State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 07/27/03 Issue NH-CW3003 Volume 23, Number 14 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) July 28, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- RAIN ARRIVES IN NEW ENGLAND For the week ending July 27, 2003, there were 4.5 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 6% very short, 18% short, 69% adequate, 7% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 26% short, 63% adequate, 8% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 15% poor, 37% fair, 35% good, 13% excellent. Significant rainfall finally arrived in most areas New England, accelerating crop growth, improving general crop conditions and replenishing ground water supplies. A few areas received little to no rain and are anxiously awaiting some relief. Slightly above normal temperatures prevailed throughout the region last week. Major farm activities included: cutting haylage and making dry hay; topping off broadleaf tobacco; harvesting shade tobacco, highbush blueberries and vegetables; finishing harvesting strawberries; renovating strawberry beds; spreading manure; mowing; cultivating; weeding; top- dressing fields with fertilizer; monitoring fields; applying insecticides and fungicides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 6 11 15 Short 18 31 23 Adequate 69 55 52 Surplus 7 3 10 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 3 8 11 Short 26 25 21 Adequate 63 67 66 Surplus 8 0 2 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Rain showers discouraged farmers from making dry hay last week. Much of the first crop hay cut last week will be used for mulch hay. Second crop hay progressed to 35 percent harvested and third crop cutting should begin shortly. Field corn started to tassel in northern states. Corn growth was accelerated in areas where much needed moisture was received. Potato farmers welcomed last week's moisture; harvest should get underway soon in southern New England. Harvest remained behind schedule for both broadleaf and shade tobacco; growers sprayed to control blue mold and brown spot. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Areas that experienced rainfall last week saw noticeable improvement in fruit size. Peach growers made preparations for harvest; the average amount harvested for this time of year is ten percent. Strawberry harvest was completed last week and strawberry bed renovations continued. Highbush blueberry and raspberry harvest continued. Maine wild blueberry harvest is expected to begin next week; the recent moisture improved berry quality. Growers irrigated cranberry bogs in Massachusetts where little rainfall was received. VEGETABLES: Growers harvested beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snap beans and summer squash last week. Many varieties were available at roadside stands and farmers' markets. Most vegetable crops benefitted from the rain. Sweet corn harvest advanced to ten percent last week, trailing last year and normal progress. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME -- -- -- Excellent/Good Oats, ME -- -- -- Excellent/Good Potatoes Maine -- -- -- Excellent/Good Mass -- <5 5 Good Rhode Isl -- -- <5 Good/Excellent Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Fair Sweet Corn 10 20 20 Good Tobacco Shade 10 20 25 Fair/Good Broadleaf -- 5 10 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 95 95 95 Good/Fair Second Cut 35 45 45 Good/Fair Third Cut -- -- 5 Good/Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- -- -- Good/Fair Peaches -- 20 10 Fair/Good Pears -- -- -- Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush 20 20 30 Good/Fair Wild, ME -- -- <5 Good Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good Strawberries 100 100 99 Good/Fair -------------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, July 27, 2003 -------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 48 87 69 +2 0.00 3.60 NH 45 90 69 +2 0.09 3.21 VT 50 86 69 +2 0.75 3.37 MA 51 88 74 +3 0.15 2.32 RI 60 86 73 +2 0.28 1.78 CT 54 89 73 +1 0.68 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 July 21, 2003 To: Sunday July 27, 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 59 85 73 +3 1019 -153 381 -48 Allagash 55 79 65 -1 717 -55 221 +32 Augusta_State_A 61 84 73 +3 1137 +14 464 +63 Bangor_Intl_Arp 58 87 72 +4 1112 +102 446 +118 Barnard 55 82 69 +3 924 +48 322 +75 Bath 56 87 70 +1 978 -39 355 +16 Bethel 53 83 69 +0 997 -27 365 +33 Brassua_Dam 56 80 67 +2 787 +68 259 +91 Brunswick_ME 56 86 70 +2 1046 +29 403 +64 Caribou_Municip 57 77 67 +2 921 +85 336 +114 Corinna 50 85 70 +3 1031 +43 394 +87 Danforth 54 83 69 +2 955 +6 367 +68 Dover-Foxcroft 48 83 68 +2 817 -59 271 +24 Durham 56 86 71 -1 961 -231 394 -64 East_Hiram 54 83 70 +2 989 -33 365 +34 Eustis 55 78 67 +3 756 +46 235 +81 Frenchville 56 75 65 -2 843 +71 283 +94 Gray 61 84 73 +4 1145 +145 471 +147 Greenville_ME 58 77 68 +1 879 -8 301 +47 Guilford 52 83 66 -1 768 -108 258 +11 Hollis 54 86 73 +6 1047 +85 401 +107 Houlton 53 80 69 +3 964 +98 359 +115 Kennebunkport 56 85 69 -4 980 -278 332 -163 Livermore_Falls 54 86 72 +5 1048 +176 422 +182 Moosehead 52 80 66 +2 761 +42 236 +68 New_Sharon 58 83 71 +5 1020 +148 403 +163 Patten 55 78 67 +1 890 +24 306 +62 Portage 58 79 67 +2 944 +108 348 +126 Portland_ME 60 86 73 +4 1100 +100 431 +107 Rangeley 51 78 67 +3 761 +84 230 +90 Sebec_Lake 55 83 70 +3 915 +28 324 +70 Vanceboro 55 79 68 +2 918 +39 330 +77 Waterville 55 84 72 +2 1061 -111 411 -18 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 56 90 73 +4 1136 -15 455 +38 Benton 52 81 68 +3 983 +18 346 +73 Berlin_AG 53 80 69 +2 1017 +53 367 +79 Bethlehem 54 80 68 +2 925 -40 302 +28 Concord 55 88 76 +6 1279 +128 549 +132 Diamond_Pond 53 75 64 +2 710 +78 204 +97 First_Conn_Lake 51 78 65 +3 721 +89 205 +98 Greenville 50 90 69 +1 931 -109 342 +15 Keene_AP 54 84 72 +2 1227 -75 479 -38 Lakeport 62 85 75 +6 1263 +183 545 +172 Marlow 49 81 67 -3 871 -308 282 -142 Mount_Washingto 45 55 51 +3 110 +83 6 +6 North_Conway 57 85 71 +3 1154 +78 475 +108 Otter_Brook_Lk 52 85 70 -1 1118 -184 424 -93 Plymouth 52 83 69 +3 974 +33 352 +76 Rochester 58 85 73 +2 1135 -91 458 -10 Weare 60 83 72 +3 1136 -43 429 +5 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 53 83 70 +2 1007 +7 361 +56 Bethel 53 85 71 +4 1150 +206 436 +157 Burlington_Intl 63 84 73 +2 1387 +136 581 +92 East_Haven 51 80 68 +3 944 +152 303 +106 Island_Pond 55 80 68 +4 930 +148 304 +119 Montpelier 55 79 69 +2 995 +19 337 +40 Morrisville_AG 54 85 70 +3 1094 +130 414 +117 Mount_Mansfield 52 65 58 -2 495 +92 100 +60 Northfield 54 82 69 +4 1028 +150 359 +116 Pownal 52 80 70 +2 1047 +41 336 +25 Rochester 52 81 68 +2 1009 +65 346 +67 Rutland_AG 56 82 70 -1 1118 -181 415 -96 Sunderland 50 82 68 -3 985 -264 302 -169 Sutton 55 80 67 +2 936 +144 304 +107 Townshend_Lake 57 84 71 +1 1117 -97 417 -46 Union_Vill_Dam 54 83 70 -1 1104 -123 430 -38 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 57 85 72 +4 1192 +150 473 +130 Boston/Logan_In 66 88 77 +4 1437 -21 650 +21 Greenfield 58 86 73 +1 1297 -98 515 -65 New_Bedford 60 86 74 -2 1244 -198 506 -105 Otis_AFB 64 84 75 +5 1219 +76 510 +90 Plymouth 58 85 74 +3 1206 +5 481 +18 Walpole 60 86 75 +4 1335 +81 574 +86 West_Medway 59 88 75 +4 1350 +96 575 +87 Chicopee/Westov 59 88 74 -2 1363 -239 561 -164 Worcester 61 82 72 +2 1237 +77 488 +67 Worthington 51 83 69 +2 1015 +2 338 +24 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 63 86 75 +3 1397 +20 597 +19 Woonsocket 60 85 73 +3 1291 +59 535 +75 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 55 82 70 -5 1090 -462 369 -327 Bridgeport/Siko 64 87 76 +2 1433 -40 625 -25 Hartford/Bradle 61 89 75 +2 1504 -41 648 -45 Norfolk 58 83 70 +3 1052 +35 353 +34 Norwich 59 87 74 +2 1388 -24 594 +7 Thomaston_Dam 54 86 72 +2 1352 +126 547 +94 Willimantic 60 87 74 +5 1361 +115 569 +101 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.27 -0.55 5 2.59 -0.56 12 Allagash 2.41 +1.50 6 4.02 +0.63 15 Augusta_State_A 0.85 +0.12 6 1.51 -1.37 11 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.07 -0.65 2 0.76 -2.27 6 Barnard 2.57 +1.80 6 4.07 +0.81 15 Bath 0.11 -0.53 3 0.98 -1.71 8 Bethel 1.29 +0.48 3 3.56 +0.34 10 Brassua_Dam 1.83 +0.92 6 3.47 -0.19 17 Brunswick_ME 0.11 -0.53 3 1.51 -1.18 8 Caribou_Municip 3.25 +2.29 7 6.46 +2.90 19 Corinna 0.53 -0.24 3 1.64 -1.44 9 Danforth 0.89 -0.02 5 2.98 -0.56 14 Dover-Foxcroft 1.27 +0.50 6 2.88 -0.38 15 Durham 0.13 -0.64 3 1.18 -1.95 8 East_Hiram 0.55 -0.29 5 2.02 -1.28 10 Eustis 1.74 +0.90 4 3.65 +0.29 13 Frenchville 2.15 +1.24 7 4.23 +0.84 17 Gray 0.14 -0.53 3 1.01 -1.83 7 Greenville_ME 0.76 -0.01 4 2.87 -0.39 12 Guilford 1.88 +1.11 5 3.92 +0.66 18 Hollis 0.14 -0.56 3 1.52 -1.48 6 Houlton 2.29 +1.41 6 3.98 +0.62 18 Kennebunkport 0.55 -0.13 4 2.02 -0.81 11 Livermore_Falls 2.05 +1.28 6 3.76 +0.62 15 Moosehead 2.17 +1.26 6 5.19 +1.53 16 New_Sharon 1.44 +0.67 5 4.31 +1.17 14 Patten 1.79 +0.91 6 3.34 -0.02 17 Portage 3.60 +2.64 6 6.67 +3.11 18 Portland_ME 0.40 -0.27 3 1.46 -1.38 7 Rangeley 0.93 +0.10 4 2.63 -0.56 13 Sebec_Lake 2.92 +2.15 5 4.83 +1.57 12 Vanceboro 1.63 +0.86 6 3.61 +0.53 19 Waterville 1.16 +0.34 6 2.70 -0.45 13 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.72 -0.05 4 3.70 +0.81 13 Benton 1.72 +0.93 4 3.98 +0.83 10 Berlin_AG 1.69 +0.85 5 4.70 +1.31 13 Bethlehem 2.18 +1.27 5 4.61 +1.07 17 Concord 0.09 -0.68 1 1.98 -0.91 10 Diamond_Pond 2.44 +1.39 4 5.64 +1.47 15 First_Conn_Lake 1.90 +0.85 5 4.47 +0.30 16 Greenville 0.33 -0.55 2 1.28 -2.12 6 Keene_AP 0.96 +0.12 3 1.91 -1.36 10 Lakeport 0.57 -0.27 4 2.30 -0.92 10 Marlow 0.57 -0.20 4 2.50 -0.64 11 Mount_Washingto 3.21 +1.61 6 7.29 +0.92 17 North_Conway 1.06 +0.22 5 2.15 -1.24 14 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.01 +0.17 5 2.93 -0.34 12 Plymouth 0.81 -0.10 4 3.14 -0.34 11 Rochester 0.31 -0.49 2 2.01 -1.12 7 Weare 0.56 -0.21 3 2.46 -0.68 11 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.01 +0.10 4 3.40 -0.30 12 Bethel 2.41 +1.50 4 6.25 +2.82 12 Burlington_Intl 2.00 +1.16 6 3.11 -0.16 13 East_Haven 2.39 +1.41 6 4.01 +0.18 17 Island_Pond 2.34 +1.36 6 4.24 +0.40 19 Montpelier 2.92 +2.22 4 4.51 +1.72 13 Morrisville_AG 3.37 +2.39 7 4.99 +1.27 17 Mount_Mansfield 3.31 +1.83 6 5.95 +0.09 16 Northfield 1.74 +0.93 3 3.68 +0.57 11 Pownal 1.34 +0.43 4 4.04 +0.34 13 Rochester 2.90 +1.99 4 7.71 +4.28 13 Rutland_AG 2.39 +1.48 4 5.59 +2.12 12 Sunderland 1.76 +1.06 5 4.07 +1.36 14 Sutton 1.87 +0.89 4 4.11 +0.28 15 Townshend_Lake 1.58 +0.79 4 3.77 +0.78 12 Union_Vill_Dam 2.03 +1.26 5 4.57 +1.63 14 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.05 +0.21 4 2.18 -1.18 12 Boston/Logan_In 1.19 +0.56 4 2.12 -0.43 8 Greenfield 1.25 +0.41 4 2.67 -0.72 12 New_Bedford 0.50 -0.22 3 2.60 -0.16 8 Otis_AFB 1.50 +0.85 3 2.09 -0.50 7 Plymouth 2.32 +1.55 3 4.25 +1.17 8 Walpole 2.01 +1.24 3 3.76 +0.64 9 West_Medway 1.56 +0.79 2 2.58 -0.54 6 Chicopee/Westov 0.49 -0.28 3 2.08 -1.23 14 Worcester 0.91 +0.07 4 3.08 -0.41 10 Worthington 1.60 +0.62 4 2.30 -1.56 9 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.63 +0.90 3 3.45 +0.61 10 Woonsocket 1.78 +0.90 3 3.76 +0.19 10 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.01 +0.31 4 2.71 -0.17 12 Bridgeport/Siko 0.68 -0.16 4 1.94 -1.48 12 Hartford/Bradle 0.86 +0.16 4 2.68 -0.20 13 Norfolk 1.69 +0.75 4 3.60 -0.19 13 Norwich 1.98 +1.14 3 4.17 +0.88 10 Thomaston_Dam 2.05 +1.07 4 3.05 -0.68 11 Willimantic 0.70 -0.24 5 2.26 -1.49 12 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: Showers on Tuesday ranged from 0.5 to more than 3 inches. Harvesting green and yellow squash, green beans, cabbage, and sweet corn. Field corn looking better but still a long way to grow. Many still working on first cutting hay and some starting on second cut hay. Tobacco has problems with blue mold and brown spot. Some fields destroyed. Topping and sucker control continue to be applied. First priming of shade tobacco is under way. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: First picking of sweet corn. Vegetables are plentiful. Hope the sunny weather will hasten harvesting. Producers taking advantage of sunshine to harvest second cutting of hay which in some areas is a mix of first and second. Blueberry picking began this past week at most locations with a heavy crop expected. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Three to five inches of rain fell on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some hail, high winds, trees snapped. Weed control a problem. Tough to hay. Some fields good and others very poor. Corn is trying to catch up. Blueberries ripening gradually with good flavor. Sweet corn tasty. Squash and tomatoes coming in. Nancy Welsh/Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Summer squash, cucumbers, blueberries and sweet corn have made it to be harvested after a cold, wet spring. Expecting peaches soon. Crops still running late. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Many corn fields are still very short for late July. Need some warm, rainy days in August and September to reach harvest stage. Some unplanted corn fields are being seeded to sorghum-sudan forage up until August 1st deadline, to be harvested as silage at the 36"-40" height. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Scattered showers that were more like all day rains slowed down field work. Some hay/haylage went in. A lot of manure being spread on grass. Topdressed late planted corn in some areas. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Last week we complained that is was getting a little dry and that we needed some rain. Well, boy did we get some showers or rain nearly every day this past week. We have plenty for now. Growers are having difficulty getting through their fields to apply fungicides. Many are way off their schedule. All crops are thriving with all this moisture and look good except for some small grains which have lodged due to wind and rain. Small grains are turning color every day. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Crops are growing rapidly, with plenty of moisture. Growers and scouts are still carefully monitoring potato fields for European corn borer egg masses. Canola crop is looking excellent. The hay harvest is continuing. Crops are looking excellent. There has been lots of water, with rain everyday over the past week. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Plenty of moisture this week. Very little corn borer activity. Crop looks good. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: A rainy week slowed down field work. Some farmers aren't finished with their first crop of hay. Crops are looking good despite the fact that they are later than most years. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Cloudy and humid weather last week did not allow much field work except for manure spreading. Strawberry harvest is over and renovation has started. Sweet corn is finally in silk so we should be seeing some harvest soon. Lots of clouds, but not all that much rain. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: The first blueberries are at roadside stands but the main harvest hasn't begun yet. We need rain! Some areas received no rain during the past week, while others got over an inch. Blueberries need an inch per week. Some corn not developing due to drought. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Harvest scheduled to begin in the mid-coast region of Maine the week of July 28. Ripening is very uneven with some fruit blue and others still green. Showers this week have improved crop quality after the lack of rain the first three weeks of July. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Rainy week. Good for field corn and market gardens. Not much hay harvested. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: The strawberry season is over for another year. Blueberries are coming on very strong, pickers are filling buckets with ease. Sweet corn is now ready as farmers fill their stands with cukes, tomatoes, and other small vegetables. We got some more of that much needed rain this week, keeping the irrigation pumps silent. Things are still dry and keeping them down for another week looks doubtful. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: It's been a fairly rainy week - heavy in some areas and spotty in others. Haying has been slow due to the showers. Some fields are wet and barnyards are even wetter. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Raspberries are still being harvested and looking good. Oxford County crops are doing better after the rain we had last week. Strawberries are all harvested. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Pretty cloudy and damp week. No sun to dry hay! Several producers had started to pick sweet corn (tasty). Some field corn is over 6 feet high and green. No problems with crop conditions yet. Cloudy with two inches of rain from three days of showers. Friday was the first day of sunshine this week. Veggie crops looking good. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: First cutting of hay is almost completed. Farmers haven't completed having their first crop cut. Some still standing in fields laying over. Most of the first crop will be used for mulch hay or possible composting. Farmers are already thinking about what they will be doing differently for next year. Raspberries are in full season just now. The rain we have gotten is knocking them off the stems quickly. Blueberries just beginning to turn blue. Customers are out there waiting to pick them. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Bloom is nearly complete, with only a scattering of blossoms remaining. The great majority of bee hives have been removed. Fruit set looks good in most beds. This is the critical time when rain is needed for sizing the fruit. Scattered rain last week; most locations did not receive ample amounts. Irrigation is no problem, with good water supplies this summer. Second fruitworm applications nearly complete; fruit rot fungicide applications are nearly done. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Sweet corn in plentiful supply now as multiple plantings mature at the same time. Also harvesting squash, cukes, beans, cabbage and lettuce. Everything looks good just a little behind normal. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Muggy and overcast weather prevented most farm activities this week. Scattered thundershowers throughout the week gave drenching rains to sections of the county while other areas remain very dry. Mechanical cucumber harvesting started this week and yields are above average. Field tobacco harvest also began this weekend. Silage corn to finally starting to take off. Fields that weren't "knee high by the 4th of July" are now over your head. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The week began with rain showers and isolated downpours. By the week's end, the temperatures were in the high 90's with high humidity. Rain was forecast but never received. So the irrigation pumps are running again. The heat and moisture are really causing the crops to grow fast. Harvesting blueberries, summer squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, cabbage and many more summer crops. By the weekend broadleaf tobacco harvest started and many growers are topping their tobacco. Gary Guida, Worcester: Another good weekend for plant and produce sales. Not picking corn or tomatoes here yet. Strawberry bed renovations complete. Spraying corn and summer crops as cuke beetles still a problem. Getting real dry. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Weather turning drier, second cut going into the silo and the barn. Weeds are doing well in the garden and the corn field. Mummy berry claimed quite a bit of the blueberry crop, several pick-your-own operations will not open for business this year. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Hot, humid and cloudy conditions much of the week. Earliest planted corn is starting to tassel. Strong winds lodged some corn along CT River. Hay crops are growing well, but poor drying conditions are making harvest difficult. PYO raspberry & blueberry harvesting going well. Farm stands and farmers' markets offering a wide selection of veggies, sweet corn is now being sold. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Good soaking rains this week, perhaps two or more inches depending on location, also cooler weather. Field corn putting on substantial growth, much at pre-tassel stage. Early sweet corn varieties now in silk. Haylands and pastures regrowing well now. Second cut haylage coming in. Many vegetable varieties available now from local farms. Pumpkins starting to run. Blueberries ripening. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Second cutting continuing between rain storms. Heavy rain in some areas replenished soil moisture. Corn tasseling and silking. Looks good. Regrowth on alfalfa is good to excellent due to moisture conditions. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Field Crops: Hay cutting continued at a rapid pace during the week with both first and second cutting being made. Most of the first cutting is only good for mulch hay. Silage corn put on rapid growth this past week after thunderstorms occurred along with the humid weather. Vegetables: Growers are irrigating fields! With dry, hot weather, lettuce and other crops are bolting. Harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, summer squash and other vegetables. Sweet corn harvest began. Farmers kept busy cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insects and diseases - if needed. Starting to see potato leaf hoppers and Asiatic garden beetle has appeared. Very good demand for produce at most local farmers' markets. Fruit: Orchardists began harvesting first peaches and Lodi apples. Blueberry and raspberry harvests continued. Blueberry fruit size is excellent. Strawberry growers finishing renovating beds and irrigating them. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, spraying if needed, and mowing orchard floors. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Blueberry and raspberry harvest going strong. Blueberries sprayed for maggot. Post-emergence weed control spraying in orchards as most of the rain showers missed Merrimack County. All vine crops sprayed with fungicides during humid weather. Strawberry growers renovating beds. Some blueberry growers experiencing losses due to winter injury and for mummy berry disease. Most warm season vegetables harvested, even some sweet corn grown under row covers. Some hay fields were cut. Cabbage looper found in monitoring traps. Growing degree days in Boscawen as of Monday, July 28 is 1095. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Harvesting a whole array of vegetables including sweet corn, tomatoes and potatoes. Good picking conditions for blueberries, raspberries and sour cherries despite the hot and humid weather of few days and the threat of showers by the weather forecast. Crops could use a good soaking rain. Growers busy renovating strawberry beds, monitoring pests in fruit orchards, weeding and cultivating vegetable fields. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Spot showers this past week has helped the crops along. More reports of a tough blueberry crop due to bad weather in May, as well as mummy berry symptoms. Some silage corn starting to tassel and 3rd cutting of alfalfa looking good. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Pastures and hayfields still looking good. Some farmers have started to make the second cut. Fruit growers continue to mow orchard floors and to monitor for diseases and pests. Blueberries continue to show mummy berry symptoms. Raspberries continue to be harvested. Vegetable growers continue to harvest different vegetables. Field cut flowers are also being harvested. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Roadside stands are full of summer vegetables, local corn is now available along with the beginnings of summer squash and a hint of some field grown tomatoes. Spraying of potatoes continues, pruning Christmas trees and general field work is keeping everyone busy. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Rainy week kept most fieldwork to a minimum. Some manure spreading on second cut fields. Saw some clipping of pastures. Corn silage crop is progressing to the point where many fields started to tassel last week. The approx. 3.5 inches of cumulative rain last week will help both second and third cut grass crop. Should see some sweet corn harvested this week. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: A very rainy week here has helped to replenish ground water levels. Not much field work was done this past week. The corn is doing well with the hot and humid conditions. Second crop yields are light due to the dry spell but third crop should do well with the recent moisture. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Windham County saw heavy showers most of the week, poor for haying but good for crops. Local sweet corn being picked along with blueberries. Field corn looking excellent and even the late planted crop is catching up. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Hay harvest delayed by rainfall. Severe localized storms with some hail and wind damage. Newly seeded hay fields very late planted, just greened up in fields. Corn germination delayed and uneven in many fields, with 18 inch and 2 inch plants in same row. Replanted corn fields less than 6 inches tall. Hay crop regrowth good. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: This past week has seen some much needed rain showers: a sharp contrast from the dry spell we suffered several weeks ago. Everyone is commenting on the height and good appearance of the corn. If things continue like this, we shall see an excellent field corn crop this year. In southern sections corn has begun to tassel. Most farms are well underway in making their second cut of grass. It generally looks pretty good, especially considering how much the grass had regressed during the last dry spell. Again, the rain has worked wonders. Some are saying the quality of the second cut grass is likely to be down. Some alfalfa went past its prime during the course of the week, and the rain made it impossible to harvest it before it had done so. Pasture has come back very well. Vegetable crops look good. Sweet corn, squash, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are all being harvested. Blueberries are not doing well this year, primarily due to the extreme cold of the past winter. Reports of heavy numbers of cabbage loopers, which can have potentially bad effects upon broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower crops. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Last week gave us 1.65 inches of rain. That is more than double the combined amount that the remainder of July gave us. Apple size almost doubled during the past week. The cooler outlook this week will be a good time to get outside to prepare for early maturing apples. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: Lots of rain last week which will help recharge soil moisture. Very little action around the farm. Corn growing rapidly. I have seen a few fields tasseling. Second cut hay still being harvested. -- 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 Samson 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 ***********************