State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 08/03/03 Issue NH-CW3103 Volume 23, Number 15 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) August 4, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- MIX OF SUN AND RAIN For the week ending August 3, 2003, there were 5.5 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 0% very short, 20% short, 67% adequate, 13% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9% very short, 15% short, 70% adequate, 6% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 12% poor, 42% fair, 42% good, 4% excellent. New England experienced a mix of sun and rain last week, with slightly below normal temperatures and high humidity toward the weekend. The moisture continued to replenish ground water levels, and growers reported that most crops responded well to the weather. Major farm activities included: cutting haylage and making dry hay; topping off broadleaf tobacco; harvesting broadleaf and shade tobacco, highbush blueberries, wild blueberries and vegetables; renovating strawberry beds; spreading manure; mowing; pruning; cultivating; weeding; monitoring fields; applying insecticides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 6 11 Short 20 18 34 Adequate 67 69 50 Surplus 13 7 5 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 9 3 9 Short 15 26 30 Adequate 70 63 59 Surplus 6 8 2 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Dry hay making proved difficult with last week's rainy and sometimes humid weather. First crop hay harvest continued to wind down, with second crop cutting progressing to just under half harvested. Only a small number of growers have started the third cutting. Field corn has improved with the recent arrival of rain. Potato harvest barely started in southern New England states. Potatoes, oats and barley in Maine were rated in good to excellent condition last week. Broadleaf tobacco harvest got underway last week with five percent harvested as of August 3. Late planted broadleaf tobacco fields continued to be topped. Shade tobacco harvest progressed to 20 percent, well behind the five-year average. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Tree fruit continued to size and color with last week's rain and below normal temperatures. Peach harvest got off to a quick start last week, with ten percent picked. Growers still have some catching up to do, as the five-year average for peach harvest is 25 percent. Strawberry bed renovations continued in preparation for next year's crop. Growers harvested highbush blueberries and raspberries last week. Moisture and cool night temperatures improved Maine wild blueberry quality just in time for harvest. Growers continued to irrigate cranberries in dry areas of Massachusetts; reports of fruit rot, frost damage and poor pollination have surfaced. Cranberry size was rated average last week. VEGETABLES: Vegetables such as beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes and zucchini were harvested last week. Farm stands and farmers' markets experienced steady business. Sweet corn harvest was well underway, the crop showing up at many farm stands across the region. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME -- -- <5 Good/Excellent Oats, ME -- -- -- Good/Excellent Potatoes Maine -- -- -- Good/Excellent Mass <5 5 10 Good Rhode Isl <5 15 10 Good/Excellent Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Fair Sweet Corn 15 30 30 Good Tobacco Shade 20 35 40 Fair/Good Broadleaf 5 25 25 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 95 95 95 Good/Fair Second Cut 45 60 55 Good/Fair Third Cut -- 10 5 Good/Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- <5 <5 Good/Fair Peaches 10 40 25 Fair/Good Pears -- -- -- Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush 30 35 45 Good/Fair Wild, ME 5 -- 10 Good Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good -------------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, August 3, 2003 -------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 44 88 65 -3 0.08 2.72 NH 37 92 66 -2 0.13 2.54 VT 44 90 66 -2 0.46 3.59 MA 46 89 71 -1 0.19 1.99 RI 56 87 72 +1 0.46 1.37 CT 54 89 72 +0 0.38 1.32 -------------------------------------------- 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 28, 2003 To: Sunday August 3, 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 49 85 66 -5 1132 -180 424 -75 Allagash 48 79 62 -3 803 -73 240 +16 Augusta_State_A 56 84 68 -3 1264 +1 521 +50 Bangor_Intl_Arp 53 83 68 -2 1237 +94 501 +110 Barnard 51 81 65 -3 1027 +32 355 +59 Bath 51 83 67 -4 1098 -54 405 +1 Bethel 53 85 66 -3 1109 -41 407 +19 Brassua_Dam 46 83 63 -3 876 +52 282 +79 Brunswick_ME 54 83 69 -1 1181 +29 468 +64 Caribou_Municip 51 79 65 -1 1027 +81 372 +109 Corinna 51 84 66 -3 1143 +29 436 +74 Danforth 46 84 65 -3 1063 -12 406 +51 Dover-Foxcroft 50 83 63 -5 912 -83 298 +2 Durham 52 85 67 -5 1080 -259 443 -92 East_Hiram 50 85 66 -3 1100 -48 406 +19 Eustis 49 79 62 -3 841 +33 253 +66 Frenchville 53 77 63 -2 939 +63 309 +85 Gray 54 83 68 -2 1271 +138 527 +139 Greenville_ME 52 78 64 -4 976 -30 330 +27 Guilford 44 83 62 -6 856 -139 279 -17 Hollis 50 87 67 -2 1166 +78 450 +100 Houlton 47 80 65 -2 1071 +90 396 +107 Kennebunkport 53 82 66 -7 1092 -320 374 -205 Livermore_Falls 49 88 66 +0 1163 +175 467 +182 Moosehead 46 84 62 -3 850 +26 257 +54 New_Sharon 53 86 67 +0 1138 +150 451 +166 Patten 49 79 64 -4 987 +6 333 +44 Portage 52 81 66 -1 1056 +110 390 +127 Portland_ME 55 84 67 -3 1222 +89 483 +95 Rangeley 46 82 62 -3 844 +69 247 +79 Sebec_Lake 48 82 65 -3 1018 +12 357 +54 Vanceboro 51 81 65 -3 1025 +26 367 +65 Waterville 54 84 67 -4 1182 -130 462 -37 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 54 92 68 -2 1265 -26 515 +29 Benton 50 83 65 -3 1089 +11 383 +64 Berlin_AG 53 82 65 -2 1123 +40 403 +66 Bethlehem 47 82 63 -4 1020 -58 329 +9 Concord 52 88 70 +0 1419 +128 619 +133 Diamond_Pond 49 79 61 -2 790 +70 224 +94 First_Conn_Lake 49 81 64 +2 819 +99 237 +107 Greenville 46 90 67 -1 1050 -116 393 +10 Keene_AP 54 84 69 -2 1363 -86 545 -49 Lakeport 54 87 68 +0 1394 +181 606 +171 Marlow 49 86 66 -4 985 -327 328 -160 Mount_Washingto 37 59 50 +2 127 +92 6 +6 North_Conway 52 85 67 -2 1276 +69 527 +99 Otter_Brook_Lk 53 85 68 -4 1243 -206 479 -115 Plymouth 48 87 65 -2 1082 +22 391 +66 Rochester 54 84 69 -3 1266 -106 519 -25 Weare 54 83 68 -3 1260 -52 483 -5 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 49 84 66 -2 1122 +1 406 +50 Bethel 47 86 67 +0 1269 +206 485 +158 Burlington_Intl 53 85 69 -2 1526 +130 650 +87 East_Haven 48 85 64 -1 1045 +149 334 +102 Island_Pond 50 83 63 -2 1024 +144 331 +114 Montpelier 50 83 65 -2 1104 +9 377 +31 Morrisville_AG 48 90 67 +0 1214 +131 464 +118 Mount_Mansfield 44 72 59 +1 558 +94 111 +64 Northfield 47 85 65 -1 1135 +145 397 +112 Pownal 51 82 66 -2 1162 +35 381 +20 Rochester 50 85 66 -2 1119 +56 387 +60 Rutland_AG 50 84 67 -5 1234 -208 461 -122 Sunderland 49 83 66 -5 1098 -290 345 -195 Sutton 49 82 63 -2 1030 +134 332 +100 Townshend_Lake 53 85 68 -3 1245 -109 475 -58 Union_Vill_Dam 48 87 67 -4 1225 -142 481 -57 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 56 84 69 +2 1329 +161 540 +141 Boston/Logan_In 60 89 71 -4 1583 -43 726 -1 Greenfield 56 87 70 -2 1442 -107 590 -74 New_Bedford 52 86 73 -3 1403 -211 595 -121 Otis_AFB 57 82 73 +2 1378 +88 599 +100 Plymouth 53 86 71 -2 1352 +0 557 +10 Walpole 57 87 72 +0 1487 +86 656 +91 West_Medway 57 89 72 +2 1506 +105 661 +96 Chicopee/Westov 57 88 72 -4 1518 -258 646 -184 Worcester 58 83 70 -1 1376 +76 557 +66 Worthington 50 83 66 -2 1129 -9 382 +15 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 58 87 74 +1 1566 +28 696 +27 Woonsocket 58 85 71 +1 1443 +64 617 +80 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 55 83 69 -5 1225 -495 434 -360 Bridgeport/Siko 64 88 75 +0 1608 -40 730 -25 Hartford/Bradle 57 89 73 -1 1669 -44 743 -48 Norfolk 54 82 69 +2 1186 +43 417 +43 Norwich 58 89 74 +2 1559 -14 695 +17 Thomaston_Dam 55 88 72 +2 1504 +138 629 +106 Willimantic 57 88 74 +5 1534 +143 672 +128 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 1.06 +0.22 4 2.96 -0.24 13 Allagash 0.67 -0.24 4 3.46 -0.05 13 Augusta_State_A 1.49 +0.75 3 2.99 +0.12 13 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.95 +0.25 3 1.64 -1.32 7 Barnard 0.61 -0.16 4 4.27 +1.08 14 Bath 0.74 +0.04 3 1.66 -1.00 9 Bethel 0.91 +0.06 3 4.43 +1.20 12 Brassua_Dam 0.12 -0.78 2 2.78 -0.85 13 Brunswick_ME 0.94 +0.24 3 2.44 -0.22 10 Caribou_Municip 0.46 -0.52 2 4.69 +0.96 14 Corinna 1.31 +0.52 3 2.67 -0.43 10 Danforth 0.62 -0.29 4 2.29 -1.31 13 Dover-Foxcroft 0.60 -0.17 5 2.55 -0.64 16 Durham 1.85 +1.11 3 2.65 -0.40 9 East_Hiram 2.55 +1.71 3 4.57 +1.27 13 Eustis 0.13 -0.68 2 2.83 -0.50 11 Frenchville 0.48 -0.43 2 3.35 -0.16 13 Gray 1.55 +0.92 2 2.37 -0.33 8 Greenville_ME 0.08 -0.69 4 1.07 -2.12 12 Guilford 0.55 -0.22 5 3.64 +0.45 18 Hollis 2.72 +2.02 4 4.24 +1.34 10 Houlton 0.92 +0.01 4 4.08 +0.61 15 Kennebunkport 1.81 +1.11 3 3.78 +1.00 13 Livermore_Falls 1.67 +0.85 4 5.32 +2.19 17 Moosehead 0.38 -0.52 3 3.29 -0.34 13 New_Sharon 1.18 +0.36 2 5.00 +1.87 12 Patten 0.16 -0.75 4 2.47 -1.00 14 Portage 0.92 -0.06 4 5.80 +2.07 16 Portland_ME 1.10 +0.47 2 2.56 -0.14 9 Rangeley 0.34 -0.53 5 2.61 -0.63 15 Sebec_Lake 0.68 -0.09 4 4.74 +1.55 12 Vanceboro 0.67 -0.05 4 3.20 +0.17 16 Waterville 1.11 +0.27 3 3.21 +0.01 14 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 2.52 +1.75 3 6.01 +3.06 13 Benton 1.47 +0.61 4 4.99 +1.80 13 Berlin_AG 0.61 -0.32 2 4.90 +1.45 13 Bethlehem 0.77 -0.20 4 4.88 +1.28 18 Concord 2.01 +1.24 1 3.94 +0.99 10 Diamond_Pond 0.79 -0.31 5 5.01 +0.79 16 First_Conn_Lake 0.13 -0.97 2 3.25 -0.97 14 Greenville 1.64 +0.73 1 2.92 -0.55 7 Keene_AP 1.55 +0.70 2 3.16 -0.14 9 Lakeport 2.21 +1.37 1 4.51 +1.23 11 Marlow 2.25 +1.45 2 4.62 +1.51 11 Mount_Washingto 1.94 +0.24 4 8.39 +1.97 18 North_Conway 1.58 +0.69 3 3.59 +0.18 15 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.99 +1.14 3 4.74 +1.44 13 Plymouth 1.66 +0.75 3 4.65 +1.10 13 Rochester 1.78 +0.96 1 3.79 +0.63 8 Weare 2.02 +1.22 2 4.34 +1.23 10 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 3.59 +2.68 3 6.93 +3.29 14 Bethel 1.03 +0.06 4 6.43 +2.87 15 Burlington_Intl 0.76 -0.12 3 3.63 +0.29 15 East_Haven 0.91 -0.13 3 4.21 +0.32 16 Island_Pond 0.90 -0.16 4 4.44 +0.52 18 Montpelier 0.65 -0.14 4 5.01 +2.13 15 Morrisville_AG 0.56 -0.48 4 4.67 +0.82 18 Mount_Mansfield 1.35 -0.22 5 6.69 +0.75 19 Northfield 1.03 +0.19 4 4.55 +1.36 14 Pownal 3.31 +2.40 3 6.95 +3.31 14 Rochester 0.96 -0.01 3 6.69 +3.13 15 Rutland_AG 1.54 +0.63 3 6.23 +2.69 12 Sunderland 1.66 +0.89 4 5.58 +2.80 17 Sutton 1.06 +0.02 3 4.60 +0.71 14 Townshend_Lake 1.82 +0.98 4 5.49 +2.36 15 Union_Vill_Dam 1.83 +1.06 3 5.99 +2.98 15 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.60 +0.80 4 3.69 +0.37 13 Boston/Logan_In 0.90 +0.21 1 3.02 +0.44 9 Greenfield 1.93 +1.09 3 4.51 +1.15 13 New_Bedford 0.52 -0.29 5 2.56 -0.30 12 Otis_AFB 1.21 +0.51 5 3.13 +0.52 11 Plymouth 1.21 +0.41 4 5.27 +2.16 10 Walpole 1.46 +0.65 4 5.13 +2.01 11 West_Medway 1.04 +0.23 2 3.57 +0.45 7 Chicopee/Westov 0.80 +0.03 3 2.56 -0.64 13 Worcester 0.87 +0.03 3 3.93 +0.50 12 Worthington 1.09 +0.11 2 3.39 -0.53 11 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.37 +0.60 3 4.32 +1.42 11 Woonsocket 1.28 +0.37 4 4.61 +1.04 11 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.54 -0.21 3 3.09 +0.23 13 Bridgeport/Siko 0.38 -0.44 4 2.29 -1.11 14 Hartford/Bradle 0.85 +0.10 3 3.39 +0.53 14 Norfolk 0.61 -0.37 3 3.30 -0.49 14 Norwich 1.32 +0.44 4 4.88 +1.48 12 Thomaston_Dam 0.52 -0.43 3 3.57 -0.20 14 Willimantic 0.76 -0.15 3 2.91 -0.84 13 Summary based on NWS data. DFN = Departure From Normal (Using 1961-90 Normals Period). Precipitation (rain or melted snow/ice) in inches. Precipitation Days = Days with precip of 0.01 inch or more. Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright 2003: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIS home page at www.awis.com or call toll free at 1-888-798-9955. -- Other Agricultural Comments and News -- CONNECTICUT - Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Harvesting sweet corn, beans, cabbage, summer squash, peppers, cukes, blueberries and peaches. A lot of hay was put in the barn and those who chopped second cutting put that in the silo. Early planted field corn that survived is tasseling. Shade tobacco harvest is continuing and broadleaf tobacco harvest began. Some started to irrigate on light soils. Showers on Friday yielded over an inch in many areas with hit and miss showers over the weekend. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Harvesting vegetables. Corn height not uniform. Producers feel there will be some surprises when they start to harvest. Worms reported in some corn fields. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Light crop of pears. Many acres of prevented planted corn and vegetables. Hail damage apparent in northern county corn fields. Deer damage too. Funky corn growth with various heights from 8" to 8', some corn tasseling. Many crops are inconsistent. Hay is a sad story with rain, wet fields. Brown first cutting growth stifling a green second cutting that can't be obtained. Trying hard to get things done ASAP. Corn seed sales reported as late as July 20th. Bright side - blueberries are abundant and tasty. Farmers' markets providing quality squash, tomatoes, lettuce and more at great prices. Nancy Welsh/Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: The rains are back with extreme humidity. A lot of sweet corn coming all at the same time since they were the only fields plantable. Plants are growing spotty. Clingstone peaches are available. Silage corn is just starting to tassel. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Field corn in sandy flood plains was seven feet tall this week. Corn in wet fields, four feet tall. As always, the quality of corn land is seen during adverse weather pattern. If we can keep houses from being grown on the good crop land, it will be a miracle, as they also grow the best on the well drained, non-rocky soils. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Haymaking was fast and furious this week. Rain came as predicted on Friday with plenty of warning. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: A real busy weekend in Aroostook County with all 60,000 plus Phish Phans having arrived. The population of Aroostook County nearly doubled. Growers trying to get back on a regular spray schedule but wet fields are making this difficult. However, adequate moisture and warm temperatures are causing crops to grow rapidly. Grain crops have suffered some lodging from the wind and rain but no real problems from either insects or disease. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Barley is maturing; canola is in mid-seed filling. Potato crop is looking excellent. Fungicides are continuing to be applied. Soil moisture is adequate with some areas in surplus. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Potatoes are looking well. Corn borers are about gone. Everything looks good at this time. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Showers and overcast weather kept farmers from harvesting any dry hay. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Farmers are still trying to bring in the first cut hay between rain storms. Most row crops are very late. Some field corn was only three feet tall. Need lots of warm, sunny weather. Strawberry fields are being renovated in preparation for next year's crop. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Some great hay making weather earlier in the week, with wet weather coming in for Friday and the weekend. Corn crops continue to look poor and are very late in maturity. Most silage corn has not yet shown a tassel. The corn crop needs some heat, but none is in sight. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Over an inch of much needed rain fell on Friday, August 1. This will be very beneficial to many crops as the harvest of blueberries is now in full swing. Sweet corn is also being harvested now. Pasture conditions should improve as well as the hay crop. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Crop harvest began in the mid-cost region this week. Showers and cool night temperatures continue to improve the crop quality. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: What a great week. After the rain, some humidity and heat helped the crops perk up. Some silage corn producers are still concerned about the dry conditions of the soil. Spot showers assisted some areas while other areas saw the rain go around them. Sweet corn is hitting the markets along with many other fresh vegetables. We see much more green than we have in the past few weeks. The coming week sounds wet, which will be helpful. Everyone seems to be enjoying those local vegetables. Eat up! Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Several inches of rain fell last week and when it wasn't raining it was very hot and humid. Not good for harvest, but good for crop growth. Most crops are still a little behind but are generally looking good. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Getting hay in between showers is getting trickier all the time. Vegetables are growing super. Berry crops in this area are terrible. Lots of winter kill. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, beet greens, Swiss chard, onions, and carrots are being harvested. Silage corn looks good. This past week's rain was a blessing. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Local corn is sweet! Harvesting of everything is going on. Blueberries are being picked. We had one report of a crop failure probably due to poor pollination of otherwise healthy plants in one of the hill towns. Some small grains being harvested. The weekend was quite a washout. Central county received four inches of rain Friday through Sunday. Our earliest agricultural fair took place this weekend. Monday through Thursday was very muggy, tropical feeling. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Only scattered showers in the region this week. Growers have been irrigating. Fruit has set up nicely in most beds, but there are some beds that had poor pollination or that got hit by frost in April. It looks like there will be a fair amount of cranberry fruitworm around, and Sparganothis fruitworm outbreaks are scattered as well. First fruit rot observed last week in the experimental plots. Some weeds in the beds have many leaf spots, due to the incredibly wet weather in June. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Cooler and drier air allowed for a really nice work week. Silage corn is starting to tassel, sweet corn is delicious and plentiful and tobacco harvest has begun on most farms. In general, crop conditions are a little dry but very good. Fruit growers are reporting that this year's peach crop looks very promising. The same is true for the apple and blueberry crops. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The beginning of the week was warm and sunny. Irrigation systems were turned on due to the dry conditions. By the weekend we had high humidity and thunder storms with isolated downpours. Crops are growing well with a very good supply of all summer vegetables at the markets. Broadleaf tobacco is being harvested and crop looks good. The later planted fields are being topped. Potato harvest began and the crop looks good. No big problems with insects or diseases reported this week. Gary Guida, Worcester: Heavy rains finally! Most of rain in previous weeks had skipped us here in Northern Worcester County. Crops were under stress but not anymore. Consumer demand for locally grown crops are exceeding field production. Perennial plant sales still strong. The corn I planted in late April / early May still isn't ripe! This week will finally start to pick sweet corn. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Harvesting sweet corn grown under row cover, beets, broccoli, cucumbers, summer squash and more. Weed control and irrigation are keeping growers busy. Raspberries and blueberries are being harvested. Unfortunately, there's a lot of mummy berry out there. Some second cut hay is getting done. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Lots of sun for the first part of the week, then rainy, very humid conditions set in. A few isolated patches of field corn showing some moisture stress, but most of it looks great - about 50% is tasseled and silking. Good drying conditions for hay early in the week, second cutting haylage and baleage finishing up. Lots of veggies available at farm stands and farmers' markets; sweet corn growers doing a brisk business. Blueberry harvest continues. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Trend now towards somewhat cooler, wetter weather. Field corn beginning to tassel, looks good after rain we've had. Second cut hay just starting as weather permits. Nice regrowth on pastures. Vegetables coming in well now, sweet corn should be available sometime in the coming week. Wild blueberries picked locally showing up at farm stands. Honey coming off supers, mid-summer has arrived. Pheromone traps for leek moth monitoring have been put up with NHDA, making certain this pest afflicting alliums has not moved south from Canada. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn continues to grow well with the adequate moisture we've been getting. Lack of good drying weather still slowing second cut. Corn continues to tassel and silk, and looks good. Regrowth on hay (3rd cut) also looks good especially on alfalfa grass stands. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables: Relief - rain! Growers harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, sweet corn and other vegetables. Farmers kept busy cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insects and diseases - if needed. Very good demand for produce at most local farmers' markets and farm stands. Fruit: Orchardists harvesting peaches and Vista Belle apples. Blueberry and raspberry harvests continued. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, spraying if needed, and mowing orchard floors. Apple growers busy summer pruning trees. Field Crops: Rain showers stopped farmers from making dry hay. Silage corn is rapid growing, with rain storms and the humid weather. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Corn earworm moths were found in monitoring traps in Canterbury and Allenstown and farmers are spraying. Farmers are spraying for blueberry maggot, cabbage looper and other pests. Japanese beetles a problem on ornamental trees and shrubs. Farmers are harvesting sweet corn, cukes, greens, summer squash, blueberries and raspberries. Second cut hay brought in. Irrigation systems running earlier in the week as corn and other vegetables were wilting. Much needed rain arrived at the end of the week. The blueberry crop yield has been cut in half on some sites while there is a bumper crop on others. Some sweet corn plantings look great while others look poor due to earlier wet conditions and repeat planting. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Finishing the renovation for strawberry beds. Monitoring pests in fruit orchards and vegetable fields. Cultivating and weeding. Mummy berry seen in blueberries and armyworm also reported in sweet corn field. Harvesting blueberries, raspberries, vegetables, sweet corn, tomatoes. Hay making continued between rain showers. Rain and severe thundershowers and wind on Friday and on the weekend. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Most of second cut dry hay completed after which manure is being applied. The rain showers are going to help the 3rd cutting along. Third cutting of alfalfa is just about ready. Sweet corn is being harvested with good results. Many summer vegetables are being harvested and helped along also with the rain. Much different than a year ago. Raspberry and blueberry harvesting is continuing. Blueberry crop took a big hit due to terrible weather the month of May as well as mummy berry. Many silage corn fields tasseling with nice color and good height. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: The last few weeks brought much needed rain showers. Hay harvest delayed by the rains. Hay crop regrowth in the second cut fields looking good. Vegetable crops and sweet corn looking good. Vegetable growers continued to harvest a wide array of vegetable crops including sweet corn. Blueberry and raspberry harvest continued through the week. Strawberry growers continued to renovate strawberry beds. Apple growers monitored pests and sprayed where needed, and mowed orchard floors. Nurseries and garden centers had strong sales for perennials . VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: We are just in awe at the progress of the corn crop to date. With continued hot weather the crop could be the best in recent memory. Not much for haying activity last week with the unsettled humid weather. Grass growth has been increasing lately. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Rain this week has put an end to any dry areas we had. Some fields are very wet and farmers need to be careful not to track them while cropping. Corn looks good in most places now. Some corn is 8 feet tall. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Field corn is about as good as it can get weather-wise. Very good ear development and with the hot weather and rain the grain to stalk ratio will be high. Third cut alfalfa has gotten a fast start. Sweet corn growers are reporting an excellent crop with a good market. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Corn looks better, starting to tassel some. Violent wind storm cut path through Addison County up New Haven River, corn flattened but later stood back up. Trees uprooted and broken off. Hay crop good, some potato leafhopper damage, new seedings starting to fill in. Some late planted corn less than one foot high. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: This week was a mixture of rain and sun. Week ended with very high humidity. Field corn is reported to be excellent everywhere. It is ten feet high in many locations and tasseled out. Sweet corn is now being harvested and sold. One farm reported cutting some of its sweet corn into silage because of a glut of this crop. Many farmers are finishing up second cutting of grass and will soon be on a third. It is good and heavy at most locations. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Summer really allowing crops to grow well. One farmer told me that this is the year they will be catching up on forage inventory following army worm and drought in 2001. Some early birds have started on a third cut. Most are finishing up a second cut of hay. Corn looking good. Nice combination of sun, heat, and rain. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: Hot and humid weather last week. Second cut hay was mowed however, a number of these fields were rained on. Many corn fields are tasseling. Northern and western corn root worm adults have emerged. Starting to see some corn lodging from root worm larvae damage. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Picking good crop of early sweet corn. Mid-season and late varieties of sweet corn doing extremely well after our rain and warm weather. Digging early potatoes. Cole crops also responded to good weather, lots of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower in the market. Vine crops covering the ground. 0.734 inches rain. Over all, Mother Nature is doing a great job. Have a happy week. -- July 2003 Crop Weather Summary -- Hot, sunny weather dominated most of the month of July in New England, providing crops with much needed sunshine and heat, but also drying up soil moisture supplies. Growers throughout the region irrigated where available. Many crops were planted and emerged by the start of July, while others were behind schedule due to the late spring start. First cut hay harvest was nearing completion as August approached, and reports surfaced that growers had a high- yielding crop this year. Rain was needed to improve the second hay crop; dry conditions earlier in the season were expected to decrease quality and yields. Growers were preparing for third crop cutting at month's end. Silage corn remained in good to fair condition throughout the month of July, the late-month rain aiding crop growth. Potato harvest had not yet begun by month's end; growers in the southern states were gearing up for harvest. Maine potato condition was reported as excellent to good during the month, despite high counts of European corn borers in fields. Crop specialists also rated oat and barley crops in Maine in excellent to good condition. Shade tobacco harvest started late, and only ten percent was harvested as of July 27. Farmers had yet to begin cutting broadleaf tobacco at the end of the month, when normally ten percent would have been harvested. Growers sprayed to control blue mold and brown spot. Sweet corn harvest trailed the five- year average by ten percent as the month came to a close. Fruit crops ranged from good to fair condition throughout the month of July. Rain received in late July helped to accelerate fruit growth and improved condition. Growers had yet to begin peach harvest as of July 27, placing them at least one week behind schedule. New England's late- starting strawberry season came to an close by the end of the month, on schedule with the five-year average. Irrigation was active in cranberry bogs in Massachusetts to help size up the berries; this year's crop remained in good condition throughout the month. Maine wild blueberry growers prepared for harvest, which was expected to start during the week of July 28. -- 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 ***********************