State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 06/22/03 Issue NH-CW2503 Volume 23, Number 9 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 23, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- STILL NO SIGNIFICANT HEAT OR SUNSHINE For the week ending June 22, 2003, there were 5.2 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 8% short, 67% adequate, 24% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 9% short, 70% adequate, 19% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 1% poor, 17% fair, 62% good, 20% excellent. Below average temperatures continued throughout the region and higher than normal precipitation levels were reached in southern New England states. Some crops were rotting in the ground, general progress remained behind normal. Crop growth was slow, still waiting for heat and sunshine. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn; finishing planting potatoes; transplanting broadleaf tobacco; cutting haylage; harvesting strawberries; spreading manure; mowing; discing; 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 1 1 Short 8 8 11 Adequate 67 65 55 Surplus 24 26 33 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 2 2 2 Short 9 9 17 Adequate 70 74 75 Surplus 19 15 6 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Growers in the northern New England states got a break from the constant rain and clouds and were able to make some progress with field work. Southern growers were not as fortunate, as cool and wet conditions existed most of the week. Farmers hurried to cut hay on dry days last week, as harvest progress remained well behind normal. Field corn growth was slow; ten percent of the crop remained to be planted by June 22. Maine potato farmers finished planting and emergence shot up to 70 percent. Potato emergence in Massachusetts and Rhode Island was complete last week. Seventy percent of broadleaf tobacco was transplanted by the week's end, compared to an average of 85 percent complete. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Orchardists continued to thin, mow, apply fungicides and scout for insects and disease. Cool, damp weather caused concern about fungus and scab. Strawberry harvest, at five percent complete last week, was well behind the average of 35 percent harvested. Pollination of Maine wild blueberry fields was finished and bees were moved out of the fields. Similar to other crops this season, Massachusetts cranberries were around two weeks behind schedule last week; reports of black-headed fireworm continued to surface. VEGETABLES: Farmers planted vegetables last week when weather permitted, and also transplanted peppers and other vegetables. Planting has been delayed for many vegetable crops due to the overly wet weather, and greenhouses have been crowded with plants waiting to be transplanted. Asparagus, greens and radishes were harvested last week. Rotting remained a concern, as cool and wet conditions persisted. Sweet corn planting inched up to 80 percent between rain showers. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Emerged -- Barley, ME 99 100 99 Good/Excellent Oats, ME 95 99 95 Good/Excellent Potatoes Maine 70 55 85 Good/Excellent Mass 100 99 100 Good Rhode Isl 100 100 100 Good/Excellent Silage Corn 70 80 85 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 60 80 80 Fair/Good -- % Planted -- Silage Corn 90 90 95 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 80 90 90 Fair/Good Tobacco Broadleaf 70 80 85 Good/Fair -- % Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 30 50 55 Good/Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------------- Crop %Harvested Size Condition ---------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- Avg Good/Fair Peaches -- Avg/B.Avg Fair/Good Pears -- Avg Fair/Good Blueberries Highbush -- Avg Good/Fair Wild, ME -- Avg Fair Cranberries,MA -- -- Good Strawberries 5 Avg Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, June 22, 2003 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 34 86 61 -2 0.00 1.24 NH 30 86 61 -3 0.00 0.73 VT 34 85 62 -2 0.00 0.71 MA 39 82 62 -5 0.26 2.23 RI 44 80 61 -6 0.08 1.83 CT 47 83 64 -5 0.41 2.24 ---------------------------------------------- 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 16, 2003 To: Sunday June 22, 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 41 81 62 -5 333 -170 41 -72 Allagash 36 86 59 -3 177 -99 19 -6 Augusta_State_A 44 80 63 -3 400 -63 74 -20 Bangor_Intl_Arp 43 82 62 -3 394 -4 77 +10 Barnard 37 83 61 -2 293 -30 36 -3 Bath 44 77 59 -5 299 -93 24 -42 Bethel 43 83 63 -2 339 -74 50 -23 Brassua_Dam 35 82 59 -2 214 -27 28 +11 Brunswick_ME 43 78 61 -4 352 -40 57 -9 Caribou_Municip 37 84 62 +1 298 -16 59 +21 Corinna 41 81 62 -2 348 -45 58 -6 Danforth 38 86 61 -3 281 -70 41 -13 Dover-Foxcroft 37 79 59 -3 225 -98 22 -17 Durham 40 82 61 -6 264 -227 44 -66 East_Hiram 40 79 62 -3 319 -93 41 -31 Eustis 39 79 60 -1 201 -43 16 +1 Frenchville 35 81 61 +0 272 -4 58 +33 Gray 44 78 62 -2 414 +37 87 +32 Greenville_ME 42 80 61 -1 277 -57 42 +0 Guilford 37 82 59 -3 193 -130 17 -22 Hollis 39 78 61 -3 346 -24 47 -7 Houlton 34 82 61 -2 305 -16 46 +5 Kennebunkport 43 78 61 -6 351 -185 50 -76 Livermore_Falls 39 86 63 +2 345 +17 62 +20 Moosehead 37 81 59 -1 206 -35 22 +5 New_Sharon 40 83 62 +0 324 -4 53 +11 Patten 40 83 60 -2 273 -48 35 -6 Portage 39 85 63 +2 312 -2 63 +25 Portland_ME 46 76 61 -3 381 +4 62 +7 Rangeley 39 81 59 -1 202 -30 11 -1 Sebec_Lake 36 84 60 -2 275 -59 30 -12 Vanceboro 39 83 61 -2 280 -38 40 +2 Waterville 45 81 62 -4 355 -148 52 -61 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 42 86 63 -3 403 -90 69 -43 Benton 39 78 61 -2 332 -81 42 -26 Berlin_AG 41 81 63 -1 359 -37 54 -13 Bethlehem 37 81 60 -4 308 -105 30 -39 Concord 41 81 64 -2 476 -17 95 -17 Diamond_Pond 35 78 58 -2 184 -34 13 +5 First_Conn_Lake 33 80 59 +0 203 -15 16 +8 Greenville 40 80 60 -4 281 -164 26 -57 Keene_AP 45 79 63 -5 485 -115 87 -80 Lakeport 47 82 65 +0 464 +18 95 +3 Marlow 40 80 60 -6 273 -256 29 -98 Mount_Washingto 30 59 47 +3 8 +8 0 +0 North_Conway 41 83 63 -2 411 -38 79 -13 Otter_Brook_Lk 46 80 63 -4 407 -193 63 -104 Plymouth 39 82 62 -2 326 -49 50 -10 Rochester 41 84 63 -4 399 -145 70 -67 Weare 45 76 62 -3 419 -110 60 -67 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 42 77 61 -3 346 -74 49 -26 Bethel 42 84 64 +2 441 +52 75 +7 Burlington_Intl 45 82 65 -2 576 +18 120 -28 East_Haven 34 84 61 -1 324 +23 31 -9 Island_Pond 35 81 60 +0 314 +11 33 -8 Montpelier 39 80 61 -3 352 -56 43 -31 Morrisville_AG 38 85 62 -2 377 -17 45 -27 Mount_Mansfield 37 68 55 +1 101 -19 4 +4 Northfield 39 82 61 -1 367 +19 46 -9 Pownal 45 75 61 -3 403 -23 42 -38 Rochester 43 80 62 -1 367 -22 50 -18 Rutland_AG 45 78 63 -5 426 -183 72 -102 Sunderland 42 77 62 -5 380 -198 47 -104 Sutton 41 80 60 -1 316 +15 30 -10 Townshend_Lake 45 77 62 -5 410 -121 60 -73 Union_Vill_Dam 42 82 63 -4 391 -155 67 -72 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 48 77 62 -2 437 +9 68 -12 Boston/Logan_In 50 75 63 -6 574 -88 137 -48 Greenfield 50 80 63 -5 534 -119 101 -88 New_Bedford 42 74 61 -8 454 -196 65 -107 Otis_AFB 45 72 61 -5 426 -31 63 -27 Plymouth 39 74 60 -7 441 -54 63 -48 Walpole 49 79 63 -5 517 -31 103 -31 West_Medway 47 81 63 -4 534 -14 108 -26 Chicopee/Westov 50 81 63 -7 566 -215 110 -145 Worcester 47 76 62 -4 482 -11 82 -24 Worthington 42 77 60 -4 372 -57 42 -38 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 50 75 63 -6 554 -54 104 -58 Woonsocket 47 80 62 -5 488 -52 82 -38 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 49 78 62 -8 436 -311 61 -182 Bridgeport/Siko 54 81 64 -5 575 -99 117 -86 Hartford/Bradle 52 83 65 -5 663 -77 157 -83 Norfolk 49 74 61 -3 395 -30 45 -32 Norwich 51 82 64 -4 562 -98 117 -71 Thomaston_Dam 50 82 65 -2 579 +23 123 -12 Willimantic 50 81 64 -3 548 -16 104 -33 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.59 -0.25 3 4.85 +1.49 15 Allagash 0.22 -0.52 2 2.47 -0.37 12 Augusta_State_A 0.26 -0.51 4 2.42 -0.75 16 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.12 -0.65 2 4.07 +0.95 12 Barnard 0.04 -0.85 2 4.05 +0.60 16 Bath 0.35 -0.49 3 3.28 -0.13 13 Bethel 0.03 -0.89 1 3.23 -0.42 14 Brassua_Dam 0.24 -0.67 1 4.75 +1.22 14 Brunswick_ME 0.39 -0.45 4 2.88 -0.53 16 Caribou_Municip 0.16 -0.53 3 3.40 +0.73 15 Corinna 0.24 -0.60 1 4.98 +1.62 11 Danforth 0.15 -0.69 4 3.86 +0.49 17 Dover-Foxcroft 0.12 -0.77 1 2.49 -0.96 12 Durham 0.40 -0.47 4 3.68 +0.25 17 East_Hiram 0.16 -0.75 3 3.70 +0.14 17 Eustis 0.17 -0.60 1 3.64 +0.56 14 Frenchville 0.01 -0.73 1 1.48 -1.36 9 Gray 0.41 -0.39 4 3.42 +0.20 14 Greenville_ME 0.14 -0.75 1 2.90 -0.55 12 Guilford 0.21 -0.68 1 3.99 +0.54 15 Hollis 0.30 -0.54 3 3.40 -0.02 17 Houlton 0.18 -0.59 3 3.62 +0.54 17 Kennebunkport 1.24 +0.40 4 4.82 +1.36 18 Livermore_Falls 0.09 -0.89 2 2.88 -0.95 14 Moosehead 0.22 -0.69 1 4.70 +1.17 14 New_Sharon 0.18 -0.80 1 4.01 +0.18 13 Patten 0.10 -0.67 1 3.78 +0.70 15 Portage 0.10 -0.59 2 4.03 +1.36 13 Portland_ME 0.21 -0.59 3 2.95 -0.27 16 Rangeley 0.00 -0.87 0 3.48 +0.08 11 Sebec_Lake 0.07 -0.82 2 4.08 +0.63 14 Vanceboro 0.13 -0.57 2 3.84 +0.84 16 Waterville 0.90 +0.06 1 4.03 +0.67 16 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.28 -0.49 4 3.38 +0.40 18 Benton 0.04 -0.86 2 4.18 +0.65 18 Berlin_AG 0.05 -0.93 1 3.39 -0.38 12 Bethlehem 0.07 -0.91 2 3.79 +0.14 16 Concord 0.15 -0.62 3 3.20 +0.22 17 Diamond_Pond 0.00 -1.12 0 4.70 +0.48 16 First_Conn_Lake 0.05 -1.07 1 4.33 +0.11 14 Greenville 0.73 -0.11 4 6.14 +2.62 16 Keene_AP 0.43 -0.41 2 5.05 +1.65 16 Lakeport 0.10 -0.71 2 2.84 -0.49 13 Marlow 0.32 -0.52 2 3.57 +0.04 18 Mount_Washingto 0.03 -1.81 2 8.75 +1.47 18 North_Conway 0.08 -0.83 2 4.12 +0.41 18 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.50 -0.34 4 6.24 +2.84 20 Plymouth 0.01 -0.83 1 3.43 +0.00 16 Rochester 0.54 -0.29 3 4.02 +0.67 15 Weare 0.54 -0.30 4 4.83 +1.30 18 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.45 -0.60 3 4.51 +0.24 20 Bethel 0.02 -0.82 2 2.82 -0.81 14 Burlington_Intl 0.31 -0.53 3 2.87 -0.29 16 East_Haven 0.02 -1.02 2 3.70 -0.21 16 Island_Pond 0.00 -1.03 0 3.75 -0.18 15 Montpelier 0.17 -0.64 2 2.39 -0.90 15 Morrisville_AG 0.07 -0.91 1 3.34 -0.36 16 Mount_Mansfield 0.08 -1.53 1 8.61 +2.57 19 Northfield 0.09 -0.61 1 2.92 -0.06 12 Pownal 0.55 -0.50 3 3.66 -0.61 16 Rochester 0.05 -0.79 2 3.88 +0.25 17 Rutland_AG 0.21 -0.63 2 3.19 -0.14 16 Sunderland 0.47 -0.30 2 4.33 +1.10 17 Sutton 0.11 -0.93 2 4.80 +0.89 18 Townshend_Lake 0.50 -0.20 2 3.95 +0.95 15 Union_Vill_Dam 0.02 -0.75 1 2.48 -0.63 14 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.79 -0.05 5 5.62 +2.29 18 Boston/Logan_In 0.38 -0.32 2 5.81 +2.91 14 Greenfield 1.04 +0.14 4 4.84 +1.21 18 New_Bedford 1.18 +0.34 3 6.44 +3.04 14 Otis_AFB 0.69 -0.08 2 5.15 +2.04 12 Plymouth 0.67 -0.10 3 5.62 +2.33 14 Walpole 1.14 +0.23 2 7.27 +3.85 15 West_Medway 1.29 +0.38 3 8.18 +4.76 12 Chicopee/Westov 0.97 +0.04 5 5.99 +2.12 18 Worcester 1.04 +0.13 3 6.74 +3.04 18 Worthington 0.39 -0.49 4 5.02 +1.32 17 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.29 +0.52 3 6.18 +3.03 15 Woonsocket 1.83 +0.88 3 8.03 +4.27 16 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.13 +0.27 5 7.96 +4.37 19 Bridgeport/Siko 1.69 +0.92 3 10.22 +7.00 16 Hartford/Bradle 1.29 +0.43 5 7.80 +4.21 18 Norfolk 1.34 +0.28 5 9.19 +4.88 17 Norwich 0.41 -0.32 3 8.89 +5.68 14 Thomaston_Dam 0.50 -0.44 4 8.50 +4.62 19 Willimantic 0.90 +0.04 3 8.17 +4.66 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: It was another cool, wet week. Field corn isn't growing - the weather is too cold and wet. Dry hay harvest is behind schedule. Hay that has been cut is of poor quality. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: This week definitely went down hill. A few days early in the week were dry and some hay was baled. Veggie growers were struggling to find dry land to plant crops on. Many greenhouses are full of plants waiting to be transplanted. Rain Saturday into Sunday ranged upward to 2" or 3". Field corn is very slow to come out of the ground giving concern to the fact that is has probably rotted in this wet soil. Farmers very discouraged. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Rain, rain, more rain. Too wet to get on the fields to harvest grass, plant or replant corn. Mold reported on apples. Peaches reported to be dropping off branches. Corn and other vegetables not growing. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Three days of sunshine. Farmers frantically cut and baled hay, planted vegetables and tried to get the rest of the field corn planted. Continues to be wet and cool. Fruit trees look good, strawberries just beginning - 'taste' a concern. Farmers' markets begin with hothouse vegetables, replanting needed. Hay quality past prime. Bedding plants reduced for quick sales. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Hay crop is really wet, not good for first cutting. Strawberries are being picked. Some vegetables planted but not growing good, all feet are still wet. Lot of vegetables are waiting to be planted. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Some hardy souls knocked down some grass - just to have it washed for 4 days! Not much else happening except people complaining about the weather. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Growers busy doing first hilling in potatoes. Finishing up herbicide applications. Still a few rocks left to pick. Still moving last years potato crop to processors. Crop emergence is very good due to adequate soil moisture and high daytime temperatures. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Crops are planted and have started to emerge. Grains are 100 percent emerged and looking good. Herbicides are being applied. Growing conditions are favorable this week with sunny skies and scattered showers predicted. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Cultivation has started in some of the fields and matrix has been sprayed in some fields for grass control. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers are harvesting first crop dry hay and chopping green forage. Drying hay was slow due to lack of heat even with sun shining and a breeze blowing. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Some strawberry fields are just at full bloom. Early in the week we experienced very cool temperatures (38 degrees) in the morning. Picking season will be very late this year. Off and on rain has made dry hay making a challenge. Haylage harvest has been ongoing this week. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Very slow going spring - corn is still being planted. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Some decent weather has helped get some hay and haylage harvested. Corn acreage is still not completed planted and is struggling to grow in the cool weather. Saturday was 85 degrees! More warm weather predicted for the coming week. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Bee hives have been taken off the blueberry fields. Peas are in blossom. Slugs are common in home gardens this year due to the wet conditions. Sunny days during the week helped row crops. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Bees have been moved out of the fields, pollination is completed. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Despite all the wet weather, farming is happening. We see corn sprouting out of the ground, potatoes have emerged and some grass has been chopped. The apple folks tell us that the set is light. The chopped grass appears a little light, also. Forget baling hay. We have a few silage corn growers that have a few acres left to plant. The market gardens are selling those early crops of beet greens, scallions and the like. Let the sun shine. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Unless things change in a hurry, this could be the latest strawberry season in memory, the berries are just not developing. The hay crop looks good, but can't make dry hay. Those chopping are saying the crop is heavy. The short summer season is at least 2 weeks shorter this year. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: We should have some early strawberries by the end of the week. All crops are growing well. The sun and heat this week should really make things grow. Hay is coming in well, despite grumblings about humidity and showers. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Farmers are busy trying to get the first crop hay cut and dried. The weather has been damp. Field corn planted and emerging. Plants are looking in need of sun and warmth. Pastures are green. Where is the sun? MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Some hay was baled and covered with white plastic for silage. Equipment tires came up wet in the field while cutting. Most of the corn planting has ended with some planted in real wet ground. Some spraying done early in the week. Crops are all up, growing slowly. Temperatures still cool. Up to two inches of rain fell over the weekend, at least it held off a little. Warmer weather is coming. Dry hay made on 17th was great produce. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Most vegetables are getting a slow beginning due to the cooler temperatures and too much rain all at once. We need a few hot and humid days to do a little catching up. Some of the first cutting of hay is still down getting caught in all this rain. Potato crops beginning to look good. Difficult to get into the wet, muddy fields with any heavy equipment. Second and third plantings struggling to be met. Weed control trying to be accomplished whenever weather gets somewhat agreeable. We stopped doing our rain dance but someone must still be dancing! Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Another week of absolutely hideous weather. Blossoms are opening, slowly but surely. Growers have not had much opportunity to apply the first fungicide due to rain and slow drying of the vines. More problems with black-headed fireworm in several beds. We are still running two weeks behind schedule. Many beds have excess water in the low spots, with nowhere for the water to drain. Highbush blueberry fields have severe outbreaks of Botrytis blossom blight, with fears it will spread to the developing berries. This fungus can also infect cranberries, so it will be closely watched. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: According to the local weather station, we've only had 8 cloud-free days since April 1, 2003! The reporter also said that we haven't had a day in the 90's since September 11th of last year. It's no wonder that tempers are getting a little short. Farmers are fighting a losing battle against weeds, insects, and disease because most fields are so wet. Potato growers are very concerned about the possibility of late blight this year. Apple growers have the same concerns about scab in their crop. Hay producers can only wait until field and weather conditions improve to start their 1st cut. Hopefully the weather will improve this week. Paul Fischer (FSA), Essex/Middlesex: The continuing cool, wet weather pattern has significantly delayed subsequent sweet corn plantings, delayed the growth and development of warm weather crops, and will increase the levels of foliar and soil-borne diseases. Many farmers have not harvested their first cutting of hay, and in some cases, the crop has past. Many areas received over 2 inches of rain this past weekend which will prevent farmers from accessing their fields to plant crops or apply necessary disease controls. The weather outlook calls for warmer weather which should dry out fields and improve crop conditions. Ted Smiarowski, Jr./Julie Jacque (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Another week of heavy rains and cool temperatures with only a few sunny and dry days. All fields are saturated with water. Degree days are down and warm weather crops such as vine crops, eggplant, beans, tomatoes and strawberries are suffering. This wet weather is very favorable for diseases for all crops and growers are applying fungicides to control this problem. Vegetable growers are also scouting for striped cucumber beetles, Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle and European corn borer. Early potatoes in the valley look good and are blossoming and being hilled up. Strawberry harvest started and sunshine and heat are greatly needed. Dairy farmers are having a hard time finishing up corn planting and harvesting hay. Gary Guida, Worcester: Another wet weekend! I can't take much more of this! Average 2 days a week to get ALL farm work done. Strawberries look great but now field is muddy and nobody picking. Next weekend more rain forecast as well! Last two years drought and now we're making up for moisture but at what cost? Crops turning yellow and fruit starting to rot or mold in the field. Just another typical Ag year in New England - why do we bother? NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: The corn is growing slowly but the potatoes look real good! Farmers' markets are opening up with sales of green onions, herbs, lettuce, and greens. Farm stands continue to sell bedding plants and hanging baskets to the Lakes Region's summer residents. The strawberry harvest is just barely beginning and growers are worried about fruit mold due to the constant rain. Apple growers are very busy mowing, thinning and applying pesticides. Some places managed to squeeze a first cut of hay in between the rainy days. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: First cutting haylage and baleage continues, some farms are finished. Some producers trying to harvest dry hay, but scattered showers are making it difficult. Timothy and reed canary grass are starting to head out, unharvested orchard grass starting to turn brown. Corn is doing well, much of it is 8-12 inches tall. Some farms starting to take PSNTs. Warmer weather has made things better on vegetable farms, but many are still behind. Most places selling greens, radishes, greenhouse tomatoes. Should be harvesting strawberries soon. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Timothy beginning to head out as farmers give full attention to a very busy week of haying. A nice break in the weather makes for excellent hay-making conditions for most of the week. Should see some very good hay put up throughout the county. Field corn up now, even in far-north portions of Coos. Greens, earliest vegetables and hi-tunnel squash just becoming available as garden stands begin to open. Peas in flower. Potatoes hilled. Retrieving pheromone traps for true armyworms. Since it has been cool and wet this spring, field scouting grass fields suggested. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: First cut continuing as weather permits. Grasses all headed out. Regrowth is good due to sufficient moisture. Corn is growing slowly with cool weather. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Almost all of the corn is in. There are a couple of areas with late plantings. Of those who got their corn in early, the majority are looking good. The corn is growing slower than normal, due to the cooler temperatures. We need some warmer temps, as long as things don't get too dry. Surface soil moisture is adequate at this time. Those who got in their first cutting of hay in May have done very well. The second cutting came on fast. Later first cut hay taken off in mid-June is also producing some good yields. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Fruit growers monitoring pest and crop development and applying sprays for pest control, along with mowing orchard floor. Apple scab is seen in some orchards. Growers are just starting to harvest strawberries at the end of the week. Some growers say this start of harvest is the latest they can remember. Field Crops: Between rain showers, farmers are continuing trying to make haylage and baled hay, trying to finish planting and weed spraying corn fields. Vegetables: Continuing successive planting and finishing transplanting peppers. Growers continued harvesting early season vegetables such as lettuce and radishes. Asparagus harvest winding down. Growers busy side dressing fields with fertilizer, cultivating weeds, scouting for pests and spraying if needed. Insect pests: Asparagus beetle, cabbage maggot, Colorado potato beetle, cut worms, cucumber beetle, four-lined plant bug, flea beetle, and tortoise beetle have been seen. Bacterial speck seen on tomato plants. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Another week of cloudy days, rain and cool temperatures. Picking strawberries, greens, herbs and cut flowers. Haylage harvested between showers. Still planting vegetables. Fertilizing vegetable fields, blueberries and raspberries. Weeding and cultivating vegetable fields. RHODE ISLAND - Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Only a small number of producers are cutting hay. Field corn and vegetable planting remain behind schedule. Just started picking strawberries this week, production is low. Cold, wet weather continues. This will be a short season. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Great week for harvesting first cut of grass. Weather actually allowed for some dry hay to be baled. Warmer temps gave a boost to the corn crop. Vegetable crops appear to be on track at this point in the season. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Fairly good week for haying. Most all of hay for haylage has been harvested. Some farmers trying to dry some hay. Crop looks good and the quality is fairly high. Corn is around 6 inches tall. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Farmers are trying to cut hay between rain showers but finding it difficult even to chop haylage. Sweet corn that was planted under plastic is starting to tassel and should be ready to pick around July 12. Problem with cucumber stripe beetles due to the wet weather. Strawberry growers report that some rotting is taking place, and the heavy foliage berries are ripening slower. Field corn that was planted early is knee high now. Some problems with weeds in the corn crop because of the wet and cool weather. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Wet conditions prevail. Some additional corn planted, some fields still too wet for tillage. First cut haylage in full swing. Some dry hay harvested. Wet ground in fields leaving wheel tracks, low feed value. Regrowth good. Pasture growth good. Some manure spreading on hay fields after cut. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: This past week brought occasional precipitation with a good bit of warm sunshine mixed in. This has been a welcome change for the vegetable and field corn crops, which have lagged behind due to the cool conditions. Depending upon when it was planted, corn is between four inches and a foot high. Vegetable crops are said to look good, but all types are uniformly behind. Moisture is generally considered adequate, though some producers felt more rain would not hurt. For locations where it has been a little dry, this past weekend did bring noteworthy rain. This was no doubt, inopportune timing for those who were attempting to finish up mowing the year's first cutting of haylage. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Summery week. Lots of hay/haylage moving into storage. Good yields, a bit late now though. Drying was OK. Very hot week predicted now, lots of hay down in anticipation, this should also really encourage the corn. Quite a bit of manure spreading on the new mown hay ground. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Put Nitrogen on early sweet corn. Side dressed vine crops with commercial fertilizer. Sprayed early squash, tomatoes, cukes, etc. for beetles. Farmers cut lots of hay this week. 0.770 inches of rain. Not big, but helped a lot for all crops. Finally sun and warm weather came and crops took off, color came back and they really grew. Lots of early vegetables in market now. Beet greens and chard slow but coming fast now. Still cutting asparagus. Has been a good year. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Fruit growth has been solid in the past week. Thinning results have really begun to show throughout the state, with average results. Arthropod development has increased due to temperatures in the 70's. With the outlook of hot, humid temperatures this week we can expect a large increase in degree-days. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: Nice weather last week gave farmers a chance to finish planting corn and mowing first cut. Corn stands look uniform although there have been several reports of off color corn (yellow and purple). Hopefully this week's hot weather will alleviate these discolorations. -- 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 ***********************