State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 06/15/03 Issue NH-CW2403 Volume 23, Number 8 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 16, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- CONTINUED COOL, WET WEATHER For the week ending June 15, 2003, there were 4.5 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 8% short, 65% adequate, 26% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 9% short, 74% adequate, 15% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 3% poor, 14% fair, 57% good, 26% excellent. Yet another cooler than normal, rainy week in New England last week, which gave way to sun at week's end. Farmers found it difficult to get equipment on wet fields. Crops need heat and sunshine soon, progress was 1- 2 weeks behind schedule. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn, and potatoes; finishing planting small grains; transplanting broadleaf tobacco; cutting haylage; spreading manure; mowing; discing; plowing; cultivating; applying herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 1 2 0 Short 8 7 7 Adequate 65 62 49 Surplus 26 29 44 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 2 2 0 Short 9 8 17 Adequate 74 73 71 Surplus 15 17 12 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Farmers continued to wait for warm, dry days to speed up crop growth and make fields accessible to equipment. Dry hay has been nearly impossible to make, due to the consistent rain and clouds. Some farmers were able to start cutting haylage. Corn emergence remained well behind schedule; the plants need sun to green up. Maine potato farmers reached 99 percent for planting last week and planting in Massachusetts was completed. Potato emergence throughout New England remained behind the five- year average. Small grain planting in Maine was finished last week. Shade and broadleaf tobacco were both reported in good to fair condition last week, as broadleaf transplanting reached the half-way mark. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Orchardists kept busy thinning, mowing and applying fungicides. Some apple growers expressed concerns about scab. Harvest has begun for a handful of strawberry growers; in general, this year's crop was around two weeks behind schedule by the week's end. Winter injury, mummy berry disease and poor pollination were noted by Maine wild blueberry growers last week. Cranberries started to bloom in Massachusetts and growers applied insecticides last week. VEGETABLES: Farmers planted such vegetables as cucumbers, peppers, squash and tomatoes last week, and asparagus, greens, spinach and rhubarb were harvested. Consistent moisture and lack of heat continued to promote rotting. Sweet corn planting advanced to 75 percent and crop emergence was half complete. The sun appeared late in the weekend, giving hope to farmers and encouraging customers to visit roadside stands and farmers' markets. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Emerged -- Barley, ME 90 95 95 Good/Excellent Oats, ME 90 95 90 Good/Excellent Potatoes Maine 25 25 65 Good/Excellent Mass 80 85 95 Good Rhode Isl 85 99 99 Good/Excellent Silage Corn 55 70 80 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 50 65 70 Good/Fair -- % Planted -- Silage Corn 80 85 90 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 75 85 85 Good/Fair Tobacco Broadleaf 50 65 75 Good/Fair -- % Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 20 35 45 Good/Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Fruit Set Size Condition ---------------------------------------------------------- Apples PF Avg Avg Good/Fair Peaches PF Avg/B.Avg Avg/B.Avg Fair/Good Pears PF Avg Avg Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush PF Avg Avg/A.Avg Good/Fair Wild, ME FB/PF A.Avg -- Good Cranberries,MA Bud/EB -- -- Good/Fair Strawberries PF Avg/B.Avg Avg Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------------- * EB = Early Bloom, FB = Full Bloom, PF = Petal Fall -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, June 15, 2003 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 33 81 58 -4 0.00 1.81 NH 32 82 60 -2 0.65 3.40 VT 41 81 62 -1 0.43 2.51 MA 50 81 63 -2 0.34 2.13 RI 53 80 63 -2 0.03 1.15 CT 52 84 65 -1 0.50 2.21 ---------------------------------------------- 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 9, 2003 To: Sunday June 15, 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 47 76 59 -5 250 -144 19 -56 Allagash 33 73 53 -7 108 -92 4 -7 Augusta_State_A 50 77 60 -4 311 -48 45 -16 Bangor_Intl_Arp 47 77 60 -2 306 +5 47 +6 Barnard 40 74 57 -4 214 -26 17 -6 Bath 47 75 59 -4 233 -62 13 -27 Bethel 48 81 59 -4 247 -69 25 -22 Brassua_Dam 35 72 55 -3 145 -26 14 +7 Brunswick_ME 49 76 61 -2 275 -20 34 -6 Caribou_Municip 40 74 57 -4 208 -26 29 +6 Corinna 45 77 59 -3 262 -37 30 -10 Danforth 38 76 58 -4 199 -60 17 -14 Dover-Foxcroft 41 72 57 -4 155 -85 12 -11 Durham 48 80 61 -3 187 -191 24 -46 East_Hiram 46 77 59 -4 234 -81 19 -27 Eustis 37 70 55 -4 133 -44 4 -2 Frenchville 40 70 55 -5 187 -13 33 +22 Gray 50 77 61 -1 327 +44 59 +29 Greenville_ME 44 70 56 -5 195 -57 20 -6 Guilford 39 73 54 -7 121 -119 2 -21 Hollis 47 76 60 -2 270 -7 29 -1 Houlton 35 73 57 -4 224 -15 22 -3 Kennebunkport 48 77 60 -5 270 -150 27 -54 Livermore_Falls 45 79 60 +0 251 +7 31 +6 Moosehead 37 71 55 -3 138 -33 9 +2 New_Sharon 45 78 58 -3 239 -5 27 +2 Patten 42 71 57 -4 198 -41 19 -6 Portage 44 74 57 -3 218 -16 28 +5 Portland_ME 51 76 61 -1 303 +20 40 +10 Rangeley 40 73 56 -3 136 -31 4 +0 Sebec_Lake 38 76 57 -3 199 -53 13 -13 Vanceboro 41 73 58 -3 198 -35 17 -3 Waterville 49 78 60 -5 266 -128 27 -48 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 50 82 62 -2 313 -72 45 -31 Benton 49 73 59 -3 254 -71 24 -23 Berlin_AG 46 75 59 -3 269 -36 29 -16 Bethlehem 45 74 59 -3 237 -87 15 -33 Concord 49 80 62 -2 378 -7 63 -13 Diamond_Pond 41 70 55 -3 127 -32 6 +5 First_Conn_Lake 42 71 55 -2 139 -20 5 +4 Greenville 46 80 59 -4 210 -140 17 -40 Keene_AP 54 81 64 -2 392 -90 63 -58 Lakeport 52 79 63 +1 360 +16 61 +0 Marlow 50 74 60 -4 200 -221 10 -80 Mount_Washingto 32 54 42 -1 3 +3 0 +0 North_Conway 51 80 61 -2 316 -32 45 -16 Otter_Brook_Lk 52 80 63 -3 314 -168 38 -83 Plymouth 51 77 60 -1 243 -44 27 -11 Rochester 48 76 61 -4 307 -124 42 -53 Weare 52 76 62 -2 331 -90 37 -53 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 50 78 62 +1 266 -62 32 -20 Bethel 49 79 63 +2 345 +44 47 +1 Burlington_Intl 51 78 64 -1 469 +24 82 -24 East_Haven 41 73 59 -1 249 +22 15 -11 Island_Pond 44 73 58 -2 240 +11 17 -10 Montpelier 48 73 59 -3 275 -44 25 -26 Morrisville_AG 44 77 61 -1 294 -10 26 -22 Mount_Mansfield 37 63 50 -4 52 -32 1 +1 Northfield 50 75 62 +2 289 +22 29 -7 Pownal 52 74 62 +1 324 -11 30 -26 Rochester 51 77 62 +1 282 -19 32 -14 Rutland_AG 55 74 64 -2 337 -156 50 -79 Sunderland 52 76 63 -3 297 -169 32 -79 Sutton 47 72 58 -2 243 +16 16 -10 Townshend_Lake 54 78 64 -1 327 -93 46 -48 Union_Vill_Dam 50 79 62 -3 299 -135 40 -59 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 53 77 63 +0 348 +18 47 -4 Boston/Logan_In 54 79 64 -4 483 -47 111 -14 Greenfield 54 78 64 -3 440 -88 74 -61 New_Bedford 52 79 64 -4 375 -147 48 -69 Otis_AFB 55 75 62 -2 348 -2 47 -8 Plymouth 52 78 63 -2 370 -12 51 -19 Walpole 53 80 63 -2 428 -5 81 -9 West_Medway 53 81 64 -1 441 +8 83 -7 Chicopee/Westov 54 79 65 -4 471 -171 85 -102 Worcester 53 75 63 -1 399 +12 64 -5 Worthington 51 74 62 +0 299 -36 31 -23 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 56 80 65 -2 463 -19 80 -28 Woonsocket 53 80 64 +0 403 -24 63 -16 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 52 79 63 -6 351 -260 45 -133 Bridgeport/Siko 56 79 66 -2 473 -71 85 -59 Hartford/Bradle 57 81 67 -2 553 -51 117 -58 Norfolk 52 74 63 +1 314 -16 31 -20 Norwich 53 81 66 -1 461 -76 86 -49 Thomaston_Dam 52 84 66 +3 473 +27 87 -8 Willimantic 52 80 65 +1 450 -1 75 -20 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 1.60 +0.76 4 4.71 +1.35 16 Allagash 0.85 +0.15 4 2.31 -0.52 12 Augusta_State_A 0.21 -0.56 3 2.67 -0.57 15 Bangor_Intl_Arp 1.14 +0.37 3 4.41 +1.27 11 Barnard 1.64 +0.76 4 4.44 +1.06 17 Bath 0.79 -0.09 3 3.60 +0.22 13 Bethel 1.23 +0.27 3 3.55 -0.02 16 Brassua_Dam 1.29 +0.38 4 4.66 +1.27 15 Brunswick_ME 0.96 +0.08 3 3.45 +0.07 15 Caribou_Municip 0.82 +0.19 5 3.26 +0.58 13 Corinna 1.13 +0.29 3 5.22 +1.91 12 Danforth 0.95 +0.11 4 4.12 +0.75 14 Dover-Foxcroft 1.15 +0.27 3 2.76 -0.62 14 Durham 0.95 +0.07 4 3.83 +0.48 16 East_Hiram 1.11 +0.20 4 4.33 +0.84 17 Eustis 1.31 +0.54 4 3.67 +0.59 15 Frenchville 0.52 -0.18 3 1.47 -1.36 8 Gray 0.86 +0.02 4 3.71 +0.52 13 Greenville_ME 0.77 -0.11 4 2.76 -0.62 11 Guilford 1.36 +0.48 4 4.14 +0.76 18 Hollis 0.87 -0.03 4 3.67 +0.25 18 Houlton 0.80 +0.03 4 3.53 +0.45 16 Kennebunkport 0.72 -0.14 4 4.54 +1.08 18 Livermore_Falls 0.96 -0.02 3 3.14 -0.55 14 Moosehead 1.14 +0.23 4 4.62 +1.23 15 New_Sharon 1.47 +0.49 4 4.38 +0.69 15 Patten 1.24 +0.47 4 3.99 +0.91 17 Portage 1.07 +0.44 4 4.11 +1.43 15 Portland_ME 0.63 -0.21 2 3.44 +0.25 16 Rangeley 1.81 +0.93 3 3.63 +0.33 13 Sebec_Lake 1.41 +0.53 4 4.43 +1.05 15 Vanceboro 1.11 +0.35 4 3.99 +0.88 15 Waterville 1.07 +0.23 5 3.62 +0.26 19 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.65 -0.12 4 3.77 +0.86 18 Benton 1.05 +0.14 5 4.36 +0.93 19 Berlin_AG 2.41 +1.43 4 3.50 -0.13 13 Bethlehem 1.29 +0.35 4 3.85 +0.41 17 Concord 0.66 -0.11 5 3.77 +0.86 18 Diamond_Pond 2.38 +1.31 5 4.88 +0.85 19 First_Conn_Lake 2.34 +1.27 4 4.43 +0.40 14 Greenville 0.84 -0.07 4 6.06 +2.54 16 Keene_AP 1.01 +0.17 3 4.96 +1.53 17 Lakeport 0.76 -0.08 3 3.25 -0.11 14 Marlow 0.80 -0.07 5 3.66 +0.06 19 Mount_Washingto 3.40 +1.51 5 9.80 +2.68 19 North_Conway 1.07 +0.09 5 4.35 +0.65 19 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.07 +0.23 5 6.31 +2.88 20 Plymouth 0.80 -0.04 4 3.68 +0.18 18 Rochester 0.95 +0.11 4 4.04 +0.68 16 Weare 0.80 -0.07 5 5.50 +1.90 19 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.51 +0.42 6 4.58 +0.31 22 Bethel 1.18 +0.27 4 3.37 -0.40 17 Burlington_Intl 1.39 +0.59 5 2.92 -0.10 15 East_Haven 2.17 +1.19 4 4.19 +0.47 19 Island_Pond 2.39 +1.40 5 4.01 +0.23 18 Montpelier 1.07 +0.23 5 2.22 -1.03 13 Morrisville_AG 2.25 +1.32 5 3.55 -0.01 18 Mount_Mansfield 4.98 +3.64 6 8.72 +3.23 20 Northfield 1.29 +0.55 4 3.33 +0.25 14 Pownal 0.74 -0.35 5 3.60 -0.67 17 Rochester 1.50 +0.59 4 4.25 +0.48 17 Rutland_AG 0.52 -0.32 4 3.46 +0.15 18 Sunderland 1.35 +0.57 5 3.99 +0.69 18 Sutton 2.51 +1.53 6 5.33 +1.61 20 Townshend_Lake 1.41 +0.65 5 3.99 +0.92 17 Union_Vill_Dam 0.74 -0.03 4 3.06 -0.12 18 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.43 +0.59 4 5.56 +2.24 17 Boston/Logan_In 0.43 -0.32 3 6.11 +3.21 16 Greenfield 1.17 +0.26 5 4.45 +0.81 19 New_Bedford 0.87 +0.00 4 6.17 +2.80 15 Otis_AFB 0.66 -0.11 3 5.86 +2.68 14 Plymouth 0.69 -0.15 4 5.95 +2.56 15 Walpole 0.68 -0.21 3 6.80 +3.52 17 West_Medway 0.82 -0.07 3 7.38 +4.10 13 Chicopee/Westov 1.48 +0.50 3 5.47 +1.60 18 Worcester 1.43 +0.52 5 6.52 +2.75 19 Worthington 1.08 +0.17 5 5.16 +1.29 17 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.12 +0.35 3 5.58 +2.36 16 Woonsocket 1.15 +0.17 3 6.90 +3.18 17 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.61 +0.70 4 7.45 +3.78 18 Bridgeport/Siko 1.75 +0.98 3 9.19 +5.87 18 Hartford/Bradle 1.53 +0.62 3 7.27 +3.60 17 Norfolk 2.10 +0.98 4 8.14 +3.84 16 Norwich 1.72 +0.95 3 9.13 +5.67 15 Thomaston_Dam 1.65 +0.67 4 8.51 +4.59 19 Willimantic 1.95 +1.11 4 7.99 +4.43 20 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, sunny days to make the crops grow. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: The sun has finally decided to visit this month! Many fields are still water logged, but most everyone has a better attitude than they did when it was raining earlier in the week. Some discing to hasten drying time for soil. Some planting of tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers by hand. The question most asked late in the week was if planted this late will there be crops to harvest in the fall? Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Wet, cool, no sun. Baled wet hay after eight days of effort to dry. Thinning peaches, done pruning. Spraying, with disease pressure high in orchards. Planted vegetables. Strawberries are a week behind. Hay is going by and not able to mow. Alfalfa not blossomed yet. Weeds in round up ready fields - can't get in to spray. Farmer's Markets begin with limited produce, short season corn is now the word. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: What little vegetable crops that are planted are rotting in the fields. Tomatoes are standing but not growing. Cool temps and heavy downpours along with high humidity later in the week causing fungus. Producers frustrated peas are yellow, strawberries not ripening - we are two weeks behind schedule. Lettuce also rotting. Hay cannot be mowed - too wet. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Finally some breaks in the clouds. PSNT testing getting underway. Soils need to dry and warm for a few days before samples are taken, or Nitrogen readings may be artificially low due low mineralization activity of soil microbes. Fertilizer Nitrogen applied before or at planting probably washed away in the rain. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: For the most part, all crops have been planted. Small grains are emerging and growing rapidly. Potatoes also are emerging. Growers feel that despite the late start this spring, crops appear to be right on schedule. Growers are applying herbicides. Still picking rocks and at least one grower has begun hilling his potatoes. Potato emergence seems to be very even this year. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: In the central area, we have had a rainy week off and on. Farmers were delayed a little because of this weather. We still have a few farmers that need a couple of days to finish planting. Let's hope we get a few sunny days this week. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Things are going well. Now we just need some heat and sunshine. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Cold and wet weather. Corn planting is behind. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: This past week some strawberry growers had to irrigate for frost two mornings. With the cool nights, crops are very slow to start growing. Manure it still being spread on fields. Some hay fields have been harvested for haylage, but no dry hay has been made. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: We need sunny weather. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Continued cold, wet weather continues to foul up plans for hay/silage harvests. More corn planted last week, but many fields are still too wet to plant or even spread manure. Some first crop silage harvested in drier locations. Two days of rain over the weekend will slow things for this coming week. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Some dry hay has been cut and baled between rainy days. Green chop and grass silage underway. Over one inch of rain on the weekend has kept some fields too wet for farm equipment. Blueberry pollination seems to have been helped by native pollinators. Some row crops and sweet corn still have not been planted. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Mummyberry disease and winter injury on blueberry plants are visible this season and combined with poor pollination will reduce the crop. Bees are beginning to be moved out of fields in the mid-coast region this week. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Enough, enough. Will the rain ever end and will it ever warm up? We're still waiting for warm nights to help the growth of crops. Farmers were still able to chop some hay, forget baling. Lots of manure was spread and the field work is progressing. Some producers have reported difficult planting; it's very wet in places. The report from strawberry folks is good. The berries look good; they just need the heat and dry weather. Corn is out of the ground and so are the potatoes. We're on our way. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: There are still some planting corn, vegetables and sweet corn. The grass crop looks heavy and a lot has been chopped. Wet weather is making it difficult to make dry hay. In spite of the cool and wet weather, most crops are beginning to look good. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Everything is green. If it rains every weekend this summer, we shouldn't have any drought problems. Most crops have emerged and are looking good. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Wet, damp weather continues. Producers have the crops in but the below normal temperatures are holding up the growth. Green chop being cut. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Finished planting corn, some spraying was being done this week. Vegetable transplants are finally being set out for late summer and fall crops. Silage being cut. Too wet for cutting hay. Sunshine is a scarce commodity. Corn is up 6-8 inches for some but still mostly 3-4 inches due to little sun this week. Small grains doing well. Growth on everything, except cool crop vegetables are slow. Tent caterpillars evident in trees this year. We finally saw some bee activity this week. Around another inch of rain this week and days were still cool but a little less so. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: The rain continues, conditions continue to be cool and wet. Growers are way behind in plantings and other field work. Crops also are a few weeks behind in growth, and in general they look poor. We need some sun and heat soon or this growing season will be lost. Cranberries are starting to bloom and insect pressure from the Cranberry weevil and Fireworm have growers applying insecticides. The first cutting of hay has been a disaster as growers are having a hard time getting into the fields just to cut it. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: A couple of nice days of catching up. Because of all the rain (about 30 days worth) the bees are not out setting fruit. Lousy set to blueberries. Won't know until July for sure if any loss. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: First scattering of blossoms in Ben Lear and sanded Early Black beds. First fruit rot fungicide applications have started or will soon begin. It looks like there should be a good bloom. More rain and cloudy skies, still slowing things down a bit. Insect populations are building nonetheless. So far, so good. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Strawberry and rhubarb harvest continues. Still rainy and wet with some fields unworkable. A little hay finally being made. Fruit set looks good. Weather man says we may finally get some good weather this week. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Same old story, rain with short breaks on sun all week. Several apple growers have called this week to say that they're really concerned about scab problems. Strawberry growers have remarked that they have a huge crop if it makes it to harvest without rotting. Vegetable and corn growers can't get on most fields because they're too wet. Remember last year when we were talking about heat and drought? Ted Smiarowski, Jr./Julie Jacque (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Another week of heavy rain and cool temperatures. Farmers plowing, planting, cultivating and hoeing between rain storms. Vine crops, peppers, tomatoes and eggplant are suffering and need lots of heat and sunshine. Potato crop looks great and early potatoes are being hilled up. Harvesting lettuce, spinach, asparagus, radish and rhubarb. Orchardists, small fruit and tobacco producers are applying fungicides to reduce the pressure of diseases. Vegetable growers are scouting their fields for Colorado potato beetles and cucumber beetles. Sunday, Father's Day, we finally saw lots of heat and sunshine with hay being mowed down. Gary Guida, Worcester: Finally a good weekend after another miserable week. Plant sales booming and consumers are asking, "When can we come to pick strawberries?" Most growers like myself have to get a week's worth of planting or transplanting accomplished in one to two days due to weather. Another challenging year. Top dressing corn with fertilizer. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Vegetable crops that thrive in warm temperatures are off to a slow start. Successive plantings of vegetable crops still happening. Weed control in corn is on the minds of farmers. Orchardists are busy spraying and mowing. A few drier places have managed a first hay cut. Garden centers have annuals on sale to move stock that didn't sell during the previous rainy weekends. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: A few dry days may allow for full scale first cutting. Most fields are completely headed out. We need warmer weather to really get crops growing, some summer-like weather would surely help nurseries and garden centers have a better season. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Still plenty of rainfall, but some decent sun too. A few producers are mowing for dry hay, but drying conditions are far from ideal. First cutting for haylage and baleage continues. Most of the corn is up, and the earliest planted fields are at 3-4 leaf stage. Rainy conditions have made it hard for fruit and vegetable producers to keep up with spraying schedules. Strawberries still won't be ready for a couple weeks. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Generally wet weather this week, quite cool at night. Timothy at boot stage as grass growing well. Could use some sunny days for first cut hay. Earlier planted corn at about 5-leaf stage. Some spraying for curculios as blossom drop on apple stage reached. Scouting fields for true armyworm caterpillars. Weather has been good for favoring their development. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: This week was better for haying. Most grasses headed out. Corn growing well. Soil moisture is plentiful. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: The grass is growing well, now we need some good drying weather to make hay with. Pastures are looking better than they have for a couple of years. Corn is growing slow because of cooler temperatures. We need some warm, sunny days. The frequent light showers that we have been receiving have helped replenish topsoil moisture. 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 growing well. Strawberry harvest delayed due to cool weather and late bloom. With rainy conditions, growers are making sure to have protective fungicides applied for strawberry fruit mold control. Raspberries are starting to bloom. Field Crops: Farmers are continuing to make haylage and baled hay between rain showers. Some fields too wet for harvest equipment. Grasses heading out, especially orchard grass. Corn growing slowly. Vegetables: Making successive plantings of vegetable crops. Harvesting spinach, greens, asparagus and rhubarb. Growers are concerned about disease and insect pressure on all vegetable crops, including greenhouse vegetables. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Rain showers on and off all week made it difficult to get dry hay in. Lots of alfalfa haylage has been cut. Silage corn is up and looking good. Vegetables are coming along nicely despite the extra rain. Strawberries and blueberries are maturing on time. They could be delayed a little due to the recent cool weather and excessive rain. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Less rain and more sunshine. Pastures and hayfields doing very well. By the end of the week more farmers were making the first cut because the conditions were getting better for drying hay. Fruit growers were monitoring for pests such as plum curculio and leaf miners. Strawberry season seems to be late this year. Some growers are still busy planting vegetables and cutting flowers. Greenhouses and garden centers continued to complain of poor sales this season. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Still waiting for some good hay weather, field corn way behind, sweet corn and summer vegetables still going in. Drought conditions last year are responsible for low field corn crops and making farmers pasture their animals during some pretty wet weather. It's tearing up some fields. Strawberries are way late. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Weather continues to be a problem for Rhode Island farmers. Steady rain and colder than usual temperatures have delayed planting and cutting of hay and early crops such as strawberries. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Very busy week for farmers mowing and chopping first cut grass for haylage. Some manure being spread on first cut fields. Corn crop needs some major heat to move it along. Week ended on a very wet note with an average 1.80 inch of rain in county. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers are harvesting first cut hay. Yields are down from last year but quality is expected to be better. We received a lot of rain on Saturday which will help the drier conditions of the previous week. Most corn has germinated and is 2-4" tall. Germination looks good. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: More rain this week, farmers are trying to chop between showers. Apple producers are reporting a better than average fruit set. Blueberries had a large cluster of blossoms but poor bee flight so set of fruit could be light. Windham large sweet corn producer reported that his corn under plastic was waist tall but had yellow color, needs sunlight and heat. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Planting of corn resumed for a few days. New seeding of hay fields. Soil still very wet. Many wet fields still fallow. Corn herbicide spraying. Some fertilizing and applying manure after first harvest haylage. No dry hay yet. First crop haylage good yields, delayed harvest due to weather, lower than normal feed value. Pasture regrowth good to excellent. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: The past week has been cool and predominately cloudy with periodic light precipitation throughout the week. The sun finally made an appearance on Sunday. At least a portion of each day was good for field work. The primary activity this week continues to be mowing. Most farms were making haylage from the thick grass. There was just one report of someone making dry hay. Corn is reported to be three to four inches high in most locations. Early strawberries are being harvested. Vegetable crops continue to lag behind, but most plants have emerged and look healthy. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Rain on Friday and Saturday, over an inch. Lodged some hay. There was a lot of hay/haylage moving in the middle of the week. Most of the corn is in, most of it up. Been seeing a few caterpillars, have not been able to grab a sample to compare it to armyworm. Need some sun and heat to get things growing. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Another wet week gave us more than adequate moisture levels. Thinning carried into early last week, with average results due to wet weather. Fruit development is proceeding at average rates. -- 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 ***********************