The Week in Florida Agriculture
September 6-12, 2010
Early-planted cotton is being defoliated to prepare for harvesting. Peanut condition is 10 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Peanut harvest is 14 percent complete, compared to 20 percent this time last year and the five-year average of 11 percent. Dry conditions are hindering peanut digging. Dry conditions and heat have hurt peanut yields. Lack of rainfall has hindered soybean crop growth and lowered hay yields. Land is being preparation for planting of fall vegetable crop. Weather Summary: Dry fields in the north and much rain in the south. Seafood: Spiny lobster, grouper, scamp, amberjack, red snapper, flounder, Spanish mackerel, yellowtail snapper, oysters, shrimp, live blue crab, and crab meat are in good 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: Okra and avocadoes continue to move through the market. Livestock and Pastures: Planting of winter forage is under way. Pastures throughout the state are in fair to excellent condition. Statewide, cattle condition is poor to excellent, with most good. Citrus: Growing conditions continue to be good across the citrus region.
