State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 8/28/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 18 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) August 29, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary-- Mostly Dry and Sunny GENERAL CONDITIONS: For the week ending August 28, 2005, there were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 10% very short, 41% short, and 49% adequate. Subsoil moisture: 10% very short, 28% short, 60% adequate, 2% surplus. Pasture condition: 6% very poor, 13% poor, 36% fair, 39% good and 6% excellent. Mostly clear skies and warm temperatures prevailed in the region at the beginning of the week. On Wednesday, cool, cloudy conditions prevailed and scattered rains hindered field work throughout New England. Warm, clear conditions returned through Saturday. Cloudy, hazy and rainy weather hit most of the region on Sunday, bringing much needed moisture. In southern New England, crops continued to show signs of stress due to prolonged lack of rainfall. Major farm activities included cultivating, weeding, irrigating, monitoring pests and diseases, spraying fungicides and pesticides, spreading manure, baling hay, chopping grass, and harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 10 11 0 Short 41 44 9 Adequate 49 45 71 Surplus 0 0 20 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 10 8 0 Short 28 35 8 Adequate 60 55 77 Surplus 2 2 15 --------------------------------------------- -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Maine wild blueberry harvest should finish at week's end as overall the crop was expected to be below average due to extreme variation among fields. Highbush blueberry harvest was coming to an end with the crop rated good to excellent. Early apple harvest was in full swing with Ginger Golds, Jersey Macs and Paula Reds throughout most of the region. Maine and Vermont apple conditions were rated good to excellent and good to fair elsewhere. Peach harvest continued strong in Connecticut whereas, the rest of New England had less than half of the crop picked. Pear harvest was in full swing in Massachusetts, although harvest should start soon in Connecticut. Cranberry growers were busy preparing bogs as harvest approaches. More rain was needed to improve berry conditions and to help prevent frost damage during late harvest. Orchardist's were busy mowing orchard floors, fixing roads and moving bins into orchards, and spraying insecticides and pesticides. VEGETABLES: Vegetable growers continued to irrigate crops due to insufficient rainfall and additional moisture was needed in the region to enhance conditions. Sweet corn conditions varied from good to fair in southern New England and good to excellent in northern New England while harvested progressed throughout the region. Growers were busy harvesting a variety of vegetables such as: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, tomatoes and zucchini. Greenhouse and nursery operations were busy harvesting and selling a variety of flowers. FIELD CROPS: The prolonged lack of rainfall has led to unfavorable field conditions. Farmers were busy wrapping up the first cutting of hay. Cool, dry days provided for great haying conditions for second and third cuttings as both were rated good to excellent in the region. Field corn conditions varied from excellent to good in New Hampshire and Vermont and good to fair elsewhere. Some farmers started to chop corn silage while others prepared equipment for harvest. Maine oats and barley growers were in full swing with the harvest as quality and yield were very good. In Massachusetts, broadleaf tobacco harvest was nearing completion, whereas some Connecticut growers were irrigating the crop to bring along to maturity. Shade tobacco harvest in the Connecticut River Valley was coming to the end with the crop rated in good condition. The potential for late blight in Aroostook County potatoes remains high. Maine potato growers have only reported four cases of late blight in Southern Aroostook County this year. Growers continued to spray on a seven to 10 day schedule. Rhode Island potato harvest, in full swing, was rated in fair to poor condition, whereas Massachusetts potatoes were rated in good condition. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME 35 30 35 Good/Excellent Oats, ME 30 20 20 Good/Excellent Potatoes Maine -- <5 <5 Good/Excellent Mass. 15 30 30 Good Rhode Isl. 30 40 45 Fair/Poor Sweet Corn 65 65 65 Good/Fair Field Corn -- -- -- Excellent/Good Tobacco Broadleaf 80 65 80 Good/Fair Shade 80 80 85 Good Dry hay, 1st cut 99 95 99 Good/Fair Dry hay, 2nd cut 80 75 80 Good/Excellent Dry hay, 3rd cut 25 20 35 Good/Excellent ---------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- --Percent Harvested-- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Fruit Condition Avg Size ----------------------------------------------------- Apples 10 10 10 Avg Good/Fair Peaches 65 70 55 Avg Good/Fair Pears 5 5 10 Avg Fair/Good Blueberries Highbush 90 90 90 Avg/A Avg Good/Excel Wild, ME 95 85 90 Avg Fair/Good Cranberries, MA - - - Avg/B Avg Good ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the Period: Monday August 22, 2005 To: Sunday August 28, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 41 87 65 +2 0.00 1.68 NH 38 90 64 +1 0.04 1.01 VT 44 87 64 +1 0.00 0.56 MA 47 91 69 +2 0.00 0.32 RI 53 89 72 +3 0.00 0.80 CT 50 93 70 +2 0.00 0.44 ------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday August 22, 2005 To: Sunday August 28, 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 47 84 65 -3 1549 -216 671 -33 Allagash 42 84 62 +2 1206 +26 417 +110 Augusta_State_A 55 84 69 +3 1765 +56 849 +179 Bangor_Intl_Arp 50 85 67 +3 1744 +183 802 +240 Barnard 47 83 65 +3 1470 +108 604 +182 Bath 47 85 66 +0 1517 -76 641 +44 Bethel 50 84 66 +2 1601 +50 693 +149 Brassua_Dam 45 82 62 +3 1295 +160 486 +195 Brunswick_ME 52 87 70 +5 1613 +20 742 +145 Caribou_Municip 47 83 64 +4 1452 +182 588 +229 Corinna 50 85 65 +3 1586 +90 693 +190 Danforth 48 83 64 +2 1422 -35 567 +73 Dover-Foxcroft 47 81 63 +0 1357 -5 522 +100 Durham 49 83 65 -3 1567 -245 680 -78 East_Hiram 47 84 64 +0 1571 +27 675 +136 Eustis 45 80 60 +1 1248 +145 441 +176 Frenchville 49 87 64 +4 1426 +246 575 +268 Gray 51 85 68 +3 1778 +210 865 +289 Greenville_ME 51 79 64 +2 1429 +56 581 +150 Guilford 48 83 65 +3 1464 +102 624 +202 Hollis 48 86 65 +2 1618 +139 727 +230 Houlton 43 84 64 +3 1439 +112 580 +179 Kennebunkport 41 85 60 -9 1453 -456 598 -228 Livermore_Falls 46 86 66 +4 1645 +304 753 +351 Moosehead 43 83 61 +1 1257 +122 451 +160 New_Sharon 50 85 66 +5 1603 +262 724 +322 Patten 48 83 64 +3 1353 +26 517 +116 Portage 52 85 65 +5 1425 +155 569 +210 Portland_ME 52 85 69 +4 1727 +159 819 +243 Rangeley 46 80 61 +2 1296 +229 476 +230 Sebec_Lake 48 83 63 +1 1440 +67 577 +146 Vanceboro 48 83 65 +2 1399 +18 545 +103 Waterville 51 85 67 +1 1662 -103 768 +64 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 44 90 65 -2 1702 -22 791 +118 Benton 48 81 63 +1 1592 +158 680 +239 Berlin_AG 46 81 62 +0 1608 +163 691 +227 Bethlehem 46 83 63 +0 1598 +164 683 +241 Concord 47 89 68 +3 1984 +260 989 +316 Diamond_Pond 47 80 61 +3 1221 +244 428 +234 First_Conn_Lake 42 79 58 -1 1209 +232 413 +219 Greenville 50 88 67 +4 2056 +497 1054 +522 Keene_AP 48 88 66 -2 1986 +66 983 +166 Lakeport 54 87 68 +4 1983 +363 998 +401 Marlow 45 85 63 -3 1782 +37 839 +166 Mount_Washingto 38 59 47 +2 325 +265 15 +15 North_Conway 48 83 66 +2 1757 +147 821 +235 Otter_Brook_Lk 48 85 64 -4 1850 -70 876 +59 Plymouth 46 83 64 +2 1637 +215 717 +270 Rochester 51 87 68 +2 1810 -26 866 +107 Weare 50 86 67 +2 1832 +87 876 +203 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 44 84 63 -2 1697 +193 758 +259 Bethel 47 85 65 +3 1751 +323 803 +349 Burlington_Intl 50 84 68 +2 2154 +307 1113 +347 East_Haven 46 86 63 +4 1587 +384 670 +356 Island_Pond 45 81 63 +3 1543 +357 652 +352 Montpelier 47 83 65 +3 1814 +358 842 +374 Morrisville_AG 44 82 61 -2 1564 +113 667 +194 Mount_Mansfield 46 77 57 +3 977 +345 245 +179 Northfield 44 85 63 +2 1678 +352 739 +350 Pownal 49 81 64 +1 1843 +333 839 +339 Rochester 47 84 64 +2 1760 +332 806 +352 Rutland_AG 47 83 66 -1 1914 +12 934 +139 Sunderland 48 85 64 -2 1849 +25 869 +141 Sutton 46 81 62 +2 1543 +340 651 +337 Townshend_Lake 49 86 65 -2 1892 +89 909 +174 Union_Vill_Dam 44 86 65 -2 1731 -87 789 +46 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 51 83 67 +3 1931 +364 937 +385 Boston/Logan_In 60 88 73 +3 2193 +18 1175 +148 Greenfield 49 85 66 -3 2038 -11 1012 +98 New_Bedford 52 89 70 -2 1993 -195 983 -56 Otis_AFB 55 88 70 +3 2188 +407 1125 +385 Plymouth 52 89 69 +2 1989 +146 1024 +238 Walpole 54 87 71 +4 2174 +297 1140 +349 West_Medway 53 87 69 +2 2031 +154 1022 +231 Chicopee/Westov 50 89 69 -3 2331 -11 1222 +76 Worcester 56 83 69 +3 2085 +334 1062 +368 Worthington 48 84 64 -1 1774 +243 798 +283 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 59 89 74 +4 2349 +277 1274 +320 Woonsocket 53 88 70 +3 2160 +314 1110 +357 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 50 86 67 -4 1970 -291 936 -149 Bridgeport/Siko 59 89 73 +2 2423 +199 1275 +193 Hartford/Bradle 53 91 71 +2 2462 +209 1330 +248 Norfolk 51 82 65 +2 1844 +308 843 +322 Norwich 55 91 71 +2 2286 +194 1207 +260 Thomaston_Dam 52 88 69 +3 2183 +358 1117 +386 Willimantic 50 90 69 +2 2194 +334 1111 +349 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.69 -0.15 2 2.78 -0.59 7 Allagash 0.95 +0.04 4 1.74 -1.98 9 Augusta_State_A 0.42 -0.31 2 2.44 -0.57 10 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.55 -0.22 3 2.88 -0.14 12 Barnard 1.16 +0.32 3 4.57 +1.28 12 Bath 0.28 -0.49 1 1.70 -1.29 9 Bethel 0.12 -0.79 2 1.91 -1.71 8 Brassua_Dam 0.25 -0.59 3 2.10 -1.28 12 Brunswick_ME 0.18 -0.59 2 2.12 -0.87 9 Caribou_Municip 0.38 -0.53 3 1.74 -1.95 12 Corinna 0.63 -0.27 3 1.83 -1.58 11 Danforth 0.69 -0.22 4 2.74 -0.97 13 Dover-Foxcroft 0.21 -0.63 2 2.81 -0.48 11 Durham 0.00 -0.70 0 2.20 -0.67 8 East_Hiram 0.09 -0.75 2 2.77 -0.65 9 Eustis 0.52 -0.25 2 1.75 -1.33 10 Frenchville 0.54 -0.37 3 2.23 -1.49 12 Gray 0.25 -0.43 3 2.07 -0.50 11 Greenville_ME 0.54 -0.30 1 3.45 +0.16 11 Guilford 1.28 +0.44 3 3.23 -0.06 13 Hollis 0.00 -0.70 0 1.32 -1.48 8 Houlton 0.43 -0.48 4 1.37 -2.32 13 Kennebunkport 0.00 -0.72 0 1.32 -1.50 8 Livermore_Falls 0.20 -0.74 1 2.23 -1.46 9 Moosehead 0.36 -0.48 1 3.66 +0.28 10 New_Sharon 0.55 -0.39 2 2.01 -1.68 10 Patten 0.85 -0.06 4 2.64 -1.05 12 Portage 0.33 -0.58 3 2.22 -1.47 11 Portland_ME 0.00 -0.68 0 1.33 -1.24 7 Rangeley 0.85 -0.06 2 3.29 -0.38 10 Sebec_Lake 1.68 +0.84 3 5.08 +1.79 12 Vanceboro 0.63 -0.16 4 2.57 -0.38 13 Waterville 0.68 -0.16 4 2.78 -0.59 11 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.11 -0.60 1 1.22 -1.80 6 Benton 0.61 -0.30 2 2.88 -0.75 11 Berlin_AG 0.69 -0.28 2 2.26 -1.65 7 Bethlehem 0.87 -0.12 4 4.16 +0.06 13 Concord 0.18 -0.53 1 2.07 -0.95 8 Diamond_Pond 1.01 -0.11 4 2.89 -1.74 12 First_Conn_Lake 0.49 -0.63 3 3.19 -1.44 12 Greenville 0.11 -0.78 1 2.10 -1.58 8 Keene_AP 0.13 -0.71 1 1.75 -1.79 5 Lakeport 0.18 -0.65 1 1.90 -1.45 7 Marlow 0.19 -0.65 2 3.22 -0.10 6 Mount_Washingto 0.88 -1.01 4 4.95 -2.48 13 North_Conway 0.04 -0.87 2 2.08 -1.56 11 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.06 -0.78 1 2.35 -1.19 7 Plymouth 0.20 -0.64 2 1.39 -2.16 10 Rochester 0.05 -0.72 1 2.15 -1.08 4 Weare 0.19 -0.65 2 3.60 +0.28 13 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.06 -0.92 1 2.46 -1.42 10 Bethel 0.22 -0.83 3 3.13 -1.03 8 Burlington_Intl 0.08 -0.83 1 1.34 -2.33 7 East_Haven 0.41 -0.62 4 2.34 -1.96 11 Island_Pond 0.34 -0.72 3 2.86 -1.54 11 Montpelier 0.09 -0.76 4 2.18 -1.30 13 Morrisville_AG 0.11 -0.95 3 1.55 -2.82 12 Mount_Mansfield 0.56 -1.12 5 2.60 -4.15 14 Northfield 0.11 -0.73 1 2.70 -0.71 9 Pownal 0.00 -0.98 0 1.86 -2.02 8 Rochester 0.20 -0.85 2 1.42 -2.74 7 Rutland_AG 0.44 -0.49 3 1.83 -1.97 10 Sunderland 0.18 -0.73 3 2.17 -1.33 11 Sutton 0.13 -0.90 3 2.24 -2.06 12 Townshend_Lake 0.05 -0.86 1 2.14 -1.46 10 Union_Vill_Dam 0.07 -0.77 3 1.45 -1.83 11 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.21 -0.56 2 3.44 +0.24 9 Boston/Logan_In 0.02 -0.75 1 2.19 -0.73 9 Greenfield 0.24 -0.58 2 2.77 -0.57 8 New_Bedford 0.02 -0.96 1 0.51 -3.29 4 Otis_AFB 0.04 -0.75 1 0.27 -2.79 3 Plymouth 0.01 -0.94 1 0.53 -3.06 5 Walpole 0.12 -0.79 2 2.36 -1.18 9 West_Medway 0.20 -0.71 2 1.91 -1.63 10 Chicopee/Westov 0.01 -0.83 1 2.17 -1.00 9 Worcester 0.17 -0.74 2 1.83 -1.60 9 Worthington 0.32 -0.59 2 1.42 -2.35 7 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.80 -0.04 1 1.12 -2.15 5 Woonsocket 0.45 -0.46 1 1.90 -1.74 7 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.07 -0.78 1 1.95 -1.31 8 Bridgeport/Siko 0.00 -0.70 0 1.45 -1.50 4 Hartford/Bradle 0.36 -0.49 2 1.58 -1.68 6 Norfolk 0.02 -1.03 1 2.95 -1.15 9 Norwich 0.22 -0.69 2 1.13 -2.41 5 Thomaston_Dam 0.15 -0.83 2 1.50 -2.33 9 Willimantic 0.00 -0.89 0 0.34 -3.23 5 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 - Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Many areas still with out measurable rain for the summer months. Many reporting that veggies without irrigation have stopped producing. Grass hay very light with alfalfa/clover somewhat better. Field corn from very good on heavy soils to burnt up on gravel. Some started chopping last week. Irrigated veggies look very good but fuel costs are adding up. Most finished harvesting broadleaf tobacco but some still irrigating to bring it along to maturity. Irrigating pumpkins to help size them up. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: An excellent week for making hay. Field Corn:The corn crop looks poorer every day. It's currently bone dry in New London County. Although rain is expected in the county later in the week it will be too late to help any corn planted before the middle of June. High nitrate concentration of corn stover should be of concern for some growers at harvest time. Some corn being chopped off. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: New London County is in desperate need of rain, most storms forecasted have turned northwest. The southeastern corner of the county, known for its light sandy soils, has experienced curling brown silage corn with 2nd cutting almost non-existent. Pumpkins are dropping drying blossoms. Squash is "cooking" on the vines. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Rain needed to get a third cutting of hay. Lighter soils are so dry that trucks are getting stuck in the sand as chopping begins to get corn off that is now dried down to frost like conditions. Ears on this early corn are Eight inches or less, not filled all the way, dented with no milk. Ccustom liquid manure spreading, cutting 2nd or 3rd cutting of hay, picking blueberries, peaches, early apples, pears just about ready, mowing orchards, spraying apples for various insects and maggott protection. Fruit size is affected by lack of water, no abnormal drop yet. Digging potatoes. Dry, Dry, Dry. Field corn is suffering. Nancy Welsh (FSA), New Haven: There has been no change in the dry conditions. All crops are feeling the affects of the abnormally dry weather. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Cooler drier weather made haying easier. Some corn silage harvesting of early varieties. Showers on Sunday brought relief from severely dry conditions in some areas. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Growers continue to prepare harvest equipment. Harvesting small grains, spraying fungicides, and insecticides when needed. Potato crops rebounded from the dry conditions following much needed rain the first part of the week. In furrow insecticides are letting go so some control for Colorado beetles, fleabeetles and aphids is being applied. Quality and yield of grain crop is very good. Donald Burke (FSA), Waldo: Blueberry harvest almost complete. Local farmer's markets active with locally grown produce. Second crop haying is going strong. Dry weather conditions continue. Could use some rain. It has been great weather for outdoor work. Farmers busy all week. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Blueberry harvest almost complete with only a few fields left to be raked. Machine harvesters were used more in this area, this year. Farmers still cutting second crop hay. Plenty of locally grown sweet corn now at farmers market. Dry weather continues, rain is needed. Sunny weather was great for outdoor work and activities. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Majority of harvest finished last week, a few late fields in Eastern Washington county will be harvested this week. The crop was very variable with some fields doing well and others with a very poor crop similar to last year. Overall the average crop is expected to be below average. Since the crop will be completely harvested by next week and there are no activities until pruning later in the fall, this will be my last crop report as I will be on sabbatical this fall and next spring. Elaine Moceus (FSA), Franklin: A rain storm the first of the week and a couple of scattered showers during the night gave some relief to crops and pastures. Most crops are doing well. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Oxford County producers have had a good week for harvesting more hay! Vegetable growers around the county are in need of rain. Pastures are looking good but also in need of rain. Potato growers are starting to dig while other potato crops are struggling. Apple producers have reported that some of the fruits are small in size while the majority of the crop is looking good. Oxford County apple producers reported that harvest season will start later this year due to the weather. Laura Rand (FSA), Androscoggin: Squash, tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and potatoes are all being harvested. Hay producers are busy getting in the hay during this dry week. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Not much moisture until Sunday when there was light rain on and off all day. Very heavy dew has helped most crops, but slowed down hay drying. Tomatoes are good this year, turning color with good quality. No reports of trouble with vine crops. Fall flowers are showing up at nurseries and farmer's markets. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Weed wiping, edge mowing, prep for harvest. Very dry, water supplies down. We need rain! Jason Otto (FSA), Bristol: Cooler weather this week was a relief. Some showers over night Sunday, but seems to be too late for most crops. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: As long as you weren't trying to bale, it's been an excellent week! Cooler and drier conditions have slowed crop growth and improved field conditions. Scattered showers on Tuesday and Wednesday wrecked alot of second and third cut hay. Producers are reporting losses in many of their Fall crops. Excessive moisture and disease are the culprits in most cases. Most farms are still recovering from the heavy rains in July. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Cooler temperatures arrived this week. Producers are still irrigating late summer and fall crops because of dry conditions. Farmers are harvesting potatoes, sweet corn, beans, cabbage, beets, cucumbers, peppers, apples, peaches and tobacco. Tobacco growers are reporting that the crop is drying down nicely in the bales and the crops is almost all harvested. On fields harvested a cover crop is being applied. Potato harvest is in full swing with reports of an average yield. Apple harvest is just starting by picking Jersey Macs and Paula Reds. Gary Guida, Worcester: Another tough week. Rains spotty in county last Sunday but here in Northern Worcester county we got a crop saving two hours of medium to light rain. Corn is still curling in fields and ears drying up. Pumpkins coloring up but yield and tonnage way down from dry summer. On plus side, melons are absolutely delicious with great flavor, size, and terrific consumer response even at premium prices. Spray programs on sweet corn going to be real tough this coming week. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Most vegetables and blueberries are now being harvested. Apples are almost ready. Growers are busy managing pests and irrigating. Thankfully, rain is on the way. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: A good soaking rain would be helpful. Crops continue to come in, apples sizing up and beginning to color. An excellent blueberry harvest continues to come in. Fall webworm and tomato horn worm running rampant. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Mostly dry and sunny all week, with a good steady rain all day Sunday. Corn continues to look good - ears filling out nicely, more of it denting, and a few farms getting ready to chop. Good drying conditions for haying, and fields and pastures should benefit from moisture. PYO apples continuing with early varieties. Vegetable growers tilling up old plantings of sweet corn. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Cooler temperatures, more typical for this time off year now occurring. Growing degree days pass 1500 mark out at Lancaster recording station. Heavy rains on Sunday. Field corn looking quite good, much generally in milk stage. Sweet corn readily available at farm stands. Hay continues to come in as weather permits. Fields, pastures look good for late August. Seeing a bit more fungal leaf afflictions on squash type plants. Continues to be a very good growing season, even some melons are about ripe to pick now. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn continues to grow well. Some beginning to show signs of moisture stress especially on light sandy soils. Third cutting continues. Quality is excellent. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: We have had slightly over two inches of rain in the last week. This helped improve topsoil moisture conditions. The hay crop looks good. Corn continues to grow and mature. Ear developments is still a little behind on fields planted in June. But over all, things should do well. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Orchardists harvesting peaches, plums, and finished Jersey Mac, and now picking Paula Red and Ginger Gold apples. Highbush blueberry harvest winding down, and fall raspberry harvest continued. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, summer pruning trees, mowing orchard floors, fixing up orchard roads and move bins into orchard. Vegetables: Farmers kept busy harvesting array of vegetable crops, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insect and disease control where needed. Field Crops: Hay making and chopping forage continued during the week. Corn looks good to excellent and farmers starting to get equipment ready to start chopping in a couple of weeks. Sadie Puglisi (Ext), Merrimack: Yesterday's rain was a welcome sight. Peaches and apples are a big hit at the markets right now. Blueberries are just ending. Stands are still full with tomatoes, squashes, potatoes, onions and greens. Hay quality is good thanks to timely rains and sunshine Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Harvesting peaches, apples, apricots, plums, raspberries and whole array of vegetables. Hay and haylage being done. Corn silage being done. Most apple orchards open for the season. Weeding, cultivating and irrigating vegetable fields. Rain on Sunday helped somewhat. Mums now available at farmstands and garden centers. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Some cool weather has moved in making the lack of rain a bit more tolerable. The fields are taking a beating along with any hope of a third cut hay. Harvesting potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes, all squashes, summer vegetables and fruits. Second cut hay is having no problem drying. Melissa Turrisi (FSA),: Rhode Island producers continue to struggle with near drought conditions. Farm stands are full with sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc. Orchardists are preparing for upcoming harvest. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Other than some ongoing second and third cut of grass most field work has slowed. Weather has been a little cooler and moisture has been a little light. Most vegetable crops look very good and we anticipate high yields. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: We had another very good week of weather for harvesting hay. Almost all of second crop hay is complete and some farms have started harvesting their third crop. The third crop looks a little light on yield due to the dry weather. This varies based on the available soil moisture. The wetter fields are showing a better yield. The corn continues to mature and I see no signs of drought with this crop. It continues to look real good. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Finally got some rain. This week more is expected 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: Lynne Arsenault 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*********************