State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 07/28/02 Issue NH-CW3002 Volume 22, Number 14 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) July 29, 2002 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary RAIN STILL NEEDED IN NEW ENGLAND For the week ending July 28, 2002, there were 6.2 days suitable for field work across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 2% very poor, 6% poor, 23% fair, 51% good, 18% excellent. Scattered showers fell across New England last week, bringing some relief to crops. Despite rain, drought-like conditions remain throughout most states. Growers continue to irrigate, where available. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables; harvesting tobacco, strawberries, highbush blueberries, peaches and vegetables; weeding, cultivating fields; applying fertilizer; cutting dry hay and chopping haylage; mowing orchards and around fields; monitoring for pests and disease; applying fungicides and insecticides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ---------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 15 11 1 Short 23 32 33 Adequate 52 47 65 Surplus 10 10 1 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 11 10 0 Short 21 28 32 Adequate 66 60 67 Surplus 2 2 1 ---------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report Farmers began cutting the third crop of hay last week, as the first and second cuts progressed. Maine oat and barley crops are in great condition with harvest just around the corner. Potato harvest has begun in Massachusetts. Potato growers in Maine cultivated and applied fungicides and insecticides; late blight has yet to be reported in the state. Massachusetts shade tobacco harvest is gaining momentum with 20 percent harvested by week's end; broadleaf harvest is just getting underway with five percent picked. Intensive spray programs are in full force to control the spread of blue mold in tobacco fields. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Raspberry, strawberry, highbush blueberry and peach harvest continued last week, and growers are gearing up for early apple harvest. Peach harvest in Worcester County, MA is at 50 percent. Renovation of strawberry fields progressed. Pear condition continues to be rated as very poor in Connecticut and good in other states. Maine wild blueberry growers applied insecticides last week and continued to monitor traps; harvest is expected to begin soon. Cranberries in Massachusetts continued to be irrigated as growers await significant rainfall to size up the berries. VEGETABLES: Vegetable growers continued to irrigate where possible in areas where little or no rain fell. Sweet corn harvest jumped ahead to 25 percent complete in New England and the crop was rated in good to fair condition last week. Beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, peppers, radish, spinach, squash, tomatoes and zucchini were harvested last week. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2002 2001 5-yrAvg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME -- -- -- Excellent/Good Oats, ME <5 -- -- Excellent/Good Potatoes Maine -- -- -- Excellent/Good Mass <5 -- 5 Good Rhode Isl -- 5 <5 Good Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Fair Sweet Corn 25 20 20 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 20 15 30 Good/Fair Broadleaf 5 15 10 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 95 95 95 Good/Fair Second Cut 45 65 45 Good Third Cut <5 10 5 Good/Excellent --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2002 2001 5-yrAvg Condition ---------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- -- -- Good/Fair Peaches 20 5 10 Good/Fair Pears -- -- -- Poor Blueberries Highbush 20 25 35 Good/Excellent Wild, ME -- -- <5 Good Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good/Fair Strawberries 99 100 99 Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, July 28, 2002 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 36 94 64 -4 0.00 1.44 NH 30 95 66 -2 0.04 1.09 VT 40 94 67 -1 0.15 1.53 MA 43 97 69 -3 0.03 1.54 RI 48 94 69 -3 0.00 0.60 CT 49 97 70 -3 0.00 1.16 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weather Information Table Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday July 22, 2002 To: Sunday July 28, 2002 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 43 90 66 -6 925 -267 302 -137 Allagash 36 89 62 -4 605 -182 171 -23 Augusta_ME 50 93 67 -4 1091 -52 424 +13 Bangor 44 90 66 -4 1016 -13 375 +38 Barnard 42 85 63 -5 836 -57 255 +1 Bath 46 84 64 -6 901 -136 292 -57 Bethel 46 89 65 -4 954 -88 322 -18 Brassua_Dam 41 84 63 -3 699 -35 197 +24 Brunswick_ME 49 85 66 -4 1007 -30 369 +20 Caribou 44 84 64 -3 780 -72 240 +12 Corinna 38 89 65 -4 941 -65 311 -4 Danforth 41 87 62 -7 760 -207 220 -87 Dover-Foxcroft 43 84 61 -6 736 -157 207 -47 Durham 44 92 65 -7 994 -219 357 -112 East_Hiram 44 88 65 -4 981 -59 332 -7 Eustis 40 88 62 -4 673 -51 166 +7 Frenchville 40 86 63 -3 692 -95 209 +15 Gray 52 92 68 -3 1133 +114 454 +120 Greenville_ME 48 83 65 -3 818 -86 260 -1 Guilford 42 85 62 -5 729 -164 196 -58 Hollis 44 92 66 -2 1075 +95 403 +101 Houlton 38 85 64 -4 820 -63 258 +7 Kennebunkport 47 81 63 -10 915 -365 299 -208 Livermore_Falls 45 94 67 +0 1006 +117 377 +130 Moosehead 40 87 62 -4 702 -32 185 +12 New_Sharon 45 90 67 -1 1118 +229 439 +192 Patten 42 83 63 -5 739 -144 213 -38 Portage 44 87 64 -3 779 -73 244 +16 Portland_ME 49 90 66 -5 1079 +60 403 +69 Rangeley 42 86 62 -3 685 -6 172 +28 Sebec_Lake 42 86 64 -4 832 -72 246 -15 Vanceboro 43 83 63 -5 790 -107 233 -27 Waterville 48 84 65 -6 1002 -190 366 -73 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 48 90 67 -3 1193 +22 466 +39 Benton 46 85 66 -2 983 +1 348 +68 Berlin_AG 46 87 65 -3 936 -45 309 +14 Bethlehem 44 87 65 -3 872 -110 275 -6 Concord 46 92 69 -1 1311 +140 569 +142 Diamond_Pond 42 81 61 -2 607 -38 144 +33 First_Conn_Lake 43 83 62 -1 603 -42 135 +24 Greenville 40 92 67 -3 1129 +71 433 +98 Keene_AP 46 91 68 -3 1303 -20 547 +19 Lakeport 53 91 70 +1 1267 +168 528 +146 Marlow 47 87 67 -4 992 -206 358 -76 Mt_Washington 30 63 50 +1 101 +72 4 +4 North_Conway 49 93 68 -2 1167 +72 479 +103 Otter_Brook_Lk 48 90 68 -4 1186 -137 469 -59 Plymouth 46 88 65 -3 977 +19 330 +47 Rochester 47 90 67 -5 1239 -8 498 +19 Weare 48 88 66 -5 1138 -60 432 -2 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 47 94 67 -1 1107 +89 417 +104 Bethel 47 91 69 +2 1169 +208 474 +188 Burlington_VT 49 90 71 +0 1324 +52 574 +74 East_Haven 40 89 65 +0 874 +67 279 +77 Island_Pond 42 86 65 +1 868 +72 275 +85 Montpelier 46 87 68 +1 1062 +69 392 +88 Morrisville_AG 46 88 67 -2 900 -81 291 -13 Mount_Mansfield 43 75 58 -2 515 +103 109 +68 Northfield 44 90 67 +2 1058 +164 379 +130 Pownal 50 86 67 -2 1120 +96 423 +104 Rochester 48 88 67 +0 1018 +57 366 +80 Rutland_AG 48 87 68 -4 1119 -201 426 -96 Sunderland 47 86 66 -5 1047 -222 369 -112 Sutton 45 86 65 +0 897 +90 286 +84 Townshend_Lake 51 90 68 -4 1219 -15 487 +14 Union_Vill_Dam 46 92 68 -4 1112 -135 432 -46 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 49 88 68 -1 1252 +192 508 +157 Boston 58 97 72 -3 1622 +140 777 +134 Greenfield 46 94 70 -3 1425 +8 632 +40 New_Bedford 48 87 68 -7 1445 -22 609 -17 Otis_AFB 52 86 69 -3 1334 +170 542 +110 Plymouth 48 91 68 -4 1375 +152 590 +115 Walpole 48 94 69 -3 1450 +175 652 +153 West_Medway 46 95 69 -4 1481 +206 666 +167 Westover 50 93 71 -4 1618 -9 779 +39 Worcester 52 90 68 -3 1329 +149 571 +140 Worthington 45 89 66 -2 1145 +114 448 +126 RHODE ISLAND Providence 55 94 72 -2 1628 +228 778 +187 Woonsocket 48 94 69 -2 1451 +198 649 +178 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 49 90 67 -8 1353 -223 579 -131 Bridgeport 60 91 72 -3 1699 +201 826 +161 Hartford_AP 53 95 73 -3 1715 +146 847 +140 Norfolk 49 90 69 +1 1326 +291 562 +235 Norwich 51 92 70 -3 1561 +126 731 +131 Thomaston_Dam 50 95 70 -1 1495 +249 677 +214 Willimantic 49 92 70 -1 1506 +239 687 +208 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION NCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.21 -0.62 2 2.21 -0.95 11 Allagash 0.40 -0.51 2 4.62 +1.21 13 Augusta_ME 0.20 -0.54 2 1.46 -1.43 10 Bangor 0.26 -0.45 1 1.74 -1.28 10 Barnard 0.31 -0.46 2 2.68 -0.57 15 Bath 1.00 +0.35 1 2.82 +0.14 11 Bethel 0.08 -0.74 2 1.29 -1.93 9 Brassua_Dam 0.79 -0.12 3 3.25 -0.40 11 Brunswick_ME 0.77 +0.12 1 1.97 -0.71 9 Caribou 0.50 -0.47 4 5.68 +2.09 18 Corinna 0.21 -0.56 1 2.43 -0.65 9 Danforth 0.39 -0.52 2 4.65 +1.11 13 Dover-Foxcroft 0.39 -0.38 1 2.02 -1.23 12 Durham 0.05 -0.72 1 1.52 -1.60 8 East_Hiram 0.16 -0.68 2 1.50 -1.80 10 Eustis 0.56 -0.28 2 3.20 -0.16 10 Frenchville 0.17 -0.74 4 3.58 +0.17 17 Gray 0.18 -0.48 1 1.27 -1.55 6 Greenville_ME 0.48 -0.29 2 2.46 -0.79 13 Guilford 0.47 -0.30 3 2.52 -0.73 13 Hollis 0.34 -0.36 2 2.38 -0.60 12 Houlton 0.46 -0.43 3 6.28 +2.90 18 Kennebunkport 1.44 +0.76 2 2.71 -0.11 9 Livermore_Falls 0.61 -0.16 1 2.37 -0.75 10 Moosehead 0.57 -0.34 3 2.98 -0.67 12 New_Sharon 0.64 -0.13 2 2.88 -0.24 11 Patten 0.34 -0.55 2 3.40 +0.02 12 Portage 0.46 -0.51 2 7.41 +3.82 15 Portland_ME 0.68 +0.02 2 2.99 +0.17 10 Rangeley 0.46 -0.38 2 4.11 +0.92 12 Sebec_Lake 0.39 -0.38 2 1.76 -1.49 12 Vanceboro 0.37 -0.40 1 3.99 +0.91 16 Waterville 0.22 -0.61 2 3.18 +0.02 13 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.46 -0.31 1 1.58 -1.32 9 Benton 0.28 -0.52 2 2.10 -1.05 7 Berlin_AG 0.76 -0.09 2 3.00 -0.39 10 Bethlehem 0.84 -0.07 3 4.48 +0.94 11 Concord 0.51 -0.26 2 1.22 -1.68 7 Diamond_Pond 0.56 -0.49 4 2.56 -1.61 13 First_Conn_Lake 1.09 +0.04 2 4.48 +0.31 11 Greenville 0.47 -0.42 1 1.48 -1.93 6 Keene_AP 0.38 -0.46 1 0.98 -2.29 4 Lakeport 0.16 -0.68 1 0.81 -2.42 7 Marlow 0.22 -0.55 1 1.43 -1.70 4 Mt_Washington 0.70 -0.91 3 4.75 -1.61 12 North_Conway 0.07 -0.77 4 1.29 -2.09 10 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.04 -0.80 1 0.76 -2.51 5 Plymouth 0.36 -0.55 2 1.72 -1.77 9 Rochester 0.45 -0.36 1 0.74 -2.40 4 Weare 0.57 -0.20 1 1.50 -1.63 6 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.16 -0.75 1 1.29 -2.40 5 Bethel 0.61 -0.30 3 2.10 -1.34 11 Burlington_VT 0.70 -0.14 3 2.97 -0.31 7 East_Haven 0.67 -0.31 2 3.06 -0.77 12 Island_Pond 0.49 -0.50 3 2.51 -1.34 12 Montpelier 0.21 -0.50 2 3.00 +0.20 9 Morrisville_AG 0.60 -0.38 3 4.38 +0.65 10 Mount_Mansfield 1.06 -0.43 3 5.53 -0.33 10 Northfield 0.22 -0.60 1 2.93 -0.19 6 Pownal 1.10 +0.19 2 2.23 -1.46 7 Rochester 1.40 +0.49 2 3.12 -0.32 10 Rutland_AG 1.32 +0.41 2 2.51 -0.97 8 Sunderland 1.53 +0.82 1 2.50 -0.22 4 Sutton 0.64 -0.34 3 3.65 -0.18 11 Townshend_Lake 0.21 -0.59 1 0.88 -2.13 5 Union_Vill_Dam 0.63 -0.14 2 2.36 -0.59 10 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.42 +0.59 1 2.35 -1.00 6 Boston 0.53 -0.10 2 1.40 -1.14 6 Greenfield 0.89 +0.05 2 1.54 -1.85 7 New_Bedford 0.14 -0.59 1 0.32 -2.44 4 Otis_AFB 0.15 -0.51 1 0.41 -2.18 5 Plymouth 0.15 -0.62 1 0.35 -2.73 5 Walpole 0.55 -0.22 1 1.93 -1.18 6 West_Medway 0.46 -0.31 1 1.88 -1.23 4 Westover 0.82 +0.05 1 1.87 -1.42 7 Worcester 1.11 +0.27 1 2.44 -1.05 6 Worthington 0.64 -0.34 2 4.36 +0.49 7 RHODE ISLAND Providence 0.25 -0.49 1 0.36 -2.49 3 Woonsocket 0.60 -0.29 1 1.49 -2.08 6 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.96 +0.26 1 3.92 +1.05 5 Bridgeport 0.43 -0.41 1 1.13 -2.29 3 Hartford_AP 0.59 -0.11 1 2.18 -0.69 4 Norfolk 0.97 +0.02 1 2.80 -0.99 5 Norwich 0.56 -0.29 1 0.92 -2.39 3 Thomaston_Dam 1.00 +0.02 1 1.56 -2.18 3 Willimantic 1.16 +0.23 1 2.29 -1.46 5 Summary based on NWS data. DFN = Departure From Normal (Using 1961-90 Normals Period). Precipitation (rain or melted snow/ice) in inches. Precipitation Days = Days with precip of 0.01 inch or more. Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright 2002: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIS home page at www.awis.com or call toll free at 1-888-798-9955. Other Agricultural Comments and News CONNECTICUT - Howard Rood (FSA), Fairfield/Litchfield: Heavy rains fell at scattered locations at the end of the week. The field corn crop is looking better with the scattered showers. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Continuing mowing hay, picking blueberries and early peaches. Good taste. Irrigating until recent rain. Sweet corn not ready until August. Monitoring vine crops for cucumber beetle and assessing spray programs for weed control in sweet corn. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Weather has been hot and humid, two cool days in the middle of the week with temperatures at night in the 50's. String beans being harvested along with summer squashes, cucumbers. Ponds are getting low. Showers are very spotty. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Growers applying fungicides. Some insecticides being applied. Isolated European borer infestation. Growers applying insecticides to control them. No blight reported. All crops continue to grow very well. A little rainfall would be welcome. No drought stress as yet. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Due to delays in harvesting first crop dry hay, the second crop is being harvested with the first crop. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Good week for making dry hay. Lots of tail end first cut hay finally put in the barn. Strawberry renovation in progress. Still very little sweet corn available from local sources. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Second crop haying has begun. The first sweet corn of the season is at roadside stands. Blueberry raking begins this week. Scattered showers during the week were welcome as some areas have had almost no rain for a month. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Fruit Flies being captured in traps and insecticides are being applied. Fruit is approximately 70% blue, but ripening is very uneven. Crop development is a week or more behind normal. Harvest is expected to begin in mid-coast region on Monday. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: A mild week overall with some cool nights. Raspberries being harvested. Second cutting of hay continuing. Farmstands and farmers markets are busy. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: It is still an excellent year for all crops. It is time for more showers because the topsoil is drying out. Laura Rand/Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Producers still harvesting hay crops in-between clouds and brief showers. Silage corn is starting to curl due to lack of moisture, and the same with sweet corn. Potato producers are irrigating their crops. Strawberries are almost done being harvested and blueberries are very low in quantity due to poor weather this spring. Pastures are for the most part ok, but are in need of rain. Market gardens are in need of a steady rain to help with the lack of moisture. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Still cutting first cut hay, second and third cuts coming good. Potato bug very popular as well as other varmints. No tree fruit to cause any concerns. Area sweet corn coming on first time. Lots of veggies. Very little moisture except low fog and sprinkles. Warm heavy dews (is) helping crops more than given credit. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: The drought continues, all vegetable crops are suffering, growers are irrigating however, they can't keep up. Growers are picking sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, etc., with below average yields. Second cutting of hay is not as good as expected, drought has cut yield. Cranberry growers are irrigating every day and water supplies are shrinking. Fruit needs water to size up so the growers are doing a rain dance every day. Shellfish growers have slowed harvest as demand has dropped since the Fourth of July. Inventories of shellfish are backing up and prices are dropping at a time growers usually see peak demand. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Some corn borer activity reported, but seemingly under control. Some hay got caught in the rain but overall a good second crop so far and on time. Most vegetables being harvested. The rain and humidity helped give the veggies and hay a boost. Some farmers reporting having a very good vegetable crop this year. Strawberries are at their end. Raspberries are at their peak and looking good. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Hot weather and a little rain have really helped drought stressed crops catch up this week. Forage corn is as green as I've ever seen it, many fields are tasseling now. Cucumber harvesting is in full swing this week, all growers are reporting good yields. Unfortunately these conditions have also increased disease pressure. Several tobacco farms have reported blue-mold infection. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Harvesting of all summer crops is in full swing. A few rain showers have helped crops greatly. All crops are in good demand. Started harvesting broadleaf tobacco and topping continues. Cultivating, fertilizing, and scouting for pests and diseases continues by growers. Gary Guida, Worcester: An ideal week weather wise but cool nights slowed corn ripening down a little. All crops look excellent, harvesting all summer crops, fall crops at fruit set. Strawberry renovations complete. A U-pik blueberry farm south of here has about the best crop I've ever seen there! Preventive spraying continues for fungus and European corn borer, not much damage noted. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: A heavy but brief rainfall on Tuesday - not enough to alleviate dry conditions. Field corn continues to grow well - some corn along CT River starting to tassel. Decent regrowth on hay land, though grass regrowth is slower than alfalfa. Sweet corn harvest is just starting. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Cutting, tedding, baling. Lots of dry hay being put up in mid to end of this week. Untimely showers continue to make this year quite a challenge. Field corn beginning to put on rapid growth; some early sweet corn in tassel/silk stage. Empty patches in low areas where corn was under water earlier this year noticeable. Raspberries, beans becoming available at farms. High-tunnel tomatoes just beginning to ripen. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn beginning to tassel. Weather has been excellent for corn growth, but has made it challenging to make dry hay. Third cutting has just begun. Quality is excellent. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Orchardists began harvesting first apples. Blueberry, peach and raspberry harvest continued. Strawberry cultivating and weeding newly renovated beds. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, spraying if needed, and mowing orchard floors. Starting to move bins into orchards. Vegetables: Growers are busy irrigating fields! Harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, cole crops, cucumbers, greens, peas, potatoes, radishes, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, and other vegetables. Farmers kept busy cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insect and disease control where needed. Field Crops: Hay cutting continued at a rapid pace during the week with the second cut being made. The remaining first cut is only good for mulch hay. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Vegetable growers are irrigating during dry spells. Rain showers provided some relief. Second cut hay continues. Some sweet corn was harvested along with other warm season vegetables. A large crop of highbush blueberries was harvested. Vegetable and fruits sprayed with protective fungicides. Trellis tomatoes being suckered. Inchworm damage on raspberries. Squash bug on squash and several vine crop diseases are prevalent. Angular leaf spot found on several cucumber fields. Greater incidence of disease during humid weather. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Harvesting sweet corn, tomatoes and a whole array of vegetables, blueberries and raspberries. Irrigating vegetable fields, monitoring for pests and cultivating. Some crop damages occurred last Tuesday during heavy rain and strong winds. A good soaking rain is needed. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Sweet corn is being harvested and looking real good. Most roadside stands are now open with corn and a variety of summer vegetables being sold. Reports so far put it at a good year. Second cutting of hay being completed, as well as a third cutting of alfalfa haylage soon to be ready. Raspberry and blueberry picking is in full swing and this year's crops look good. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: We had a short storm in the middle of the week and a few showers at the end of the week. However, growers would be happier with more showers because the last few weeks have been very dry. Vegetable growers continue to harvest vegetables. Harvesting of highbush blueberries and raspberries continued last week. Some producers continued to make the second cut. Corn growers continued to monitor for ear worms. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Irrigation efforts still continuing, while the need for rain marches on. Haying being done, planting cabbage and some cole crops. Farm stands are packed with summer harvest. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Sundays rains were welcomed, but did little to relieve the dry subsoils. More rain is needed. Good haying weather but without the rain, crop growth is slow. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Last week was one of the better weeks of the summer for fieldwork. Conditions were favorable for haying and warm temps kept the corn crop moving. Despite the wet conditions, weed control in the corn has been quite good. One major vegetable grower is reporting good crops even though plantings were later than normal. No reports of armyworms this summer. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: The dry week has allowed most all of first cut hay to be harvested. Most landowners have started second cut hay. Corn on average looks good at 3-4 feet high. Some corn is very poor due to the wet conditions and the flood in June. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: Another very hot week in Windham County with rain coming as scattered showers last Thursday and again on Sunday. Field corn looks great with good ear development and stalks. Second cut alfalfa is about all harvested with third coming on strong. Veggie growers are reporting an excellent season. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Received torrential downpours Thursday night. Throughout the week it was hot with scattered showers. Farmers are busy spreading manure and harvesting crops. Richard Noel, Grand Isle/Franklin: Have no lack of rain! Second cut being harvested on many farms, first cut still being harvested for baled hay. Corn looks terrible on many farms. Manure spreading and topdressing is ongoing, pastures in excellent shape. Some fields being seeded down and others lay fallow. Sweet corn being harvested coming out of Canada, not too much state-side. Tomatoes may ripen before they freeze. What a crop year! Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Applied nitrogen on late sweet corn, vine crops and beans. Sprayed for blight on potatoes. Harvesting beans, summer squash, early potatoes and most of early summer vegetables. Had great two inches of rain that did a nice job on all crops. Sweet corn has been slow, but expect to start picking by July 29-30. Nice crop of carrots, squash and leafy vegetables. Finished picking peas - good crop. Have a fine week. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals. Contact Information To receive this report every Monday evening, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov and in the body, type subscribe usda-new-eng-crop-weather Statisticians: Emily McAllister, Robin Helrich Stat Assistant: Wayne Colpitt Deputy: David Luckenbach New England Agricultural Statistics Service National Agricultural Statistics Service United States Department of Agriculture Aubrey R. Davis, Director 22 Bridge St, 3rd Floor PO Box 1444 Concord, NH 03302-1444 Phone: (603) 224-9639 Fax: (603) 225-1434 Internet: http://www.usda.gov/nass/ E-Mail: nass.nh@nass.usda.gov ****************** end of report ***********************