The Week in Florida Agriculture
August 16-22, 2010
Rainfall has improved the condition of most row crops, but delayed corn harvesting. Peanut condition is rated 1 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 70 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Peanut pegging is nearly complete. Harvest of corn for silage is nearly complete. Recent rains relieved stress on forage crops and aided grass growth. Fields are being prepared for planting of fall vegetables. Some early tomatoes and peppers are being planted. Heavy rainfall helped promote rapid growth of sugarcane, but slowed field work. Weather Summary: Heavy rain in many areas slowed field work. Seafood: Spiny lobster, grouper, red snapper, amberjack, mullet, beeliner snapper, tilefish, shrimp, blue crabs and blue crab meat are in steady supply. Forestry: Land owners should prepare for winter planting by ordering pine seedlings, selecting tree planting contractors, completing mechanical and chemical site preparation, and conducting growing-season prescribed burns in suitable pine stands. Vegetables: Avocadoes, okra, and truck crops are moving through the market. Livestock and Pastures: Pasture condition has improved slightly due to recent rains. Statewide, pasture condition is poor to excellent with most good. Statewide, most cattle are in good condition. Citrus: Growing conditions continue to be good across the citrus region.
