new-eng-crop-weather State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 06/20/04 Issue NH-CW2504 Volume 24, Number 9 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 21, 2004 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary Hot, Dry Conditions Prevail For the week ending June 20, 2004, there were 6.1 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 12 percent short, 81 percent adequate, seven percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated six percent short, 84 percent adequate, 10 percent surplus. Pasture condition was rated two percent poor, 10 percent percent fair, 67 percent good, 21 percent excellent. A second week of mostly hot, dry temperatures prevailed throughout New England. The warmer temperatures made for ideal conditions for crop growth and development. Scattered showers were received during the week in most locations which kept soil moisture at mostly adequate levels. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn, tobacco; harvesting strawberries, beets, early summer squash, spinach, asparagus, radishes, rhubarb; making hay, mowing; cultivating weeds; side dressing fields with fertilizer; hilling potatoes; scouting fields for pests and applying pesticides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 1 Short 12 14 8 Adequate 81 70 67 Surplus 7 16 24 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 2 Short 6 3 9 Adequate 84 83 70 Surplus 10 14 19 --------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report Conditions were optimum during the week for baling hay as first cut hay progressed to 60 percent; well ahead of last year and the average. The warm conditions enabled growers to continue with corn silage plantings as only five percent of the crop remained to be planted. Reports of yellowing was seen in some corn, however, the heat helped improve the coloring. Armyworms were reported in some fields in Central Maine; and cutworms were active as well. Broadleaf tobacco transplanting advanced to 85 percent during the week, still ahead of last year and normal. Potato emergence in Massachusetts and Rhode Island was completed during the week, and crop conditions were reported as good or excellent. More heat and warmth was needed for Maine potatoes as emergence was behind last year and normal. Small grains have fully emerged in Maine. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Orchardists were kept active monitoring pest and crop development, and applying sprays for pest control. Winter damage was seen in some young apple trees. Wild Blueberry fields reached the Petal Fall stage ending pollination as bees were being removed from fields. Cranberries advanced to the early bloom stage with crop condition reported as good or fair. Strawberries harvest was in full swing and sales at pick-your-own operations have been brisk. VEGETABLES: Growers continued planting cucumbers, beans, peppers, pumpkins and winter squash. The sunshine and heat helped with crop growth and development as early sweet corn reached the silk stage in some locations. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Emerged -- Barley, ME 100 99 99 Good Oats, ME 100 95 99 Excel/Good Potatoes Maine 55 70 75 Excel/Good Mass 100 100 99 Good Rhode Isl 100 100 99 Good/Excel Silage Corn 85 70 80 Good Sweet Corn 80 60 75 Good -- Percent Planted -- Silage Corn 95 90 90 Good Sweet Corn 95 80 85 Good Tobacco Broadleaf 85 70 75 Good -- Percent Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 60 30 50 Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- 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 Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush PF Avg Fair/Good Wild PF Avg Fair Cranberries,MA EB Avg Good/Fair Strawberries PF Avg Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- EB - Early Bloom, PF - Petal Fall -- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, June 20, 2004 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 31 88 63 +1 0.05 2.00 NH 23 92 66 +3 0.00 1.78 VT 36 86 66 +4 0.03 1.51 MA 41 89 68 +4 0.03 1.35 RI 51 88 69 +4 0.23 1.42 CT 46 90 71 +5 0.18 1.28 ---------------------------------------------- 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 June 14, 2004 To: Sunday June 20, 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 37 84 63 -3 374 -113 83 -24 Allagash 31 78 59 -2 197 -67 19 -4 Augusta_State_A 47 83 66 +2 440 -7 106 +17 Bangor_Intl_Arp 45 84 65 +2 396 +13 97 +34 Barnard 39 83 62 +1 307 -3 66 +30 Bath 42 87 63 -1 331 -46 72 +10 Bethel 41 85 66 +3 435 +37 110 +41 Brassua_Dam 41 83 61 +1 229 -1 30 +15 Brunswick_ME 39 86 65 +2 464 +87 120 +58 Caribou_Municip 37 77 60 -1 270 -32 58 +23 Corinna 40 85 64 +2 389 +10 99 +39 Danforth 41 82 61 -3 261 -76 41 -9 Dover-Foxcroft 42 83 61 -1 257 -53 52 +16 Durham 41 85 65 -2 381 -93 91 -13 East_Hiram 38 84 65 +2 406 +9 108 +40 Eustis 38 81 61 +2 244 +10 48 +35 Frenchville 38 75 59 -2 232 -32 38 +15 Gray 49 86 67 +4 481 +118 127 +76 Greenville_ME 45 86 65 +5 416 +94 111 +72 Guilford 43 83 61 -2 223 -87 39 +3 Hollis 39 86 66 +3 428 +72 119 +69 Houlton 38 80 61 +0 279 -30 64 +26 Kennebunkport 41 87 64 -3 314 -205 54 -65 Livermore_Falls 37 87 66 +5 420 +105 110 +71 Moosehead 39 88 61 +2 246 +16 42 +27 New_Sharon 44 82 64 +3 369 +54 77 +38 Patten 41 83 61 -1 258 -51 53 +15 Portage 38 82 60 -2 251 -51 48 +13 Portland_ME 46 87 65 +3 416 +53 104 +53 Rangeley 38 80 62 +3 261 +39 43 +33 Sebec_Lake 38 87 62 +1 306 -16 68 +29 Vanceboro 42 82 62 -1 261 -44 48 +13 Waterville 45 84 65 +0 381 -106 83 -24 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 40 86 67 +2 465 -12 133 +27 Benton 42 80 66 +4 442 +42 120 +55 Berlin_AG 47 82 66 +4 428 +46 117 +54 Bethlehem 37 81 63 +1 379 -21 88 +22 Concord 45 87 70 +5 663 +186 225 +119 Diamond_Pond 39 77 61 +3 255 +46 37 +30 First_Conn_Lake 35 77 60 +2 231 +22 30 +23 Greenville 42 92 70 +8 646 +215 211 +132 Keene_AP 41 84 68 +2 631 +49 189 +29 Lakeport 50 84 69 +5 561 +130 165 +78 Marlow 38 80 63 -3 395 -118 90 -31 Mount_Washingto 23 64 49 +5 26 +26 0 +0 North_Conway 42 82 66 +2 509 +75 154 +67 Otter_Brook_Lk 43 86 67 +1 559 -23 158 -2 Plymouth 42 82 65 +3 423 +61 103 +47 Rochester 48 85 68 +3 515 -12 157 +27 Weare 45 85 68 +4 531 +18 151 +30 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 44 86 67 +4 509 +103 134 +63 Bethel 36 85 66 +5 500 +124 145 +81 Burlington_Intl 51 83 69 +4 663 +122 240 +99 East_Haven 41 84 65 +5 394 +104 101 +63 Island_Pond 41 80 64 +4 366 +74 82 +43 Montpelier 44 81 67 +5 503 +108 156 +86 Morrisville_AG 44 83 65 +3 368 -12 94 +26 Mount_Mansfield 38 71 57 +3 176 +62 20 +20 Northfield 45 83 66 +5 433 +97 114 +62 Pownal 46 80 66 +4 569 +157 155 +79 Rochester 40 83 65 +4 484 +108 131 +67 Rutland_AG 41 82 67 +1 538 -54 142 -25 Sunderland 40 80 64 -3 508 -53 127 -18 Sutton 41 81 65 +5 361 +71 90 +52 Townshend_Lake 44 85 68 +3 568 +54 165 +38 Union_Vill_Dam 39 85 67 +2 490 -39 146 +13 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 47 86 68 +5 583 +170 165 +90 Boston/Logan_In 56 89 70 +2 718 +76 246 +70 Greenfield 46 86 70 +3 681 +47 219 +38 New_Bedford 53 85 69 +2 616 -15 164 +1 Otis_AFB 55 82 68 +4 539 +98 138 +54 Plymouth 54 85 69 +4 574 +96 168 +64 Walpole 51 89 70 +5 679 +148 208 +81 West_Medway 50 89 70 +5 715 +184 237 +110 Chicopee/Westov 52 88 71 +3 833 +73 309 +64 Worcester 47 84 69 +4 675 +198 218 +118 Worthington 41 83 66 +4 532 +117 144 +68 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 55 88 71 +4 740 +151 234 +80 Woonsocket 51 87 69 +4 676 +153 214 +101 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 47 85 69 +0 628 -99 188 -45 Bridgeport/Siko 56 87 73 +5 797 +142 264 +70 Hartford/Bradle 50 90 72 +4 852 +132 318 +88 Norfolk 47 85 68 +6 606 +195 185 +112 Norwich 49 90 70 +4 750 +108 241 +61 Thomaston_Dam 46 88 73 +8 823 +283 300 +171 Willimantic 51 87 71 +6 754 +207 253 +123 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.48 -0.36 1 2.51 -0.85 11 Allagash 1.46 +0.73 4 3.35 +0.51 12 Augusta_State_A 0.51 -0.26 2 2.64 -0.54 12 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.59 -0.18 1 2.45 -0.67 9 Barnard 0.81 -0.09 3 3.19 -0.26 12 Bath 0.30 -0.54 2 2.97 -0.44 12 Bethel 0.33 -0.60 4 2.41 -1.23 15 Brassua_Dam 0.70 -0.21 3 3.47 -0.04 12 Brunswick_ME 0.16 -0.68 2 3.26 -0.15 13 Caribou_Municip 1.39 +0.71 4 3.25 +0.58 13 Corinna 0.81 -0.03 1 2.93 -0.43 10 Danforth 0.73 -0.11 2 3.19 -0.18 13 Dover-Foxcroft 0.64 -0.26 3 2.56 -0.89 12 Durham 0.38 -0.50 1 3.87 +0.44 12 East_Hiram 0.05 -0.86 1 3.43 -0.12 13 Eustis 0.97 +0.20 3 3.59 +0.51 12 Frenchville 2.00 +1.27 5 3.78 +0.94 17 Gray 0.14 -0.67 2 3.12 -0.10 14 Greenville_ME 0.23 -0.67 2 1.10 -2.35 9 Guilford 0.81 -0.09 4 3.12 -0.33 14 Hollis 0.39 -0.45 4 3.32 -0.10 16 Houlton 0.67 -0.10 3 2.81 -0.27 12 Kennebunkport 0.10 -0.74 2 3.85 +0.39 15 Livermore_Falls 0.41 -0.57 2 2.79 -1.02 12 Moosehead 0.92 +0.01 3 3.01 -0.50 12 New_Sharon 0.52 -0.46 3 2.36 -1.45 13 Patten 0.71 -0.06 4 3.24 +0.16 14 Portage 1.30 +0.62 3 3.93 +1.26 15 Portland_ME 0.05 -0.76 3 2.67 -0.55 14 Rangeley 0.55 -0.33 4 2.55 -0.84 13 Sebec_Lake 0.86 -0.04 4 3.08 -0.37 13 Vanceboro 0.76 +0.06 3 2.92 -0.09 13 Waterville 0.06 -0.78 1 3.14 -0.22 10 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.09 -0.68 3 3.92 +0.95 16 Benton 0.51 -0.40 4 2.86 -0.67 14 Berlin_AG 0.39 -0.59 3 2.76 -0.99 11 Bethlehem 0.26 -0.72 3 3.33 -0.29 14 Concord 0.07 -0.70 3 2.91 -0.06 15 Diamond_Pond 1.78 +0.66 4 5.59 +1.39 15 First_Conn_Lake 1.01 -0.11 4 3.96 -0.24 13 Greenville 0.19 -0.66 1 3.76 +0.24 13 Keene_AP 0.13 -0.71 1 3.83 +0.42 13 Lakeport 0.00 -0.82 0 3.49 +0.15 13 Marlow 0.03 -0.81 1 3.72 +0.18 12 Mount_Washingto 0.82 -1.03 3 5.64 -1.62 15 North_Conway 0.43 -0.49 5 3.14 -0.57 17 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.43 -0.41 2 3.16 -0.25 13 Plymouth 0.09 -0.75 2 2.11 -1.33 12 Rochester 0.06 -0.78 1 3.78 +0.42 13 Weare 0.34 -0.50 3 4.31 +0.77 16 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.15 -0.90 3 4.43 +0.16 15 Bethel 0.11 -0.74 1 3.75 +0.10 11 Burlington_Intl 0.57 -0.27 3 4.43 +1.29 13 East_Haven 0.84 -0.20 3 4.08 +0.18 14 Island_Pond 1.47 +0.43 4 5.11 +1.19 15 Montpelier 0.48 -0.34 2 3.96 +0.67 12 Morrisville_AG 1.36 +0.38 3 5.09 +1.41 15 Mount_Mansfield 1.51 -0.10 3 7.76 +1.76 15 Northfield 0.62 -0.08 2 4.13 +1.14 11 Pownal 0.13 -0.92 2 3.76 -0.51 14 Rochester 0.18 -0.67 3 4.98 +1.33 13 Rutland_AG 0.27 -0.57 2 5.83 +2.50 11 Sunderland 0.17 -0.60 3 4.28 +1.04 14 Sutton 0.71 -0.33 3 4.81 +0.91 14 Townshend_Lake 0.52 -0.18 3 4.13 +1.12 15 Union_Vill_Dam 0.43 -0.34 3 3.52 +0.40 15 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.39 -0.45 3 3.44 +0.11 16 Boston/Logan_In 0.10 -0.60 1 2.90 +0.00 13 Greenfield 0.11 -0.80 2 4.73 +1.09 16 New_Bedford 0.44 -0.40 3 3.23 -0.17 10 Otis_AFB 0.61 -0.16 3 3.05 -0.07 10 Plymouth 0.19 -0.59 3 3.08 -0.22 14 Walpole 0.20 -0.71 2 3.22 -0.18 13 West_Medway 0.16 -0.75 1 2.76 -0.64 12 Chicopee/Westov 0.11 -0.83 2 3.30 -0.58 13 Worcester 0.24 -0.67 3 2.56 -1.15 15 Worthington 0.19 -0.69 3 5.09 +1.37 16 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.44 -0.33 2 2.54 -0.62 12 Woonsocket 0.41 -0.55 3 3.12 -0.64 13 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.50 -0.37 3 4.09 +0.49 14 Bridgeport/Siko 0.23 -0.54 3 2.32 -0.91 14 Hartford/Bradle 0.45 -0.42 3 2.42 -1.18 15 Norfolk 1.28 +0.21 3 5.72 +1.41 16 Norwich 0.74 +0.00 4 3.15 -0.10 12 Thomaston_Dam 0.27 -0.68 3 3.08 -0.81 15 Willimantic 1.04 +0.19 3 3.29 -0.22 15 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: Excellent weather for crop work. Rain fell Friday. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Cultivating tobacco, sweet corn, and other vegetable crops. Hilling potatoes. Still planting broadleaf tobacco and tying up shade tobacco. Dry hay was baled and more being chopped. Spraying weeds in RR field corn. Picking strawberries and lettuce. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Producers are finishing with chopping first cutting hay which the majority reported to be excellent. The last of the silage corn should be planted by the end of the month. Strawberries are plentiful, with excellent flavor. There appears to be a heavy crop of blueberries to be harvested in early July. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Getting dry, warmer, hot and humid. Hay going by, planting corn, June nitrate testing, pruning, harvesting asparagus and strawberries. Fruit growing well, normal spray program. Fall mums are in, Indian corn up a few inches, strawberries have good color and flavor. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Afternoon and evening showers are still complicating haymaking. Night time temps in the 40s are keeping corn short. Field corn is looking nitrogen starved in some areas due to weather. We need to have some warmth. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Growers finishing herbicides applications. Started hilling potato fields. All crops look good with adequate moisture, however temperature has been for the most part, on the cool side. The crops still have some catching up to do. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Recent rain will encourage growth of crops. Herbicides being applied. Rock picking continuing. Potato crop is starting to emerge with recent rain and warmer temperatures. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Things look good, moisture good, need more heat now. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers have been finishing up their planting. Heavy rain most of Saturday. Weather was fair the rest of the week. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Some farmers have been able to cut haylage for the silo. A few were able to make some nice quality early cut hay. Weekend rain has been very helpful for the field crops. It will be a late season for the strawberry crop since they are just starting to form fruit. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Haying is going on. Strawberries are great to be picked. Still need rain, very dry. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Things have started to dry out. Some rain on Saturday helped out. Armyworms have been found in some corn fields in Central Maine. Cutworms are pretty busy as well. Hay crop seems to be light for the first cutting. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Strawberry harvest has started in some areas of Knox and Lincoln counties. Some younger apple trees affected by winter damage. Blueberry crop also affected in some areas due to winter kill. Lots of fresh vegetables now available at farm stands. Rain on Saturday was very much needed, as conditions were dry. Crop conditions overall appear to be good. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Pollination completed, bees are being removed form the fields. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: What a week of great weather. When they weren't in the pool, farmers were tending the fields. They were harvesting hay, getting the last crops planted and enjoying the sunshine. The corn is still a little yellow in places, but the heat has helped immensely. Some producers have stated that they were surprised at the good quality of their hay. This week was one that made some farmers remember why they put up with the previous weeks. Jill Littlefield (FSA), Cumberland/York: Warm weather has made the crops happy. Sweet corn is looking great. Strawberries are just starting to be picked. Farmers are starting on their greenchop. Winter damage to crops is worst then first thought. Transplants that were looking sad have started to come around. Keep the sun and warm temps coming! Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: The growth of field crops has been slow. Nighttime temperatures have been very cool. Crops were well watered this weekend and may have a growth spurt if the sun and temperatures heat up. The fiddlehead crop was average. Lots of hay in already! Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Producers are busy with first cut hay. Reports are being received of spotty winter kill, however, second crop anticipation is high. Warm days, cool nights. Strawberries harvest has begun. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Making hay between light showers. Field corn planted, and maybe one more planting of sweet corn, (hoping for late frost). Orchards are spraying to keep the trees free of disease. Apples hit with Fire blight that browns leaves and has to be cut down and burned. Hay is getting to the maturity stage, but will make good fields. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: This was a good week for all crops, a good week for making hay with good to excellent yields, cranberries are moving into bloom with good to excellent potential. Vegetable crops are catching up quickly as growers complete planting and are cultivating, sidedressing and applying insecticides. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Crops continue to grow but we could really use a good rain. Strawberries are being harvested as well as lettuce and spinach. Sweet corn beginning to silk out. Corn borer is present. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: The threat of scattered showers kept haying equipment idle this week. Temperatures have improved and potatoes, cole crops and sweet corn look very good. Potato fields are starting to flower and sweet corn is in tassel. Most farms are side dressing and cultivating this week. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: This week brought a few rain showers with more heat and sunshine. Growers continued planting cucumbers, sweet corn, beans, peppers, pumpkins and winter squash. By weeks end it started to get dry, so the irrigation systems were turned on. Harvesting summer and zucchini squash, peas, beets, radishes, lettuce, strawberries and greens. Cultivation, hoeing and top-dressing crops continues. Potatoes are being hilled up and early sweet corn reached silk stage. Mostly all crops look very good. Gary Guida, Worcester: What a week! Perfect for U pickers and crops! All field crops are excellent with just a hint of cuke beetles in squashes and pumpkins. Strawberry crop is excellent and people where out in droves. Flower sales still strong as many places almost out of annuals, and perennials are much fewer in number. Just a great week for local agriculture! NEW HAMPSHIRE - Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Dry weather allowed for some first cut hay to go into the barn, the threat of rain has kept many from cutting any more. Most all field corn is in the ground, emerged and sprayed. Previous cool temps have kept corn from growing quickly, but everything set for corn to take off with warmer temps. Eastern tent caterpillars and Forest tent caterpillars still causing damage, they should be gone soon. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Plenty of warm, humid weather during the week, and corn is doing great - many fields are knee-to waist-high. First cutting continues. Many fields are over-mature, but many producers held off on mowing due to threat of thunderstorms. Regrowth on fields looks good. A couple folks have started second cutting. Heat has helped fruit and vegetable crops - farms stands offering greens, radishes, strawberries, high-tunnel tomatoes and summer squash, and PYO strawberries are available. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Good weather for field work with just a brief downpour at weeks end. Grass-haylage harvest going at a good speed with most now into bank silos, looks like a better than average crop. Corn growing well, seems to be fairly uniform emergence. Timothy about out or at boot stage. Farmers market opening at Lancaster, early season vegetables, lettuce, and peas available. Nurseries also quite busy, now starting on Mum crop for fall sales. Still some cold nights with frost concerns in selected locations. White clover in blossom, a welcome event for local bee-keepers. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn growing despite cool weather. Growth is quite variable. Perennial weed problems common. No significant insect damage at this time. First cut continuing, second cutting is in the early stages. Quality and yield of second cut is good. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Another good week for haying. Three days with brief showers interrupted some haying. Almost all the corn is up, and things are looking better. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Growers are harvesting strawberries, with a great weekend for Pick-Your-Own operations. Fruit growers monitoring pest and crop development and apply sprays for pest control, along with mowing orchard floor. Assessing hail damage from a localized storm that took place on June 3. Field Crops: Farmers are making haylage and baled hay, and trying to finish planting and weed spraying corn fields. Vegetables: Continuing successive planting of several vegetables and finishing transplanting peppers. Growers continued harvesting early season vegetables such as lettuce and radishes. Asparagus harvest over. Growers busy side dressing fields with fertilizer, cultivating weeds, scouting for pests and spraying if needed. Insect pest: asparagus beetle, cabbage maggot, seed corn maggot, Colorado potato beetle, cut worms, cucumber beetle, four-lined plant bug, flea beetle, and tortoise beetle have been seen. John Porter (Ext), Merrimack: Heat units and moisture has early planted silage corn to about 12" high by June 15. Some farmers have applied side-dressed nitrogen. Reports of good quality first cut hay going in. Early cut hay crop silage fields are regrowing a good second crop. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: This strawberry season is one of the very best we have seen in many years. Berries are great and PYO operations are quite busy. Continue on planting successive vegetables. Harvesting rhubarb, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, zucchinis. Irrigating vegetable fields, monitoring pests and spraying accordingly. Fruit orchardists busy mowing, monitoring pests and pruning infected branches with fire blight. Haying continues and pasture growing well. Could use some rain. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: PYO Strawberries has begun and early signs predict a good season with good berry size. Warm days has allowed first cutting of baled hay to continue and even though we have had a couple of evening showers we could use a good soaking. Sweet corn and silage corn is coming up nicely after such a wet May. Places where too much water sat in those fields are starting to show up yellow with signs of very slow growth. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: A mild and dry week. Top soil is looking dry. Could benefit from a rain shower. It was a great week for field work. Hay producers busy with first cut. Vegetables and corn growing well as a result of sunny warm weather. Strawberry harvesting started in earnest especially for pick your own growers. Apples and blueberries looking great. Some apple growers doing manual fruit thinning on certain varieties. Shrub and tree sales going very well for nurseries and garden centers. Annual plant sales slowing down for greenhouse and garden centers. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Strawberries are in full swing, and it looks like a great crop. Good weather made for increased people at the PYO's. First cut hay looks good and the weather held for drying. Still planting some summer vegetables, corn etc. Spraying potatoes and herbicides. Roadside stands still busy with flowers and hanging baskets. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Fertilizing, spraying, wrapping up planting, haying like crazy! Began irrigating some vegetable crops. Generally, crops look good, but everything is beginning to dry out. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Crop conditions are still looking good. First cut progressing nicely with lots of post harvest manure being spread. Warmer temps have pushed the corn crop along. Strawberry crop appears to be average in this area. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers are working hard to get in their first cut hay. The yield and quality are very good. I haven't seen to many mud tracks in the fields which suggests that there is not excessive moisture in the top soil. All corn has been planted and most has emerged. Average height of corn is about 4 inches. The corn looks much healthier now then a week ago. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Warmer weather helped producers with their haying. Most early planted corn is waist tall with some prickly cucumber problems. Some producers are spraying the second time to help control this problem. Strawberry crop is in full production with an average crop. Sweet corn is in tassel with picking by the fourth of July. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Harvesting first cut dry hay. Most haylage done. Spreading liquid manure on hay stubble. Second growth alfalfa very strong. Some hay sod being plowed to plant corn, mostly where alfalfa winter killed. Topdress with liquid fertilizer on alfalfa. Pasture regrowth good. Corn stands uniform and vigorous. Weed control excellent in most cases. Some corn still being planted and herbicide sprayed. Winter wheat headed out, little foliar disease. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Results from thinning actions are starting to show. Good amounts of precipitation last week have sized fruit up to considerable size and with an outlook of a little more rain this week, solid fruit growth should continue. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Put Nitrogen on early corn fields, cultivated potatoes, spraying mid season sweet corn for weed control. Spraying small vegetable crops for blight and bugs. Rain for week .356 inches. Sweet corn beginning to take off, with knee high growth. All crops showing good growth and color with the warmer weather. Early small vegetables on the market now. 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 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 ***********************