State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 05/18/03 Issue NH-CW2003 Volume 23, Number 4 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) May 19, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- NEW ENGLAND CROPS NEED HEAT For the week ending May 18, 2003, there were 4.7 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 5% short, 75% adequate, 18% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 6% short, 81% adequate, 9% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 5% poor, 19% fair, 63% good, 13% excellent. A cool, wet start to the week gave way to warm, dry weather by week's end, allowing growers to get back into the fields. In general, temperatures have remained below normal, slowing germination and planting progress. Frost hit many locations last week. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn, potatoes and small grains; transplanting shade tobacco; spreading manure; applying fertilizer and herbicides; pruning; irrigating, plowing; tilling; discing; turning animals out to pasture. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 2 1 1 Short 5 4 6 Adequate 75 81 70 Surplus 18 14 23 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 4 4 7 Short 6 5 20 Adequate 81 83 67 Surplus 9 8 6 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Crop growth was slowed last week due to cool temperatures. The cutting of first crop of hay is just around the corner. Field corn planting progressed to twenty percent last week and remained in fair to good condition. New England potato crops were rated in good condition, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island potatoes began to emerge. Favorable temperatures and conditions allowed potato growers in Maine to begin planting last week. Maine small grain farmers also started planting and had completed ten percent by week's end. Growers began setting shade tobacco in Connecticut. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Most tree fruit crops were in bloom last week and peaches were nearing petal fall stage. Orchardists continued to apply fertilizer and fungicides, prune trees and mow orchard floors. Bees were brought into orchards and berry fields for pollination. Maine wild blueberry growers are gearing up for this season, applying fungicides and pre-emergence herbicides. Cranberry growers in Massachusetts irrigated to protect from frost and continued to apply fertilizer. Strawberries were covered or irrigated for frost protection last week. VEGETABLES: New England farmers continued with vegetable planting last week when weather permitted. Asparagus and rhubarb were harvested last week. Sweet corn under plastic is emerging, while growth in the open is slow to emerge due to cool temperatures. Many took advantage of the beautiful weekend weather and visited farm stands and garden centers. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg %Emerged Condition ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Planted -- Barley, ME 10 30 55 -- Good Oats, ME 10 30 50 -- Good Potatoes Maine 5 20 45 -- Good Mass 75 75 80 10 Good Rhode Isl 65 95 85 5 Good Silage Corn 20 25 35 -- Fair/Good Sweet Corn 30 25 35 10 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 25 5 15 -- Good/Fair -- % Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 0 0 <5 -- Good/Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Fruit Set Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples Early Bloom Avg/B.Avg Good/Fair Peaches Full Bloom/PF B.Avg/Avg Good/Fair Pears Full Bloom Avg Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush Bud/Early Bloom Avg Good/Fair Wild, ME Bud -- Good Cranberries,MA Bud -- Fair/Good Strawberries Bud/Early Bloom Avg Good/Fair -------------------------------------------------------- * PF = Petal Fall -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, May 18, 2003 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 26 77 47 -5 0.00 1.29 NH 23 72 49 -5 0.20 1.63 VT 26 77 51 -4 0.30 2.20 MA 26 71 51 -5 0.00 1.49 RI 29 68 52 -5 0.00 0.35 CT 30 75 54 -4 0.05 0.72 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table -- Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday May 12, 2003 To: Sunday May 18, 2003 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 32 71 48 -8 48 -44 1 -3 Allagash 27 76 45 -5 5 -20 0 +0 Augusta_State_A 35 67 49 -6 59 -21 4 +2 Bangor_Intl_Arp 31 71 49 -5 59 +4 4 +4 Barnard 31 72 47 -5 36 -4 0 +0 Bath 32 65 47 -7 34 -17 0 +0 Bethel 30 74 49 -5 45 -17 2 +2 Brassua_Dam 28 71 45 -3 7 -11 0 +0 Brunswick_ME 35 65 48 -6 51 +0 2 +2 Caribou_Municip 33 74 46 -5 10 -29 0 +0 Corinna 32 72 49 -4 41 -17 0 +0 Danforth 27 75 44 -9 8 -30 0 +0 Dover-Foxcroft 31 69 46 -6 22 -18 0 +0 Durham 26 64 45 -11 27 -53 1 +1 East_Hiram 29 67 48 -7 37 -25 2 +2 Eustis 28 68 45 -4 18 -4 0 +0 Frenchville 33 74 46 -4 12 -13 1 +1 Gray 35 67 49 -5 69 +18 12 +12 Greenville_ME 34 70 47 -5 27 -21 0 +0 Guilford 31 70 46 -6 6 -34 0 +0 Hollis 30 67 49 -5 49 +1 1 +1 Houlton 29 74 46 -6 18 -21 0 +0 Kennebunkport 30 69 47 -10 49 -50 4 +3 Livermore_Falls 30 72 49 -4 41 +1 1 +1 Moosehead 27 74 47 -2 14 -4 0 +0 New_Sharon 29 68 48 -4 42 +2 5 +5 Patten 32 73 46 -5 19 -20 0 +0 Portage 30 74 47 -5 13 -26 0 +0 Portland_ME 35 61 48 -5 66 +15 10 +10 Rangeley 29 70 46 -3 9 -12 0 +0 Sebec_Lake 28 74 48 -4 21 -27 0 +0 Vanceboro 31 73 46 -6 14 -18 0 +0 Waterville 35 69 49 -7 42 -50 1 -3 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 32 70 50 -6 75 -18 0 -7 Benton 28 68 48 -6 56 -25 0 -8 Berlin_AG 29 71 50 -4 56 -10 5 +1 Bethlehem 29 71 49 -5 45 -34 0 -8 Concord 30 68 50 -5 122 +29 15 +8 Diamond_Pond 30 66 45 -4 20 -4 0 +0 First_Conn_Lake 30 67 46 -3 11 -13 0 +0 Greenville 30 68 48 -7 57 -30 0 -7 Keene_AP 28 70 51 -7 127 -8 9 -8 Lakeport 34 68 51 -3 76 +2 0 -4 Marlow 28 68 48 -9 34 -77 0 -12 Mount_Washingto 25 48 34 -2 0 +0 0 +0 North_Conway 29 70 51 -3 67 -10 0 -5 Otter_Brook_Lk 31 69 51 -8 75 -60 0 -17 Plymouth 31 68 49 -4 28 -28 0 +0 Rochester 32 68 49 -8 73 -37 4 -6 Weare 34 69 50 -7 99 -12 4 -8 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 31 69 49 -5 50 -30 0 -8 Bethel 26 74 52 -1 82 +13 0 -4 Burlington_Intl 38 71 55 -2 158 +36 14 -1 East_Haven 27 73 49 -2 52 +10 1 +1 Island_Pond 30 71 49 -2 47 +2 0 +0 Montpelier 30 68 50 -5 77 -1 8 +1 Morrisville_AG 29 77 53 +0 67 -2 0 -4 Mount_Mansfield 33 64 43 -4 7 -5 0 +0 Northfield 28 70 51 -1 60 +3 0 +0 Pownal 36 69 51 -3 99 +15 6 -4 Rochester 30 70 50 -3 67 -2 5 +1 Rutland_AG 32 71 52 -6 90 -58 8 -16 Sunderland 33 72 51 -6 85 -56 11 -7 Sutton 32 70 50 -1 56 +14 0 +0 Townshend_Lake 33 70 50 -6 71 -38 0 -12 Union_Vill_Dam 28 70 50 -7 57 -57 0 -12 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 32 68 51 -4 112 +40 5 +5 Boston/Logan_In 39 65 51 -8 182 +29 30 +24 Greenfield 34 71 54 -5 151 -3 13 -2 New_Bedford 31 65 51 -7 122 -34 3 -4 Otis_AFB 37 63 51 -4 101 +27 0 +0 Plymouth 33 65 50 -5 125 +41 4 +4 Walpole 30 69 51 -6 157 +43 16 +10 West_Medway 28 70 52 -5 159 +45 17 +11 Chicopee/Westov 30 70 53 -8 192 -26 23 -5 Worcester 39 66 50 -6 153 +58 16 +12 Worthington 30 66 50 -5 88 +9 3 -2 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 36 68 54 -4 183 +52 17 +13 Woonsocket 29 67 51 -6 134 +24 6 +3 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 30 70 53 -8 115 -86 6 -21 Bridgeport/Siko 42 65 54 -5 164 -1 10 -9 Hartford/Bradle 34 70 55 -5 234 +41 31 +5 Norfolk 32 65 51 -4 99 +24 4 +1 Norwich 33 69 54 -5 166 -3 12 -8 Thomaston_Dam 32 75 56 -1 175 +48 17 +6 Willimantic 31 68 53 -4 177 +52 13 +3 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.79 -0.05 4 3.27 -0.06 11 Allagash 0.52 -0.18 3 2.34 -0.36 14 Augusta_State_A 0.57 -0.27 4 2.48 -1.08 11 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.63 -0.21 3 2.65 -0.58 10 Barnard 0.55 -0.22 4 3.39 +0.11 11 Bath 0.93 +0.09 4 2.89 -0.62 13 Bethel 0.75 -0.07 3 3.59 +0.28 12 Brassua_Dam 0.81 +0.04 4 3.61 +0.55 11 Brunswick_ME 0.95 +0.11 5 2.89 -0.62 15 Caribou_Municip 0.46 -0.24 4 2.75 +0.13 17 Corinna 0.64 -0.13 4 3.72 +0.45 11 Danforth 0.28 -0.56 3 3.52 +0.21 13 Dover-Foxcroft 0.46 -0.31 3 2.07 -1.21 12 Durham 0.68 -0.13 4 3.09 -0.35 14 East_Hiram 0.66 -0.18 3 3.70 +0.16 14 Eustis 0.97 +0.22 3 3.45 +0.53 13 Frenchville 0.12 -0.58 2 1.00 -1.70 12 Gray 0.56 -0.27 3 2.97 -0.56 12 Greenville_ME 0.18 -0.59 1 1.13 -2.15 8 Guilford 0.74 -0.03 3 3.12 -0.16 11 Hollis 0.73 -0.11 4 4.02 +0.38 16 Houlton 0.32 -0.45 4 3.13 +0.28 14 Kennebunkport 0.97 +0.07 4 4.75 +1.04 17 Livermore_Falls 0.63 -0.21 4 2.99 -0.48 12 Moosehead 0.57 -0.20 4 2.88 -0.18 13 New_Sharon 0.69 -0.15 5 3.11 -0.36 13 Patten 0.49 -0.28 4 3.18 +0.33 13 Portage 0.73 +0.03 4 3.67 +1.05 16 Portland_ME 0.75 -0.08 3 3.22 -0.31 15 Rangeley 1.29 +0.58 4 3.98 +1.32 14 Sebec_Lake 0.59 -0.18 4 3.15 -0.13 11 Vanceboro 0.41 -0.43 3 2.85 -0.51 11 Waterville 0.59 -0.25 4 2.93 -0.40 12 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.92 +0.22 4 3.90 +1.10 14 Benton 1.05 +0.28 4 2.69 -0.20 13 Berlin_AG 0.96 +0.19 2 2.62 -0.54 10 Bethlehem 1.63 +0.90 4 4.19 +1.36 16 Concord 1.02 +0.32 3 4.22 +1.42 14 Diamond_Pond 1.09 +0.21 5 4.63 +1.37 17 First_Conn_Lake 1.06 +0.18 5 3.86 +0.60 16 Greenville 1.10 +0.26 2 4.04 +0.68 9 Keene_AP 0.85 +0.01 3 2.62 -0.64 10 Lakeport 0.85 +0.03 3 3.99 +0.83 15 Marlow 0.93 -0.01 4 3.83 +0.16 14 Mount_Washingto 1.29 -0.39 4 5.68 -1.29 16 North_Conway 0.85 -0.06 3 3.77 +0.04 13 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.28 +0.44 4 4.17 +0.91 14 Plymouth 1.34 +0.43 3 3.90 +0.43 12 Rochester 1.13 +0.24 3 3.75 +0.00 11 Weare 0.95 +0.01 3 3.81 +0.14 11 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.36 +0.32 4 4.14 +0.00 14 Bethel 1.09 +0.11 3 3.36 -0.48 13 Burlington_Intl 1.83 +1.13 3 4.22 +1.46 13 East_Haven 1.47 +0.67 4 4.38 +1.39 17 Island_Pond 1.21 +0.38 3 4.19 +1.21 14 Montpelier 0.30 -0.43 3 1.91 -0.74 10 Morrisville_AG 0.97 +0.16 4 4.35 +1.23 15 Mount_Mansfield 1.86 +0.64 3 7.11 +2.14 14 Northfield 0.85 +0.03 4 4.77 +1.72 13 Pownal 2.12 +1.08 4 4.02 -0.12 13 Rochester 1.66 +0.68 4 4.59 +0.75 15 Rutland_AG 1.67 +0.90 3 4.37 +1.46 12 Sunderland 2.20 +1.40 4 4.08 +1.06 14 Sutton 1.13 +0.33 3 4.21 +1.22 16 Townshend_Lake 1.24 +0.41 4 3.70 +0.49 13 Union_Vill_Dam 1.83 +1.01 4 4.37 +1.31 16 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.00 +0.23 3 3.40 +0.23 12 Boston/Logan_In 0.25 -0.48 3 1.95 -1.19 13 Greenfield 0.92 +0.06 3 3.35 -0.12 12 New_Bedford 0.16 -0.67 3 2.85 -0.63 12 Otis_AFB 0.07 -0.77 1 1.87 -1.63 10 Plymouth 0.26 -0.65 4 2.82 -0.97 14 Walpole 0.18 -0.59 3 2.48 -0.93 14 West_Medway 0.28 -0.49 2 2.40 -1.01 11 Chicopee/Westov 0.72 -0.19 3 3.95 +0.31 12 Worcester 0.41 -0.57 4 2.25 -1.58 13 Worthington 1.36 +0.31 2 3.34 -0.79 11 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.35 -0.49 2 2.98 -0.57 12 Woonsocket 0.22 -0.69 4 2.41 -1.38 12 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.27 -0.70 3 3.40 -0.30 12 Bridgeport/Siko 0.05 -0.86 1 2.67 -0.97 13 Hartford/Bradle 0.27 -0.70 2 2.58 -1.12 12 Norfolk 0.72 -0.29 3 2.59 -1.55 12 Norwich 0.09 -0.96 2 3.13 -1.13 12 Thomaston_Dam 0.30 -0.69 3 3.05 -1.05 15 Willimantic 0.08 -0.89 3 2.03 -1.88 13 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 2003: 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 - Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Planting of field and sweet corn continues. Some sweet corn 6" tall under row cover. Tree fruit conditions vary across the area. Spotty frost Sunday morning required irrigation on strawberries. Setting of shade tobacco with some producers reporting 25% complete. Early set of cabbage looks good. Could use a little rain but not a lot. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Preparing the soil and planting field corn and sweet corn. Cold and wet spring have put us at least a week or two behind. Scattered frost, heavy in some areas this weekend. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Moved cows to pasture, fields are fairly dry. Working on equipment. Starting to plant corn. Still on the cold side, not much sunshine. Pruning fruit trees, preparing land for vegetables, harvesting asparagus. Apples are through full bloom. A lot of bees lost this winter. Spraying for scab. Bedstraw is running rampant in places. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Temperatures continue to be unseasonably cool for this time of year. Still getting frost at night. Some producers done planting silage corn. Vegetable growers are not sure what to put in the ground since soils are still cool. Fruit trees had spectacular blossoms. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Started chopping first cutting of grass this past weekend. Corn planting put on hold by farms desiring excellent quality forages. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Growers finally getting into the fields, however there are still some wet spots. Mostly small grains being planted with a few potatoes being planted. Hope we get some good weather so we can get the crops into the ground. Soil temperatures by the weekend had risen to a sufficient level. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers are tilling the ground and spreading manure. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: The warm weather this weekend has done wonders for the forage grasses. Many farmers are turning out their animals on pasture. Fields are being spread with manure, plowed and tilled in preparation for planting. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: A wet and cold week we had, some corn is being planted. Mostly land preparation for a late spring planting. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Warm dry weather at the end of last week got everyone ready to go. Lots of manure spreading, planting and fertilizing. More warm dry weather predicted. We actually could use a little rain! Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: After a rainy start and several damp, dreary days the weather finally cleared for field activities on Friday and throughout the weekend. A small amount of sweet corn has been planted with some emergence reported. To date, no silage corn has been planted although planting preparations are underway. More warm weather is needed to push greenhouse crops along. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Fields are being burned for pruning and pre-emergence herbicides are being applied. Leaves are emerging on cropping field stems. Fungicides are being applied for mummyberry disease control. Bees being brought into the crop fields for pollination. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: The week started wet and cold. Farmers are spreading manure and preparing fields for crops. Some of the producers are planting potatoes and corn. Many want the ground to warm up a little more before they put seed into the ground. Many market gardeners have the cold weather crops in the ground and some are harvesting asparagus. One producer told me that the asparagus is about ten days behind. That won't spoil the taste if you get a chance to have some on your dinner plate. I can't wait for all that fresh produce. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: There are a lot of crops in the ground, but they need heat. Strawberries are way behind, and those crops that have emerged are slow to grow. Sweet corn on plastic is up as much as 1 to 2 inches, while corn planted on bare ground has yet to emerge. We need some heat. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Soil and weather conditions are perfect for planting all early crops. Farmers are straight out busy. We will need rain after this beautiful spell of sunshine. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Ag producers have been busy emptying out the manure pit and getting ready to plant crops. Fields being prepared and planted. Sweet corn, cold crops, and potatoes are all being planted. Greenhouses are selling bedding plants. Weather still a bit cold, but wait until next week - we will be going full bore! MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Farmers continue to prepare ground for summer crops. Some corn was planted this week between the three inches of rain that fell. Orchard owners watched for problems, ready to spray if needed, but orchards are in nice bloom stage. Early planted sweet corn up to four inches high. We have hopes it does not have any weather problems. Temperatures have been in the 60's with cool nights near 40 degrees. Brisk pre-Memorial Day business at FAV stands for flowers and nursery items. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Conditions remain unseasonably cool, we have failed to reach 60 degrees. There was no rainfall to speak of and only a hint of frost, but planting is slow as fields are slow to dry out and soil temperatures remain low. Vegetable growers are planting early crops but seed is not germinating. Dairy farmers are spreading manure, preparing fields for field corn planting, some are starting to harvest their first cutting of hay. Cranberry growers are applying fertilizer and watching for frost. Shellfish growers are planting new seed and starting to harvest quahogs and oysters as demand picks up. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: A cool, damp week continues to keep field work and growth of crops at a slow pace. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Cool and dry conditions persist in Franklin County. This has allowed most farms to catch up on early spring work. Potato and corn planting is continuing at a rapid pace. Fruit growers have remarked that it's been too cool for bees to pollinate well, even though the orchards are in bloom. All growers got a scare Saturday night with scattered frost warnings. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Another very cool week with a few rain showers. Farmers continue planting silage corn, sweet corn, potatoes, and cabbage. A few growers started planting winter squash and summer, zucchini squashes on plastic. Early potatoes are emerging from the soil. The seed onion crop looks very good. Harvesting asparagus and rhubarb. With the cool, rainy weather the hay and alfalfa crop look excellent. All fruit trees are in full bloom and strawberry growers were irrigating Sunday morning for frost protection. Strawberries are just starting to blossom. Sweet corn under plastic is up 6-8 inches. Gary Guida, Worcester: Yet another cold week! But this next week promises to be a winner. Great retail Sunday at farm stands as annuals were rolled out to meet consumers' demand. Super plant sales. All growers now hitting the field with transplants and seed drills as cool weather finally breaks. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Bedding plants and vegetable transplant sales were brisk this past weekend. Most cold tolerant crops are planted. Pastures look good. Successive sweet corn plantings continue. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Finally feels like May! Beautiful weather the last few days, let's hope it keeps up. Hay fields growing very well. Apples, pears and blueberries beginning to blossom. Sales of vegetables and bedding plants very brisk. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Generally cool, slightly damp weather most of the week. Grass is growing very well, and a few farmers have just started their first cutting. Corn planting is in full swing. Apple trees starting to blossom. Vegetable operations continuing to plant and set out transplants. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Frost has greenhouses/nurseries covering up this weekend. Good charge of rain, around 1.5 inches, helping some fields that were looking dry. Grass fields and pastures greening up. Still some corn fields yet to be prepared for planting. Manure being disced into soil. About to begin spraying for gall midges and twig aphids on Christmas tree plantations. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Rainfall during the week slowed field progress but replenished soil moisture. Corn planting continued as weather permitted. Hay growing slowly as cool temperatures continue. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruits: Made sure bees were in apple orchards beginning of week. Peaches were in petal fall stage and apples were at full bloom or just started petal fall in the Hollis area on Sunday, May 18. Some orchardists concerned about the cooler weather and that bees did not work the apple blossoms. Planting fruit trees, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. With all the rain during the week, orchardists making sure to have protective fungicide sprays applied. Vegetables: With the rain during the week, it was very difficult to do any field work, including making successive plantings of sweet corn and trying to finish potato planting. In fields where soil dried quickly, some growers were plowing, discing, fertilizing and laying down plastic mulch and drip irrigation tape. Weed spraying sweet corn fields. Harvesting asparagus on weekend of May 17-18. Field Crops: Spreading manure, plowing, discing, fertilizing and planting corn on fields that are not too wet. Grasses and forage crops starting to grow better. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: This week was another cool and wet week ending with a nice, hot and sunny Sunday. Planting mixed vegetables, seeding pasture and renovating hay fields. Protective fungicide sprayed on tree fruits and small fruits. Growers busy covering strawberries or using overhead irrigation on a couple of nights predicted with freezing temperatures. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Due to the mixture of sunshine, cool and rainy days, the grass in pastures and hay fields is growing very well. Some growers started early planting of corn. Fruit growers continued to apply protective sprays against apple scab and scouted for pests. Vegetable growers were busy getting their transplants ready for transplanting. Tomato crops in hoop houses and greenhouses are coming up well for most growers. Greenhouses and garden centers were expecting improvement on sales with expected warm weather over the weekend and next week. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: A full week without rain allowed fieldwork, planting, fertilizing and herbicide control to be brought up to date. Strawberries could use some heat. Sweet corn being planted, potatoes almost complete. Roadside stands still busy even though the temperatures remain below normal. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Spring has been unseasonably cold, fruit trees have heavy blooms. Producers are very busy tilling, planting, pruning and fertilizing. Spring crops are going to be a couple of weeks behind. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Week started off rather wet but finished with dry, warm weather. Farmers were again very busy with working the fields for corn planting and various seedings. Weed spraying in corn fields has also begun. Warm temperatures have finally got the grass growing. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Landowners spent the last week putting animals out to pasture and working fields for corn. The first part of the week was cold and wet, however the past 3 days have been warm and dry. Soil temperature is still cool but the last few days have helped this. The larger corn growers have started to seed corn. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: We finally got some warmer weather this past weekend. Last week we received about 2.5 inches of rain. Slowed up corn planting, but the hay crop is almost ready to cut. Orchard grass is heading out and some early varieties have started to bud. Sweet corn started under plastic has 5 leaves and is about 15 inches tall. Most vegetable growers have not planted their more sensitive crops because of the cold nights. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Very wet soils. Little land prepared for planting. A very little corn and new seedings planted last weekend between showers. Some fertilizer spreading on grass land. Little manure spread, too wet. Gary Braman (FSA) Orange/Windsor: Corn mostly planted along the Connecticut River, slightly behind schedule. Moisture is about right but would like some more sun. In the higher ground, manure spreading, plowing and planting. Very busy at the end of the week after some early week rain showers. Grass is growing and cattle are enjoying the lush pastures. Frost after the full moon, vegetable growers using irrigation to avoid crop damages. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Still plowing and harrowing between showery weather. One more planting of peas to put in. Potatoes all planted. Planting mid-season sweet corn this week also, pop corn and Indian corn. Rain 2.202 inches in showers. In spite of showery weather, most land has planted real well. Great weather for peas. Started cutting asparagus, good for this time of year, sun and warm weather would help. Small garden crops germinating well. Shade trees in full bloom, time to turn out cattle. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Relatively warm days with cool nights and adequate amounts of moisture gave good growing conditions last week. With the addition of a good warm up this past weekend, we have finally reached bloom-time in Northern New England. Scab infection period was of concern earlier last week. Arthropod development was still relatively slow in the early part of last week, but the weekend warm-up should speed things along. -- 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 Director: Joe Sampson 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 ***********************