State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 05/02/04 Issue NH-CW1804 Volume 24, Number 2 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) May 3, 2004 - 4 pm --Agricultural Summary WARMER TEMPERATURES HELP DRY OUT FIELDS For the week ending May 2, 2004, there were 5.4 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 6% short, 70% adequate, 22% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 4% short, 81% adequate, 12% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 4% very poor, 18% poor, 32% fair, 38% good, 8% excellent. Temperatures started out cool but warmed up by end of the week. The warmer weather helped dry out fields in some areas, allowing farmers a chance to plant between showers. Major farm activities included: planting early vegetables, sweet corn, and potatoes; spreading manure; prepping seed beds for planting; applying fertilizer; pruning and plowing. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 2 0 2 Short 6 2 2 Adequate 70 70 71 Surplus 22 28 25 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 3 0 2 Short 4 4 9 Adequate 81 71 79 Surplus 12 25 10 ----------------------------------------------- --Field Crops Report Pasture and hay fields are greening up and growing rapidly around the six - State region. Rhode Island potato farmers got off to a good start with 25 percent planted by week's end, on schedule with normal. Massachusetts potato planting progress was slightly behind last year and normal; producers waiting for fields to dry out. Potato growers in Maine were still waiting for soils to warm up to begin their planting season. --Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Apple, peach and pear development ranged from bud to early bloom, with northern areas still in dormant stage. Berry crops remained in bud or dormant stage by week's end. New England fruit growers were busy spraying fungicides and pre-bloom insecticides, chopping brush and pruning trees. Burning and flail mowing continued on wild blueberry fields. Cranberry progress averaged one week behind normal due to cool, rainy conditions. VEGETABLES: Planting of cool weather crops such as cabbage, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, peas and radishes continued during the week. Early sweet corn was planted under plastic and tomato transplants were planted in high tunnels. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- % Planted -- Barley, ME 0 0 5 -- Oats, ME 0 0 5 -- Potatoes Maine 0 0 0 -- Mass 10 35 35 Fair/Good Rhode Isl 25 10 25 Good Silage Corn 0 5 <5 -- Sweet Corn 10 10 10 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 0 0 0 -- -- % Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 0 0 0 Fair/Good ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples Bud/Early Bloom Good/Fair Peaches Bud/Early Bloom Fair/Poor Pears Bud/Early Bloom Fair/Good Blueberries Highbush Dormant/Bud Good/Fair Wild, ME Bud Good Cranberries,MA Dormant Good Strawberries Dormant/Bud Fair/Good ----------------------------------------------------- --Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, May 2, 2004 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 18 87 49 +3 0.05 1.23 NH 14 90 52 +5 0.41 1.78 VT 20 87 52 +6 0.16 1.28 MA 29 82 54 +4 0.56 1.53 RI 36 80 53 +3 0.12 1.18 CT 32 82 55 +3 0.69 1.70 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. --Weather Information Table Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday April 26, 2004 To: Sunday May 2, 2004 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 26 86 50 +2 54 +32 15 +15 Allagash 18 86 45 +3 29 +27 5 +5 Augusta_State_A 32 85 51 +3 58 +41 10 +10 Bangor_Intl_Arp 27 84 50 +3 41 +31 9 +9 Barnard 25 85 48 +3 35 +28 9 +9 Bath 26 75 48 -1 29 +21 1 +1 Bethel 25 85 51 +4 63 +52 17 +17 Brassua_Dam 19 80 45 +4 25 +25 2 +2 Brunswick_ME 29 73 49 +2 33 +25 0 +0 Caribou_Municip 26 83 48 +5 36 +29 14 +14 Corinna 27 87 49 +3 47 +37 10 +10 Danforth 29 82 48 +3 29 +23 7 +7 Dover-Foxcroft 23 83 46 +1 31 +24 7 +7 Durham 26 86 49 -1 46 +29 4 +4 East_Hiram 27 83 51 +4 65 +54 19 +19 Eustis 20 86 47 +5 36 +35 8 +8 Frenchville 25 83 47 +5 34 +32 11 +11 Gray 33 85 53 +5 68 +60 14 +14 Greenville_ME 31 84 52 +7 58 +50 21 +21 Guilford 20 80 44 -2 23 +16 0 +0 Hollis 26 86 52 +5 65 +57 16 +16 Houlton 20 85 47 +4 29 +22 7 +7 Kennebunkport 28 67 47 -4 26 +3 0 +0 Livermore_Falls 24 86 50 +5 57 +50 13 +13 Moosehead 20 84 46 +5 31 +31 4 +4 New_Sharon 27 84 50 +5 49 +42 8 +8 Patten 19 83 47 +3 32 +25 9 +9 Portage 18 83 47 +4 36 +29 14 +14 Portland_ME 31 78 51 +3 51 +43 6 +6 Rangeley 20 81 45 +4 28 +27 1 +1 Sebec_Lake 24 86 47 +2 31 +23 4 +4 Vanceboro 25 81 47 +3 28 +23 6 +6 Waterville 28 83 49 -1 42 +20 6 +6 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 26 85 52 +4 75 +51 18 +18 Benton 27 81 53 +6 74 +52 21 +21 Berlin_AG 27 85 52 +6 64 +47 17 +17 Bethlehem 25 83 50 +3 54 +34 12 +12 Concord 30 86 56 +7 132 +108 41 +41 Diamond_Pond 17 77 47 +6 37 +34 2 +2 First_Conn_Lake 18 77 45 +5 22 +19 0 +0 Greenville 34 80 55 +7 101 +79 29 +29 Keene_AP 34 81 54 +4 107 +68 24 +24 Lakeport 32 83 53 +6 70 +53 14 +14 Marlow 28 79 51 +2 63 +35 10 +10 Mount_Washingto 14 57 38 +10 3 +3 0 +0 North_Conway 29 86 52 +5 75 +58 24 +24 Otter_Brook_Lk 32 81 53 +3 83 +44 20 +20 Plymouth 27 85 50 +4 61 +51 13 +13 Rochester 27 90 54 +4 85 +56 25 +25 Weare 36 82 54 +5 80 +52 18 +18 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 33 81 52 +5 78 +58 18 +18 Bethel 26 87 53 +7 76 +59 18 +18 Burlington_Intl 34 84 57 +7 107 +71 38 +38 East_Haven 24 81 50 +6 52 +45 12 +12 Island_Pond 26 80 50 +7 49 +39 11 +11 Montpelier 29 81 54 +7 85 +65 22 +22 Morrisville_AG 24 81 50 +4 51 +34 12 +12 Mount_Mansfield 20 67 45 +8 26 +26 0 +0 Northfield 28 83 51 +6 68 +54 16 +16 Pownal 28 80 54 +7 107 +83 27 +27 Rochester 29 83 52 +6 72 +55 17 +17 Rutland_AG 31 81 53 +2 90 +41 17 +13 Sunderland 29 80 52 +2 92 +41 16 +15 Sutton 28 81 49 +6 44 +37 13 +13 Townshend_Lake 30 82 53 +4 86 +55 20 +20 Union_Vill_Dam 29 82 53 +4 70 +38 19 +19 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 34 80 54 +7 87 +70 18 +18 Boston/Logan_In 40 81 56 +4 137 +85 44 +44 Greenfield 33 81 54 +2 102 +53 21 +21 New_Bedford 33 71 54 +2 79 +24 3 +3 Otis_AFB 36 68 53 +4 51 +32 1 +1 Plymouth 30 76 54 +5 79 +59 11 +11 Walpole 37 81 56 +5 115 +82 24 +24 West_Medway 36 81 56 +5 115 +82 27 +27 Chicopee/Westov 36 79 57 +3 155 +69 43 +39 Worcester 36 78 56 +7 120 +95 32 +32 Worthington 29 80 52 +4 82 +61 14 +14 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 38 78 56 +4 117 +75 20 +20 Woonsocket 36 80 56 +6 118 +89 30 +30 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 33 80 55 +1 103 +26 23 +19 Bridgeport/Siko 42 69 55 +3 110 +52 12 +12 Hartford/Bradle 39 80 57 +4 150 +80 37 +33 Norfolk 32 78 54 +7 102 +84 24 +24 Norwich 38 76 54 +2 101 +41 6 +5 Thomaston_Dam 36 82 56 +5 129 +89 27 +27 Willimantic 35 77 56 +5 131 +94 28 +28 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.50 -0.31 4 2.94 -0.29 12 Allagash 0.10 -0.56 1 2.22 -0.22 10 Augusta_State_A 0.57 -0.34 3 2.74 -0.79 12 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.34 -0.45 3 2.33 -0.77 13 Barnard 0.52 -0.32 3 2.67 -0.66 9 Bath 0.84 -0.06 3 3.02 -0.79 9 Bethel 0.60 -0.24 3 2.94 -0.42 9 Brassua_Dam 0.25 -0.50 3 2.13 -0.78 12 Brunswick_ME 1.23 +0.33 3 4.12 +0.31 10 Caribou_Municip 0.52 -0.11 3 2.06 -0.26 11 Corinna 0.55 -0.29 2 2.96 -0.39 6 Danforth 0.16 -0.68 1 2.02 -1.10 7 Dover-Foxcroft 0.67 -0.17 3 2.56 -0.77 10 Durham 0.74 -0.15 3 3.21 -0.52 9 East_Hiram 0.73 -0.18 3 3.60 -0.06 10 Eustis 0.35 -0.39 3 2.32 -0.55 10 Frenchville 0.33 -0.33 2 2.20 -0.24 11 Gray 0.81 -0.10 2 3.21 -0.61 8 Greenville_ME 0.05 -0.79 2 1.18 -2.15 10 Guilford 0.49 -0.35 3 2.98 -0.35 9 Hollis 0.89 -0.06 2 3.91 +0.00 9 Houlton 0.40 -0.30 3 2.33 -0.17 12 Kennebunkport 1.19 +0.26 3 3.82 -0.02 13 Livermore_Falls 0.57 -0.32 3 3.47 -0.15 9 Moosehead 0.18 -0.57 3 2.30 -0.61 12 New_Sharon 0.49 -0.40 3 3.32 -0.30 9 Patten 0.73 +0.03 3 2.57 +0.07 10 Portage 0.15 -0.48 3 2.07 -0.25 11 Portland_ME 0.82 -0.09 3 2.96 -0.86 9 Rangeley 0.35 -0.28 2 1.75 -0.62 10 Sebec_Lake 0.62 -0.22 3 2.83 -0.50 10 Vanceboro 0.49 -0.35 3 2.37 -0.99 10 Waterville 0.51 -0.30 3 2.96 -0.27 13 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 1.15 +0.45 3 4.09 +1.33 12 Benton 0.60 -0.10 3 2.01 -0.63 9 Berlin_AG 0.41 -0.38 2 1.77 -1.44 11 Bethlehem 0.51 -0.19 4 2.01 -0.76 15 Concord 1.28 +0.58 2 4.39 +1.63 9 Diamond_Pond 1.08 +0.31 4 3.67 +0.75 16 First_Conn_Lake 0.49 -0.28 4 2.44 -0.48 16 Greenville 1.18 +0.34 3 4.38 +1.02 9 Keene_AP 1.01 +0.21 2 3.21 +0.20 7 Lakeport 0.84 +0.04 2 3.23 +0.12 9 Marlow 1.19 +0.28 3 3.61 +0.03 9 Mount_Washingto 0.95 -0.83 4 4.77 -2.75 17 North_Conway 0.65 -0.29 3 3.10 -0.75 10 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.78 +0.98 3 4.34 +1.33 10 Plymouth 0.87 +0.03 2 2.04 -1.15 5 Rochester 1.46 +0.48 2 4.57 +0.59 10 Weare 1.24 +0.33 2 4.74 +1.16 8 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.76 -0.29 3 2.58 -1.51 9 Bethel 0.49 -0.47 3 1.58 -2.00 10 Burlington_Intl 0.29 -0.39 4 1.79 -0.82 12 East_Haven 0.65 -0.06 3 2.03 -0.72 12 Island_Pond 0.57 -0.13 4 2.00 -0.58 16 Montpelier 0.50 -0.13 4 1.67 -0.66 15 Morrisville_AG 0.47 -0.30 5 2.24 -0.81 15 Mount_Mansfield 1.07 -0.19 4 4.51 -0.71 14 Northfield 0.57 -0.18 3 1.81 -0.94 11 Pownal 1.28 +0.23 2 3.84 -0.25 10 Rochester 0.38 -0.58 2 1.80 -1.78 11 Rutland_AG 0.57 -0.13 2 1.53 -1.03 11 Sunderland 0.97 +0.23 3 2.35 -0.39 13 Sutton 0.68 -0.03 5 2.56 -0.19 17 Townshend_Lake 0.53 -0.24 2 2.62 -0.46 11 Union_Vill_Dam 0.76 +0.00 3 1.85 -0.91 11 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.07 +0.27 2 4.51 +1.34 8 Boston/Logan_In 1.21 +0.40 3 4.86 +1.53 9 Greenfield 1.33 +0.43 2 4.64 +1.19 8 New_Bedford 0.76 -0.13 3 3.45 -0.34 10 Otis_AFB 0.94 +0.03 4 3.13 -0.51 9 Plymouth 0.69 -0.29 3 3.68 -0.27 10 Walpole 1.42 +0.53 3 6.00 +2.11 10 West_Medway 1.26 +0.37 3 6.07 +2.18 10 Chicopee/Westov 0.81 -0.10 2 3.50 -0.14 9 Worcester 1.26 +0.31 3 4.90 +1.22 10 Worthington 1.30 +0.26 2 4.19 +0.35 10 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.14 +0.23 3 4.84 +1.03 9 Woonsocket 1.18 +0.21 3 5.88 +1.98 10 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.01 +0.10 2 4.78 +1.14 9 Bridgeport/Siko 1.70 +0.79 3 6.48 +2.94 10 Hartford/Bradle 1.04 +0.13 2 4.44 +0.80 9 Norfolk 0.69 -0.36 2 3.19 -1.01 9 Norwich 1.19 +0.10 2 7.84 +3.58 8 Thomaston_Dam 1.19 +0.14 3 4.54 +0.53 10 Willimantic 1.51 +0.53 4 5.94 +2.02 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 2004: 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: Farmers are busy spreading manure, fixing fences, and starting to plow well drained fields. Very little field corn has been planted. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: More sweet corn and peas planted. Some field corn and cabbage planted. Land preparation is going well but many fields still have a "wet" spot. Peaches in full bloom and apples in pink. Broadleaf tobacco looks good in beds but spotty in green houses around the area. Cattle being put out on pasture. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Spreading manure, fertilizer and harrowing to prepare fields for planting. A very cold and wet spring has put crops behind. Hopefully, will warm up soon. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Asparagus starting. Heavy scab conditions in orchards, spraying fungicides and pre-bloom insecticides. Sweet corn planting beginning. Maple syrup tallies showing average to just above average production. Previous flooding took stacked timber down river off one corn field, with boats fishing over the cornfield until water receded. Wet conditions. Progress continues on drier fields. Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Fields are too wet. Rains are too frequent for soil to dry sufficiently for planting. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Spreading manure and planting corn. Some farmers still waiting for fields to dry enough to get started - some are finished planting corn. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Limited field work as ground still quite wet. Soil temperatures cold. Some growers picking rocks. Small amount of grain planted toward the end of the week. Daytime high temperatures of 80 degrees did a lot to change these conditions. Expect planting activity to be in full swing next week. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: It has been a cool spring so far. Growers are preparing to start planting as soon as fields dry up and soil temperature is warmer. Seed is being purchased. If weather cooperates, most farmers will be planting this weekend. Some broccoli has been planted. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers have begun to spread manure and have begun fencing. Temperatures were 80 degrees and above the last three days. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Last week saw temperatures in the 80's. Helped dry out some fields enough for manure spreading and some plowing. Vegetable farmers have made their early plantings of peas and potatoes. Strawberry growers have removed the straw from plants. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Spreading manure and preparing the fields for planting. Very slow spring. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: What a difference a warm dry week makes. Lots of manure being spread, fields being tilled and sweet corn being planted. Buds are swelling on apples and high bush blueberries. We actually need some rain! Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Early sweet corn being planted under blanket cover. Greenhouses and roadside stands opened for the first time over the weekend. Burning and flail mowing continues on blueberry fields. Fall work did not get completed due to weather and the uncertainty in the blueberry industry. Perfect weather over the weekend for working outdoors. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: This was a cold, wet, bleak week. Some field work was done, but not much because of the wet, cool weather. Farmers are just waiting for that sun to warm up the ground and dry it out.Jill Littlefield (FSA), Cumberland/York: Grass is starting to grow. Heat over weekend helped the buds to break open. Heat varied from coastal to inland. Sweet corn under plastic is in the ground. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Good start to the growing season. Rain, sun, rain. Maple sap production was about average. Some peas & other cold crops are planted. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: More sweet corn planted this week, field corn will be planted soon, fertilizer will be applied sparingly because of cost. No report on the early plantings showing up yet, but after warming up for a few days, crops will be showing up. Ground gets rained on one day and then it warms up with a good breeze, this has kept the ground workable, but still have some vernal pools in some fields. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Rain and cool weather continue; very little planting being completed. Cranberries are approximately a week behind. Nut growers are running irrigation systems to protect from frost. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Everyone continues to prepare fields and plant, but progress is slow. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Planting peas, radishes, lettuce, potatoes and cabbage this week. Sweet corn planting continues but soil conditions remain cool and wet. Most dairy farms are busy spreading manure and it certainly smells like spring in Franklin county. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The temperatures were cool with a few needed rain showers. Fiddleheads were being harvested. Planting potatoes, sweet corn, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and peas. Farmers are plowing, sub-soiling and spreading lime and manure. Setting up irrigation in strawberry fields. Due to the lack of snow cover this winter, alfalfa growers are reporting over a 50 percent crop loss. Gary Guida, Worcester: Busy week on farms. Plowing, harrowing, and planting corn now at a quick pace as some fields finally workable. Retail sales starting to pick-up with busy day on Saturday. Greenhouses in full color and plants look real good. Excellent consumer response. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Vegetable fields are being prepared for transplanting and seeding. Many cool weather crops like peas, greens and lettuce have been planted. Early sweet corn under plastic is in. Tree and small fruit growers are fertilizing, cutting & hauling brush, monitoring pests and applying sprays. It was not a good winter for peaches. Greenhouses are selling pansies, perennials, woody ornamentals, soil amendments and seed. Pastures and hayfields are green but rain is needed. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: What a difference a week makes! Pastures and hay fields are green and growing, manure, fertilizer and lime applications in progress. Leaves are opening, blossoms can't be far behind. Those with peaches are still waiting to see if any flowers survived. Winter damage evident on spring flowering shrubs in isolated locations. Many forsythia have blossoms on the lower branches only. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: A couple rainy days, but generally warm sunny weather most of the week. Farms spreading manure, starting field preparation, getting equipment ready, but no corn planted yet. Pastures and hayfields growing rapidly. A few farms finishing forage seedings. Field preparation continues on vegetable operations, with some planting of early crops. First sprays are being applied on orchards. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Seems a fairly dry start to the crop year. Cows now showing up on pastures, farmers fixing fence. Manure spreading on meadows and corn fields on-going. A number of corn fields all prepped for planting. Greenhouses and nurseries at high gear in plans for Mother's day openings, pansies available at some. Looks like good flowers for next weekend. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Pockets of winter killed alfalfa throughout the county. Field work includes field preparation for corn, seedings, and spreading manure for corn. Some corn planted, but none has emerged. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Field work has begun. Manure is being spread, and new seedings are being planted. There was a high degree of winter kill this past winter on Alfalfa and some orchard grass. In many cases the stands were a complete loss. Corn planting is moving ahead. Top soil conditions are adequate. However, the subsoil moisture level appears to be low for this time of year. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Field crops: spreading fertilizer, lime, and manure. Preparing fields for planting. Forage seedings being made. Fruits: applying pre-bloom sprays. Chopping brush, pruning peach trees. Vegetables: Getting fields ready to be planted. Planting peas, potatoes, green beans, and some sweet corn. Planting tomato transplants in high tunnels. John Porter (Ext), Merrimack: Cropping operations are well underway. Manure being spread and incorporated into the soil. Many reports of damage to alfalfa over the winter. Most are plowing up and re-seeding to alfalfa; alfalfa and grass, or switching to corn. Some winter damage in blueberries. Dead ends on branches and winter damage to new growth. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Planting early vegetables: radishes are out! Preparing vegetable fields by liming, fertilizing and discing. Spreading manure and preparing forage and field corn. Spraying protective fungicide on fruit trees. Finishing up planting small fruits and pruning fruit trees, blueberries and raspberries. Decent weather most of the week with a few brief rain showers. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: A good week of warm weather for field work. Early vegetables have been planted along with a good start to silage corn planting. The first cut of alfalfa is not far off. Spotty showers and lots of sunshine has helped. Pruning of apple orchards, pears and blueberry bushes should be wrapping up soon. Annual and perennial sales have been strong in all greenhouse stands. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: The fields have had a chance to dry out some, potatoes being planted, working most fields. All cole crops are in and doing well, early morning fog and cool coastal air are abundant. Seasonal roadside stands are mostly open and full of pansies, and early spring flowering plants. This week has actually had some spring like weather. Good time for catching up. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday finally subsided and sunny skies and warm temperatures have everything turning green. Fields are still mostly too wet to access, but farmers are chomping at the bit to get out there. Trees are cautiously beginning to leaf out and the light emerald colors that say "spring is here" are emerging. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Last week was productive for fieldwork. Lots of manure being spread, fence being fixed, fields being plowed and/or harrowed. Some fields of barley were planted. Grass growth has been a little slow in this area so far. Could use more moisture and warm temperatures to keep planting on schedule. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Landowners are spreading manure and tilling fields. Some grass/legumes have been seeded on the drier fields. Landowners are repairing fence for pastures. Grass in pastures is about an inch high in places I have looked. The warm temperatures over the weekend and the rain today will help push the grass. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: More alfalfa is being seeded this year to make up for winter kill. Some producers are going to chop what they can and then no-til corn. Some farmers lost as much as 50 percent of their alfalfa. They are finding that even some pasture sustained winter kill. Early vegetable crops are planted but producers are telling us that germination is slow. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Spreading manure on corn land. Some manure on grass hay fields. Spring tillage to prepare seed bed with offset harrows and cultivators in corn fields. Fertilizing hay fields with broadcast applications. Pasture growth looks vigorous. Alfalfa growth good with little winter injury. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Good spring week. Lots of manure going out, corn field preparation and fencing. Conditions are dry enough so that people are able to get field equipment onto places that they can rarely go in the spring. Some rain and showers (of both rain and snow). Near record heat on Friday, up in the high 70's. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: With warm temperatures towards the end of the week, all trees have reached half-inch green tip stage. Disease management has taken precedence in the orchard and with cooler, wet weather this week this concern will become ever more prevalent. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Plowing under lots of winter rye which has done well this last week. Temperature for the week has been on the cold side for other crops. Harrowed, fertilized and put asparagus beds in shape, all ready for warmer weather. Planted carrots, broad beans, second planting of sweet corn and peas. --April 2004 Crop Weather Summary Seasonal temperatures and showers prevailed throughout most of April in New England hindering planting in some areas. Maple sugaring activites were complete by month's end at most locations. Sugar producers report having an excellent season and maple syrup sales have been brisk. Farm activities during the month included nursery/greenhouse work, tending livestock, tapping maple trees, applying fertilizer, performing general maintenance and preparing for the spring planting season. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services(NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals. --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: Dianne Johnson, Robin Helrich Stat Assistant: Wayne Colpitt Deputy: 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 ***********************