In the southwest, rain has been spotty with cattle and range in fair to good condition. This was another very hot and humid week in Florida's citrus groves with showers and thunderstorms varying in intensity depending on location. Some groves had adequate rains throughout the week while others were running their irrigation systems to maintain good tree condition. Most trees in all areas continue to show an abundance of new growth. New crop fruit is making good progress with a little premature splitting of early oranges and a few Navels.
Some fresh fruit packing houses have members testing early bloom grapefruit for the first shipments.
Caretakers are cutting cover crops and herbiciding to control the summer weed growth. Growers are fertilizing, spraying and removing dead trees. Some resetting has been reported in the larger grove operations. Mostly clear weather allowed land preparation for fall crops to proceed on schedule. About three percent of the tomato acreage was lost to dry conditions in late July with growers replanting this lost acreage.