fl-crop-weather

Week ending May 17, 1998
                             Released 4:00 P.M.
                                                               May 18, 1998

WEATHER SUMMARY: Hot, dry weather increased the threat of brush fires
during the week of May 10 through 16. Most temperatures averaged one to two
degrees above normal for the week. Most daytime highs were in the
mid-to-upper 80s with most stations recording at least one high in the 90s.
Most low temperatures were in the 60s and 70s with Daytona Beach and
Jacksonville reporting at least one low in the 50s. None of the major
stations reported rain for the week.

FIELD CROPS: Topsoil moisture throughout the State is very short to short
with scattered areas of adequate moisture. Wheat growers are getting ready
to start wheat harvest. Dry soil is delaying cotton, peanut, and soybean
planting in most areas. Growers are starting to cut hay. The dry weather
has slowed forage development in many areas. Sixty four percent of the
peanuts are planted. Peanut condition: very poor 3%, poor 27%, fair 40%,
and good 30%. Sugarcane growth is normal. Field preparations for spring
planted crops are active.

    Moisture               Topsoil                      Subsoil
     Rating       Last week      This week     Last week      This week

                                         Percent
 Very short                11            37              3             13
 Short                     37            62             29             44
 Adequate                  52             1             67             43
 Surplus                    0             0              1              0

LIVESTOCK AND PASTURES: Pastures were under stress and there was little or
no growth. Pasture conditions throughout the State worsened due to the hot,
dry, and windy conditions. Some central locations have not received rain in
six weeks while most other areas have been without rain for two weeks.
Ranchers in the central area were back to feeding hay to supplement poor
pastures. Statewide, the condition of cattle generally was fair to good.

                           Range                        Cattle
   Condition
                 Last week      This week     Last week       This week
                                         Percent
 Very poor                 5             10             5               5
 Poor                     10             30             5              10
 Fair                     65             45            55              60
 Good                     15             15            35              25
 Excellent                 5              0             0               0

CITRUS: This was another hot and dry week. Most growers in all areas of the
citrus belt are irrigating around the clock to maintain good tree condition
during the current drought. Some areas have reported three to four weeks
without rain. Those high sand hill groves not receiving supplemental
waterings are generally showing light green foliage and fruit softening and
other signs of stress. Valencia harvest is active in all areas with more
than 97% of the late oranges going to the processors. Movement of all
seedless grapefruit is slowing as good, clean, and firm fruit for fresh
shipments are limited. More than half of the grapefruit currently being
utilized are being processed.
    Caretakers are mowing, chopping, and discing cover crops. Some
herbicides are being applied in groves that have had recent rains and
abundant irrigation. Growers are spraying in all areas.

                    Estimated boxes harvested week ended

           Crop                May 3          May 10          May 17

 Valencia oranges               8,457,000      7,122,000        6,219,000
 All grapefruit                 1,282,000        922,000          800,000
 Honey tangerines                  21,000          8,000            7,000

VEGETABLES: Watermelon picking is increasing to meet the holiday demand.
Major crops shipped during the week include snap beans, blueberries,
cabbage, carrots, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive,
escarole, lettuce, okra, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radishes, squash,
tomatoes, and watermelons.

SNAP BEANS: North--Harvesting is becoming more active as fields reach
maturation. Quality is mostly good. West Central-- Crop condition is rated
fair to good. Harvesting is mostly steady. Quality is fair to good. Sizes
and color are good. Southwest-- Condition remains good. Picking is slowing
seasonally. Quality is good. Zellwood--Picking of a limited supply remains
active. Quality is mostly good. East Coast--The crop is in mostly good
condition. Handpicks of a light volume remain active. Quality and color are
good. Producers are discing acreage completely harvested. Dade--Harvesting
of a seasonally declining volume continued. Quality and yield are good.
Supplies are small. Everglades--Picking is virtually finished.

BLUEBERRIES: West Central, North--Picking of a limited volume remains
active. Quality is mostly good.

CABBAGE: Dade--Harvest season is complete. West Central-- Crop condition is
fair. Growth and development are slow to normal. Harvest is winding down.
Head quality is fair and color good. Size is variable. Central,
Hastings--Harvest is steady. Head quality is good. Head size is close to
normal. Growth and development are normal. Harvest will last into June.

CARROTS: Zellwood--Digging is active with activity to continue into early
June. Quality remains generally good.

CELERY: Zellwood--Harvesting is steady. Quality is good.
Everglades--Cutting is nearing the end.

SWEET CORN: Everglades--Harvesting is very active. Yields are very good.
Quality is good. Supplies are expected to remain good into early June.
Zellwood--Picking is slowly gaining momentum. Quality is generally good.
Southwest--Condition is good. Picking is slowing seasonally. Quality is
good. East Coast-- Harvesting is nearly completed. Dade--The season is
finished.

CUCUMBERS: East Coast--Condition is fair to good. Harvesting of a light to
moderate volume is active. Growers are making only first and second picks
with super selects, selects, and a few smalls available. Quality and color
are good. West Central-- Condition is rated fair to good. Picking continues
to gain momentum. Quality and sizes are fair to good. Yield is improving.
Supplies are increasing. North--Harvesting is active. Quality is generally
good. Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is steady. Quality
is good. Dade--Hot temperatures are affecting some vine growth. Picking of
pickles continued. Quality and yield are good with good supplies available.
Zellwood-- Harvesting remains active. Quality is mostly good.

EGGPLANT: East Coast--Condition is good. Crown picks are yielding a light
supply of fancy and medium grades. Quality and color are good. Supplies of
Italian types are very light. Producers are cutting strings and pulling
stakes and plastic from acreage completely harvested. Southwest--Crop
condition is fair to good. Cutting is slowing seasonally. Quality is good.
West Central-- Crop condition is fair. Harvesting is winding down. Quality
is fair. Sizes are variable. Dade--A small volume remains available over
the next seven to ten days. Quality and yield are good.

ESCAROLE/ENDIVE: Everglades, Zellwood--Very limited supplies remain as
harvest nears the end. Quality is generally good.

LETTUCE: Everglades--Small quantities of Romaine remain available with the
harvest of other types virtually completed. Zellwood--Harvesting is
virtually finished.

OKRA: Dade--Good supplies are available as more acreage reaches maturation.
Quality and yield are good.

PEPPERS: West Central--Condition is rated fair to good. Picking is
increasing. Quality is fair to good with medium and large sizes available.
Southwest--Condition remains fair to good. Picking is slowing seasonally.
Quality is fair to good. East Coast--Condition is good. Crown picks are
producing very good quality and sizes. Limb picks of variable sizes
continue. A very light supply of red and yellow Bells remains available.
Quality of all picks is mostly good.

POTATOES: Southwest, Dade--Potato harvest is complete for the year. Growers
are preparing the land for a cover crop. West Central--Harvest is complete.
Hastings--Potato harvest is active. The crop is in fair to good condition.
Growth and development are slow to normal.

RADISHES: Zellwood--Digging continues with supplies available into early
June. Quality is generally good.

SQUASH: West Central--Condition is fair. Harvesting is mostly steady.
Quality is fair to good. Sizes are variable. East Coast-- Condition remains
mostly good. Picking is active. Supplies are light with fancy and medium
grades available. Quality and color are generally good. Growers continue to
clear acreage completely picked. Southwest--Condition is fair to good.
Picking of a light volume is active. Quality is fair to good. Dade--Some
harvesting slowed due to the low market. Volume is limited as the season
nears the end. North--Harvesting is active.

STRAWBERRIES: Dade--Hot temperatures are affecting berry development with
U-Pic harvesting nearly finished. Plant City, Palmetto-Ruskin--The season
is over.

TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition remains fair to good. Fruit sizing is
good. Picking increased with fair to good quality available. Sizes are fair
to good. Supplies are expected to be available through early July. East
Coast--Condition is good. Hot weather is accelerating fruit maturation.
First picks are producing very good quality and sizes with other picks
yielding mostly good quality and sizes. Growers are marketing a moderate
volume. Southwest--Harvesting is nearing the final stages. Quality is fair
to good. Sizes are variable. Supplies are light. Dade--The season is
virtually completed with some U-Pic and pinhooking still in progress.
Quincy--Hot temperatures are aiding plant growth and development. Picking
of greens is expected to start by early June.

CHERRY TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is fair. Harvesting is
increasing. Quality is fair. Sizes and color are fair to good.

PLUM TOMATOES: Palmetto-Ruskin--Condition is rated fair to good. Harvesting
is increasing. Fruit quality is fair to good. Southwest--Condition is fair.
Harvesting is slowing seasonally. Quality is fair to good.

WATERMELONS: Southwest--Crop condition is good. Picking is steady. Quality
is good. Central--Harvesting is increasing seasonally. Quality is good.
Color is fair to good.