State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 06/27/04 Issue NH-CW2604 Volume 24, Number 10 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 28, 2004 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary WARM, SUNNY WEEK For the week ending June 27, 2004, there were 5.7 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated four percent very short, 13 percent short, 80 percent adequate, three percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated three percent very short, 12 percent short, 78 percent adequate, seven percent surplus. Pasture condition was rated three percent poor, 11 percent percent fair, 71 percent good, 15 percent excellent. A week of warm temperatures mixed with scattered showers enabled farmers to step up planting progress to near completion levels. Despite showers, growers in some areas were forced to irrigate where fields were too dry. Crop growth and development continue to improve, but more sunshine is needed. Major farm activities included: planting vegetables, sweet corn, field corn, tobacco; harvesting strawberries and early vegetables; making hay and haylage; mowing orchards; cultivating weeds; irrigating dry fields; scouting fields for pests and disease; applying fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 4 0 2 Short 13 12 19 Adequate 80 81 68 Surplus 3 7 11 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 3 0 3 Short 12 6 14 Adequate 78 84 76 Surplus 7 10 7 --------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report Weather conditions were excellent for haying last week in most locations as first cut hay advanced 15 percentage points from the previous week. Some farmers are getting ready to start on their second cutting of hay, while others are struggling to finish their first cut due to wet fields. Corn silage planting was nearly complete during the week with crop condition reported as good. Maine potato emergence is up to 90 percent complete, slightly behind last year and average. Maine oat and barley crops were rated in good or excellent condition. Broadleaf tobacco transplanting advanced to 95 percent during the week, still ahead of last year and normal. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Growers continued monitoring pests, applying pesticides as needed, and mowing orchards. The last of the bees were removed from Wild Blueberry fields. Cranberries growers applied fungicides as they kept an eye out for fruit rot. By the end of the week, all varieties were in full bloom and the fruit set was rated average. Strawberries harvest was in full swing as 45 percent of the crop has been harvested. Producers are reporting a good season as berries are in high demand. VEGETABLES: Planting continued for cabbage, cucumbers, beans, tobacco and sweet corn. Additional sunshine and warmer temperatures would help with corn growth. Roadside stands are filled with early vegetables as farmers have harvested beets, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and summer squash. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Emerged -- Barley, ME 100 100 100 Good/Excel Oats, ME 100 100 100 Excel/Good Potatoes Maine 90 99 95 Excel/Good Mass 100 100 100 Good Rhode Isl 100 100 100 Good/Excel Silage Corn 95 75 85 Good Sweet Corn 90 75 85 Good/Excel -- Percent Planted -- Silage Corn 99 95 95 Good Sweet Corn 95 90 95 Good/Excel Tobacco Broadleaf 95 80 90 Good -- Percent Harvested -- Dry Hay First Cut 75 60 65 Good/Fair Second Cut <5 <5 5 Good/Excel ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Fruit Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Size Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples -- -- -- Avg Good/Fair Peaches -- -- -- Avg Fair/Good Pears -- -- -- Avg Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush -- -- -- Avg Fair/Good Wild -- -- -- Avg Poor/Fair Cranberries,MA Avg Fair/Good Strawberries 45 25 45 Avg Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, June 27, 2004 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 34 81 60 -5 0.08 2.04 NH 32 83 60 -5 0.14 1.17 VT 36 85 60 -6 0.22 1.57 MA 41 87 65 -2 0.06 1.52 RI 49 84 67 -1 0.00 0.37 CT 41 85 66 -4 0.00 1.17 ---------------------------------------------- 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 21, 2004 To: Sunday June 27, 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 42 80 61 -7 454 -151 101 -52 Allagash 34 76 56 -7 240 -110 21 -21 Augusta_State_A 49 79 62 -5 525 -37 125 -6 Bangor_Intl_Arp 47 81 62 -4 480 -10 117 +19 Barnard 47 78 61 -3 385 -18 80 +20 Bath 45 81 61 -5 412 -73 89 -9 Bethel 45 79 60 -5 509 +3 121 +17 Brassua_Dam 40 74 58 -4 289 -21 35 +4 Brunswick_ME 46 80 61 -5 544 +59 137 +39 Caribou_Municip 43 74 57 -6 322 -69 60 +3 Corinna 45 78 60 -5 461 -21 110 +18 Danforth 42 76 58 -7 320 -120 44 -37 Dover-Foxcroft 45 73 59 -5 319 -84 57 -3 Durham 44 80 61 -7 461 -136 111 -43 East_Hiram 41 76 59 -7 470 -34 117 +14 Eustis 43 72 57 -5 296 -15 49 +21 Frenchville 46 72 56 -7 275 -75 38 -4 Gray 50 80 62 -4 571 +102 150 +66 Greenville_ME 51 76 62 -1 503 +89 129 +66 Guilford 41 79 57 -7 274 -129 43 -17 Hollis 41 81 60 -5 500 +42 130 +49 Houlton 41 77 57 -7 332 -69 69 +7 Kennebunkport 44 79 61 -8 389 -257 67 -106 Livermore_Falls 41 79 61 -3 496 +87 128 +65 Moosehead 40 75 58 -4 303 -7 43 +12 New_Sharon 48 76 60 -4 443 +34 85 +22 Patten 45 74 58 -5 319 -82 58 -4 Portage 42 76 57 -7 300 -91 51 -6 Portland_ME 47 80 62 -4 499 +30 124 +40 Rangeley 41 74 58 -4 318 +22 44 +20 Sebec_Lake 45 78 61 -3 385 -29 83 +20 Vanceboro 47 75 59 -6 323 -77 54 -6 Waterville 47 80 62 -6 464 -141 100 -53 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 42 79 61 -7 541 -52 148 -2 Benton 42 78 59 -6 506 +10 124 +32 Berlin_AG 44 78 61 -4 505 +22 130 +37 Bethlehem 32 80 58 -7 435 -61 93 +0 Concord 43 81 63 -4 759 +166 256 +106 Diamond_Pond 41 74 55 -6 289 +13 37 +20 First_Conn_Lake 40 77 56 -5 274 -2 30 +13 Greenville 48 82 65 +0 748 +214 244 +132 Keene_AP 43 82 63 -6 722 +13 216 +2 Lakeport 49 82 64 -2 662 +120 197 +71 Marlow 37 79 58 -9 455 -174 97 -68 Mount_Washingto 32 52 42 -4 26 +26 0 +0 North_Conway 44 80 62 -4 594 +50 175 +49 Otter_Brook_Lk 43 83 61 -7 640 -69 174 -40 Plymouth 40 78 59 -6 489 +29 114 +29 Rochester 46 81 64 -5 611 -38 187 +6 Weare 48 79 63 -5 620 -9 173 +8 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 41 82 60 -5 579 +72 144 +42 Bethel 39 84 61 -4 575 +103 158 +65 Burlington_Intl 46 83 63 -6 753 +89 266 +73 East_Haven 36 81 58 -5 451 +78 107 +49 Island_Pond 39 78 58 -5 419 +45 85 +27 Montpelier 42 80 60 -5 571 +78 164 +63 Morrisville_AG 41 80 58 -7 426 -54 97 -2 Mount_Mansfield 36 69 53 -5 200 +43 20 +15 Northfield 40 82 60 -4 502 +75 123 +46 Pownal 45 79 60 -5 644 +131 167 +60 Rochester 42 83 61 -4 561 +89 144 +51 Rutland_AG 43 81 61 -8 615 -101 154 -65 Sunderland 40 81 59 -9 569 -113 133 -61 Sutton 42 79 59 -4 427 +54 97 +39 Townshend_Lake 43 79 61 -7 645 +9 176 +1 Union_Vill_Dam 41 85 62 -6 575 -76 169 -13 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 46 81 64 -3 681 +160 195 +83 Boston/Logan_In 58 84 69 -2 855 +70 313 +67 Greenfield 45 84 65 -5 787 +18 257 +13 New_Bedford 46 83 67 -4 735 -35 214 -16 Otis_AFB 55 79 67 +1 660 +101 189 +60 Plymouth 45 83 67 -2 691 +90 217 +61 Walpole 48 85 67 -1 803 +148 262 +82 West_Medway 44 84 66 -2 829 +174 282 +102 Chicopee/Westov 52 82 67 -5 956 +47 362 +40 Worcester 50 81 65 -2 784 +191 257 +112 Worthington 42 81 61 -4 609 +91 159 +51 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 53 84 69 -2 873 +147 297 +79 Woonsocket 49 83 67 -1 797 +152 265 +101 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 42 79 62 -10 711 -161 209 -98 Bridgeport/Siko 52 81 69 -2 933 +137 330 +67 Hartford/Bradle 49 85 68 -4 977 +112 373 +69 Norfolk 45 78 62 -3 694 +180 210 +104 Norwich 48 85 67 -2 874 +98 295 +54 Thomaston_Dam 41 82 66 -2 934 +275 343 +167 Willimantic 45 82 66 -2 865 +196 296 +115 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.37 -0.44 2 1.46 -1.87 7 Allagash 2.04 +1.27 6 4.26 +1.36 14 Augusta_State_A 0.63 -0.14 4 1.72 -1.39 10 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.63 -0.14 3 1.74 -1.38 7 Barnard 0.30 -0.54 3 2.11 -1.34 9 Bath 1.25 +0.44 3 2.70 -0.68 10 Bethel 0.38 -0.53 2 1.19 -2.51 11 Brassua_Dam 0.49 -0.45 4 2.39 -1.24 11 Brunswick_ME 1.07 +0.26 4 2.26 -1.12 11 Caribou_Municip 0.69 -0.03 5 3.13 +0.44 14 Corinna 0.51 -0.33 2 2.10 -1.26 7 Danforth 1.55 +0.68 5 3.62 +0.23 12 Dover-Foxcroft 0.20 -0.64 3 1.61 -1.84 9 Durham 0.98 +0.14 4 2.76 -0.67 10 East_Hiram 0.78 -0.07 4 1.88 -1.66 11 Eustis 0.25 -0.55 2 2.20 -0.91 9 Frenchville 1.02 +0.25 4 4.16 +1.26 16 Gray 0.89 +0.12 3 2.16 -1.06 11 Greenville_ME 0.18 -0.66 3 0.85 -2.60 8 Guilford 0.20 -0.64 4 1.83 -1.62 12 Hollis 1.07 +0.23 4 2.24 -1.18 13 Houlton 0.74 -0.03 6 2.30 -0.78 14 Kennebunkport 0.61 -0.22 3 2.04 -1.39 12 Livermore_Falls 0.69 -0.24 4 2.02 -1.83 10 Moosehead 0.45 -0.49 4 2.18 -1.45 11 New_Sharon 0.27 -0.66 2 1.36 -2.49 8 Patten 1.06 +0.29 5 2.80 -0.28 15 Portage 0.92 +0.20 5 3.50 +0.81 15 Portland_ME 0.86 +0.09 3 2.00 -1.22 12 Rangeley 0.36 -0.48 2 1.53 -1.90 10 Sebec_Lake 0.22 -0.62 2 2.03 -1.42 10 Vanceboro 0.88 +0.12 4 2.57 -0.43 11 Waterville 0.75 -0.06 3 2.13 -1.20 9 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.96 +0.24 4 2.47 -0.48 14 Benton 0.53 -0.31 4 1.95 -1.58 13 Berlin_AG 0.26 -0.68 3 1.48 -2.34 10 Bethlehem 0.67 -0.26 5 2.22 -1.51 13 Concord 0.61 -0.11 4 1.95 -1.00 14 Diamond_Pond 0.49 -0.59 3 4.38 +0.08 12 First_Conn_Lake 0.77 -0.31 3 3.07 -1.23 11 Greenville 0.14 -0.70 1 1.58 -1.88 8 Keene_AP 0.26 -0.58 3 1.58 -1.79 10 Lakeport 0.76 -0.01 3 2.14 -1.13 10 Marlow 0.60 -0.24 4 2.29 -1.18 10 Mount_Washingto 1.17 -0.62 4 3.76 -3.57 13 North_Conway 0.77 -0.14 4 1.95 -1.76 15 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.84 +0.00 4 2.28 -1.09 12 Plymouth 0.48 -0.36 3 1.06 -2.31 10 Rochester 0.50 -0.27 3 1.77 -1.52 10 Weare 0.76 -0.08 4 3.07 -0.40 14 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.48 -0.56 3 2.14 -2.12 12 Bethel 0.62 -0.22 3 2.44 -1.08 9 Burlington_Intl 0.99 +0.15 5 3.33 +0.09 13 East_Haven 0.73 -0.25 4 2.49 -1.48 13 Island_Pond 0.48 -0.50 5 3.89 -0.09 14 Montpelier 0.47 -0.30 5 2.38 -0.89 12 Morrisville_AG 0.67 -0.27 5 3.83 +0.08 14 Mount_Mansfield 1.57 +0.01 5 6.62 +0.42 15 Northfield 0.39 -0.32 4 2.20 -0.73 10 Pownal 1.03 -0.01 4 2.36 -1.90 12 Rochester 0.54 -0.30 3 3.17 -0.35 11 Rutland_AG 0.40 -0.44 4 3.51 +0.18 11 Sunderland 0.64 -0.09 4 2.06 -1.07 12 Sutton 0.61 -0.37 5 2.70 -1.27 13 Townshend_Lake 0.73 +0.03 4 2.62 -0.32 13 Union_Vill_Dam 0.48 -0.26 4 1.90 -1.15 12 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.80 -0.04 3 2.31 -1.02 13 Boston/Logan_In 0.70 +0.00 2 1.95 -0.94 9 Greenfield 0.51 -0.33 3 2.43 -1.14 13 New_Bedford 0.09 -0.71 2 1.38 -1.98 9 Otis_AFB 0.06 -0.65 1 1.80 -1.23 8 Plymouth 0.33 -0.44 2 1.70 -1.53 11 Walpole 0.47 -0.38 2 2.24 -1.24 10 West_Medway 1.52 +0.67 2 2.82 -0.66 9 Chicopee/Westov 0.22 -0.69 3 1.28 -2.53 11 Worcester 0.19 -0.71 2 1.43 -2.21 11 Worthington 0.62 -0.29 3 3.28 -0.35 13 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.14 -0.63 2 1.36 -1.76 9 Woonsocket 0.00 -0.91 0 1.25 -2.51 8 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.25 -0.59 2 1.80 -1.73 11 Bridgeport/Siko 0.18 -0.65 2 1.28 -1.94 11 Hartford/Bradle 1.17 +0.33 2 2.20 -1.33 12 Norfolk 1.05 +0.00 3 3.80 -0.51 13 Norwich 0.14 -0.62 2 1.77 -1.32 10 Thomaston_Dam 0.04 -0.87 2 1.41 -2.41 12 Willimantic 0.18 -0.73 2 2.03 -1.48 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: Excellent haying weather this past week. Rain on Friday. Hay and field corn crops look good. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: A lot of hay made, some chopping second cutting. Subsequent plantings of sweet corn, beans, summer squash, and cabbage. Those who have the ability to irrigate are doing so. Wide range of rain, from 0.1 to 1.4 inches fell Friday night. Clipping pastures. Strawberry harvest has been very good this year. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Ready to start second cutting of hay. Strawberries were plentiful and tasty. Final picking being done. We really do need some rain. Fields are getting very dry. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Bright blue sky type of week with brief showers. Corn growing rapidly. Weeds trying to catch up to the corn. Mature hay harvesting. Still some planting, Farm Weed and Seed field day well attended. Fixing equipment and reporting crop acres to USDA. Blueberries just beginning as strawberries are finishing. Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Spotty but severe rain storms went through on Friday. Ground is rock hard. We need rain. Producers are irrigating. Picking green beans, squash, lettuce. Quality of hay depends on the area. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Still struggling with weather to finish first cut hay. No drying weather, wet fields and evening showers playing havoc with harvest schedules. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Constant showers throughout the week have made doing any field work difficult. Soils too wet and heavy to do any hilling, but with good weather and the equipment growers have, they will be able to catch up. First fungicide sprays being applied. With adequate moisture and warmer temperatures we should see some rapid growth with crops. Crop appearance much improved. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Cultivation and initial fungicide applications beginning. Some early insecticides being applied as well. The potato crop is 90 percent emerged and the remainder is expected to emerge this week. The crop looks excellent, with the rain providing plenty of water. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: All crops are looking and growing good at this time. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers have mowed hay, but there has not been enough drying to bale it. Green chopping continues. Pastures look good. Potatoes look excellent. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Not enough rain to really make a difference with the growing crops, just enough to delay hay making. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Still no heat to make the corn grow. Knee high by the fourth of July will be a tough one for many growers to realize. No good hay-making weather either. Strawberry harvest has started, but is coming slow. Scattered armyworm reports. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Peas are ready. Sweet corn looking good. Strawberries and greens for sale. Hay being cut when the weather is good. An inch of rain on Saturday in the Mid-Coast kept gardens from drying out. Several days of fog during the week. Sunday was a keeper. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Last of bees taken out of Downeast fields. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Another good week but we are still missing heat. These crops need that warm sun and more warm nights. Summer is taking its time giving up its full warmth, but it will be here. Apple producers are still concerned about the winter kill. They see trees continuing to die and expect to see this trend continue through harvest. Many of the folks who lost alfalfa, and even grass for some, have replanted and are keeping fingers crossed. Many farmers changed their planting plans because of the harsh winter and the cool spring. Jill Littlefield (FSA), Cumberland/York: Good week for Crops. PYO strawberries have opened for picking. Other crops are growing but are delayed due to weather. Silage corn is finally about all planted. Sweet corn looks excellent. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: First cut hay is down about a third from last year, winter kill is the culprit. Very little alfalfa made it through the winter here. Apple set is not good, especially for some varieties. Winter damage and an early bloom with poor pollination are the causes. Apple production will be down this year. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Lots of wrapped bales are showing up all over the county. Corn is looking green and potatoes are being cultivated. Strawberries are being picked, however ripening at different rates. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Hay is being harvested with high yields, some was rained on by slight showers. Still waiting for a good run of dry weather that lasts more than two days. Be nice to have an old fashioned week of real hot and dry weather. PYO crops are doing real business, good crop. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Cranberries are in full bloom and starting to set, conditions for the set are excellent as we are experiencing warm days and cool night. Vegetable crops and sweet corn are improving daily, first cutting of hay has excellent quality as a result of good hay-making weather. Growers are wrapping up planting, cultivating and side-dressing field crops, cranberry growers are applying insecticides and fungicides and irrigating. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: All varieties in bloom. Bloom appears to be very good, but some beds did not have their bee hives in place. Fungicides being applied for fruit rot control. Dodder beginning to take hold in some spots. Growers irrigating because rain has been very spotty and infrequent. Those beds that showed winter injury look much better, although crop will be reduced there. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: We are still looking for a good rain as farmers have been irrigating regularly. Summer squash and zucchini now being harvested as well as beets, peas, lettuce and spinach. Tree fruit looks good. Still harvesting first cut hay. Disease pressure is low because of the dry weather. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Hot weather and the lack of substantial rainfall forced many farmers to irrigate this week. Forage corn will certainly be "knee high by the 4th of July" on most fields. All farmers are side-dressing and cultivating this week. Some hay fields are getting overripe and should be cut soon. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The week was warm and sunny with a few well-needed weekend rain showers. Growers continued to plant tobacco, sweet corn, cabbage, greens, beans, cucumbers. Harvesting summer squash, zucchini, peas, beets, beans, radishes, strawberries and lettuce. Mostly all crops look very good. Growers are top-dressing crops, cultivating, hoeing, irrigating dry fields, scouting for insects, and applying fungicides if needed. Gary Guida, Worcester: Top-dressing and side-dressing corn and vegetable crops. Working the crowds at u-pick strawberry fields. Strawberries are best in all my years of growing them. Rain on Saturday morning just the right amount for crops here. Sweet corn easily knee high already. Fall crops all look great. Plant sales still going strong. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Picking rhubarb, summer squash, zucchini, peas, beet greens, lettuce, spinach, and strawberries. Most of the first hay is cut and baled. Fruit growers are monitoring pests and mowing. Apple fruit set looks good. Garden centers are busy selling ornamental plants to second home owners on the lakes. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Corn continues to do well; producers are taking pre side-dressed nitrogen tests and side-dressing, finishing up post-emergence herbicide applications. First cutting for haylage is starting to wind down. Lots of folks out making hay - generally great drying conditions most of the week. Strawberries are almost done. Vegetable crops continue to grow well. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: First cutting continues as weather permits. Quality is lower as plants mature. Second cutting in full swing. Quality good to excellent. Corn continues to grow well despite cool weather. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: So far, for the month of June, we have received 1.67 inches of rain. Last week we received 0.56 inches. We had four days of dry weather last week. We are getting reports of shallow wells and springs that have either gone dry, or are having trouble keeping up with demand. Some small streams have started to dwindle down to a trickle. Ground water appears to be more limited than it would appear to the casual observer. Corn is generally a little behind due to cooler temperatures, and in some cases was planted later than was customary for some of the farms in the area. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Strawberry harvest is in full swing. Sweet cherry harvest started. Fruit growers monitoring pest and crop development. Applying sprays for pest control and mowing orchard grass. Growers were hand- thinning peaches and some apple varieties where necessary. Training newly planted trees. Fire Blight seen in orchards on varieties more susceptible to blight. Some apple scab seen. Field Crops: With drier weather during week, farmers continued to bale hay or make haylage at a faster rate. Grass hay is maturing rapidly. Finished planting silage corn and post-emergence weed spraying in corn fields. Side-dressing fertilizer to field corn and spreading manure on harvested hayfields. Vegetables: Continuing successive planting. Growers continue to harvest early season vegetables such as lettuce, greens, radishes, summer squash. Growers busy trying to side- dress fields with fertilizer, cultivating, mowing weeds, scouting for pests and spraying if needed. Cutworms and striped cucumber beetle are busy! John Porter (Ext), Merrimack: Silage corn is looking good, but could use more heat. Weather has allowed some opportunities for hay harvest. Vegetables growing well, but need more heat. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Successive planting of vegetables. Top- dressing with fertilizer, weeding, and monitoring for pests and spraying accordingly. Harvesting greenhouse and high-tunnel tomatoes, zucchinis, leafy vegetables. Asparagus harvest almost done. Still picking strawberries. Haying and fertilizing. Some fields are still too wet after the steady rain and some torrential rain that happened on Saturday. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: PYO Strawberries are in full swing with excellent reports coming out of the fields. Reports of one to two repeat plantings of cucumbers and squash due to turkeys feeding on young growth. Lots of first cutting of hay still being done. Second cutting of alfalfa should start soon. Good weather has helped with periodic showers. Could use more rain soon. The silage corn crop is coming up very healthy, except for some spots due to excess rain after planting. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Good week for field work with rains at the weekend. Farmers continued making haylage. Regrowth on the fields looking good. Strawberry continued very well through the week. PYO strawberry operations were very busy. Apples, raspberries and blueberries are looking good. Some blueberry farms are seeing some signs of mummyberry infection. Fruit growers mowing orchards and scouting for pests and spraying accordingly. Vegetable growers harvesting early season vegetables, continuing with successive planting of several vegetable crops, and weeding other crops. Nurseries busy starting on mum crop for fall sales. Shrub and tree sales continued strong through the week for most nurseries. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Spraying potatoes, round-up applied to corn and some starting to prune Christmas Trees. The strawberry season looks like a good one, lots of pickers and plenty of berries. First cut hay looks good. Roadside stands are filling with lots of early vegetables, seasonal flowers still readily available. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Corn generally doing well. Some already knee high and would be growing faster if the nights were warmer. The rain we've had on a regular basis has helped most vegetables. First cut of grass is winding down but conditions have been poor for making dry hay bales. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Rain Showers this week delayed hay harvest. Most of the haylage has been harvested. Some farmers are trying to dry some of their first cut. Farmers are reporting high yields for first cut hay, I haven't heard about the quality yet. Corn looks good but not excellent at this point. There needs to be some hot weather to push the corn along. Adequate moisture has kept the pastures in good shape for grazing. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: First cut is just about over, every producer is reporting a better than average crop. Second cut alfalfa is almost ready. Newly seeded alfalfa is ready also. Prickly cucumber is being controlled with second application of chemicals. Some producers are burning it with propane torches on back-packs. Strawberries producers are reporting a good season with excellent demand for berries. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Harvested last of first cut hay. Good regrowth on hay fields. Corn is mostly vigorous. Some poorer performing fields were planted during rainy period in June. Early planted corn excellent. Some manure spreading on hay land. Nitrogen fertilizer side-dressing on corn fields. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Last of sweet corn planted. Nitrogen put on fields as they are ready. Potatoes all hilled and looking good; sprayed vine crops for cucumber beatles. One day of cloudy, light rain (0.366 inches ) helped a lot. Good picking of peas. Asparagus all done. Small vegetables filling the market. Early sweet corn starting to tassel. Have a good week. 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 ***********************