State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 7/24/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 13 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) July 25, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary-- Crop Growth Excellent GENERAL CONDITIONS: For the week ending July 24, 2005, there were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 3% very short, 26% short, 67% adequate, 4% surplus. Subsoil moisture: 25% short, 71% adequate, 4% surplus. Pasture condition: 1% poor, 20% fair, 58% good, and 21% excellent. The hot, humid weather that characterized last weekend continued into the beginning of the week. Thunderstorms moved across the region on Tuesday afternoon. Hot, humid conditions with scattered showers continued throughout the week until the sun cleared the sky for a fair weekend. Humidity and rain made it another tough week to bale hay, although lower humidity later in the week and partly sunny skies helped in some parts of the region. Scattered rain has left some fields needing moisture and promoting growth in others. Major farm activities included cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pests and diseases, spraying pesticides, mowing orchards, haying, harvesting an array of vegetables and early sweet corn, harvesting blueberries and raspberries. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 3 3 0 Short 26 22 19 Adequate 67 70 70 Surplus 4 5 11 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 2 1 Short 25 13 17 Adequate 71 78 75 Surplus 4 7 7 --------------------------------------------- -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: FRUIT: A warm, sunny weekend provided great conditions for pick your own berry operations. Strawberry harvest was complete in all states except Maine, where picking should be finished at week's end. Highbush blueberry harvest season had a late start but now is in full swing, with crop condition rated good to excellent regionwide. Maine wild blueberry growers reported that some fields are under stress from a lack of moisture and due to a light crop, some fields will not be harvested. Fly traps were placed in wild blueberries fields in Maine to monitor for fruit flies. Pick your own raspberry harvest was active in the region. Peach harvest was just getting underway in the southern New England states at week's end. Ochardists continued monitoring pests, applied pesticides, and mowed orchard floors. Cranberry growers were active irrigating, applying pesticides and fungicides, and removing bees from beds. VEGETABLES: Farmers' markets and roadside stands were bustling with fresh vegetable sales during the week. Humidity and warm days have enhanced crop growth; however some crops are now under stress due to a lack of rainfall. Sweet corn harvest gaining momentum in New England, with picking underway in all states except Maine by week's end. Growers harvested an array of vegetables including: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, and tomatoes. Vegetable growers were also busy cultivating, weeding, monitoring for pests regionwide. FIELD CROPS: High humidity and warm temperatures enhanced crop development. Early planted corn silage started to reach pre-tassel or tassel stage. Some farmer's reported negative effects on growth due to recent limited rainfall. Great haying weather arrived for the weekend, since humidity levels hindered drying conditions earlier in the week. First cutting of hay near completion and second cutting was close to the halfway point. In southern New England, some farmers had third cutting of hay underway. Massachusetts potato harvest was underway by July 24, ahead of last year and normal. Maine potatoes moved into full bloom in Aroostook County, with warm temperatures promoting rapid growth. Moisture supplies for northernmost areas growing short; however dry conditions have held diseases in check. Broadleaf tobacco harvest was just getting underway in the Connecticut River Valley this past week. Shade tobacco harvest advanced to 15 percent picked, ahead of last year's progress. Area crop specialists rated the condition of both tobacco types as good. Tobacco growers have intensified fungicide applications to control the spread of disease. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Emerged -- Silage Corn 99 100 100 Good/Excellent Sweet Corn 95 100 99 Good -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME Good/Excellent Oats, ME - - - Good/Excellent Potatoes Maine - - - Good Mass. 5 10 <5 Good Rhode Isl. - - - Good/Fair Sweet Corn 10 10 10 Good Tobacco Broadleaf <5 - - Good Shade 15 10 10 Good Dry hay, 90 90 95 Good/Fair 1st cut Dry hay, 40 30 40 Good/Excellent 2nd cut ---------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- --Percent Harvested-- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Fruit Condition Avg Size ----------------------------------------------------- Apples - - - Avg/Above Good Peaches 5 - <5 Avg Good Pears - - - Avg Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush 15 35 10 Avg/Above Good/Excel Wild, ME - - - Avg/Below Fair Cranberries,MA - - - Avg Good/Fair Strawberries 99 99 99 Avg/Above Good ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the Period: Monday July 18, 2005 To: Sunday July 24, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 42 91 72 +5 0.00 2.05 NH 37 98 72 +5 0.15 3.34 VT 46 92 72 +5 0.14 1.20 MA 50 95 75 +5 0.00 2.60 RI 55 94 76 +5 0.01 0.51 CT 52 97 76 +4 0.08 2.99 ------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday July 18, 2005 To: Sunday July 24, 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 50 88 73 +3 949 -163 418 +20 Allagash 50 90 70 +5 792 +65 315 +142 Augusta_State_A 56 88 75 +5 1047 -16 481 +110 Bangor_Intl_Arp 56 90 75 +7 1064 +111 471 +170 Barnard 50 87 72 +6 919 +94 399 +173 Bath 52 89 72 +4 877 -82 351 +42 Bethel 50 88 73 +5 990 +23 431 +126 Brassua_Dam 47 87 71 +6 813 +139 337 +184 Brunswick_ME 57 91 73 +4 903 -56 382 +73 Caribou_Municip 54 90 72 +7 931 +143 403 +199 Corinna 52 91 74 +7 994 +60 441 +158 Danforth 54 87 72 +5 876 -19 366 +91 Dover-Foxcroft 57 88 71 +5 844 +19 352 +126 Durham 52 88 73 +2 947 -181 410 -13 East_Hiram 49 90 72 +4 973 +7 426 +121 Eustis 50 88 70 +6 810 +143 331 +192 Frenchville 53 87 71 +6 910 +183 392 +219 Gray 57 89 75 +7 1054 +113 491 +197 Greenville_ME 52 86 72 +6 893 +57 388 +156 Guilford 54 88 74 +8 897 +72 405 +179 Hollis 50 91 73 +6 979 +71 438 +168 Houlton 50 89 72 +6 904 +89 382 +159 Kennebunkport 55 88 71 -1 885 -307 360 -99 Livermore_Falls 48 91 74 +8 1018 +197 474 +255 Moosehead 49 90 70 +6 792 +118 318 +165 New_Sharon 50 91 74 +8 975 +154 445 +226 Patten 50 89 72 +5 836 +21 342 +119 Portage 52 90 72 +6 909 +121 393 +189 Portland_ME 55 89 74 +5 1002 +61 444 +150 Rangeley 46 88 69 +6 818 +183 336 +211 Sebec_Lake 56 89 73 +6 905 +69 387 +155 Vanceboro 55 86 72 +6 853 +28 344 +115 Waterville 55 89 75 +5 997 -115 453 +55 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 49 93 74 +5 1058 -33 493 +106 Benton 47 88 71 +5 1009 +95 441 +189 Berlin_AG 49 87 72 +5 1025 +112 457 +190 Bethlehem 46 90 71 +5 1023 +109 451 +198 Concord 49 89 74 +5 1240 +149 595 +208 Diamond_Pond 44 83 68 +5 787 +194 311 +216 First_Conn_Lake 43 85 68 +6 820 +227 323 +228 Greenville 58 92 76 +8 1296 +310 644 +341 Keene_AP 52 90 74 +4 1246 +7 593 +109 Lakeport 55 92 76 +7 1231 +208 596 +250 Marlow 50 89 73 +4 1128 +9 535 +141 Mount_Washingto 37 65 56 +7 235 +211 15 +15 North_Conway 50 90 73 +5 1084 +65 498 +158 Otter_Brook_Lk 52 89 73 +3 1164 -75 540 +56 Plymouth 49 90 72 +5 1031 +141 461 +206 Rochester 52 93 75 +4 1090 -73 496 +61 Weare 57 90 74 +5 1136 +17 530 +136 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 48 90 72 +5 1078 +132 488 +207 Bethel 50 90 73 +7 1108 +215 509 +251 Burlington_Intl 54 90 76 +6 1402 +214 711 +255 East_Haven 47 90 71 +6 1026 +279 454 +272 Island_Pond 46 86 70 +7 1005 +268 449 +279 Montpelier 52 87 73 +6 1168 +243 544 +268 Morrisville_AG 46 87 71 +4 1004 +91 444 +168 Mount_Mansfield 47 74 63 +4 627 +251 182 +145 Northfield 50 89 72 +7 1087 +257 493 +268 Pownal 54 89 74 +7 1182 +230 528 +241 Rochester 52 88 73 +6 1126 +233 521 +263 Rutland_AG 54 89 74 +4 1216 -20 584 +106 Sunderland 53 89 73 +4 1179 -10 549 +108 Sutton 48 88 71 +6 997 +250 446 +264 Townshend_Lake 53 91 73 +3 1192 +40 559 +129 Union_Vill_Dam 57 83 71 +1 1050 -115 458 +23 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 56 89 74 +6 1201 +216 557 +240 Boston/Logan_In 66 93 80 +6 1325 -61 657 +70 Greenfield 55 90 75 +3 1304 -25 626 +82 New_Bedford 53 92 76 +2 1165 -204 505 -61 Otis_AFB 59 90 77 +7 1389 +309 676 +290 Plymouth 56 92 76 +5 1166 +31 551 +124 Walpole 57 92 77 +6 1314 +125 630 +177 West_Medway 57 90 76 +5 1230 +41 571 +118 Chicopee/Westov 54 90 76 +2 1491 -36 732 +52 Worcester 61 89 76 +6 1281 +182 608 +218 Worthington 50 89 71 +4 1112 +153 486 +196 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 60 94 78 +6 1399 +92 674 +138 Woonsocket 55 91 76 +5 1318 +149 618 +191 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 52 88 73 -3 1226 -254 542 -112 Bridgeport/Siko 66 91 79 +5 1488 +90 690 +85 Hartford/Bradle 56 97 77 +3 1561 +88 779 +128 Norfolk 53 85 72 +4 1143 +180 492 +197 Norwich 58 93 77 +5 1397 +54 668 +120 Thomaston_Dam 57 90 76 +6 1356 +190 640 +217 Willimantic 54 91 76 +6 1365 +182 632 +197 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.31 -0.48 2 1.71 -1.41 12 Allagash 0.40 -0.49 3 3.40 +0.07 8 Augusta_State_A 0.24 -0.46 1 2.15 -0.72 10 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.34 -0.41 2 1.22 -1.84 9 Barnard 0.76 -0.01 2 5.75 +2.46 12 Bath 0.53 -0.10 3 1.76 -0.98 10 Bethel 0.59 -0.19 2 3.16 -0.09 11 Brassua_Dam 1.17 +0.26 5 3.69 +0.00 13 Brunswick_ME 1.14 +0.51 3 3.05 +0.31 12 Caribou_Municip 0.38 -0.55 1 3.97 +0.50 7 Corinna 0.55 -0.22 3 3.61 +0.51 12 Danforth 0.66 -0.25 2 3.97 +0.43 12 Dover-Foxcroft 0.38 -0.39 3 3.78 +0.49 12 Durham 0.52 -0.25 4 3.56 +0.40 14 East_Hiram 1.04 +0.22 3 3.54 +0.24 14 Eustis 0.26 -0.58 2 5.65 +2.29 9 Frenchville 1.16 +0.27 3 3.54 +0.21 8 Gray 0.33 -0.37 3 2.81 -0.09 13 Greenville_ME 0.50 -0.27 3 5.57 +2.28 12 Guilford 0.64 -0.13 2 3.76 +0.47 12 Hollis 0.87 +0.17 4 4.66 +1.60 15 Houlton 0.97 +0.12 3 4.06 +0.76 14 Kennebunkport 0.18 -0.51 1 2.72 -0.16 11 Livermore_Falls 0.11 -0.66 2 2.00 -1.20 8 Moosehead 1.63 +0.72 3 3.97 +0.28 11 New_Sharon 0.10 -0.67 1 2.19 -1.01 9 Patten 1.46 +0.61 4 5.31 +2.01 16 Portage 0.95 +0.02 4 4.46 +0.99 11 Portland_ME 0.51 -0.19 3 3.78 +0.88 13 Rangeley 0.58 -0.22 3 3.09 -0.10 11 Sebec_Lake 0.73 -0.04 2 6.84 +3.55 12 Vanceboro 0.63 -0.14 2 3.75 +0.67 11 Waterville 0.09 -0.70 2 2.27 -0.85 10 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.74 -0.01 3 2.55 -0.31 12 Benton 0.72 -0.05 3 2.87 -0.29 11 Berlin_AG 0.42 -0.42 2 3.46 +0.04 9 Bethlehem 0.61 -0.30 3 3.80 +0.26 11 Concord 0.25 -0.50 2 3.43 +0.57 10 Diamond_Pond 0.55 -0.50 3 5.95 +1.78 12 First_Conn_Lake 0.77 -0.28 2 5.33 +1.16 9 Greenville 0.16 -0.69 3 3.04 -0.33 10 Keene_AP 1.05 +0.21 3 6.07 +2.80 11 Lakeport 0.78 -0.06 4 3.21 +0.02 11 Marlow 0.95 +0.18 3 4.71 +1.54 12 Mount_Washingto 3.01 +1.44 3 9.47 +3.04 14 North_Conway 3.34 +2.50 4 5.27 +1.85 12 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.36 -0.48 3 3.69 +0.42 12 Plymouth 0.43 -0.48 3 4.85 +1.40 12 Rochester 1.23 +0.46 1 5.19 +2.09 11 Weare 1.17 +0.40 4 5.06 +1.89 15 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.22 -0.69 2 3.29 -0.45 12 Bethel 0.67 -0.21 3 2.86 -0.54 13 Burlington_Intl 0.96 +0.12 3 3.75 +0.48 9 East_Haven 0.65 -0.33 3 5.89 +2.06 11 Island_Pond 0.92 -0.06 2 4.10 +0.26 10 Montpelier 0.51 -0.19 1 3.62 +0.80 13 Morrisville_AG 0.31 -0.65 2 2.93 -0.76 10 Mount_Mansfield 0.19 -1.28 3 5.41 -0.47 13 Northfield 0.60 -0.18 1 3.87 +0.80 10 Pownal 1.09 +0.18 4 6.15 +2.41 14 Rochester 0.50 -0.38 4 3.19 -0.21 13 Rutland_AG 1.20 +0.29 4 4.19 +0.75 14 Sunderland 0.60 -0.10 3 5.64 +2.93 17 Sutton 0.85 -0.13 4 4.34 +0.51 15 Townshend_Lake 0.27 -0.50 1 4.98 +2.04 13 Union_Vill_Dam 0.24 -0.53 2 2.59 -0.32 11 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.60 +0.76 4 5.91 +2.55 15 Boston/Logan_In 0.18 -0.45 2 3.57 +0.99 7 Greenfield 2.43 +1.59 4 8.36 +4.97 14 New_Bedford 0.03 -0.67 2 1.68 -1.09 12 Otis_AFB 0.12 -0.51 2 2.24 -0.36 9 Plymouth 0.03 -0.74 2 1.52 -1.56 10 Walpole 0.15 -0.62 2 2.50 -0.65 9 West_Medway 0.72 -0.05 4 4.25 +1.10 17 Chicopee/Westov 1.40 +0.62 4 4.03 +0.66 12 Worcester 0.38 -0.46 3 4.15 +0.65 11 Worthington 0.13 -0.85 4 4.95 +1.12 15 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.19 -0.51 3 1.05 -1.79 10 Woonsocket 0.51 -0.34 3 2.76 -0.81 12 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.77 +0.07 4 5.38 +2.45 14 Bridgeport/Siko 0.48 -0.36 1 4.32 +0.90 11 Hartford/Bradle 0.71 +0.01 4 8.51 +5.58 14 Norfolk 1.65 +0.74 3 4.80 +0.98 13 Norwich 0.29 -0.55 3 2.92 -0.34 10 Thomaston_Dam 2.11 +1.14 4 6.68 +2.98 16 Willimantic 0.48 -0.49 4 2.46 -1.29 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 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIShome page at www.awis.com or call toll free at1-888-798-9955. -- Other Agricultural Comments and News CONNECTICUT - Jude Boucher (Ext), Tolland: Thunderstorms and rain has been spotty. Some fields have more than enough, while some didn't get any. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: The crop is at tassel stage on fields planted before mid-May. Despite all the heat and humidity, lack of widespread rains may have a negative effect on crop growth in typically drier fields. Scouting for weeds like burcucumber at this time is so important to avoid problems at harvest and prevent new outbreaks in the future. Grass hay- Some dry hay finally baled over the weekend. Some growers that cut dry hay to sell seemed to have wrapped up the first cut after a difficult month to make hay with all the humidity. Second cut will be short in the county unless we receive more rain soon. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Corn is looking great, finishing up second cutting. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Corn looks terrific from 29 inches to over six feet tall, some hay has gone by, cutting between rainstorms, 2nd cutting coming up nice, some mold and disease problems with frequent brief showers affecting vegetables and blueberries, no rust yet on tomatoes, good crop of pickling cukes and summer squash, farmers' markets have abundant vegetables and fruits for sale, as well as cut flowers, peaches and apricots are beginning. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Dry weather continues. Rain is needed for crops to gain some growth. On the positive side no late blite has been found either in Maine or New Brunswick. Growers continue to apply fungicides. Most are on a five day schedule. Most potato fields are in full blossom. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Growers are still on a five day spray schedule for fungicides. Some herbicides and insecticides being sprayed. Potato fields are blossoming and look excellent. Growers are finishing up hilling of potatoes. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Most of the farmers will finish cultivation this week. The crop was behind some due to late plant but with some of the warm temperatures and moisture and with the rapid growth of the plants the crop has caught up. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Thunder showers challenged those trying to dry hay. Constant heat gave many crops a boost. Kathy Hopkins (Ext), Somerset: Hot weather welcome after a cold spring but a bit too hot and humid. More haying this week and vegetables are growing along with the weeds. Donald Burke (FSA), Waldo: Haying continues. Some farmers ready to start second crop. Fly traps are out on blueberry fields to monitor fruit flies. Gardens and blueberry fields need rain. Some blueberry fields will not be raked this year because the crop is so light. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Haying continues with dry weather all week. Farmers' markets bustling with activity. Vegetable growers and blueberry producers need rain! After the wet spring who would have thought the ground would ever dry out? The blueberry crop looks poor to fair, with some fields not worth raking. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Growers indicated that crop on costal fields was poor and on barrens only fair to good. Berry size is small because of delay in growth and lack of moisture. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Things seem to average out. Now, we could use some showers! Good growing conditions but it looks like corn will need a long growing season to catch up. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Oxford County producers are very busy harvesting hay. Crops are looking good to date but now in need of some rain. Oxford County has had reports of severe Thunderstorms with high winds throughout the county. Raspberries are being harvested along with other vegetables. MASSACHUSETTS - Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Conditions continue to be dry, cranberries are sizing up as growers are irrigating, applying insecticides and fungicides. Growers continue to make hay with reports of excellent quality and production. Shellfish growers are harvesting now that the red tide has subsided with reports of excellent growth. Vegetables continue to lag behind with most sweet corn growers starting harvest this week which is at least two weeks behind, demand for fresh produce is strong and prices are firm. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Coming out of bloom; beehives are being removed from the beds. Fruit set is variable; poor in some Early Black and Stevens beds, while the Howes beds have fantastic set so far. The week of cloudy, drizzly weather when those earlier varieties were in full bloom took its toll, with poor bee activity. Growers have finished fungicide applications, with the final fruitworm applications going on this week. Roundup is being applied to taller weeds. Some sprayer of dodder with soap solutions to kill it prior to flowering. Most beds look very good at this point. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Heavy rains on 7/18 saturated sections of Franklin County. Producers reported as much as 8 inches of rain and high winds during the storm! These conditions caused road closings, power outages and (in some cases) town-declared states of emergency. Many farmers called to report that they were unable to get to their fields because the farm roads were washed away. Other farmers called to say that water was ponding on all field hollows. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Heat and humidity all week long. All crops are growing very fast. Harvesting summer squash, radishes, greens, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet corn, and blueberries. Tobacco harvest has started and the crop looks good. All growers are initiating fungicide applications to protect against crop diseases. Gary Guida, Worcester: Harvesting typical assortment of summer crops. Picture perfect weekend and many area farm stands sold out of picked corn. Just terrific citizen response to locally grown produce. Flower sales slowing a bit. Spraying for European Corn Borer in corn but not many other insect pressure. Fungicide programs in effect for rest of the crop year. Given the spring all crops doing remarkably well. Bicep failure in many corn fields - I swear they changed the formula! NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: There were lots of calls for plant disease diagnosis this week. Most problems were fungal in nature. Harvesting raspberries and blueberries, as well as many vegetables. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Hot and muggy for much of the week, with a couple bright, sunny days towards the end. Most corn at pre-tassel stage, with some tasseled and silking in warmer spots. Second cutting haylage/baylage continues. A few good drying days for making dry hay, but some fields are still wet and producers risk damaging sod. Sweet corn has started to appear at farm stands, along with a variety of other vegetables. PYO blueberries and raspberries continue - looks like a great crop for the blueberries. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Hot humid weather at beginning of week, giving way to cooler temperatures by week's end. Field corn looking very good, some rain showers helping out on areas of lighter soils. Sweet corn beginning to tassel and silk on earlier varieties. Hay making continues in what has been generally good conditions, any on which first cut hasn't yet been taken now well headed out. Biophenometer sited at Lancaster passes 1000+ growing degree days this week. One of the best years for growing warm-season loving veggies - cucumbers, squashes, tomatoes, etc. in a number of years. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Hay harvest (1st and 2nd) continuing. Some thundershowers have provided moisture, with slight damage to some crops due to high winds (localized). Corn continues to grow well, tasseling and silking is common place. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Several days of low humidity and no rain were just what many farmers needed. Some areas still have not been able to get at their first cut hay, due to wet soil conditions. But if conditions remain relatively dry, with low humidity, these areas should be hayable. Field corn looks good as a general rule. Some late planted pieces due to wet soil conditions will have a hard time making it unless we get a warm dry fall like we had last year. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables: Farmers kept busy harvesting, cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insects and diseases - if needed. Very good demand for produce at most local farmers' markets and farm stands. Corn earworm in traps during the week. Growers harvesting an array of vegetables including: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, summer squash and first (regularly planted) sweet corn. Fruit: Blueberry and raspberry harvests continued. First Peaches were harvested. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, spraying if needed, and mowing orchard floors. Field Crops: Farmers making baled hay between showers. Silage corn is rapid growing. Second crop is looking good. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Harvesting, sweet corn, high tunnel tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries and whole array of vegetables. Monitoring pests in fruit orchards. Weeding and cultivating in vegetable fields. Irrigating vegetables. Hay being made. Great weekend weather for PYO. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Silage corn is starting to tassel in many areas. Humidity and spot showers have helped to make this a good crop this year. Second crop of dry hay coming in followed by topdressing of manure. Many alfalfa fields will be reseeded near end of summer after a crop of corn is taken off. Humidity is also advancing the maturity of summer vegetables at a fast pace. First sign of sweet corn being harvested and sold at farm stands this week. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Lots of sun and heat this week. Blueberry picking is going well, just starting to harvest sweet corn, lots of summer vegetables coming in. Spraying sweet corn and potatoes. Field corn has finally taken a jump. Roadside stands are busy along with local Farmers Markets. We could use some rain. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Classic summer weather has been great for most crops. Could use a rainy day as rainfall has been generally light. Sweet corn harvest has begun. Second cut of grass is well underway with favorable weather. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Landowners are harvesting their second hay crop around the rain showers. Rain has been frequent enough to keep adequate or surplus moisture in the ground. Pastures are holding up pretty good with the rain and hot weather. So far second crop yields appear to be good but not a record breaker. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Humid weather continues but haying continued also with the sunshine. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext),Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources ConservationServices (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 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*********************