State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 08/08/04 Issue NH-CW3104 Volume 24, Number 16 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) August 9, 2004 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary MORE SUN NEEDED For the week ending August 8, 2004, there were 5.7 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated one percent very short, nine percent short, 74 percent adequate, 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated two percent very short, 10 percent short, 76 percent adequate, 12 percent surplus. Pasture condition was rated one percent very poor, eight percent poor, 21 percent fair, 53 percent good, 17 percent excellent. The week began hot and humid. Cooler, drier weather arrived by mid-week, creating for optimal growing and harvesting conditions. Major farm activities included: mowing orchards; pruning trees; spreading manure; weeding; monitoring fields; applying pesticides; cutting and baling hay; harvesting highbush and wild blueberries, peaches, potatoes, other vegetables, broadleaf and shade tobacco. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 1 1 0 Short 9 6 1 Adequate 74 73 62 Surplus 16 20 37 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 2 1 0 Short 10 7 7 Adequate 76 79 74 Surplus 12 13 19 --------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report The hot, dry week provided excellent growing conditions for all crops. Field corn has begun to tassel while early planted corn reached the silk stage. Some growers reported silage corn was late in maturing. Some operators continue to struggle with dry hay harvest due to frequent showers. Maine potato growers reported some instances of aphid and late blight. Growers applied fungicides and insecticides as necessary to control disease and insect pressure. Broadleaf tobacco harvest advanced to 15 percent while 30 percent of Shade tobacco harvest was complete. Blue mold was confirmed in some tobacco fields in Massachusetts. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Peach harvest continued with 25 percent of the crop was completed. Orchardist were busy monitoring for pests. Berry growers continued with raspberry and blueberry harvest. Highbush blueberry harvest advanced to 70 percent complete. Wild blueberry harvest has begun with five percent of the berries harvested. Blueberry growers reported this year's yields were below average. Cranberries continued to size as growers applied fungicides and insecticides. Cranberries condition was reported as good to fair. VEGETABLES: Vegetable growers harvest continues with excellent yields and quality. Some growers reported a need for warmer temperatures for vegetables to come into full production. Wet weather has caused powdery mildew on vine crops. Sweet corn reached 35 percent complete with crop condition reported as good to excellent. Growers harvested an array of vegetables, such as beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, tomatoes, small onions and garlic, which are available at local markets. Growers also reported lots of blossoms on squash, pumpkins and gourd vines. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME -- -- -- Good/Excel Oats, ME -- -- -- Good/Excel Potatoes: Maine -- -- -- Good/Excel Mass 10 5 10 Good Rhode Isl -- 5 15 Good/Excel Silage Corn -- -- -- Good Sweet Corn 35 25 30 Good/Excel Tobacco: Shade 30 25 40 Good Broadleaf 15 20 35 Good Dry Hay: First Cut 90 95 95 Good Second Cut 55 50 60 Good/Excel Third Cut 10 <5 10 Good/Excel ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples -- <5 <5 Good/Fair Peaches 25 35 35 Fair/Good Pears -- -- -- Good Blueberries Highbush 70 55 50 Good/Fair Wild 5 10 15 Fair/Poor Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, August 8, 2004 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 41 90 66 -1 0.00 2.11 NH 32 91 65 -3 0.02 1.74 VT 40 89 64 -3 0.00 1.99 MA 44 91 68 -3 0.11 1.69 RI 49 88 70 -2 1.28 2.25 CT 45 90 70 -2 0.26 3.23 ---------------------------------------------- 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 August 2, 2004 To: Sunday August 8, 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 50 87 68 -3 1137 -293 367 -190 Allagash 43 82 61 -3 777 -183 184 -66 Augusta_State_A 51 86 69 -2 1279 -101 459 -68 Bangor_Intl_Arp 52 86 69 +2 1213 -39 431 -8 Barnard 48 84 66 -1 1025 -69 306 -27 Bath 50 86 68 -2 1109 -157 366 -92 Bethel 46 88 66 -3 1187 -70 381 -53 Brassua_Dam 45 81 63 -2 830 -78 187 -43 Brunswick_ME 51 85 69 -1 1281 +15 454 -4 Caribou_Municip 47 83 65 +0 959 -77 296 +3 Corinna 53 88 68 +2 1170 -46 400 -4 Danforth 42 86 66 -3 940 -238 257 -140 Dover-Foxcroft 50 83 66 -1 936 -158 266 -67 Durham 48 85 67 -5 1158 -305 388 -211 East_Hiram 44 85 65 -3 1117 -136 348 -84 Eustis 41 81 60 -4 794 -95 175 -36 Frenchville 48 81 64 -1 877 -83 247 -3 Gray 52 86 69 +1 1323 +76 482 +40 Greenville_ME 53 85 68 +2 1239 +134 445 +104 Guilford 47 88 65 -2 820 -274 197 -136 Hollis 45 88 66 -2 1194 +2 405 +12 Houlton 46 85 65 -1 961 -115 307 -17 Kennebunkport 51 81 66 -6 1037 -503 297 -350 Livermore_Falls 43 90 68 +3 1233 +149 445 +124 Moosehead 43 83 63 -2 839 -69 194 -36 New_Sharon 46 87 67 +2 1115 +31 338 +17 Patten 50 82 65 -1 915 -161 253 -71 Portage 50 84 66 +2 926 -110 277 -16 Portland_ME 54 84 69 +1 1240 -7 445 +3 Rangeley 43 82 61 -3 863 +10 204 +12 Sebec_Lake 47 86 66 -2 1030 -75 314 -27 Vanceboro 48 83 66 -2 954 -147 273 -71 Waterville 51 87 69 -2 1202 -228 419 -138 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 41 89 66 -4 1238 -167 433 -107 Benton 43 82 63 -4 1136 -38 350 -5 Berlin_AG 44 84 64 -3 1169 -11 381 +6 Bethlehem 41 82 62 -4 1056 -118 316 -40 Concord 46 90 69 -1 1568 +163 645 +105 Diamond_Pond 43 78 59 -4 742 -50 139 -9 First_Conn_Lake 42 79 60 -3 774 -18 163 +15 Greenville 48 89 68 +1 1542 +272 619 +193 Keene_AP 45 88 67 -4 1482 -89 562 -94 Lakeport 53 88 69 +2 1470 +149 585 +102 Marlow 40 83 63 -7 1018 -408 269 -272 Mount_Washingto 32 62 46 -3 86 +45 0 +0 North_Conway 46 84 65 -3 1335 +20 499 +24 Otter_Brook_Lk 47 87 67 -4 1375 -196 492 -164 Plymouth 43 86 65 -2 1148 -9 360 -1 Rochester 50 89 69 -2 1363 -129 519 -85 Weare 47 87 68 -2 1347 -79 483 -58 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 42 84 64 -4 1229 +6 385 -13 Bethel 43 85 64 -3 1278 +119 451 +88 Burlington_Intl 48 87 66 -5 1565 +49 660 +38 East_Haven 40 83 63 -2 1080 +100 339 +83 Island_Pond 43 82 62 -2 1035 +72 305 +64 Montpelier 43 83 64 -3 1256 +65 439 +57 Morrisville_AG 42 88 63 -4 1105 -76 371 -12 Mount_Mansfield 40 67 52 -7 502 -10 55 +2 Northfield 42 87 64 -1 1177 +97 388 +73 Pownal 47 83 65 -2 1321 +92 428 +26 Rochester 44 86 64 -3 1242 +83 417 +54 Rutland_AG 44 82 65 -6 1335 -227 462 -181 Sunderland 42 84 63 -6 1215 -287 376 -218 Sutton 44 83 63 -2 1038 +58 304 +48 Townshend_Lake 47 88 67 -4 1367 -105 482 -109 Union_Vill_Dam 44 89 66 -5 1293 -193 476 -121 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 48 87 68 +0 1460 +186 556 +112 Boston/Logan_In 57 90 71 -3 1753 -12 791 -17 Greenfield 48 90 67 -5 1588 -90 639 -94 New_Bedford 49 86 69 -6 1583 -175 643 -157 Otis_AFB 52 84 69 -3 1504 +88 615 +50 Plymouth 51 84 68 -4 1514 +36 621 +8 Walpole 49 88 70 -1 1668 +142 707 +78 West_Medway 47 89 70 +0 1682 +156 715 +86 Chicopee/Westov 45 86 68 -7 1817 -103 806 -108 Worcester 51 85 68 -2 1586 +168 639 +90 Worthington 44 86 65 -3 1292 +52 428 +19 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 54 87 71 -2 1796 +121 800 +53 Woonsocket 49 88 70 +0 1639 +139 687 +89 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 46 84 67 -7 1427 -432 508 -366 Bridgeport/Siko 56 84 72 -3 1905 +113 882 +41 Hartford/Bradle 50 89 71 -3 1904 +52 880 +9 Norfolk 49 83 66 -2 1405 +159 503 +87 Norwich 50 89 72 -1 1798 +93 799 +48 Thomaston_Dam 45 90 70 +2 1814 +329 803 +222 Willimantic 48 85 69 -2 1712 +201 723 +119 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 1.02 +0.18 4 2.59 -0.67 12 Allagash 0.15 -0.76 2 3.65 +0.08 9 Augusta_State_A 1.05 +0.29 4 2.79 -0.14 15 Bangor_Intl_Arp 1.01 +0.28 3 2.38 -0.55 13 Barnard 0.85 +0.06 4 3.74 +0.59 16 Bath 0.33 -0.37 2 2.03 -0.63 11 Bethel 0.53 -0.38 3 4.73 +1.41 13 Brassua_Dam 0.91 +0.07 4 5.04 +1.47 13 Brunswick_ME 0.17 -0.53 1 2.82 +0.16 11 Caribou_Municip 0.07 -0.87 1 2.56 -1.22 11 Corinna 0.75 -0.09 2 2.07 -1.09 10 Danforth 0.68 -0.23 3 3.58 -0.06 15 Dover-Foxcroft 0.70 -0.09 4 1.71 -1.44 12 Durham 0.93 +0.18 4 2.87 -0.16 14 East_Hiram 0.22 -0.64 4 3.55 +0.23 16 Eustis 0.65 -0.12 3 3.92 +0.65 12 Frenchville 0.02 -0.89 1 2.62 -0.95 10 Gray 0.82 +0.19 2 4.46 +1.82 12 Greenville_ME 2.11 +1.32 4 5.78 +2.63 16 Guilford 1.16 +0.37 6 5.16 +2.01 19 Hollis 0.44 -0.26 4 3.33 +0.49 13 Houlton 0.23 -0.68 2 1.86 -1.67 10 Kennebunkport 0.12 -0.58 4 2.16 -0.62 15 Livermore_Falls 0.51 -0.38 3 3.40 +0.16 14 Moosehead 0.82 -0.02 4 4.09 +0.52 15 New_Sharon 1.16 +0.27 3 4.55 +1.31 14 Patten 0.51 -0.40 2 3.18 -0.35 13 Portage 0.08 -0.86 1 5.39 +1.61 12 Portland_ME 0.30 -0.33 2 2.56 -0.08 12 Rangeley 0.71 -0.20 3 3.73 +0.37 14 Sebec_Lake 0.89 +0.10 4 3.93 +0.78 15 Vanceboro 0.72 +0.02 4 3.30 +0.33 18 Waterville 1.95 +1.11 3 4.48 +1.22 14 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.05 -0.72 1 4.34 +1.33 12 Benton 0.34 -0.57 2 2.92 -0.39 9 Berlin_AG 0.79 -0.19 2 3.33 -0.24 8 Bethlehem 0.43 -0.60 3 2.82 -0.94 14 Concord 0.09 -0.68 3 2.92 -0.09 15 Diamond_Pond 1.54 +0.39 2 4.32 -0.01 13 First_Conn_Lake 1.74 +0.59 2 4.04 -0.29 12 Greenville 0.18 -0.74 2 2.69 -0.85 11 Keene_AP 0.04 -0.87 2 2.65 -0.77 9 Lakeport 0.20 -0.64 2 3.76 +0.42 13 Marlow 0.25 -0.57 2 4.52 +1.36 13 Mount_Washingto 0.64 -1.16 3 5.52 -1.09 16 North_Conway 0.67 -0.24 4 3.55 +0.08 15 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.71 -0.20 5 3.66 +0.24 20 Plymouth 0.36 -0.55 2 2.87 -0.74 13 Rochester 0.10 -0.74 1 2.77 -0.45 11 Weare 0.55 -0.27 3 4.40 +1.24 16 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.17 -0.79 2 4.49 +0.80 15 Bethel 0.62 -0.41 2 3.99 +0.26 16 Burlington_Intl 1.33 +0.42 3 6.79 +3.33 15 East_Haven 1.04 -0.04 3 4.19 +0.16 13 Island_Pond 0.96 -0.16 4 3.10 -0.99 16 Montpelier 0.86 +0.02 5 4.41 +1.41 19 Morrisville_AG 0.89 -0.20 2 4.32 +0.31 15 Mount_Mansfield 1.99 +0.34 5 10.66 +4.55 20 Northfield 0.65 -0.19 2 4.13 +0.88 11 Pownal 1.46 +0.50 5 7.44 +3.75 16 Rochester 0.88 -0.15 1 6.23 +2.50 13 Rutland_AG 0.72 -0.21 3 4.07 +0.45 15 Sunderland 0.40 -0.43 4 7.70 +4.75 17 Sutton 1.02 -0.06 4 3.86 -0.17 16 Townshend_Lake 0.14 -0.75 2 4.14 +0.86 15 Union_Vill_Dam 0.34 -0.44 3 2.52 -0.56 13 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.80 -0.04 4 3.75 +0.43 16 Boston/Logan_In 0.34 -0.36 1 2.48 -0.16 9 Greenfield 0.68 -0.16 3 3.90 +0.54 14 New_Bedford 0.95 +0.05 3 2.54 -0.53 10 Otis_AFB 0.31 -0.44 3 1.31 -1.41 8 Plymouth 0.68 -0.16 4 2.35 -0.82 14 Walpole 0.62 -0.22 3 2.51 -0.67 11 West_Medway 0.76 -0.08 2 3.16 -0.02 9 Chicopee/Westov 1.14 +0.37 2 4.03 +0.89 11 Worcester 0.88 +0.04 2 5.11 +1.74 10 Worthington 0.95 -0.03 4 3.55 -0.37 15 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 2.25 +1.48 3 4.49 +1.53 11 Woonsocket 1.52 +0.61 2 2.70 -0.87 11 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.76 -0.01 4 4.01 +1.10 14 Bridgeport/Siko 1.63 +0.86 3 5.86 +2.54 11 Hartford/Bradle 1.38 +0.61 4 3.97 +1.06 13 Norfolk 1.37 +0.39 4 4.57 +0.77 15 Norwich 3.23 +2.39 3 4.41 +1.01 12 Thomaston_Dam 0.68 -0.23 2 4.37 +0.60 13 Willimantic 2.67 +1.76 3 5.54 +1.79 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 - Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Wednesday night showers ended the muggy weather for a preview of fall - cool dry air for the second half of the week. Broadleaf tobacco being cut. Shade harvest continues. Sweet corn, squash, peppers, snap beans, and cukes being picked. Peaches, blueberries and raspberries being picked. Pear psylla showing up in center of trees with no products found to control them yet. Field corn silking in many areas. Hay made in early week and on weekend. Rye combining about complete. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Corn tasseling. Field demos planned. Haying, a bit of a problem with unpredictable rain, continues. Awesome weather for most crops. Produce is abundant; great looking and delicious. End of season bedding plant sales popular with home gardeners. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: A couple of instances of late blight has been reported. Growers are very conscious of keeping a strict spray schedule. Everything seems to be under control. Some insecticides being applied. All crops look very good. Potato tuber growth is right on schedule. Small grains and canola look very good. Starting to ripen quite rapidly. There is minimal lodging in the grain crops. Growing conditions to date have been nearly perfect. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers were able to make good progress on harvesting first crop hay, but thunder showers made getting it dry difficult. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Wet, cool weather has resulted in several hay fields that were cut but not harvested. The rest of the first cut hay has second growth starting. Hay that was made is of poorer quality and at risk of molding. Sweet corn harvest just started this weekend with corn that was started under remay. Not sure if forage corn has enough time to set ears before harvest. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: It appears that blueberry harvest may be 50 percent off from normal yield. Growers are about half way through the harvest. Other crops are far behind due to earlier weather conditions. Winter squash and pumpkins are drastically affected by weather conditions in some areas. Silage corn appears to be a little behind normal but looks good. All road side stands now have sweet corn available. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Crop harvest to begin this week on the blueberry barrens. Some fields better than expected but crop on most fields is poor. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Weather conditions have been good. Hot summer week. No significant rain. Hay cutting continued at a rapid pace during the week. Very good demand for produce at most local farmers markets. Jill Littlefield (FSA), Cumberland/York: Southern York County received showers this week. The rest of the area is starting to dry out. The irrigation is being used for turf and vegetable farms. Every day still has a chance for a pop-up shower. Dry hay still hard to make. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: There will be a shortage of quality square bale hay this year. It has been almost impossible to get two days in row without showers. Vegetable growth has also been mixed. Just not enough sunshine. Some silage corn is still very late maturing. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Some haying: first, second and third cutting. Third cut mostly for haylage. Lots of sweet corn being picked (young and good). Veggies arriving in great supply. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Growing conditions continue to be excellent for all crops. Vegetable growers are harvesting most crops with excellent yields and quality. Hay producers continue to make second cutting with excellent yields and field corn is progressing. Cranberries continue to size as growers are applying fungicide and insecticide spray, mowing around the bogs, and performing annual maintenance on their harvest equipment. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Whereas the rest of New England seems to have had plenty of rainfall in the past month, southeast Massachusetts is having a mini-drought. We have had rain, but below-normal levels. Growers are irrigating on a regular basis. All pesticide applications are nearly complete, except for scattered fruit worm treatments. Weeds are being treated with Roundup and ditch/dike maintenance is ongoing. This is the 'calm before the storm' as growers take some needed time off before things get busy again with the upcoming harvest. The crop looks very good, with berries sizing up and the first blushes of color now evident. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Another good week as harvesting continues. All vegetables in good supply. Corn earworm is here in full force. Fruit crops look good. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: The threat of blue mold, late blight, or phytopthora has all producers scouting their crops closely this week. Cooler and drier weather has allowed the last of the first cut hay to be harvested. Better late than never. Silage corn has grown in leaps and bounds during the past two weeks. All crops look good at this time. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The week began hot and humid and by weekend we had excellent summer days. All crops are being harvested in full force. A few showers during the week kept all fields moist. Blue mold was confirmed in shade tobacco in Hadley on Tuesday. The disease was not widespread in the field, but all growers should consider their fields potentially exposed. Overall, all crops, including tobacco, look very good. NEW HAMPSHIRE - NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Summer is here. Harvesting sweet corn, blueberries, beans, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, field and greenhouse tomatoes, greens, broccoli, cabbage and onions. The cooler than normal weather held off harvests but now they're here and they're big. Leafhoppers on mums, beans and strawberries. Peppers have had their challenges this year due to cool temps. Fire blight is present in some orchards throughout the state. Garden center sales are vary good. Most have the second harvest of hay in the barn. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: A few warm days, not nearly enough! Vegetables need warmer temps to come into full production. Powdery mildew on pumpkins and grapes. Early blight on tomatoes. A little warmer, drier weather could only help. Some local sweet corn finally hitting the farm stands. Hay cutting continues when two dry days can be strung together. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Finally starting to see some bright sun and drier air. Field corn continues to do well, with more fields tasseling and silking. Good ear development on earlier planted fields. Excellent regrowth on grass and alfalfa (no summer dry spells!). Good drying conditions at the end of the week have helped with second cutting of dry hay. A couple farms working on late summer forage seedings. Wet weather causing havoc with vegetable diseases, especially powdery mildew on vine crops. PYO berries still going strong, some orchards advertising apples ready by the end of the month. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Mostly sunny this week and cooler, dry hay still coming into barns between rainstorms. Nice regrowth on meadows. Tasseling corn quite abundant and growing well now. Blueberry, raspberry picking continues. More mid-summer veggie showing up on stands and markets. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Rain slowed haying operations this week. Cool weather has slowed the corn growth rate. Corn continues to tassel. Most has reached this stage, although some corn is quite immature for this time of year. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Orchardists harvesting peaches and Jersey Mac apples. Blueberry and raspberry harvest continued. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, mowing orchard floors and fixing up orchard roads. Apple growers busy summer pruning trees. Field Crops: Silage corn is rapid growing, starting to tassel and the earliest planted corn is starting to silk. Farmers making baled hay between showers. Vegetables: Growers harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, sweet corn and other vegetables. Irrigating crops. High disease and insect pressure, so farmers kept busy spraying for insects and diseases. Very good demand for produce at most local farmers' markets and farm stands. John Porter (Ext), Merrimack: A week of sunshine accelerated vegetable growth. Sweet corn, summer squash, greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, small onions and garlic are at all the markets. PYO raspberries coming to an end, blueberries still going strong. Apple growers are monitoring pests and spraying accordingly. Weeds are enjoying the sunshine. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Farmers making baled hay. Field corn growing well and most of it starting to silk. Sweet corn harvest well underway. Growers spraying against ear worm and other insect pests. Vegetable growers harvesting an array of vegetable crops and monitoring for pests and spraying if needed. Continued picking of raspberries and blueberries. Orchardists busy mowing orchard fields and spraying insecticides where needed. Fall mum crop growing well at most greenhouse and garden centers. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: A midweek storm added some rain and slowed field work. Renovation of strawberry beds complete. Harvesting some local corn. Summer vegetables coming in strong. Spraying corn and potatoes. The cool, low temperatures make the area look and feel like fall. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Despite on/off again rain, producers were able to get some field work accomplished. Manure was being spread on second cut fields. Some third cut grass harvest took place. The first of the barley crop was combined. Sweet corn harvest started and despite the rain, the corn silage crop should have a high yield. Conditions have made it all but impossible to dry grass into traditional baled hay. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Rain has caused severe problems in harvesting second crop hay. Many fields are too wet to support the haying equipment. The quality of the hay crop appears to be really good. Corn growth is varied. On the wet fields the corn is still only knee high. In some of the drier fields it is over six feet. I have seen some corn start to tassel this past week. The farmers are wishing for some hot, dry weather to catch up on their field work. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Not much news this week from Windham County. Farmers are still fighting with the weather to get crops in. Corn ears are beginning to bend over. Pumpkins and winter squash crop looks good and the size should be bigger that in the past. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Harvesting second cut haylage. Some dry hay bales but, most is wet due to rain. Some manure spreading on harvested hay land. Corn tasseled. Late for most side-dress Nitrogen. Pasture regrowth still good with rain showers. Newly seeded hay fields strong with good alfalfa regrowth after clipping. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Some heat this week, but not enough. Prediction was for 'fall weather' this weekend and that is what we received. Most of the corn tasseled here, but not south of here. Really need more heat to move that crop along. Scattered showers allowed haying here, but in southern VT rain has really meant a generally poor quality crop. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Wet and cool temperatures has resulted in a slowed development of apples and pears. Additionally, these conditions have contributed to late-season disease pressure, but slowed late-season arthropod damage. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: More showers and cool weather has slowed haying and corn growth. Soils are wet in most places. It has been difficult to harvest second cut hay and haylage. Some standing water in fields. Some corn is flowering and in other fields just waist height. Pastures are growing exceptionally well. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Seeded winter rye to early harvested fields. Continual spraying of potatoes, tomatoes and peppers for blight. Hot, damp weather brings mold to beans. Hard weather to put up dry hay. This week saw 1.003 inches of rain. Lots of showers all week. Corn borer problem in early corn. Lots of good mid-season corn in the market now. All cole crops doing well. Lots of blossoms on squash, pumpkin and gourd vines. Have a good week. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals. July 2004 Crop Weather Summary: Warm, sunny temperatures at the end of June continued into July. The warm temperatures were ideal for hay making, beneficial to crop growth and development, and allowed farmers to make good progress toward final stages of vegetable planting. Most crops were planted and fully emerged by the beginning of the month. First cut hay harvest was winding down with the crop in good to fair condition. Second crop harvest was about a third complete by month's end, with third crop cutting just beginning. The much welcomed warmth and sunshine soon gave way to hot and humid conditions toward the end of the month. The hot and humid weather was beneficial for field corn growth as early fields began to tassel. The condition of the corn crop remained in good to fair condition month long. Potato harvest in Massachusetts began in late July, and Rhode Island growers were still gearing up for harvest. Late blight and European Borer egg masses were active in some Northern Maine potato fields. Growers were urged to use preventive sprays. Oats and barley in Maine were rated in excellent to good condition by month's end. Shade tobacco harvest was underway with ten percent of the crop harvested as of July 25. New England's fruit crop condition ranged from good to fair in July. At month's end, strawberry harvest was complete and producers reported the crop as being one of the best ever. Massachusetts cranberries were nearly out of bloom and fruit set was reported as good. Growers irrigated throughout the month to relieve dry conditions. Fruit worm injury was reported in some beds. Maine's wild blueberry harvest had not begun by July 25; the crop was expected to be delayed a week due to the cool, wet conditions during the spring and early summer. -- 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 Statistician: Travis Averill, 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 ***********************