MAITLAND, Fla. — According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Florida, there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, December 4, 2022. Precipitation for the state ranged from no rain to more than 2.0 inches in Century (Escambia County). The average mean temperature ranged from 60.2°F in Chipley (Washington County) to 85.4°F at Key West Naval Air Station (Monroe County).
Citrus
Temperatures remained seasonable in the citrus growing region last week, with highs in the low-80s. The warmest readings were recorded in Clermont (Lake County), Bartow (Polk County), and Kenansville (Osceola County), all registering 82 degrees. The citrus belt experienced light rainfall during the reporting period associated with the passage of a weak cold front. The most rain fell in Sebring (Highlands County), receiving 0.3 inches of precipitation. According to the December 1, 2022, U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire citrus growing region remained drought free.
Grove operations included spraying nutritionals, fertilizing, spraying herbicides, mowing, discing, removal of dead trees, replanting young trees, and general grove maintenance. Irrigation was being run statewide. Sizing on this season’s crop was as follows: oranges about tennis ball to baseball size and grapefruit about softball size.
Field personnel reported grapefruit coloring well, with hints of coloration beginning on Valencia oranges also. Harvested varieties for the freshm market included: Early white grapefruit. Processed fruit included field-run early oranges, navels, and red grapefruit, along with packinghouse eliminations of all fruit types.
Crops
Most of the state received very little rain last week, with only the northwestern part of the state receiving a significant amount of precipitation. Cotton harvest continued to make strong progress across the state.
Producers were busy seeding cover crops, wheat and oats.
Vegetable crops that were planted and harvested last week included squash, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, and zucchini. Reporters also noted that cooler weather in the evenings helped leafy vegetable production. Sugarcane planting and harvest continued to progress last week.
Livestock and Pastures
Cattle and pasture conditions were reported mostly fair to good. Due to the lack of rain, the northern region of the state continued to experience drought conditions. Reporters noted that winter season pastures were struggling and operators who have yet to plant them are unable to.
To read the complete report please click here FL-CropProgress-12-5-22
–USDA, NASS
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