State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 6/12/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 7 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 13, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary Warm Weather Finally Arrived GENERAL CONDITIONS: For the week ending June 12, 2005, there were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 3% very short, 6% short, 77% adequate, 14% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 3% very short, 10% short, 76% adequate, 11% surplus. Pasture condition: 2% poor, 21% fair, 49% good, and 28% excellent. Heat and sun finally arrived early in the week and remained through the weekend. By Thursday, conditions were hazy, hot, and humid with severe thunderstorms rumbling throughout New England into the weekend during the latter part of each day. The drastic weather change enhanced growing conditions for most field crops and allowed farmers to continue fieldwork. Planted acreage for most field crops were winding up and on schedule and first cutting of haylage were above normal. Governor Romney and Baldacci declared state of emergency over red tide in Massachusetts and Maine; the algae have closed clam flats from Massachusetts to Maine. Major farm activities: chopped grass silage, baled hay, planted and tilled fields, spread manure and fertilizer on fields, applied pesticides and insecticides to fruit trees and berries, planted sweet corn and vegetables, harvested asparagus, spinach, and rhubarb, and worked in greenhouses.. FRUIT: Maine wild blueberry pollination near completion as bee activity improved with the arrival of warm, sunny days. In Maine, growers spotted light patches of Monilinia blight in blueberry fields; the crop progress remained behind schedule from the wet, cool month of May. Strawberry growers were also a week behind schedule, as strawberry ripening and growth were limited during May. Massachusetts's strawberry conditions were rated very poor to good, elsewhere good to fair. In parts of New England, orchardist discovered Plum curculio activity in fruit trees. At week's end, pollination in apple orchards were near completion, despite a slow start by bees. Also, some apple producers reported heavy losses from the mid-May frost and scabs from the cool, wet conditions in May. Cranberry growers treated for insects as weevil population increased. VEGETABLES: Heat and sun was welcomed by vegetable producers to plant various warm weather crops and play catch up. Growers reported that they are a couple of weeks behind schedule for plantings. The sun and heat enhanced early planted and newly planted vegetables growth. Planted sweet corn acreage were on schedule at week's end as crop conditions improved from the desirable warm, sunny days. Producers harvested asparagus, greens, radish, rhubarb, and spinach and were selling at roadside stands. Greenhouses business continued to prosper from the hot, sunny days. FIELD CROPS: Finally heat and sun arrived at an important time to enhance field crops growth. Field corn planted early and recently planted, emerged and grew rapidly over the week. Farmers continued to plant field corn and were coming to an end. Planted acreage of small grains in Maine were on schedule and near completion at week's end. Maine potato planted acreage should finish if weather permits this coming week. First cutting of hay continued on schedule as the warm and sunny days provided good drying conditions. However, severe thunderstorms and afternoon showers limited some farmers from baling hay in parts of New England throughout the weekend. Broadleaf tobacco planted acreage near completion and ahead of normal. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 3 0 0 Short 6 8 14 Adequate 77 63 70 Surplus 14 29 16 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 3 0 0 Short 10 8 3 Adequate 76 63 83 Surplus 11 29 14 --------------------------------------------- FRUIT: Cold mornings caused farmers to irrigate strawberries for frost protection. Wild blueberry fields were sprayed with fungicide, and burned for pruning where the ground was not too wet. Cranberry growers in Massachusetts spent the week applying pre-emergent herbicides and cleaning ditches. Tree fruit development in Connecticut was well ahead of the rest of the region. Apple and pear trees were in early to full bloom in Connecticut; elsewhere, apples and pears were in bud stage to early bloom. Connecticut Peach trees were in full bloom to petal fall, while in other states, peaches ranged from dormant to full bloom. Orchard growers spent the week pruning, fertilizing and watching for frost damage. Bees were brought into Southern New England apple orchards by week's end. VEGETABLES: Growers prepared fields by harrowing, liming, fertilizing, discing, and plowing. Planting of early season vegetables continued throughout the week, including peas, carrots, cabbage, parsnips, beets, radishes, spinach, onions, lettuce, greens, potatoes, and cole crops. Sweet corn was planted with and without plastic cover. Vegetable crop emergence is slow due to cold soil temperatures. A mid-week frost hurt asparagus at harvest, causing losses in some areas. FIELD CROPS: Cool weather has limited spring work on field crops, especially in northernmost states. Massachusetts and Rhode Island potato planting was well ahead of last year, while wet soils have prevented any planting of potatoes, barley, or oats in Maine. Some field corn was planted on well drained fields. Pastures and hayfields are green and appear to be doing well in most areas. Winterkill on alfalfa was reported in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, but what did survive the winter appears strong. Farmers spent the week spreading manure, fertilizing hay fields, plowing, discing, planting and harrowing fields. -- Crop Progress Tables -------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Fruit Set Condition -------------------------------------------------- Apples PF Avg/Below Good/Fair Peaches PF Avg/Below Fair/Good Pears PF Avg Fair/Good Blueberries Highbush FB/PF Avg Good Wild,ME FB/PF Above/Avg Good/Excellent Cranberries,MA Bud Avg Good/Fair Strawberries FB/PF Avg/Below Good/Fair -------------------------------------------------- FB-Full Bloom, PF- Petal Fall FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Percent Condition Emerged Barley, ME 99 100 99 75 Excellent/Good Oats, ME 95 100 99 75 Excellent/Good Potatoes Maine 95 100 99 10 Excellent/Good Mass 100 100 100 85 Good Rhode Isl 100 95 99 100 Excellent/Good Silage Corn 90 90 85 70 Good Sweet Corn 80 80 80 55 Good/Excellent Tobacco Shade 100 100 95 -- Good Broadleaf 80 75 60 -- Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 35 40 30 -- Good/Fair -- Weather Summary State Table Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday June 6, 2005 To: Sunday June 12, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 35 93 66 +6 0.00 3.33 NH 41 96 70 +10 0.00 2.98 VT 46 96 72 +12 0.07 2.35 MA 50 94 72 +10 0.00 2.35 RI 55 91 71 +8 0.00 0.13 CT 53 94 75 +11 0.00 0.71 Copyright 2005: 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. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday June 6, 2005 To: Sunday June 12, 2005 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE -60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 48 91 68 +5 238 -113 86 +24 Allagash 35 88 61 +3 176 +5 49 +41 Augusta_State_A 49 88 69 +7 277 -41 94 +45 Bangor_Intl_Arp 51 89 68 +8 298 +35 88 +56 Barnard 48 87 66 +7 231 +22 79 +61 Bath 50 88 67 +6 213 -44 63 +32 Bethel 51 93 68 +7 258 -20 87 +49 Brassua_Dam 42 87 63 +6 175 +31 57 +53 Brunswick_ME 48 84 65 +5 197 -60 52 +21 Caribou_Municip 37 86 63 +4 227 +23 70 +51 Corinna 49 90 68 +7 266 +3 87 +56 Danforth 47 84 64 +5 205 -18 63 +39 Dover-Foxcroft 45 86 64 +5 191 -18 61 +43 Durham 49 88 68 +5 239 -95 83 +28 East_Hiram 51 88 69 +9 259 -18 95 +58 Eustis 47 85 65 +9 191 +40 62 +59 Frenchville 40 89 62 +5 227 +56 76 +68 Gray 50 88 69 +9 288 +41 106 +84 Greenville_ME 46 85 64 +6 214 -6 73 +52 Guilford 45 90 66 +7 193 -16 69 +51 Hollis 51 88 69 +9 253 +12 92 +70 Houlton 38 81 63 +4 233 +25 70 +50 Kennebunkport 49 87 67 +4 223 -151 69 +4 Livermore_Falls 48 91 68 +9 251 +39 93 +74 Moosehead 41 84 62 +6 169 +25 49 +45 New_Sharon 47 88 67 +8 232 +20 81 +62 Patten 45 85 63 +4 192 -16 58 +38 Portage 41 88 63 +5 220 +16 74 +55 Portland_ME 51 87 69 +9 261 +14 85 +63 Rangeley 46 87 65 +9 182 +39 62 +61 Sebec_Lake 48 89 66 +8 226 +6 76 +55 Vanceboro 47 82 63 +4 196 -4 55 +41 Waterville 49 89 67 +5 243 -108 82 +20 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 48 92 70 +8 286 -57 100 +36 Benton 55 86 70 +10 273 -17 89 +48 Berlin_AG 52 87 70 +11 276 +7 99 +62 Bethlehem 51 89 70 +10 280 -9 96 +54 Concord 54 90 74 +11 385 +42 143 +79 Diamond_Pond 49 81 66 +11 189 +52 61 +61 First_Conn_Lake 48 87 67 +11 199 +62 60 +60 Greenville 53 92 74 +14 398 +85 144 +96 Keene_AP 52 90 74 +10 379 -56 129 +26 Lakeport 55 90 73 +12 362 +58 128 +78 Marlow 54 91 73 +11 320 -59 124 +47 Mount_Washington 41 66 54 +12 40 +40 1 +1 North_Conway 53 89 70 +9 289 -19 98 +48 Otter_Brook_Lk 53 89 73 +9 342 -93 122 +19 Plymouth 52 88 69 +10 273 +21 95 +63 Rochester 52 88 70 +8 312 -74 104 +24 Weare 55 86 71 +9 317 -62 110 +33 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 52 89 72 +12 308 +16 111 +68 Bethel 54 88 72 +13 316 +49 115 +77 Burlington_Intl 57 89 75 +11 448 +48 171 +80 East_Haven 48 87 70 +12 272 +73 88 +67 Island_Pond 51 87 70 +12 267 +66 95 +74 Montpelier 54 87 72 +12 352 +68 125 +83 Morrisville_AG 51 89 70 +11 264 -5 90 +51 Mount_Mansfield 46 75 62 +10 147 +75 25 +25 Northfield 55 89 71 +13 306 +70 105 +75 Pownal 55 89 74 +14 368 +69 130 +83 Rochester 52 90 72 +12 320 +53 115 +77 Rutland_AG 55 91 73 +9 338 -109 122 +10 Sunderland 55 89 73 +10 336 -85 121 +25 Sutton 52 87 69 +12 265 +66 94 +73 Townshend_Lake 52 89 73 +10 356 -20 128 +49 Union_Vill_Dam 54 88 71 +8 326 -63 113 +29 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 55 89 73 +12 369 +78 127 +85 Boston/Logan_In 53 88 72 +7 401 -77 131 +28 Greenfield 54 89 74 +10 411 -66 141 +27 New_Bedford 53 86 70 +5 336 -135 86 -10 Otis_AFB 57 90 74 +12 443 +135 141 +98 Plymouth 53 87 72 +10 327 -11 106 +51 Walpole 54 91 74 +11 415 +27 132 +57 West_Medway 56 88 73 +10 369 -19 117 +42 Chicopee/Westov 61 91 77 +10 532 -54 186 +25 Worcester 54 87 74 +12 420 +75 144 +87 Worthington 52 89 72 +11 333 +35 107 +62 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 59 88 74 +10 448 +16 136 +48 Woonsocket 55 91 74 +11 429 +47 137 +73 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 53 90 74 +7 404 -153 130 -24 Bridgeport/Siko 63 88 74 +8 513 +21 135 +12 Hartford/Bradle 62 93 78 +12 566 +16 200 +49 Norfolk 57 86 73 +13 364 +71 118 +76 Norwich 61 93 76 +11 471 -16 160 +44 Thomaston_Dam 58 90 75 +12 441 +39 145 +65 Willimantic 58 91 75 +12 471 +65 151 +71 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.16 -0.68 4 20.57 +8.75 49 Allagash 0.50 -0.20 2 11.41 +2.28 42 Augusta_State_A 0.42 -0.35 5 18.31 +6.10 45 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.05 -0.72 1 12.73 +1.26 34 Barnard 0.58 -0.27 2 20.08 +8.42 50 Bath 0.23 -0.66 4 21.84 +8.54 42 Bethel 1.08 +0.15 1 22.72 +10.56 38 Brassua_Dam 0.48 -0.43 3 14.19 +3.46 45 Brunswick_ME 0.38 -0.51 4 27.11 +13.81 38 Caribou_Municip 0.29 -0.34 1 12.24 +3.11 45 Corinna 0.36 -0.48 3 19.84 +8.11 37 Danforth 0.64 -0.20 5 16.82 +5.62 49 Dover-Foxcroft 0.27 -0.58 2 13.97 +2.31 36 Durham 0.41 -0.44 4 22.77 +9.45 40 East_Hiram 0.65 -0.26 6 23.95 +10.94 47 Eustis 0.40 -0.37 3 15.53 +4.95 43 Frenchville 0.66 -0.04 3 9.74 +0.61 46 Gray 0.76 -0.08 5 24.00 +11.11 43 Greenville_ME 0.30 -0.55 2 16.17 +4.51 47 Guilford 0.42 -0.43 5 19.43 +7.77 44 Hollis 1.02 +0.14 5 24.78 +11.50 48 Houlton 0.23 -0.54 2 12.59 +3.00 47 Kennebunkport 0.41 -0.48 4 23.46 +10.17 41 Livermore_Falls 3.33 +2.35 4 22.95 +10.09 42 Moosehead 0.19 -0.72 4 14.15 +3.42 46 New_Sharon 0.36 -0.62 4 21.94 +9.08 44 Patten 0.67 -0.10 5 18.03 +8.44 48 Portage 0.51 -0.12 1 14.68 +5.55 45 Portland_ME 1.21 +0.37 3 20.64 +7.75 41 Rangeley 0.64 -0.21 5 16.02 +6.43 52 Sebec_Lake 0.71 -0.14 3 20.40 +8.74 47 Vanceboro 0.58 -0.19 5 16.57 +4.57 48 Waterville 0.42 -0.42 5 18.93 +7.11 39 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 1.36 +0.62 4 19.54 +9.44 46 Benton 1.08 +0.17 3 12.38 +2.26 43 Berlin_AG 0.25 -0.72 3 15.15 +3.67 38 Bethlehem 0.88 -0.03 4 11.69 +1.38 49 Concord 0.72 -0.02 3 13.75 +3.65 42 Diamond_Pond 0.36 -0.69 2 16.16 +4.53 57 First_Conn_Lake 0.91 -0.14 4 13.01 +1.38 52 Greenville 0.94 +0.03 2 16.94 +4.51 35 Keene_AP 1.74 +0.90 4 14.84 +3.45 40 Lakeport 1.99 +1.15 5 16.29 +4.84 41 Marlow 1.21 +0.31 3 15.11 +1.91 39 Mount_Washingto 2.65 +0.79 5 29.05 +0.94 58 North_Conway 1.92 +0.97 5 19.45 +5.91 46 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.74 -0.10 3 13.48 +2.09 42 Plymouth 2.98 +2.14 4 14.73 +2.62 36 Rochester 0.76 -0.08 2 21.18 +7.61 38 Weare 0.28 -0.62 3 18.85 +5.65 41 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.42 +0.30 4 14.10 -0.66 42 Bethel 0.69 -0.22 4 11.96 -0.92 42 Burlington_Intl 0.67 -0.10 2 7.44 -2.05 38 East_Haven 0.89 -0.09 4 10.70 -0.31 52 Island_Pond 0.31 -0.67 2 10.26 -0.21 50 Montpelier 0.53 -0.31 3 10.00 +0.50 46 Morrisville_AG 0.07 -0.84 1 10.07 -1.29 44 Mount_Mansfield 0.40 -1.14 3 16.02 -2.94 53 Northfield 0.72 -0.05 3 11.85 +1.60 36 Pownal 1.41 +0.29 5 13.08 -1.68 45 Rochester 1.70 +0.79 4 13.89 +1.01 41 Rutland_AG 1.35 +0.51 4 9.05 -0.86 39 Sunderland 1.58 +0.77 5 13.70 +3.21 49 Sutton 1.56 +0.58 3 12.25 +1.24 53 Townshend_Lake 1.69 +0.92 5 13.71 +2.35 46 Union_Vill_Dam 1.66 +0.89 4 12.98 +2.48 45 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 2.35 +1.51 3 18.44 +6.81 48 Boston/Logan_In 1.05 +0.28 2 11.76 -0.19 40 Greenfield 0.85 -0.06 3 13.35 +0.93 41 New_Bedford 0.01 -0.87 1 15.00 +1.42 41 Otis_AFB 0.19 -0.58 1 15.78 +3.19 39 Plymouth 0.00 -0.84 0 17.65 +3.89 37 Walpole 0.31 -0.55 1 16.29 +3.32 38 West_Medway 0.65 -0.21 3 15.33 +2.36 45 Chicopee/Westov 0.16 -0.82 4 10.75 -2.53 46 Worcester 0.69 -0.22 1 14.55 +0.66 40 Worthington 0.32 -0.59 3 14.58 +1.07 47 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.00 -0.77 0 13.19 -0.22 36 Woonsocket 0.00 -0.96 0 17.29 +3.53 41 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.13 -0.78 2 14.22 +0.94 46 Bridgeport/Siko 0.02 -0.78 2 10.09 -2.85 44 Hartford/Bradle 0.07 -0.84 2 10.81 -2.47 42 Norfolk 0.19 -0.93 3 11.80 -3.41 43 Norwich 0.00 -0.77 0 13.89 -1.09 35 Thomaston_Dam 0.71 -0.27 4 12.76 -1.64 46 Willimantic 0.00 -0.86 0 11.44 -2.36 39 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 2005: 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: Warm weather this past week has really pushed the corn along. Jude Boucher (Ext), Tolland: 90 degrees or near 90 degrees everyday this week. No rain. Crops could use a drink and some herbicides may not activate. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: High heat with many days in the 90's with humidity high as well pushed corn and other crops. On sandy soils drought is an issue and moving irrigation pipe and pumping water were major activities. Spraying roundup on RR corn. Broadleaf tobacco planting nearing completion. Dry hay made from Wednesday on into the weekend. Transplanting peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: Field Corn- The unusually hot temperatures pushed the corn crop along with much faster growth than usual for this time of year. Growers will be finishing up planting the last of their fields in the coming week. The typically wetter fields that were planted later this year should do quite well this time. Growers should be scouting weeds in their fields for post-emergence treatments for glyphosate resistant corn and to record weed escapes from pre-emergence herbicide treatments. Burcucumber, a serious weed problem in our region, and flourishes under these weather conditions. Hay crop- A great deal of grass was chopped this week with some growers baling square and round bales. Growers trying to get a jump on the hay crop earlier this month did their fair share of rutting up wet areas in the field. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Hazy, hot, humid, some thundershowers but getting really dry. Hay matured short, corn planted and up in five days, irrigating strawberries which are averaging a week later than usual for harvest. Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Extreme heat and humidity in the mid 90's all week. Nights were in the 70's. No rain has fallen. Producers are irrigating very dry fields. Corn is up and doesn't look stressed yet. Strawberries are out. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Poultry manure being spread with fly larvae, generating many neighbor concerns. Coops emptying manure at this time of year is not a best management practice. Spreading larvae infested manure when over 50 degrees temperatures is a good way to meet your neighbors during graduation picnics. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Farmers made hay this week as temperatures shot into the 90s. Humidity made drying conditions poor - and afternoon showers washed some hay. Corn jumped out of the ground with the heat - some fields as much as 4" overnight. PSNT testing is getting underway for some of the earliest corn planted. Marcia Jette (FSA), New London: Warmer, dry weather has allowed producers to do final corn planting, start green chopping and haying. Vegetables being planted, cool weather in the beginning has put everything about a week behind. Strawberries will be ready next weekend and looking good.Lorriane Los, Univ of Connecticut: It was an extremely hot and humid week. Plum curculio became active and caused some damage in all tree fruits. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes for the most part are all planted with some of the early planted emerging. Even some of the later planted are just about ready to emerge. Mother Nature has a way of catching up to what is normal. Many growers are applying herbicides. Some are picking rocks dug up during spring tillage. Everything looks quite good. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Thunder showers/rain have delayed some planting. Most farmers are about 95- 98% done planting. Hopefully, all will finish this week if rain holds off. Potatoes already planted earlier are emerging. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Planting is going full tilt. Hot weather gave a boost to planted crops. Temperatures were in the high 80's part of the week. Gleason Gray (Ext), Penobscot: Field work progressing rapidly, some low area still very wet. Kathy Hopkins (Ext), Somerset: Finally some sun. Planting in high gear. Some hay cut and rained on by a series of thunderstorms over the weekend that also knocked out power in some areas. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: We are just past peek bloom which makes the crop about two weeks late. Bloom has been more concentrated with the delay and the bee activity is high so we expect good pollination. Little blight is evident despite the wet weather. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Some hay was harvested before we started getting tropical downpours each afternoon. Some crops that were planted early had to be replanted because the seed rotted in the cold damp soil. Crops planted recently have jumped right out of the ground with the sun, heat and moisture. Hay harvest is getting really tricky. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Oxford County producers are still welcoming the sunshine and wishing the rain showers would stay away. The animals are getting out into the pastures and crops are still being planted. The crops are behind schedule and will be late coming this year. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: A lot of farm work occurred this week. Finishing manure spreading, plowing, tilling and some planting. Have not seen anyone harvesting hay. Animals are being rotated through pastures. Laura Rand (FSA), Androscoggin: Farmers are out straight trying to get crops planted after being about two weeks behind schedule. Silage and grain corn emerging. The weather is feast or famine - hot, humid weather for the past several days with scattered showers. Sandy Truslow (FSA) Cumberland/York: Warm weather finally arrived! Producers were busy trying to catch up on planting or cutting green chop. Vegetable producers report crops are 2-3 weeks behind. Potatoes rotted in the ground. Wetter areas will not get planted this year. Donald Burke (FSA) Waldo: Haying has begun and silage corn planting is underway. Pastures are looking good now that the sun has come out. Farmers now able to plant crops now that the ground has dried out. Pollination is almost complete on blueberries and apples. Trudy Soucy (FSA) Know/Lincoln: Gardens are being planted now that the ground has dried out. The first crop of salad greens are ready. Patches of Monilinia blight appearing in blueberry fields. Also insect damage in new burn fields. Barbara Murphy (Ext) Oxford: Hot and humid weather has resulted in good crop growth. Lots of fungal diseases around. Localized hail storms last week may have damaged some crops. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Warm to hot weather with only cloudy skies. Nearly one inch of rain. Great weather for field work, two good days for making hay early in the week, the other days a lot of haylage was baled or chopped and put in plastic bags or cover! Most corn looking good and being sprayed for weed control. Orchardists still lacking for bee activity to help. Veggie growers real busy planting. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The weekend brought isolated rain showers to the area. Some areas received two inches of rain while others received none. It was hot and humid all week. Planting cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, beans, and pumpkins. Harvesting asparagus, spinach, rhubarb, lettuce, hay and straw. Potatoes are being hilled up and early sweet corn is tasseling. Vegetable growers are scouting their fields for Colorado Potato Beetles. Tobacco crop looks good and it being cultivated. Gary Guida, Worcester: Heat and sun! For a full week! Everyone's plowing, planting transplants,laying plastic, spreading fertilizer, top dressing emerged corn-just a busy field work week with growers (like me) trying to catch up and we're almost there! Plant sales at farm stands excellent. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Hot and muggy weather conditions have most crops growing so fast that you can watch them grow! This is especially true with all the forage and early crops. Scattered thundershowers have literally dumped rain in some areas of the county while other sections remain bone-dry. It's been really tough to decide whether to cut hay or wait. The crop is maturing rapidly but conditions are not right for baling. Top-dressing and cultivation have most row crops looking great. Potatoes are starting to flower. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Summer! Average high temperature 82. Plant growth excellent. Stifling humidity at end of week, with some heavy showers fouling up fieldwork. Strawberries 1/3 grown; no red yet. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: From one extreme to another. Hazy, hot and humid is the story of the week. Some attempts at first cutting, mixed results. Grass is mature to over mature in pastures and hay fields. Apples seem to be fairly well pollinated despite an apparent lack of bees. Plum Curculio active. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Hot, muggy weather all week with a few thunderstorms here and there. Field corn is growing rapidly with the heat, some fields at 3-4 leaf stage. Harvest of baylage/haylage continues, with some farms finishing up first cutting. Less than ideal drying conditions for dry hay. Vegetables doing well, farm stands offering lettuce, radishes, and high tunnel tomatoes. Orchards starting to report heavy losses from last month's hard frost, some varieties faring better than others. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Hot humid week with severe thunderstorms toward weekend. Mowing machines moving to fields as haylage harvest commences. Nearly all field corn planted with most emerging quickly now. A few unplanted corn fields in wet areas not in at midweek. Garden centers and nurseries doing a brisk business. Some drawing down stock a bit on a few plant types. Veggie transplants doing well, early season crops look to be coming along well. Weeds also growing well. Concerns for apple scab with set conditions that are prevailing. Although was starting to look a little dry in northern part of the county at mid- week. Nice timing of apple and blueberry blossoming and sunshine this year, bees quite active during this period. Looks like a good fruit set. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables; Transplanting tomato and pepper plants, and making successive planting vegetable crops. Harvesting spinach, greens, radish, asparagus and rhubarb. Finally, the SUN and HOT temperatures have appeared and plants are wilt but they starting to green up. Fruit; Fruit growers monitoring pest and crop development and applying cover sprays for pest control. Orchardists deciding what thinning options they are going to apply. Mowing orchard floor and weed spraying under trees. With the previous week's rainy conditions, growers are making sure to have protectant fungicides applied for strawberry fruit mold control. Field Crops; Planting and weed spraying corn fields. Farmers are continuing trying to make haylage and trying to make baled hay between rain showers. Some fields too wet for harvest equipment. Grasses heading out and maturing, especially orchard grass. Corn growing slowly. Sadie Puglisi (Ext), Merrimack: A humid week with lots of sunshine. The cool, rainy spring is bringing in lots of questions about anthracnose and other ornamental problems. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Hay harvest continues when weather permits. Hay yields are off due to winter kill and weather conditions. Corn planting finished up and early planted corn is up and growing. Scattered thunderstorms providing moisture for crops or getting hay wet. Re-growth is good due to moisture. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Hazy, hot and humid. Great weather to accelerate the corn crops. Is also helping to advance vegetable growing. Afternoon storms have kept things watered. Been difficult getting dry hay cut with rain every afternoon. Greenhouses and nurseries have been doing good business in this warm weather. Most silage corn is planted, few fields left to do. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Lots of good heat and sunshine have made the difference. Corn, field and sweet look great, color and growth have both improved. Field work continues, cultivating potatoes and haying fields. Most summer vegetables planted. Roadside stands still busy and full of plants and cole crops. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: The recent hot humid weather has done wonders for the corn crop. First cut of grass is progressing nicely but yields are definitely down at least 15% from normal with good quality. This area was spared some of the flash flooding that occurred in other locations of the state. Manure being spread on fields where grass was harvested. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers harvested a lot of hay this past week. We had a few scattered showers but mainly a dry week. Most of the corn has germinated and is 2-3 inches tall. Germination on the fields I looked at is uniform. Hay crop looks good and should be high quality feed. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: It has been corn growing weather this past week (H-H-H). Drying hay is slow with scattered showers this past week. Manure spreading after first cutting has helped second cut off to a great start. Veggie growers are happier now that we have the warmer weather and their crops are looking better. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Hot and muggy. Heavy thunderstorms on 2 afternoons gave us an inch of water each time. Fields were beginning to dry out before that happened. Some very muddy situations in hay fields. Corn is responding to the heat. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Still planting late sweet corn. Spraying crops for weed control. Hand weeding on cole crops and early vegetable crops. Most vine crops have been planted. 0.911 rain. Almost one inch of rain, it came down in two showers. Helped a lot. Big daily cuts of asparagus, plenty of scallions, lettuce, radishes and rhubarb in the market now. With warm weather and rain gardens looking good. 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, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov and in the body, type subscribe usda-new-eng-crop-weather Statistician: Travis Averill Stat Assistant: Deirdre Davis Deputy Director: Gerald Tillman New England Agricultural Statistics 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 ***********************