The Week in Florida Agriculture
January 25-31, 2010
Cold and wet conditions across the Panhandle continue to hinder fieldwork and slow the growth of winter forage.
Land preparation is under way for spring vegetables.
Strawberries are being harvested. Condition is mostly good.
Potato fields still have standing water in places.
Planting of spring vegetables is active.
Freeze damage to sugarcane ranges from extensive to minimal depending on location.
Damage from the freeze is more evident as growers are disking under some annual crops.
Weather Summary: Return to seasonal temperatures with scattered showers.
Seafood: Black, red and scamp grouper, amberjack, red snapper, and blue crab meat 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, vegetable movement remains below normal. Salvage operations are mostly complete. Vegetables moving through the market include snap beans, cabbage, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, peppers, radishes, squash, and tomatoes.
Livestock and Pastures: More seasonable temperatures have aided winter pasture recovery. Pasture condition across the state ranges from very poor to fair. Hay and supplemental feeding are active. Statewide, cattle condition is very 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 (mostly Sunburst, with a few Honeys). Seventeen processors are open and accepting fruit. Early, midseason and late oranges, and grapefruit comprise the majority of fruit going to the plants.
