The Week in Florida Agriculture
July 21-27, 2008
Peanut pegging is 90 percent completed, compared to 79 percent this time last year. Peanut condition is rated 21 percent fair, 53 percent good, and 26 percent excellent. Peanut growers are treating crops for tobacco budworms. Small amounts of hay have been baled this season. Vegetable growers are preparing land for fall planting in August. Reports indicate that hay looks good. Vegetables: Okra and avocadoes are moving through the markets. Livestock and Pastures: In the Panhandle and northern areas, pastures are mainly in good condition. Pastures are looking better and forage for hay looks good. Pastures in the central area are mainly in fair condition. The condition of cattle is mostly fair. In the southwest, pastures are in mainly fair to good condition. The pasture condition has declined due to drought. The cattle condition in the southwest is very poor to excellent, with some livestock bothered by flies and mosquitoes. Statewide, cattle condition is mostly fair to good. Citrus: All citrus-producing areas received some rainfall during the week. Localized thunderstorms in some areas brought large amounts of precipitation. Overall, the showers have been beneficial to the growth of foliage and new fruit. Oranges range between golf ball and baseball size. Grapefruit tend to be larger. Activity in the groves includes applications of summer oils, cleaning ditches, fertilizing, mowing, and some hedging. Growers are combining efforts to address canker and psyllid control. Access to groves with canker or greening is being approved by cautious owners and usually with restrictions.
