Weekly Assessments
Kansas City, March 24 (World Weather Inc.) – Seasonal rain in Florida citrus areas does not usually begin until sometime in May. Much of the crop is irrigated until then, but there has been some growing concern about drought in the state and some early season rainfall may soon be needed for those production areas that are not irrigated. Brazil’s citrus areas saw a mix of spotty rain and sunshine during the past week with more rain expected in the coming week. Late-season citrus development conditions will remain favorable. East-central and western Mexico’s citrus areas will also receive timely rain during the coming week. The need for timely rain is otherwise increasing in northeastern Mexico.
Kansas City, March 17 (World Weather Inc.) – Florida’s main citrus areas received significant rainfall during the past week. Resulting rain was too light to completely fix the drought, but was still beneficial for the citrus that is flowering or setting fruit. Drier weather will return during the coming week and most areas will gradually dry down. The need for timely rain will increase late this month into April as more of the citrus is flowering and setting fruit. Harvesting and general farming activity will advance swiftly. In Brazil, the main citrus areas saw a good mix of rain and sunshine during the past week. With more rain on the way during the coming week, citrus conditions will remain favorable. Mexico’s citrus areas will receive varying amounts of rain during the coming week. Northeastern Mexico will be driest and would benefit from increased rainfall.
Kansas City, March 10 (World Weather Inc.) – The northwest corner of citrus country in Florida received significant rainfall during the past week while lighter rain totals were noted elsewhere. Rainfall likely supplemented irrigation while also potentially impacting the harvest. Drought is ongoing and the need for significant rain is high. The main citrus areas will have several opportunities for rain in the coming days that will chip away at the drought. Additional rain will be needed to completely fix the moisture deficits. Brazil’s citrus areas will also see significant rainfall during the coming week that will support good citrus conditions. In Mexico, many areas in east-central Mexico will receive timely rain that will support good flowering and fruit setting. Northeastern and western Mexico will see periods of light rain, though more will be needed.
Kansas City, February 15 (World Weather, Inc.) – Weather conditions around the world have been quite stable in recent weeks leaving most cacao production areas with a mostly good environment for ongoing development. Rain has occurred routinely in the past week in Brazil, Ecuador and Indonesia with the greatest rain frequency and amounts occurring in portions of both Indonesia and some of the minor production areas in east-central Africa.
Kansas City, February 24 (World Weather Inc.) – Assessments are ongoing in Florida from the damaging cold weather that occurred late in January and early in February. Significant damage to unharvested citrus and citrus trees in general was noted in much of the production region. Not only will this season see significant losses, production will likely be impacted for the next several seasons as well due to the severity of the damage. Conditions will be relatively mild during the coming week with some rain and seasonably warm weather most days. Brazil’s citrus areas saw a mix of rain and sunshine during the past week. Periods of erratic rain will continue during the next several days as well. The environment will remain relatively favorable for new citrus growth. Mexico’s citrus areas will receive little to no rain during the coming week. The need for rain will increase across the main production areas in March to support better flowering and fruit setting.
Kansas City, February 18 (World Weather Inc.) – Florida’s citrus region was warmer than usual during the past week with periods of erratic rain. Harvesting and general fieldwork likely advanced swiftly around the rain. A cold front will advance over the region later this weekend and early next week that will drop nighttime temperatures back to the 30s Fahrenheit. Pockets of frost will be a concern, though no damaging cold is expected. Brazil’s citrus areas will see an uptick in rain through the middle of next week compared to the past seven days. Citrus conditions will remain favorable. Several areas in eastern Mexico will also receive timely rain that will be beneficial for flowering.
Kansas City, February 10 (World Weather Inc.) – Frost and light freezes were again noted at times in Florida during the past week. Temperatures were not as cold as those in the previous week with lowest readings generally in the upper 20s and 30s Fahrenheit. Additional citrus damage was likely minimal. Florida will now experience seasonable to seasonably warm weather during the coming week with periods of erratic rain. Drought will continue across the state. Brazil’s citrus areas saw several waves of rain during the past week with more on the way during the coming week. Citrus prospects will remain relatively favorable. Mexico’s citrus areas will receive little or no rain during the coming week. The need for timely precipitation is increasing as citrus trees begin to flower.
Kansas City, February 3 (World Weather Inc.) – An outbreak of arctic air in eastern North America promoted widespread hard freezes in Florida’s citrus region in recent days. Producers took steps to protect citrus fruit and trees ahead of the cold snap, though temperatures were still cold enough for long enough to significantly damage both trees and unharvested fruit. Damage assessments will be made in the coming days or even weeks. There are concerns for significant production losses not only for this current season, but for upcoming seasons depending on the exact amount of trees that were impacted. Brazil’s citrus region saw spotty rain return during the past week. More significant rain will occur during the next seven days and citrus conditions will remain favorable. Mexico’s citrus areas will only have a few opportunities for spotty rain in the coming days.
Kansas City, January 27 (World Weather Inc.) – A pool of arctic air will slowly make its way across eastern North America during the coming week. This air mass will drop temperatures below or well below normal for Florida’s citrus country with nighttime lows dropping into the 20s Fahrenheit Sunday into early next week. This bout of cold air will bring with it some of the coldest conditions to occur in Florida this winter season and may damage some of the unprotected crops. In Brazil, several locations in Sao Paulo and southwestern Minas Gerais were dry during the past week. However, rain will return during the coming week and main a good outlook for the citrus. Many areas in northeastern Mexico also experienced frost and light freezes this morning. Minor damage was possible in areas that did take precautions ahead of the cold.
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