State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 07/22/01 Issue NH-CW2901 Volume 21, Number 12 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) July 23, 2001 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary ARMYWORM THREAT SUBSIDES For the week ending July 22, 2001, there were 6.3 days available for fieldwork across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 6% poor, 30% fair, 55% good, 9% excellent. Major farm activities included: topdressing and sidedressing fields with fertilizer; cultivating; irrigating; spreading manure; cutting hay and chopping haylage; topping tobacco plants; harvesting shade tobacco, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, highbush blueberries, sweet corn, summer squash, cole crops, peas, cucumbers, zucchini, snap beans, beets, tomatoes and other vegetables; and spraying for weeds, insects, and fungus. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 2 0 3 Short 19 10 6 Adequate 77 84 80 Surplus 2 6 11 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 1 Short 26 20 5 Adequate 70 76 85 Surplus 4 4 9 --------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report Weather was quite variable throughout the six-state region last week; some areas received adequate rainfall, while others remained desperate for moisture. Reports of armyworms have decreased significantly, and growers are hoping the next generation, which will most likely appear in early to mid-August, will not be as large or destructive. Hay crops are recovering from damage caused by the armyworms. Growers assessed the pest's damage to field corn last week as the crop's steady growth continued. Maine potato growers began harvest early this year. Shade tobacco harvest in the Connecticut River Valley also began last week. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Orchards continued to be mowed and monitored for weeds and pests. Peach harvest began in New England last week, while strawberry harvest came to a close. Highbush blueberries and raspberries continued to be picked last week. Growers are preparing for both apple and pear harvest. Maine wild blueberry picking will also begin soon; this year's production is expected to be slightly lower than last year's record, but still above normal. Cranberries in Massachusetts were sprayed for pests and disease, and some irrigating took place due to the lack of rain. VEGETABLES: Farmers harvested peas, broccoli, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet corn, beets, tomatoes, lettuce, and other vegetables last week. Overall, vegetable crops were reported in good condition. Some early blight and leaf spot have been detected on tomato plants. New England sweet corn continued to be a success at roadside stands; harvest was 15 percent complete by week's end. Fields were actively monitored for weeds and insects and applications were made where necessary. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2001 2000 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- Potatoes Maine <5 -- -- Excel/Good Mass -- <5 <5 Good Rhode Isl -- -- -- Good/Fair Oats, ME -- -- -- Excel/Good Barley, ME -- -- -- Excel/Good Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Excel Sweet Corn 15 10 10 Good Tobacco Shade 10 10 15 Good/Fair Broadleaf -- <5 5 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 95 85 90 Fair/Good Second Cut 55 30 30 Good/Fair Third Cut 10 5 <5 Fair/Good ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2001 2000 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- -- <5 Good/Fair Peaches <5 5 5 Fair Pears -- -- -- Poor Strawberries 100 95 99 Good/Fair Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good Blueberries Highbush 15 20 15 Good/Fair Wild,ME -- -- <5 Good -------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the Week ending Sunday, July 22, 2001 --------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 43 90 66 -2 0.00 2.38 NH 40 94 65 -4 0.00 1.20 VT 42 90 65 -3 0.03 0.73 MA 41 89 67 -5 0.03 0.57 RI 52 88 69 -3 0.00 0.31 CT 49 89 69 -3 0.02 0.32 -------------------------------------- Weather Information Table 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 66 -5 1018 -54 350 -26 Allagash 50 87 66 +1 783 +86 215 +54 Augusta_ME 56 86 68 -3 1167 +144 460 +109 Bangor 52 87 68 -2 1123 +208 418 +135 Barnard 43 86 65 -3 966 +175 302 +91 Bath 49 87 66 -4 962 +41 331 +40 Bethel 50 87 65 -4 980 +51 311 +24 Brassua_Dam 49 84 64 -2 791 +147 196 +55 Brunswick_ME 53 82 67 -4 1036 +115 377 +86 Caribou 52 85 67 +2 954 +198 295 +103 Corinna 51 87 67 -1 1083 +185 380 +113 Danforth 48 87 65 -4 894 +36 263 +4 Dover-Foxcroft 47 83 64 -3 927 +136 280 +69 Durham 51 87 67 -5 980 -104 351 -48 East_Hiram 50 85 66 -3 963 +35 323 +36 Eustis 45 81 61 -4 713 +76 166 +37 Frenchville 49 83 65 +0 836 +139 226 +65 Gray 55 84 68 -2 1164 +261 472 +196 Greenville_ME 50 85 65 -3 903 +101 273 +57 Guilford 53 85 67 +1 967 +176 344 +133 Hollis 52 87 67 -2 1042 +170 387 +133 Houlton 46 86 66 -1 921 +140 290 +81 Kennebunkport 52 85 66 -6 964 -184 348 -87 Livermore_Falls 50 90 66 -2 1064 +277 397 +192 Moosehead 47 87 63 -2 767 +123 186 +45 New_Sharon 51 89 67 -1 1170 +383 463 +258 Patten 49 83 65 -3 783 +2 198 -11 Portage 53 86 67 +2 966 +210 318 +126 Portland_ME 53 82 66 -4 1095 +192 428 +152 Rangeley 47 83 63 -2 741 +134 178 +63 Sebec_Lake 49 88 66 -2 942 +140 299 +83 Vanceboro 50 85 66 -2 912 +122 271 +58 Waterville 54 87 68 -3 1106 +34 414 +38 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 54 88 68 -3 1167 +116 467 +100 Benton 50 83 65 -3 934 +54 274 +36 Berlin_AG 50 84 65 -4 977 +98 302 +50 Bethlehem 46 85 64 -4 901 +21 253 +14 Concord 49 86 67 -4 1178 +127 462 +95 Diamond_Pond 47 78 61 -2 672 +105 155 +68 First_Conn_Lake 46 84 62 -1 615 +48 136 +49 Greenville 40 92 65 -4 972 +22 328 +41 Keene_AP 52 86 67 -4 1183 -14 449 -13 Lakeport 53 94 69 +0 1232 +247 501 +173 Marlow 45 87 63 -7 898 -181 272 -102 Mt_Washington 40 63 49 +0 88 +66 6 +6 North_Conway 52 90 68 -2 1200 +219 480 +158 Otter_Brook_Lk 49 86 66 -6 1068 -129 360 -102 Plymouth 47 87 64 -4 947 +91 292 +51 Rochester 52 88 67 -4 1196 +75 493 +80 Weare 51 86 65 -5 1019 -60 344 -30 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 42 85 63 -6 772 -138 201 -64 Bethel 47 89 67 +0 1048 +189 360 +116 Burlington_VT 54 88 70 -2 1314 +168 534 +100 East_Haven 45 85 64 -2 847 +130 233 +61 Island_Pond 46 83 64 -2 849 +142 228 +68 Montpelier 48 83 65 -4 955 +64 297 +35 Morrisville_AG 47 84 64 -5 826 -51 225 -36 Mount_Mansfield 49 71 59 +0 445 +87 75 +41 Northfield 47 86 65 -2 960 +162 290 +77 Pownal 51 82 65 -3 1018 +102 315 +44 Rochester 49 85 66 -2 937 +78 279 +35 Rutland_AG 49 83 66 -6 1040 -154 329 -127 Sunderland 46 82 64 -7 883 -266 239 -182 Sutton 49 84 64 -2 883 +166 251 +79 Townshend_Lake 51 88 68 -4 1040 -70 360 -48 Union_Vill_Dam 48 89 66 -6 1012 -111 323 -90 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 53 86 67 -2 1161 +214 437 +138 Boston 59 82 68 -7 1470 +132 678 +119 Greenfield 51 89 69 -3 1222 -63 488 -32 New_Bedford 51 81 67 -8 1326 +5 551 +13 Otis_AFB 55 77 67 -5 1290 +252 554 +190 Plymouth 51 82 66 -7 1242 +151 494 +91 Walpole 52 86 68 -4 1388 +243 603 +174 West_Medway 53 87 68 -4 1388 +243 603 +174 Westover 54 86 69 -6 1436 -41 630 -20 Worcester 57 82 68 -4 1208 +151 465 +97 Worthington 46 83 64 -5 964 +41 305 +31 RHODE ISLAND Providence 55 84 70 -4 1474 +213 661 +151 Woonsocket 52 88 70 -2 1439 +312 654 +249 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 49 87 67 -8 1158 -274 430 -196 Bridgeport 60 84 72 -3 1525 +176 691 +116 Hartford_AP 51 89 70 -5 1463 +38 647 +24 Norfolk 51 85 66 -2 1123 +196 413 +134 Norwich 54 86 70 -3 1472 +175 649 +127 Thomaston_Dam 50 86 68 -3 1259 +133 496 +94 Willimantic 52 87 70 -2 1459 +318 633 +220 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.21 -0.56 3 2.10 -1.01 14 Allagash 0.78 -0.09 2 2.99 -0.30 13 Augusta_ME 1.66 +0.96 3 3.43 +0.54 13 Bangor 1.33 +0.56 4 2.44 -0.64 14 Barnard 0.58 -0.21 4 2.59 -0.72 16 Bath 0.17 -0.46 4 2.95 +0.16 14 Bethel 0.56 -0.21 1 5.32 +2.04 13 Brassua_Dam 0.28 -0.63 3 2.57 -1.13 13 Brunswick_ME 0.56 -0.07 3 3.45 +0.66 13 Caribou 2.38 +1.47 3 4.50 +1.11 18 Corinna 0.73 -0.04 3 5.06 +1.94 13 Danforth 1.80 +0.89 2 5.16 +1.63 11 Dover-Foxcroft 0.58 -0.21 4 2.95 -0.36 16 Durham 0.20 -0.57 3 2.67 -0.51 14 East_Hiram 0.18 -0.62 3 3.11 -0.19 14 Eustis 0.94 +0.10 4 5.36 +2.01 13 Frenchville 1.28 +0.41 4 4.08 +0.79 19 Gray 0.36 -0.34 4 3.50 +0.58 15 Greenville_ME 0.87 +0.08 4 4.88 +1.57 15 Guilford 1.63 +0.84 4 4.63 +1.32 16 Hollis 0.59 -0.12 3 3.30 +0.20 12 Houlton 0.58 -0.26 3 2.34 -0.93 15 Kennebunkport 0.60 -0.10 3 3.23 +0.30 12 Livermore_Falls 0.25 -0.52 4 5.81 +2.57 15 Moosehead 0.28 -0.63 4 2.79 -0.91 15 New_Sharon 0.62 -0.15 4 7.47 +4.23 14 Patten 0.50 -0.34 3 3.04 -0.23 16 Portage 0.98 +0.07 3 2.51 -0.88 15 Portland_ME 0.17 -0.53 4 1.91 -1.01 14 Rangeley 0.55 -0.23 4 3.62 +0.43 16 Sebec_Lake 0.32 -0.47 4 2.50 -0.81 17 Vanceboro 1.10 +0.33 3 3.42 +0.34 16 Waterville 0.36 -0.41 3 2.51 -0.60 14 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.86 +0.13 2 3.73 +0.89 13 Benton 0.69 -0.08 2 2.75 -0.43 11 Berlin_AG 1.12 +0.28 3 5.11 +1.67 12 Bethlehem 0.17 -0.72 2 2.26 -1.28 13 Concord 0.40 -0.33 2 2.43 -0.41 14 Diamond_Pond 0.54 -0.51 4 5.53 +1.36 18 First_Conn_Lake 1.20 +0.15 3 5.08 +0.91 10 Greenville 0.37 -0.47 2 2.32 -1.04 9 Keene_AP 0.00 -0.84 0 0.02 -3.25 1 Lakeport 0.47 -0.37 2 1.94 -1.23 10 Marlow 0.48 -0.29 2 1.90 -1.29 9 Mt_Washington 0.54 -1.01 2 6.56 +0.08 12 North_Conway 0.20 -0.64 3 1.73 -1.71 13 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.47 -0.37 2 1.43 -1.84 12 Plymouth 0.24 -0.67 2 2.05 -1.38 11 Rochester 1.09 +0.32 3 3.91 +0.81 13 Weare 0.38 -0.39 2 1.86 -1.33 9 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.25 -0.66 2 3.90 +0.12 11 Bethel 0.16 -0.70 2 2.39 -0.99 13 Burlington_VT 0.03 -0.81 1 1.24 -2.03 11 East_Haven 0.28 -0.69 3 2.90 -0.93 13 Island_Pond 0.73 -0.25 2 3.59 -0.25 15 Montpelier 0.19 -0.51 3 1.90 -0.94 13 Morrisville_AG 0.47 -0.47 2 2.10 -1.57 12 Mount_Mansfield 0.37 -1.09 2 6.24 +0.34 14 Northfield 0.25 -0.52 1 3.28 +0.24 9 Pownal 0.47 -0.44 2 5.04 +1.26 11 Rochester 0.22 -0.64 2 2.49 -0.89 12 Rutland_AG 0.28 -0.62 2 4.36 +0.94 13 Sunderland 0.54 -0.15 2 3.39 +0.68 10 Sutton 0.44 -0.53 3 3.10 -0.73 14 Townshend_Lake 0.28 -0.49 2 1.94 -0.98 10 Union_Vill_Dam 0.20 -0.57 2 2.23 -0.67 12 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.57 -0.27 2 3.81 +0.45 14 Boston 0.31 -0.32 2 2.50 -0.10 12 Greenfield 0.52 -0.32 2 2.77 -0.62 12 New_Bedford 0.08 -0.61 4 2.03 -0.76 14 Otis_AFB 0.03 -0.60 1 1.93 -0.69 9 Plymouth 0.10 -0.67 4 1.57 -1.51 14 Walpole 0.14 -0.63 2 5.34 +2.17 14 West_Medway 0.26 -0.51 2 5.06 +1.89 10 Westover 0.22 -0.58 2 2.28 -1.13 10 Worcester 0.27 -0.57 2 3.02 -0.50 14 Worthington 0.32 -0.66 2 2.67 -1.14 11 RHODE ISLAND Providence 0.08 -0.62 2 1.22 -1.64 12 Woonsocket 0.19 -0.66 2 3.01 -0.57 13 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.15 -0.55 1 0.59 -2.38 8 Bridgeport 0.13 -0.72 1 1.08 -2.34 9 Hartford_AP 0.09 -0.61 2 0.73 -2.24 10 Norfolk 0.10 -0.81 1 1.98 -1.88 12 Norwich 0.32 -0.52 2 2.18 -1.06 11 Thomaston_Dam 0.18 -0.77 2 1.51 -2.17 14 Willimantic 0.12 -0.86 3 1.03 -2.71 14 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 2001: 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: Hay on the drier soils is starting to show stress from lack of rain. The problem with armyworms seems to be ending. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Sweet corn harvest looks good so far, mid-summer vegetables are being harvested at all locations. Field grown tomatoes are starting to show up and peppers are soon to follow. Topping broadleaf and picking shade tobacco. Field corn is starting to tassel. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Harvesting of vegetables is underway, with sweet corn in full swing. Farmers are still monitoring armyworms, hoping for a better second cutting. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: A busy week picking blueberries and peaches, summer pruning in the orchards, baling hay, spreading manure, and doing summer projects in preparation for fall harvests. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Weather conditions have been very dry and warm, with some cool days. Blueberry conditions vary from large and sweet to small. Corn is starting to stress where irrigation is not possible. Summer vegetables and cut flowers are being harvested. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: First and second cut hay bales were being thrown off the fields everywhere you look. Second cut looks beautiful. Bedstraw weed is in a growing number of hayfields, wrapping around the baler, and farmers want it out. Beautiful New England weather for working or playing. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: We need rain! Scattered showers are leaving fields parched. There is still late planted corn struggling to reach knee height. Armyworm reports have dwindled off. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Growers continue to spray fields on a timely schedule despite fields being quite wet. Some foliar fertilizer being applied. Some damage in the fields due to heavy rain showers. Spotty problems from armyworms in grain fields. Growers applying insecticide to control them. Very little insect pressure in potato fields. Erin Chadbourne (Ext), Central Aroostook: Fungicide and insecticide applications continued in the region both by ground and aerially. For the most part, the weather was sunny and warm from last Thursday through Saturday. Then on Sunday, some showers passed through parts of the County. So as of today, fields are a bit wet again, but we are hoping for some drier weather. Potatoes look good for the most part. The barley is maturing and the oats look excellent. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Armyworms are starting to subside. Potato crop is looking very good at this time. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: First week of poor weather for haying. Sweet corn is tasseling. Moisture is short despite much showery weather. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Corn crops are responding to last week's rain with some impressive growth. Hayfields beginning to recover from the armyworm damage. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Good weather for Open Farm Days! Haying has been held up due to weather. The armyworm infestation has subsided. Many areas got daily showers throughout the week. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Crop predicted to be 108 million pounds by growers and researchers. Some fields in southern part of state and fresh-pack operations will begin harvesting this week. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: The weather has been fantastic, but we could use some gentle rain. Corn looks really good, a dark green, healthy color and good height. The market gardens are in full swing and some sweet corn is making its debut. Who doesn't like that fresh vegetable from the local stand? Most of the grasses and corn attacked by the armyworms has started to flourish again. We have had reports of grass that appears to be beyond repair. We'll have to wait and see. Things are looking good overall. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: The weather has finally cooperated for haying. The growing conditions are perfect for well drained soil at this time. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Still making hay, first and second cutting. Some of it going into plastic bags. Armyworms still working in the county, but fields are being harvested when farmers see them in the fields. Crops are looking good. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Weather conditions continue to be good for crop production. There is some insect pressure on cranberry bogs; cranberry weevil and fruit worm are problems in some areas, but all in all the crop looks good. Sweet corn harvest continues with excellent production and quality, and some tomatoes, peppers, green beans are also being harvested. Shellfish harvest continues as market demand increases. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Second cutting hay looks OK where the armyworms have not hit. Still receiving many calls about armyworms invading. They appear to attack an entire field at a time, yet still in spotted areas of the county. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Bloom is nearly finished; beehives are departing. Second fruitworm sprays going on; fruit rot fungicide applications will be completed this week. Quiet week weather wise. Growers irrigated due to the lack of appreciable rain. Berries sizing up nicely so far. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Harvesting of all crops continued. Hot and humid weather over the weekend helped push crops. Hay making continues as farmers clean up first cutting and begin second cutting. Blueberry harvest looks good. Overall, everything appears pretty good right now. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Lots of heat and sunshine; crops are growing great. Rain is needed and farmers have started to irrigate at week's end. Harvesting cucumbers, tomatoes, shade tobacco, summer squash, and sweet corn. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Bruce Clement (Ext), Cheshire: Armyworm feeding seems about done. Significant loss of second cutting and pasture. Silage corn looks very good. Strawberry renovation being done. Raspberry and blueberry harvest underway. Both crops look very good. Cool nights have slowed vegetable growth and harvest. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Mixed weather, but drier weekend allowed for better hay-drying conditions. Topdressing of hayland to encourage next crop following armyworm damage. All corn now rapidly growing, beginning to pick early sweet corn. Strawberry renovation begins, blueberries just starting to ripen, raspberries now available along with a good range of early vegetable crops. Armyworm invasion basically done as larva reaches largest caterpillar stage begins pupating. All areas of county hit to varying degrees, some very hard, others negligible. Some grass hayfields on some farms will have considerable yield loss, much less damage overall to corn. Wetter conditions this month will probably affect hay quality, seem to have seen more down, rained on this year. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Second cut continues. Showers early in the week slowed progress and didn't do much for improving the soil moisture conditions. Early corn beginning to tassel. Third cut alfalfa looks good to excellent. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Field Crops: Hay cutting continued at a rapid pace during the week with both the first and second cut being made. Most of the first cutting is only good for mulch hay now. Vegetables: Harvesting an array of vegetables: summer squash, cucumbers, snap beans, peas, greens, beets and other vegetables. Sweet corn harvest began, but is slow to ripen like most warm weather vegetables. Farmers kept busy cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insects and diseases, if needed, and irrigating, if needed. The potato crop was beginning to blossom. Starting to see potato leaf hoppers and Asiatic Garden Beetle. Leaf mold seen in some high tunnel tomatoes. Fruit: Orchardists began harvesting peaches. Blueberry and raspberry harvests continued. Blueberry fruit size is excellent. Strawberry growers finishing up renovating beds. Apple orchardists busy monitoring for pests, spraying if needed, and mowing orchard floor. RHODE ISLAND - Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Nice weather this week gave producers the opportunity to catch up on multiple tasks. Another round of fertilizer side dressing was taking place at some vegetable operations. Sweet corn is now available in good supply across the state. The early freeze that damaged the apples and peaches didn't hurt the blueberries as severely as was originally feared. Blueberry harvest is well underway and the berries are plentiful and tasty! Farmers continue to report armyworm damage. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Armyworms seem to be "disappearing" as fast as they appeared. New reports of damage are tapering off. End of week hot weather spells good news for corn and other heat loving crops. Most farmers are busy with second cut and manure spreading. Bill Snow (Ext), Orange: Very good week for harvesting first cut hay usually sold as horse hay. Also harvesting second cut, if any was left after the armyworms. Corn looks good, but needs some rain. Finally received some hot weather. Armyworm numbers decreasing, but growers are still finding some small worms. Larry Hamel (NRCS), Orleans: First cutting hay is almost done. Most farmers are starting second cut hay. Armyworms have been very active. Many farms have taken second cut early to avoid total crop loss. Corn is looking good. There has been some armyworm damage. Many corn acres have been sprayed for armyworms. Many acres of hay affected by armyworms. Landowners have either sprayed or taken crop early. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: The blueberries have started to ripen and the crop looks excellent. Most farmers reported that the grass is starting to grow after the armyworms did their thing. Field corn has started to tassel and ears are forming. Second cut legume crop survived any worm damage and farmers report a good crop. George Cook (Ext), Lamoille: Hot, dry conditions continued. Need rain, ground is getting quite dry. Regrowth is slow. No interference with crop harvesting, though. Armyworm invasion seems to be subsiding for now. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Corn crop looks excellent, some starting to tassel. Mostly done sidedressing later planted fields. Alfalfa hay regrowth excellent, grass hay slower to recover. Finishing second crop haylage, starting on third in some fields. Dry soil conditions prevail. Pasture regrowth good. Armyworm damage was scattered only. Richard Noel (FSA), Grand Isle/Franklin: Crops doing well. Corn is tasseling. Growers started picking sweet corn July 16th. Raspberries are ready, tomatoes looking good. A lot of second cut went in this week after July 17th rain of 0.26 in. Armyworms slowing up until next stage! Hopefully stage left! Manure being spread on grass ground and ground conditions and weather are favorable. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Second crop of potato bugs came back. Sprayed for them and also for blight. Final cultivation on vine crops. All vine crops sending lots of runners. Good growth. After 35 years, tied our earliest sweet corn record - July 18. Early planting, good soil conditions and lots of water all helped. Rainfall: 1.02 inches. Started selling sweet corn July 18, supply and quality good. Now picking summer squash, green beans and yellow beans. Early potatoes - very good in both size and quality. No armyworms yet. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals. Contact Information To receive this report every Monday evening, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov and in the body, type subscribe usda-new-eng-crop-weather Statisticians: Emily McAllister, Robin Helrich Deputy: David Luckenbach 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 ***********************