Citrus:  Persistent showers inundated much of the east coast this past
week, drenching areas already soaked from earlier rainfall. The rest of
Florida's citrus belt was relatively dry with only a little rain in a few
scattered areas. Growers in the northern, central and southern areas are
beginning to irrigate to maintain surface moisture levels. Warmer
temperatures prevailed early in the week and then turned cooler as a front
passed through the State at the end of the week, bringing temperatures down
to the mid to low 50s in the northern citrus area and the west coast.
Horticultural practices include mowing and cover crop control as groves are
being prepared for the picking season.  Some of the Sunburst and Ambersweet
tangerines have excellent on-tree color and can be packed following
washing. Good color is being reported on early oranges, mids, and
grapefruit. Varieties being picked include Hamlin, Ambersweet and Navel
oranges, colored and white grapefruit, Fallglo and Sunburst tangerines, and
Tangelos. About two-thirds of the packing houses and processing plants are
now open.




                   Estimated boxes harvested - week ended
             Crop                 Nov 6      Nov 13    Nov 20
                                 In thousands of 1-3/5 bushel
                                            boxes
             Navel oranges              101        99      161
             Early and Mid
             oranges                    233       472      943
             Grapefruit                 225       383      478
             Early Tangerines           103       124      209
             Tangelos                     0         9       28




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