State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 06/08/03 Issue NH-CW2303 Volume 23, Number 7 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 9, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- RAIN AND COOL TEMPERATURES PERSIST For the week ending June 8, 2003, there were 4.6 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 7% short, 62% adequate, 29% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 8% short, 73% adequate, 17% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 3% poor, 12% fair, 66% good, 19% excellent. Another mostly gray, cool, rainy week for New England. Lack of sun is yellowing corn and continuing to discourage sales. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn, potatoes and small grains; transplanting broadleaf tobacco; finishing transplanting shade tobacco; spreading manure; mowing; applying herbicides and fungicides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 2 0 4 Short 7 1 10 Adequate 62 63 68 Surplus 29 36 18 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 2 0 7 Short 8 9 22 Adequate 73 72 65 Surplus 17 19 6 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Mother Nature continued to limit the number of days New England farmers could accomplish field work last week; many farmers are frustrated with the consistently cool, wet weather so far this season. Corn growth is slow and in some areas the plant has yellowed. Farmers have not had much of a chance to catch up on hay cutting, which remained well behind normal last week at ten percent. Rhode Island potato planting is complete, with Massachusetts not far behind. Emergence for both states was moving along nicely last week, though both states are behind normal schedules. Maine potatoes finally began to emerge, well behind the average emergence at this time of year of 35 percent. Growers finished transplanting shade tobacco. Broadleaf tobacco growers had a quarter of their crop transplanted by the week's end. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Orchardists and small fruit growers continued with fungicide applications last week, as fungus and diseases tend to flourish in damp conditions. Strawberries were reported as being up to two weeks behind this year. Mummy berry disease was found thriving in Maine wild blueberry fields due to the cool, damp conditions. Cranberry growers in Massachusetts continued to scout for pests and fungus when weather allowed. Most fruit and berry crops have experienced poor pollination this year because of the unfavorable weather. VEGETABLES: Vegetable planting continued last week when there were pauses in the rain. Due to the consistently moist and cool conditions, some vegetables have started to rot in the ground. Crops are in need of sunshine and heat. The planting of sweet corn progressed to 65 percent, and slow growth was observed in the emerged plants. Farmers harvested asparagus, greens, spinach and rhubarb, and transplanted cucurbits, peppers and tomatoes. The poor weather deterred customers at roadside stands and farmers' markets. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg %Emerged Condition ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Planted -- Barley, ME 90 95 99 40 Good Oats, ME 95 95 99 40 Good Potatoes Maine 95 95 95 <5 Good Mass 99 99 99 70 Good Rhode Isl 100 100 99 45 Good/Excel Silage Corn 70 80 85 40 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 65 75 75 40 Fair/Good Tobacco Shade 100 75 90 -- Good/Fair Broadleaf 25 50 55 -- Good/Fair -- % Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 10 30 35 -- Good/Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Fruit Set Size Condition ---------------------------------------------------------- Apples Petal Fall Avg Avg Good/Fair Peaches Petal Fall Avg/B.Avg Avg/B.Avg Fair/Good Pears Petal Fall Avg Avg Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush FB/Petal Fall Avg -- Good/Fair Wild, ME FB/Petal Fall Avg -- Fair Cranberries,MA Bud -- -- Good/Fair Strawberries FB/Petal Fall Avg/B.Avg -- Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------------- * FB = Full Bloom -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, June 8, 2003 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 27 81 56 -4 0.00 2.38 NH 24 80 55 -5 0.03 2.63 VT 29 83 56 -5 0.19 0.84 MA 37 81 59 -4 0.56 3.95 RI 44 79 59 -4 0.08 2.43 CT 40 81 59 -5 1.44 2.72 ---------------------------------------------- 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 June 2, 2003 To: Sunday June 8, 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 35 77 57 -6 185 -112 15 -31 Allagash 27 73 51 -7 87 -49 4 +0 Augusta_State_A 47 78 60 -3 238 -29 33 -4 Bangor_Intl_Arp 40 79 59 -2 233 +16 33 +10 Barnard 36 78 56 -3 162 -9 15 +1 Bath 39 79 58 -2 170 -41 9 -12 Bethel 39 77 57 -5 182 -49 16 -12 Brassua_Dam 30 73 53 -4 105 -8 11 +11 Brunswick_ME 39 79 58 -3 199 -12 19 -2 Caribou_Municip 34 71 55 -4 158 -8 23 +8 Corinna 37 79 57 -3 196 -22 23 +0 Danforth 30 77 56 -4 140 -40 10 -6 Dover-Foxcroft 36 76 53 -6 108 -63 9 -5 Durham 34 77 56 -7 106 -174 6 -33 East_Hiram 35 78 56 -5 170 -60 13 -14 Eustis 32 72 52 -4 95 -25 4 +4 Frenchville 37 69 54 -4 150 +14 30 +26 Gray 47 79 60 +1 250 +48 43 +29 Greenville_ME 38 71 55 -3 153 -29 20 +3 Guilford 32 76 53 -6 88 -83 2 -12 Hollis 38 80 57 -3 198 +1 18 +4 Houlton 29 74 55 -4 173 +3 17 +1 Kennebunkport 39 81 58 -5 198 -119 18 -29 Livermore_Falls 32 78 56 -3 180 +7 19 +5 Moosehead 32 74 52 -5 100 -13 9 +9 New_Sharon 38 76 56 -3 179 +6 22 +8 Patten 35 73 53 -5 148 -22 17 +1 Portage 37 73 55 -4 164 -2 23 +8 Portland_ME 41 79 59 -1 226 +24 27 +13 Rangeley 33 73 53 -3 93 -21 4 +4 Sebec_Lake 32 76 55 -4 144 -38 11 -6 Vanceboro 34 75 56 -3 142 -19 12 +3 Waterville 41 79 58 -4 195 -102 17 -29 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 40 80 57 -5 232 -59 27 -22 Benton 35 74 55 -5 191 -56 19 -14 Berlin_AG 36 75 57 -4 201 -24 24 -5 Bethlehem 34 74 55 -6 173 -72 11 -23 Concord 36 80 58 -4 294 +3 44 -5 Diamond_Pond 34 69 52 -4 93 -17 5 +5 First_Conn_Lake 31 71 52 -3 102 -8 5 +5 Greenville 34 80 52 -9 146 -121 7 -31 Keene_AP 42 79 58 -6 291 -84 31 -52 Lakeport 42 78 59 -2 267 +12 37 -1 Marlow 31 73 53 -10 127 -199 1 -60 Mount_Washingto 24 50 38 -4 3 +3 0 +0 North_Conway 37 79 58 -4 235 -24 28 -10 Otter_Brook_Lk 36 79 56 -8 221 -154 14 -69 Plymouth 35 77 56 -4 168 -41 15 -9 Rochester 38 79 57 -6 229 -101 28 -35 Weare 43 76 58 -5 246 -80 20 -41 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 34 77 56 -4 180 -68 13 -22 Bethel 31 79 57 -3 254 +29 22 -8 Burlington_Intl 36 79 58 -5 371 +27 54 -19 East_Haven 29 76 54 -4 188 +24 12 -5 Island_Pond 32 73 54 -3 182 +16 12 -5 Montpelier 34 73 54 -6 208 -33 18 -16 Morrisville_AG 33 81 56 -4 218 -8 13 -18 Mount_Mansfield 32 64 50 -3 42 -15 1 +1 Northfield 34 76 55 -4 208 +11 12 -10 Pownal 38 72 55 -5 236 -19 12 -27 Rochester 34 77 55 -5 200 -25 13 -17 Rutland_AG 34 76 55 -9 239 -149 22 -70 Sunderland 34 74 55 -8 208 -157 12 -66 Sutton 37 75 55 -3 187 +23 13 -4 Townshend_Lake 38 78 58 -5 231 -90 18 -45 Union_Vill_Dam 33 77 56 -7 210 -123 17 -50 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 41 78 57 -4 258 +14 25 -5 Boston/Logan_In 52 81 62 -4 384 -28 79 +2 Greenfield 42 79 60 -6 338 -75 42 -48 New_Bedford 45 78 59 -6 279 -129 20 -52 Otis_AFB 50 75 60 -2 260 +3 23 -7 Plymouth 42 78 59 -4 280 -3 28 -11 Walpole 43 80 59 -4 335 +4 55 -2 West_Medway 42 81 60 -4 339 +8 50 -7 Chicopee/Westov 41 77 59 -8 367 -148 49 -81 Worcester 45 75 58 -4 308 +15 38 -5 Worthington 38 74 56 -5 212 -40 10 -25 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 48 79 60 -4 359 -11 45 -20 Woonsocket 44 79 59 -4 304 -23 32 -16 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 41 77 57 -10 258 -230 19 -106 Bridgeport/Siko 49 74 61 -5 361 -66 42 -56 Hartford/Bradle 46 80 60 -6 436 -45 70 -52 Norfolk 42 70 56 -5 224 -23 7 -25 Norwich 47 81 60 -4 351 -74 45 -48 Thomaston_Dam 43 79 59 -4 359 +12 43 -21 Willimantic 44 78 59 -4 344 -5 38 -25 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 1.08 +0.24 4 3.90 +0.54 16 Allagash 0.80 +0.10 3 1.98 -0.85 11 Augusta_State_A 0.98 +0.19 4 3.03 -0.28 16 Bangor_Intl_Arp 1.78 +0.98 3 3.90 +0.69 11 Barnard 1.69 +0.85 4 3.35 +0.08 17 Bath 0.80 -0.05 3 3.74 +0.40 14 Bethel 1.01 +0.10 4 3.07 -0.36 16 Brassua_Dam 2.29 +1.41 3 4.18 +0.93 15 Brunswick_ME 0.85 +0.00 4 3.44 +0.10 17 Caribou_Municip 1.37 +0.72 3 2.90 +0.15 12 Corinna 1.75 +0.91 3 4.73 +1.49 13 Danforth 1.98 +1.14 4 3.45 +0.08 13 Dover-Foxcroft 0.57 -0.27 3 2.07 -1.20 14 Durham 0.92 +0.08 4 3.56 +0.28 16 East_Hiram 0.88 +0.00 4 3.88 +0.46 16 Eustis 1.03 +0.26 2 3.33 +0.27 14 Frenchville 0.69 -0.01 2 1.07 -1.76 7 Gray 0.63 -0.18 3 3.41 +0.23 12 Greenville_ME 1.05 +0.21 4 2.17 -1.10 8 Guilford 1.64 +0.80 3 3.52 +0.25 17 Hollis 0.44 -0.40 4 3.53 +0.17 18 Houlton 1.74 +0.97 5 3.05 -0.03 16 Kennebunkport 1.23 +0.33 4 4.79 +1.29 18 Livermore_Falls 0.96 -0.01 4 2.81 -0.74 15 Moosehead 2.38 +1.50 3 4.05 +0.80 15 New_Sharon 1.30 +0.33 3 3.60 +0.05 16 Patten 1.99 +1.22 4 3.24 +0.16 17 Portage 1.95 +1.30 3 3.77 +1.02 15 Portland_ME 0.63 -0.18 4 3.56 +0.38 17 Rangeley 0.66 -0.18 1 3.11 -0.02 14 Sebec_Lake 1.72 +0.88 3 3.61 +0.34 15 Vanceboro 1.75 +0.98 5 3.29 +0.10 14 Waterville 1.18 +0.34 3 3.14 -0.22 18 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.68 -0.02 4 4.04 +1.20 18 Benton 1.25 +0.37 4 4.36 +1.07 18 Berlin_AG 0.03 -0.90 1 2.05 -1.37 11 Bethlehem 0.69 -0.21 4 4.19 +0.96 17 Concord 0.63 -0.07 4 4.13 +1.29 16 Diamond_Pond 0.88 -0.17 4 3.59 -0.25 19 First_Conn_Lake 0.65 -0.40 3 3.15 -0.69 15 Greenville 1.11 +0.24 4 6.32 +2.87 14 Keene_AP 0.75 -0.09 4 4.80 +1.37 17 Lakeport 0.61 -0.23 3 3.34 +0.00 14 Marlow 0.58 -0.33 4 3.79 +0.12 18 Mount_Washingto 2.63 +0.81 4 7.69 +0.78 18 North_Conway 1.52 +0.61 4 4.13 +0.50 17 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.56 -0.28 4 6.52 +3.09 19 Plymouth 0.61 -0.23 4 4.22 +0.65 17 Rochester 0.59 -0.25 3 4.22 +0.81 15 Weare 0.88 -0.03 4 5.65 +1.98 17 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.61 -0.47 4 4.43 +0.21 20 Bethel 0.70 -0.21 3 3.28 -0.56 16 Burlington_Intl 0.50 -0.27 3 3.36 +0.44 13 East_Haven 0.58 -0.40 3 3.49 -0.05 19 Island_Pond 0.49 -0.49 4 2.83 -0.79 16 Montpelier 0.32 -0.52 4 1.45 -1.69 11 Morrisville_AG 0.39 -0.52 4 2.27 -1.17 17 Mount_Mansfield 0.82 -0.68 4 5.60 +0.23 17 Northfield 0.40 -0.37 2 2.89 -0.27 14 Pownal 0.52 -0.56 4 4.98 +0.76 16 Rochester 0.61 -0.30 4 4.41 +0.57 17 Rutland_AG 0.73 -0.09 4 4.61 +1.37 17 Sunderland 0.35 -0.49 3 4.84 +1.52 17 Sutton 0.41 -0.57 3 3.95 +0.41 17 Townshend_Lake 0.19 -0.58 2 3.82 +0.68 16 Union_Vill_Dam 0.47 -0.30 3 4.15 +0.92 18 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.08 +0.26 4 5.13 +1.88 16 Boston/Logan_In 2.04 +1.30 4 5.93 +3.05 16 Greenfield 0.72 -0.19 3 4.20 +0.61 17 New_Bedford 2.82 +1.97 5 5.46 +2.13 14 Otis_AFB 2.63 +1.86 5 5.27 +2.02 12 Plymouth 2.70 +1.86 5 5.52 +2.06 15 Walpole 2.31 +1.47 4 6.30 +3.14 17 West_Medway 2.52 +1.68 3 6.84 +3.68 12 Chicopee/Westov 1.35 +0.37 4 4.71 +0.91 18 Worcester 1.73 +0.82 4 5.50 +1.66 18 Worthington 1.10 +0.18 3 5.44 +1.43 14 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.71 +0.91 5 4.81 +1.52 15 Woonsocket 1.77 +0.85 5 5.97 +2.32 18 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.61 +0.70 5 6.11 +2.38 17 Bridgeport/Siko 2.53 +1.69 4 7.49 +4.03 16 Hartford/Bradle 1.50 +0.59 5 6.01 +2.28 16 Norfolk 1.56 +0.48 4 6.76 +2.57 15 Norwich 2.72 +1.91 5 7.50 +3.76 14 Thomaston_Dam 1.44 +0.46 5 7.16 +3.23 18 Willimantic 1.80 +0.90 5 6.12 +2.43 19 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 - Howard Rood (FSA), Fairfield/Litchfield: Another cool, wet week. We need warm weather and sunshine to make the crops grow. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Another wet, cool week. Surplus soil moisture is becoming a real problem on heavier soils. Some mowed grass to chop but got rained out. Most completed planting field corn but a few still struggling to get crops planted. Some transplanting of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, yet greenhouses are bursting with crops that should be in the field. Broadleaf tobacco growers who started plants in greenhouses are having problems with fungus on plants. Marsha Jete (FSA), New London: Rain, rain and more rain preventing planting of corn, harvesting of dry hay or green grass. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Discouraging, yellowing corn sitting in puddles. Cloudy and cool. Strawberries two weeks behind. Planting continues in the rain, too late to wait for anymore days to get the crops in. Poor milk prices and gray weather not lifting many spirits. The sun will come out tomorrow? Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Vegetable growers 2 weeks behind schedule. Squash, cucumber and tomato plants are rotting in the field. Some producers reporting heavy fruit set while others have average to heavy. Heavy rains have done damage to fields. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Rain continues to plague farmers. Saturated fields and cold soils continue to delay crop development. Grass hay is in full bloom - but no one can harvest due to no drying weather and fields too wet to drive through. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Nearly all growers have completed planting their crops. They have begun herbicide applications. Of course there are rocks to pick. Most small grains have emerged and potatoes are just about ready to emerge. Growing conditions are very favorable. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: A few farmers are finishing planting. Overall, most have all the crops in the ground. Now we need the weather to cooperate for our crops to progress. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Things are going well. We could stand to have some heat and sunshine. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Dairymen are harvesting green chop. Potatoes are mostly all planted. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: We need sun for the crops. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Wet weather continues to cause problems. Some very heavy downpours in spotty locations have really set things back. Corn is short, yellow and cold. Not sure how the poor weather has impacted pollination of apples and strawberries. Black flies and mosquitoes are growing well! Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Some green chop has been cut but no dry hay yet. Floating row cover still in place on many row crops until the weather improves. Some fields still too wet to plant - we need sun to warm up and dry out the soil. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: The crop in Maine is delayed about a week because of the cool, wet spring conditions, there is some winter injury evident and a considerable amount of mummyberry disease showing up. We have had a few good days for pollination, but overall it has been poor. The bud development and bloom look good, but with all the problems we are having this spring I would not expect to have any more than an average crop. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: The damp weather is doing a number on the planting season. The two scenarios we're looking at are not very good. The first is that not all the crop is planted. It's just too wet and muddy. The second is the crop in the ground that hasn't emerged is sitting in wet soil. The potential for rotting seeds is great. The grass is growing but forget baling hay. The producers cutting haylage report a light crop. Isn't farming fun! Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: It's the same old story, cool and wet. Hay is about ready, but we need some dry days to make it. Corn that is showing looks fair. Growers are saying we are 1 to 2 weeks behind. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: The rain has improved pasture conditions to excellent. Hay is growing well but only wrapped, chopped and large round bales being harvested due to rain showers. Corn, oats and barley are emerging well. Growth will really take off with some sunshine. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Producers have been busy putting the final touches on planting. Green chop being cut. Cool days and nights, dreary, damp weather. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Corn is growing slowly, slightly longer to germination due to cool soil temperatures and little sun. Fields are wet but hay will be ready and waiting to be cut when the sun comes out. Ongoing harvesting of spring vegetables, greens and rhubarb. Temperatures remain cool, pollination is low according to orchardists. Reports of peach tree winter kill resulting in an expectation of poor crop (if any). Small grains progressing well. One report of a large strawberry producer with crop loss due to pest damage last year. Up to another inch of rain this week, highs in the 60's, lows in the 40's. Farmers' markets and nurseries doing average business, it would be booming if the sun came out. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Same old story. Rain, too wet. Rain, too wet. Farmers managed to get in the fields between rain drops. Can't begin harvesting hay until they get a couple of sunny days to dry it. A few areas have begun, but some got taken aback from more rain. The weather continues to delay planting of fruit and vegetables. The vegetables that are in the ground could now use some sun. The ground is still on the cooler side. Can't do much in muddy fields! Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Plant growth progresses slowly but surely. Plenty of water available to growers this year. No frost nights this past week. Insect populations building, but horrible scouting weather continues. It hasn't been the best conditions for applying fungicides or insecticides either. Some hook showing on the most advanced beds, those sanded during the winter. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: More cold and wet weather has hampered field work. Planting and growth of crops is still way behind normal. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Another poor week for most field work. Transplanters have been working as quickly as possible before the hot, dry weather comes, if ever. Potatoes have benefitted from the cool, rainy weather and look excellent. All growers are concerned about disease and insect pressure on their crops. We need at least one week of hot, dry weather! Ted Smiarowski, Jr./Julie Jacque (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Heat and lots of sunshine needed for all crops. Rain continued off and on throughout the week. Orchardists, small fruit and tobacco producers are applying fungicides to reduce the pressure of diseases. Harvesting spinach, lettuce, rhubarb, and asparagus. Early potato plants are the size of a basketball and Colorado potato beetles are active. Cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes are growing very slowly due to the continued cool weather. Gary Guida, Worcester: Another wet week and weekend. Retail sales way off for plants this week. With two nice days, growers (including me) hustling to transplant veggie crops and plant more sweet corn. Consumers have had it with weather and growers, too! On a positive note strawberries look awesome this year, just hope it doesn't rain for PYO. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Hoping for a dry weekend. Some first cutting going into the silo or wrapped round bales. As soon as the ground dries enough first cutting can begin in earnest. Northern part of the county has had more dry days than the south, so corn is mostly all planted. Greenhouse plant sales lag behind normal, but should be able to catch up if people believe that summer will really get here! Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Finally, the sunny days outnumbered the rainy ones! First cutting grass and alfalfa for haylage and baleage in full swing, still less than ideal weather for making dry hay. Regrowth on early cut fields is really rapid and strong. Corn is just about all planted and up, most of it at 2-3 leaf stage. Vegetable farms continuing to set out the last transplants, greenhouses continuing to do a brisk business. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Earliest planted field corn now at about 3-leaf stage, some herbicide spraying being done. Despite some rainy periods, lots of haylage harvesting getting done, with follow-up manure spreading. Seeing some loss of blossoms on highbush blueberries, winter damage to upper portions. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: First cut ongoing as weather permits. Several good weather days allowed for harvest to move forward. Showers and rain late in the week stopped it. Some fields too wet for harvest equipment. Grasses heading out, especially orchard grass. Corn growing slowly, but looking good. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Fruit growers monitoring pest and crop development and applying sprays for pest control, if needed. Orchardists applying thinning sprays to apple orchards. Mowing orchard floor and weed spraying under trees. Blueberries and strawberries are beyond petal fall. Field Crops: Planting and weed spraying corn fields. Farmers are continuing trying to make haylage and trying to start baled hay between rain showers. Vegetables: Transplanting tomato and pepper plants, and making successive plantings of vegetable crops. Harvesting spinach, greens, asparagus and rhubarb. Flea beetle and seed maggot damage seen, striped cucumber beetles can be found in vine crops and asparagus beetles are all over asparagus. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Orchardists are spraying for plum curculio. Fruit growers are spending a great deal of time mowing. Cool weather has extended bloom of blueberries. Very little dry hay or haylage. Tender growth of several crops experiencing some spray injury. Crops such as sweet corn, field corn, vine crops, etc. are growing slowly while hay crops are growing rapidly. Hot, sunny weather needed. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Another week of rain with some breaks of sunshine. Pastures and hayfields still doing well. Some farmers were busy making the first cut. All the fruit trees have set fruit and growers continue to monitor for diseases and insect pests. Vegetable growers were busy transplanting warm season crops such as tomatoes, peppers and cucurbits. Greenhouse growers continue to battle with fungal diseases due to cool, humid conditions. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Another cool, dark, rainy week kept field work from moving forward. Field corn slowly being planted, potatoes being sprayed and strawberries are late. Summer crops being planted, but holding off on pumpkins and fall gourds. Roadside stands doing well. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Cole crops doing well in this cold weather. It is tough getting planting done with all the cold and rain we've been getting. Some tomatoes were transplanted in the rain. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Corn planting is winding down and farmers are turning their attention to first cut of grass. Crop conditions were generally favorable last week but warmer temperatures and good drying conditions would be beneficial. Pastures are doing well at this point in the season. Vegetables could use some extra warmth. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Landowners have finished planting corn. Most corn has emerged and is about 2 inches tall. First cut haying has begun but rain showers have slowed the process. Hay crop appears to be heavy this year. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: STOP the RAIN, give us sunshine is what's happening in Windham County this past week. Very little hay has been cut due to poor weather conditions. Vegetable crops have come to a standstill due to little sunshine and no hot days or nights. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Some corn planted between rains, not much on heavy clay soils. Started haylage chopping. Late start cutting haylage, expect lower feed value than past years. Too wet for much field work. Spraying planted corn, good control with moist soil conditions. Pasture regrowth good, grasses headed out. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: This past week has been cool and damp. Light frosts were reported by some locations. The principal activity this week was mowing of the year's first grass crop. Grass is described as being late, but thick and of good quality. Some grass has headed out. Corn planting and spraying continues. The corn is up in most locations, though it is late due to the cool, damp ground, most often being 2 to 3 inches high. On some, ground rows are not yet visible, even though corn was planted two weeks prior. There is no evidence of rotting. Vegetable crops are behind due to the cool ground but appear to be in good condition. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Good early summer week. Mostly dry, some rain. Lots of hay and haylage moving. Finishing up corn planting. Most of the mid-late May planted corn has emerged and looks good. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Night temperatures still dipped into upper 30's and 40's last week. Another round of good moisture gave decent growing conditions last week. Arthropod development has really gotten underway, and primary scab infections are beginning to show up. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: More sunshine this week compared to last week. Corn planting continued as well as new seedings. A lot of earlier planted corn emerged and at the 1 to 2 leaf stage. The first cut of hay and alfalfa being chopped. Manure spread over some first-cut fields. Very little dry hay being baled. -- 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 ***********************