State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 05/30/04 Issue NH-CW2104 Volume 24, Number 6 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 1, 2004 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary COOL, WET WEEK For the week ending May 30, 2004, there were 3.7 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated one percent short, 67 percent adequate, 32 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated two percent short, 80 percent adequate, 18 percent surplus. Pasture condition was rated as eight percent fair, 70 percent good, 22 percent excellent. Cool, wet conditions prevailed most of the week hindering planting progress, however dry weather on weekend allowed growers an opportunity to continue with planting activities. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn, tobacco, potatoes, small grains; spreading manure; applying fertilizer, herbicides and fungicides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 3 0 Short 1 5 1 Adequate 67 65 63 Surplus 32 27 36 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 3 0 Short 2 4 9 Adequate 80 83 72 Surplus 18 10 19 --------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report Hayfields and pastures have experienced good growth due to the cool, wet conditions. Silage corn plantings continued between showers and advanced to 75 percent planted. Potato plantings in Maine progressed to 95 percent planted. Small grains nearing completion at 95 percent planted. Massachusetts and Rhode Island potato farmers have 95 and 85 percent of their crop planted respectively. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Frost was reported during the week in some areas. Some apple and peach trees have shown signs of winter injury. Orchardists and small fruit growers were applying protective fungicides and insecticides to fight scab infection in apples and pears. Concerns of Mummyberry disease continued among growers in wild blueberry fields due to prevailing cool, moist conditions. Cranberry growers continued to watch for insects and applied fungicides as needed. They also stayed busy applying fertilizers and maintaining ditches. VEGETABLES: Growers continued spraying for weeds on sweet corn fields and farmers harvested asparagus, rhubard, lettuce, radish and spinach were harvested during the week. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Percent Condition Emerged ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Planted -- Barley, ME 95 85 90 60 Excel/Good Oats, ME 95 85 90 50 Excel/Good Potatoes Maine 95 85 80 <5 Excel/Good Mass 95 95 95 70 Good Rhode Isl 85 100 100 45 Good/Excel Silage Corn 75 55 65 45 Good/Excel Sweet Corn 65 55 60 40 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 90 85 70 -- Good Broadleaf -- 10 15 -- Good Dry Hay First Cut 10 5 10 Good/Excel ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- Fruit Crop Stage Set Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples PF Avg Fair/Good Peaches PF B.Avg/Avg Fair/Good Pears PF Avg/B.Avg Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush Bud/PF Avg Fair/Good Wild FB/PF -- Good/Fair Cranberries,MA Bud -- Fair/Good Strawberries FB/PF Avg Fair/Good ----------------------------------------------------- FB - Full Bloom, PF - Petal Fall -- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, May 30, 2004 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 30 74 49 -8 0.43 2.42 NH 19 80 51 -7 1.44 3.05 VT 24 79 54 -4 1.70 2.86 MA 36 82 56 -5 1.20 3.35 RI 38 75 57 -4 1.18 1.87 CT 34 89 59 -2 1.09 2.97 ---------------------------------------------- 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 May 24, 2004 To: Sunday May 30, 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 38 72 50 -11 195 -8 35 +12 Allagash 31 70 48 -7 92 +13 9 +9 Augusta_State_A 42 69 50 -9 220 +40 36 +18 Bangor_Intl_Arp 42 66 50 -8 186 +47 26 +16 Barnard 38 66 48 -8 150 +43 24 +18 Bath 40 69 50 -9 148 +15 17 +9 Bethel 40 73 50 -9 219 +68 45 +32 Brassua_Dam 38 71 49 -6 104 +41 8 +8 Brunswick_ME 44 74 55 -3 245 +112 45 +37 Caribou_Municip 39 66 49 -8 129 +25 27 +20 Corinna 40 68 50 -8 196 +54 39 +28 Danforth 30 65 47 -10 129 +20 15 +9 Dover-Foxcroft 34 63 47 -10 123 +16 16 +10 Durham 38 69 50 -10 195 +9 30 +14 East_Hiram 35 69 49 -10 212 +61 47 +34 Eustis 38 67 48 -6 120 +50 21 +21 Frenchville 37 64 47 -9 112 +33 19 +19 Gray 42 69 50 -8 245 +116 51 +47 Greenville_ME 40 72 50 -6 203 +85 41 +32 Guilford 38 66 47 -10 94 -13 7 +1 Hollis 39 71 49 -9 224 +100 52 +48 Houlton 38 67 48 -8 134 +28 22 +14 Kennebunkport 41 61 49 -12 135 -82 5 -15 Livermore_Falls 36 73 49 -7 220 +112 44 +38 Moosehead 38 69 48 -6 115 +52 16 +16 New_Sharon 38 69 49 -8 187 +79 29 +23 Patten 40 67 47 -9 125 +19 21 +13 Portage 37 67 48 -9 118 +14 25 +18 Portland_ME 39 65 50 -8 204 +75 36 +32 Rangeley 37 71 48 -6 124 +58 14 +14 Sebec_Lake 42 69 50 -7 150 +32 24 +15 Vanceboro 40 64 48 -8 118 +22 14 +13 Waterville 42 68 50 -11 179 -24 23 +0 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 33 73 49 -11 242 +42 59 +32 Benton 38 71 52 -7 240 +69 54 +33 Berlin_AG 37 72 52 -6 230 +80 52 +35 Bethlehem 33 72 52 -6 219 +50 44 +23 Concord 38 74 53 -7 385 +185 119 +92 Diamond_Pond 32 68 46 -7 128 +62 15 +15 First_Conn_Lake 34 70 48 -5 107 +41 6 +6 Greenville 40 80 54 -6 346 +161 98 +76 Keene_AP 41 73 57 -6 363 +94 94 +45 Lakeport 43 74 52 -7 290 +119 70 +50 Marlow 35 71 52 -8 216 -14 37 +1 Mount_Washingto 19 48 37 -2 12 +12 0 +0 North_Conway 43 72 52 -8 271 +97 77 +56 Otter_Brook_Lk 36 78 56 -7 307 +38 75 +26 Plymouth 39 73 51 -7 220 +83 45 +32 Rochester 39 67 49 -13 265 +34 70 +34 Weare 42 70 52 -9 276 +46 60 +24 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 27 73 54 -5 278 +107 59 +38 Bethel 32 76 54 -4 280 +128 68 +51 Burlington_Intl 41 74 58 -3 381 +136 125 +80 East_Haven 35 72 52 -3 211 +105 46 +37 Island_Pond 35 70 51 -4 188 +80 35 +26 Montpelier 38 71 54 -4 288 +122 77 +57 Morrisville_AG 36 72 54 -4 198 +46 39 +22 Mount_Mansfield 24 59 45 -6 92 +58 11 +11 Northfield 35 73 53 -4 233 +102 51 +38 Pownal 38 75 58 +1 342 +165 83 +59 Rochester 37 75 53 -4 270 +118 66 +49 Rutland_AG 36 72 56 -6 295 +12 61 +2 Sunderland 35 74 58 -3 306 +41 64 +15 Sutton 34 70 49 -6 179 +73 36 +27 Townshend_Lake 36 76 56 -4 313 +88 77 +40 Union_Vill_Dam 34 76 52 -9 253 +18 62 +22 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 43 77 55 -4 318 +155 75 +61 Boston/Logan_In 47 64 54 -9 400 +104 119 +82 Greenfield 40 82 59 -4 384 +85 105 +54 New_Bedford 44 78 57 -6 328 +32 61 +25 Otis_AFB 46 75 56 -3 273 +103 50 +39 Plymouth 40 70 54 -7 304 +115 67 +51 Walpole 42 72 55 -6 374 +141 89 +60 West_Medway 40 81 57 -4 406 +173 115 +86 Chicopee/Westov 46 81 60 -4 491 +105 163 +84 Worcester 43 80 55 -5 384 +181 110 +88 Worthington 36 79 56 -2 300 +128 63 +44 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 47 75 58 -4 407 +145 97 +67 Woonsocket 38 74 56 -6 382 +153 102 +80 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 34 84 58 -6 363 +0 88 +11 Bridgeport/Siko 45 74 60 -3 426 +115 97 +39 Hartford/Bradle 44 82 61 -3 499 +143 163 +89 Norfolk 38 77 57 -2 345 +177 86 +69 Norwich 42 86 60 -3 420 +107 106 +50 Thomaston_Dam 34 88 61 +2 483 +234 155 +118 Willimantic 38 85 59 -2 446 +197 131 +95 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 1.42 +0.58 6 4.79 +1.43 16 Allagash 1.13 +0.42 4 2.25 -0.58 9 Augusta_State_A 1.55 +0.71 6 4.37 +0.94 16 Bangor_Intl_Arp 1.34 +0.57 5 4.43 +1.20 14 Barnard 1.38 +0.54 6 3.10 -0.16 18 Bath 1.52 +0.68 5 4.94 +1.61 13 Bethel 1.60 +0.75 6 4.36 +1.04 16 Brassua_Dam 1.57 +0.75 5 3.17 +0.04 13 Brunswick_ME 2.07 +1.23 6 4.98 +1.65 13 Caribou_Municip 0.81 +0.11 4 2.25 -0.55 12 Corinna 1.34 +0.50 5 4.65 +1.43 14 Danforth 1.12 +0.27 6 3.72 +0.35 15 Dover-Foxcroft 1.15 +0.31 6 3.19 -0.07 15 Durham 2.09 +1.25 6 5.30 +2.02 15 East_Hiram 2.33 +1.47 6 5.62 +2.19 16 Eustis 1.64 +0.87 5 3.48 +0.50 14 Frenchville 0.64 -0.07 5 2.32 -0.51 14 Gray 1.85 +1.08 6 4.67 +1.44 16 Greenville_ME 0.43 -0.41 4 1.27 -1.99 12 Guilford 1.49 +0.65 6 3.41 +0.15 17 Hollis 1.96 +1.12 6 5.70 +2.29 15 Houlton 1.25 +0.48 4 2.91 -0.13 12 Kennebunkport 2.42 +1.56 6 6.07 +2.55 16 Livermore_Falls 1.46 +0.57 6 4.18 +0.77 16 Moosehead 1.28 +0.46 5 2.65 -0.48 14 New_Sharon 1.27 +0.38 7 3.73 +0.32 14 Patten 1.50 +0.73 4 3.20 +0.16 14 Portage 1.35 +0.65 5 3.39 +0.59 11 Portland_ME 1.53 +0.76 5 4.27 +1.04 13 Rangeley 1.38 +0.58 5 3.80 +0.85 15 Sebec_Lake 1.27 +0.43 5 2.90 -0.36 16 Vanceboro 1.23 +0.46 6 3.17 -0.10 15 Waterville 1.76 +0.92 4 4.55 +1.19 12 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 2.41 +1.67 6 6.52 +3.68 17 Benton 1.44 +0.60 5 4.89 +1.77 13 Berlin_AG 1.54 +0.67 4 5.52 +2.28 10 Bethlehem 1.78 +0.96 6 5.79 +2.78 19 Concord 1.57 +0.83 5 4.56 +1.72 13 Diamond_Pond 1.70 +0.72 6 5.05 +1.44 19 First_Conn_Lake 1.68 +0.70 6 4.34 +0.73 16 Greenville 2.32 +1.42 6 4.03 +0.61 13 Keene_AP 2.51 +1.63 6 6.15 +2.73 15 Lakeport 2.11 +1.27 6 4.97 +1.71 16 Marlow 2.03 +1.12 6 5.26 +1.59 16 Mount_Washingto 3.05 +1.33 6 9.19 +2.43 18 North_Conway 1.96 +1.05 6 4.61 +0.98 14 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.72 +0.84 5 5.77 +2.35 16 Plymouth 1.53 +0.62 5 4.96 +1.34 13 Rochester 2.51 +1.67 6 7.01 +3.52 12 Weare 2.00 +1.09 6 4.70 +1.03 15 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 2.77 +1.72 6 5.89 +1.75 16 Bethel 1.93 +0.96 5 5.08 +1.17 17 Burlington_Intl 2.09 +1.35 5 4.97 +2.13 16 East_Haven 2.32 +1.41 5 4.57 +1.26 15 Island_Pond 1.70 +0.78 6 4.48 +1.10 16 Montpelier 2.05 +1.26 5 5.14 +2.17 16 Morrisville_AG 1.93 +1.06 6 3.86 +0.58 15 Mount_Mansfield 2.71 +1.35 5 7.80 +2.75 19 Northfield 2.32 +1.55 5 5.28 +2.12 14 Pownal 2.43 +1.38 6 4.90 +0.76 16 Rochester 2.35 +1.38 5 5.97 +2.06 15 Rutland_AG 2.72 +1.88 4 7.40 +4.22 14 Sunderland 2.86 +2.02 6 5.68 +2.44 17 Sutton 2.72 +1.81 6 4.98 +1.67 17 Townshend_Lake 2.24 +1.47 6 4.92 +1.71 18 Union_Vill_Dam 2.10 +1.29 7 5.01 +1.78 17 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.93 +1.09 6 4.28 +1.08 18 Boston/Logan_In 1.65 +0.94 6 3.08 +0.16 15 Greenfield 2.81 +1.90 6 5.52 +2.01 18 New_Bedford 1.94 +1.10 3 2.75 -0.57 11 Otis_AFB 1.31 +0.51 3 2.63 -0.70 9 Plymouth 1.71 +0.87 5 2.89 -0.67 16 Walpole 1.45 +0.68 5 3.81 +0.70 16 West_Medway 1.46 +0.69 5 3.56 +0.45 12 Chicopee/Westov 2.24 +1.26 5 4.51 +0.79 17 Worcester 1.32 +0.35 6 3.25 -0.66 16 Worthington 2.43 +1.43 6 4.17 +0.02 18 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.32 +0.51 5 2.47 -0.90 12 Woonsocket 1.87 +0.96 5 3.66 -0.01 12 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 2.54 +1.63 5 4.16 +0.43 14 Bridgeport/Siko 1.22 +0.38 5 2.48 -1.06 20 Hartford/Bradle 1.39 +0.48 5 3.15 -0.58 15 Norfolk 2.97 +1.92 6 4.55 +0.41 18 Norwich 1.52 +0.60 4 2.92 -1.09 12 Thomaston_Dam 1.71 +0.73 5 3.72 -0.29 14 Willimantic 1.44 +0.53 5 3.04 -0.74 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 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: Heavy frost on Monday damaged peaches and early planted vegetable crops. One orchard reported 85% loss of peaches due to frost. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Shade tobacco planting nearly completed, broadleaf planting continues. Field corn planting continues with a few fields still too wet. A lot of grass chopped or made into round baleage. Vegetable crops continue to be planted or set. Very cool (near frost) on Saturday morning. Gas prices still rising. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Wet fields delaying planting of corn. Chopping first cut of grass. Not much haying being done. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Thunderstorms, scattered showers, sunshine and cool, in between times. A lot of field corn and vegetables were planted, haylage chopped, bedding plants sold, a farmer and his self propelled chopper, heading home, took a surprise spot at the end of the Hampton Memorial Day parade on Monday. Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Farmers have started chopping grass for silage. Fields are wet. Getting heavy rains at night leaving planting and cutting hay difficult. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Last Sunday's hail storm resulted in no reports of crop damage. Getting scattered reports of crow damage to field corn. First cut Haylage harvest is winding down. Some corn tall enough to start nitrate testing. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Many growers have finished planting their crops. Those who have not finished are having a difficult time to do so as the weather has not been very cooperative. Cool temperatures have slowed emergence and growth. We need some sun and warmer temperatures. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Hay and pastures are growing well with cool wet weather. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Very wet week. Corn planting is behind due to moisture. Grass crop looks heavy, moisture has been good for the hay. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: A lot of cold wet weather last week slowed field progress and any emerged corn looks yellow and cold. Grass is ready for harvest, but fields are too wet for much tractor travel. More rain predicted. Many crops in full bloom during the wet weather. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Very little farm activity due to cold wet weather. Weather condition have affected pollination of blueberry and apple crop.Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Has anyone seen Noah around? This wet, cold weather is depressing everyone involved with agriculture. Planting is slowed down, hay harvest is down. We've had reports of strawberries with insect problems and apples with winter damage. The coming week doesn't hold out much promise. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Some frost Saturday a.m. Hopefully that is the end of that. Soil conditions are excellent on well drained soils. We need some sunshine to heat the soil and make hay. First cut is underway; weather permitting. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: This week has been cold, damp, and dreary. Farmers are busy putting the final plantings of corn and potatoes. Vegetable growers have been getting sweet corn and other crops planted and are starting to see the beginnings of earlier crops. Grass is green, spring is beautiful regardless of the weather. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Some done planting corn, little time left for planting sweet corn. Vegetables being transplanted. Few operators have cut and chopped early silage and put into plastic, make a great feed. Tent caterpilliars has hit hard on any tree in county, stripping leaves. On the 17th of May golf ball size hail hit an area in county that may have killed the strawberry crop, and mark the small apples on the trees. Up to 5 inches of rain for month of May. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Cranberry growers are applying fertilizer, fungicide, etc as early varieties of cranberries are starting to move into bloom. Vegetable growers continue to plant between rain showers. Vegetable crops are emerging and look good in spite of the cool wet weather. Hay growers are starting to take the first crop which is good to excellent, making hay in this weather may be a challenge. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Good soaking rain on Friday. Vines are greening up nicely; some hook reported on sanded beds. Insect populations continue to plague growers. Weeds are beginning to flourish as well. Most growers are applying fertilizers and maintaining ditches. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Some strawberries being harvested, as well as asparagus and rhubarb. Some rain last week slowed field work but was very welcome because it was getting a little dry. Crops continue to look good, no insects or disease problems right now. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Producers have reported that they're making up for lost time in spite of the weather this week. All potatoes have been planted and most grain/dairy farms should finish planting corn soon. Field crops look okay but could use some sun and fertilizer. Dairy farms that could make haylage were busy over the weekend. First cut hay is very spotty. Some fields are heavy and over-ripe while others are thin and late. Frost warnings on Saturday night gave everyone a scare. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The week was very cool and rainy. This wet weather delayed the plantings of many crops. The weekend had clear skies which brought out the fear of a freeze but, the temperature stayed at the high 30's. Orchardists and small fruit growers were appyling a protective spray on their crops due to the wet conditions. All field planted seed crops are up and growing well. Harvesting asparagus, rhubarb, spinach and hay. Gary Guida, Worcester: What a great weekend. Farmers (including me) plowing, harrowing, and planting sweet corn. Spraying herbicides. Labor Day corn now all planted. Transplanting to begin in earnest. Vegetable and flower plants big sellers this weekend as consumers came out to support local growers. Annuals big sellers. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: A cool, rainy week puts an end to the trend of warm spring weather. Any remaining corn to be planted is on wetter ground, so delays continue. Corn continues to emerge - some is at 3 or 4 leaf stage, and a few producers aren't able to get it sprayed as soon as they'd like. Forage crops continue to grow well. Quite a few producers were mowing to harvest as haylage or baleage, even a little bit of dry hay when the sun finally came out. Most orchard grass fields are fully mature. Rain is delaying spraying operations on orchards and berry fields. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Rain at beginning of week, wet fields continue to hamper corn planting, some lower fields along the Connecticut still to be worked up. Some corn spiking that went in early. Kentucky Bluegrass heading out, clovers becoming noticeable. Vegetable plantings beginning, field prep continues. Christmas tree spraying for insects. Quite cold and windy at weeks end, would not be surprised to learn of scattered frosts. Concerns of fruit set on apple trees, bees not very active in cold wet weather during bloom, which is now about done. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn planting finishing up. First cutting continues, but has been interrupted by rains. Soil moisture in some fields has interfered with harvest and planting activities. Spring seedings are growing well due to the frequent rains. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: For the month of May, we received a total of 4.87 inches of precipitation. Most of this fell between the 20th and the 28th. Soil moisture conditions are looking much better than they were earlier in the year. We need some drying weather for a few days. Most farmers are pretty much done with planting. Due to extensive and wide spread winter kill in the central western area of the county, there were a lot of new alfalfa and grass seedings. The rains have done wonders for these new seedings. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Rain was on and off for most of the week along with windy conditions on Saturday. Fruits: With all the rain during week, orchardists making sure to have protective fungicide sprays applied. Moved bees out of orchards. Blueberries and Strawberries are blooming. Continue to see winter injury on apple, peaches, raspberries and blueberries. Mowing orchards. Vegetables: Harvesting asparagus, rhubarb, lettuce, mesclun, radish and spinach. With the rain during week, it was very difficult to do any field work, including making successive plantings of sweet corn and trying to finish potato planting. Planting tomatoes and pepper transplants. Field Crops: Difficult to plant, weed, and spray corn fields with rainy conditions. Some farmers are trying to start to make haylage, difficult to do because of wet weather. John Porter (Ext), Merrimack: Rain is hindering crop work. Corn still to be planted, but some farmers have stopped to put in haylage. Grasses are going by because some land is too wet to harvest. Early hay crop silage is being cut, very little hay has gone in. Some tent caterpillar damage on trees and shrubs. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Rain and thunderstorms first half of week with sunny and cool but windy days the second half. The break in weather allowed first cut of alfalfa to get underway. Most silage corn planting is done and emerging. With more rain predicted it is getting hard for first cut of dry hay to get done. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Cool and rainy week. The cool weather slowing down plant growth. The grass in hayland and pastures growing well but slow due to cool weather. Fruit growers applying protective fungicides against scab. Apples are in fruit set and growers are also applying fruit thinners. Blueberries in full bloom and doing well. However there are concerns about mummyberry infections due to prevailing cool moist weather. Peach trees showing signs of succumbing to winter injury. Some growers have lost trees. Vegetable growers planting crops in the field. There is slowed germination due to cool weather and transplants are also slowed down by the weather. Greenhouses and Garden centers have experienced weak plant sales. The beautiful weather through the Memorial weekend boosted plant sales. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: An on again, off again week included clouds, fog, rain, sunshine and clear skies. Fieldwork continues on good days, planting field and sweet corn along with summer vegetables. Pastures are looking good and it looks like a good hay crop. Roadside stands were very busy and full for the holiday weekend. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Wrapping up corn planting, continuing with planting vegetables. Lots of scab infection in apples and pears. Strawberries looking good, but will need warm dry weather around mid-June to prevent rotting. Weather has been cool and wet, with occasional downpours and thunderstorms. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Last week got off to a wet start (sound familiar) which delayed most fieldwork. Some started first cut of grass which appears to have a good yield. Corn crop also looks pretty good so far but a spell of hot weather would be helpful. Custom herbicide applicators were busy over the weekend. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers are wrapping up corn planting. A few have started their first cut hay harvest. The hay crop looks heavy and should be a good. A lot of corn has emerged and looks good. Cold weather over the weekend brought frost to a few areas but no news of any damage. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Windham county had about 3.5 inches of rain last week haying came to a stand still but over the weekend farmers were back at it. Sweet corn will be tasseling by the end of the week. Pumpkins and winter squash haven't been planted yet. Blueberries bloom has been longer because of the cool weather but set of fruit looks great. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Heavy rains stalled planting of corn fields. Starting first hay crop harvest at end of week. Grasses headed out, being chopped as haylage. Some manure ponds being stirred, getting ready to spread after hay harvest. Corn plants vigorous in most fields. After rains some areas with ponded water over seedlings and erosion in newly seeded hayfields. Grasses headed out. Pasture growth good, heavy grazing pressure leaving weeds to outgrow grasses. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Some folks have started haying. Many are saying that the recent rains have improved the first cut of hay. Most of the silage corn has been planted, some of it is up. Scattered frosts on Saturday and Sunday nights. It seems like May was backwards, with warm weather in first half of month and cold, wet stuff in second half. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: High amounts of moisture and cooler temperatures have really placed heavy scab pressure on the developing fruit and leaves. As growers move into their first cover sprays, disease pressure has taken precedence over arthropod management. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Putting in regular plantings of mid season sweet corn, also spraying corn for weed control. All fieldwork had to be done dodging showers, slowing things for the week. We had 4.11 inches of rain for week, four very rainy soggy weeks. Peas look real good, corn needs sunshine and warm weather. Small vegetable crops slower because of the cold days, asparagus doing well. 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 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 ***********************