Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending August 31, 2014.
Hay, corn, soybeans and peanuts were being harvested in the Panhandle, north, and central Florida. Isolated fields in the Panhandle have received scattered showers this past week. Lack of rain placed stress on corn, soybeans, and peanuts. Army worms were still a problem in parts of the Panhandle. Peanut condition was mostly good for the State. Sugarcane fields in Palm Beach County were being prepared for planting.
Citrus: Rainfall in the citrus producing area this past week was widespread and generally heavy. All but one station received some precipitation. Eleven stations received more than an inch and three received more than two inches. Pierson (Volusia County) received the most at 4.11 inches, followed by Lake Alfred (Polk County) with 3.63 inches.
North Port (Sarasota County) recorded the least with 0.00 inches of precipitation. Daytime high temperatures were hot, reaching the mid to upper 90s in all citrus producing counties. As per the U.S. Drought Monitor, last updated August 26, 2014, the entire citrus producing region in Florida remains drought free.
Next season’s crop is progressing well. Growers and caretakers are applying summer oils, fertilizing, irrigating, and in some cases resetting new trees.
Fruit and Vegetables: Southwest Florida received scattered showers throughout the week. Vegetable growers in southwest Florida continued planting melons, tomatoes, peppers, squash, preparing land and laying plastic for fall crops. Fruits and vegetables being planted in Miami-Dade County included okra, boniato, and malanga; being harvested included okra, boniato, avocado, and longan.
Livestock and Pastures: Statewide, the cattle and pasture condition was mostly good. Cattle were heat stressed.
