The Week in Florida Agriculture
December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Wet conditions hindered prescribed burn activity. Pine trees are being planted. Growers ran heaters to prevent freezing of seed potatoes. Preparations continue for planting potatoes. Growers used irrigation to help prevent freezing of strawberries. Freezing temperatures reached down to the southern Peninsula. Growers report a small amount of tomato crop was frozen. Sugarcane harvest remains active. Weather Summary: Cooler temperatures; rain in all areas; frosts reported throughout the state. Forestry: Landowners are beginning to plant bare-root tree seedlings. Forestry officials remind landowners who are preparing for dormant season prescribed burning to develop plans and obtain authorizations. Seafood: Adverse weather conditions are causing a drastic slowdown in seafood harvest. Reports from Miami to Apalachicola indicate that no species are plentiful this week. Vegetables: Growers harvesting in anticipation of coming cold weather. Planting and land preparations continue. Vegetables moving through the market include snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes, and strawberries. Livestock and Pastures: Pasture condition is fair to good throughout the state. Supplemental hay feeding is increasing throughout the state. Patchy frost reported over the weekend. Statewide, cattle condition ranges from poor to excellent, with most fair to good. Citrus: All packinghouses are open. Varieties being packed include early oranges (Navel and Hamlin), white and colored grapefruit, and tangerines (predominately Sunburst and Murcotts, with a few Dancys). Seventeen processors are open and accepting fruit. Early and midseason oranges and grapefruit comprise the majority of fruit going to the plants. Other than harvesting, grove activity include fertilizing, cleaning up groves, dormant spraying for psyllid control, and a small amount of hedging.
