Severe drought continues to plague southwest Florida.
No precipitation has been recorded at the FAWN weather station in Immokalee in over a month. Dry conditions have been exacerbated by rising daytime temperatures, which have been in the high 80 s and even the low 90 s over the past few weeks. High temperatures combined with breezy conditions and low humidity have resulted widespread moisture stress manifesting itself in terms of poor growth, low vigor, reduced yields, smaller fruit size and compromised fruit quality. Tomato ripening has been greatly accelerated by the heat and drought and the spring crop promises to be a short one. Sunscald is causing concern to pepper growers.