The Week in Florida Agriculture
January 18-24, 2010
Scattered rains throughout the state caused flooding in the Panhandle, northern, and parts of the central region.
Cotton harvest is near completion.
Forage crops such as rye and oats were damaged by cold weather and flooding.
Planted potato fields have standing water.
Supplemental hay is being fed to livestock.
Many vegetable packinghouses will not reopen for several weeks.
Spring crops are being planted.
Sugarcane suffered widespread freeze damage. The crop is being harvested at mill capacity.
Weather Summary: Warmer weather and scattered showers.
Seafood: Black grouper, amberjack, beeliner snapper, red snapper and blue crab are plentiful.
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.
Vegetables: Due to freeze damage, few vegetables moved through the market. Cold weather caused extensive damage to snap beans and squash. Production volumes continue to be below normal for endive, escarole, radishes, and tomatoes. Vegetables moving through the market include cabbage, celery, sweet corn, snap beans, eggplant, endive, escarole, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes, and strawberries.
Livestock and Pastures: Recent heavy rains flooded many pastures. Freezing temperatures killed the emerged winter ryegrass and small-grain forage, and lowered the forage quality. Cattle are being fed supplemental hay. Most pasture grass was burned brown by the freezing temperatures earlier in the month, so forage quality was lost. Small amounts of cool-season forages are ready for grazing but most are not. Statewide, the cattle condition is very poor to excellent with most fair.
Citrus: All packinghouses are open. Varieties being packed include early oranges (Navel and Hamlin), white and colored grapefruit, and tangerines (mostly Sunburst with a few Honeys). Seventeen processors are open and accepting fruit. Early and midseason oranges and grapefruit comprise the majority of fruit going to the plants. The predominant grove activity is the harvesting of early and midseason oranges.
