The Week in Florida Agriculture
May 3-9, 2010
Peanut planting is 36 complete after being slowed by heavy rainfall. Spring vegetables in northern areas and the Panhandle are in good condition Soybean planting is under way and will continue for the next few weeks. Fieldwork in the Panhandle was stopped or delayed by heavy rainfall which exceeded 8 inches in some areas. Erosion has caused leaching of nutrients, which may need to be replaced in some field crops. New potatoes are being dug. Cabbage harvest is nearly complete. Corn for silage is being planted. Planting of melons and blueberries continues. Indoor foliage and landscape plants are now shipping. Sugarcane growers are cultivating, fertilizing, and applying weed control. Tomato and bell pepper harvest is increasing and approaching normal levels. Watermelon and cantaloupe harvest is increasing but shipments are still light. Weather Summary: Warm temperatures and scattered showers. Floriculture and Nursery: Fern growers are recovering from winter freezes and harvest volumes are below normal. Demand for sod is increasing. Seafood: Red snapper, flounder, amberjack, yellowtail snapper, mahi-mahi and stone crab claws are plentiful. All Florida seafood is safe to eat. Vegetables: Snap beans, blueberries, cabbage, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, escarole, peppers, radishes, squash, and tomatoes are moving through the market. Livestock and Pastures: Statewide pasture condition is improving due to good soil moisture and seasonally warmer growing temperatures. Statewide, cattle condition is fair to excellent with most fair to good. Citrus: Most packinghouses remain open. Varieties being packed include Valencia, white and colored grapefruit, and Honey tangerines. Valencia oranges and grapefruit comprise the majority of fruit going to the plants.
