MAITLAND, Fla. — According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Florida, there were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, November 7, 2021. Precipitation for the state ranged from little rain to 7.4 inches in Daytona Beach (Volusia County). The average mean temperature ranged from 57.6°F in Whiting Field (Santa Rosa County) to 76.7°F at the Key West Airport (Monroe County).
Citrus
Maximum high temperatures continued to decline in a seasonable pattern across the citrus growing region this week, with observations in the mid-70’s to the low-80’s. The hottest reading was reported in Vero Beach (Indian River County), which hit 81 degrees. The citrus growing region received significant rainfall due to a low-pressure system that traversed the state, with most stations collecting one to two inches of rain. The most rain fell in Lake County, with the Clermont station reporting 4.15 inches and the Mount Plymouth station reading 3.05 inches. According to the November 4, 2021, U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire citrus growing region remained drought free with the sole exception of part of northern Volusia County, where abnormally dry conditions lingered.
The citrus crop progressed as normal, with oranges tennis ball to baseball size and grapefruit larger than softball size. Field reports indicated color break in grapefruit groves as well as in early orange and early tangerine groves.
Growers engaged in limited harvesting for the fresh market, with varieties including Hamlin and Navel oranges, along
with Fallglo and Early Pride tangerines, and red grapefruit. Two processing plants were open and taking eliminations, while 13 packinghouses were shipping fruit.
Grove operations included spraying pesticides and nutritional formulas, fertilizing, applying herbicide, pollinating, mowing, discing row middles, removal of dead trees, replanting of young trees, and general grove maintenance including ditch clean-out. Irrigation was being run in all areas.
Crops
A variety of fruits and vegetables were harvested and marketed last week. Reasonably dry weather allowed producers to continue harvest activities after some delays in previous weeks. Nearly all cotton bolls are open, and harvest is beginning to ramp up. Peanut harvest neared completion. Sugarcane harvest continued last week with some delays due to heavy rains in the middle of the week.
Livestock and Pastures
Cattle remained in mostly good and excellent condition while pastures were in mostly fair to good condition. Early planted cool-season forages look good, but many acres remain unplanted.
Click here to read the complete report FL-CropProgress-11-08-21
–USDA, NASS
