State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 07/29/01 Issue NH-CW3001 Volume 21, Number 13 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) July 30, 2001 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary CROPS NEED RAIN For the week ending July 29, 2001, there were 6.6 days available for fieldwork across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 7% poor, 36% fair, 51% good, 6% excellent. Major farm activities: applying fertilizer; cultivating; irrigating; hoeing; spreading manure; cutting hay and chopping haylage; harvesting shade and broadleaf tobacco, peaches, raspberries, highbush and lowbush blueberries, potatoes, sweet corn, cole crops, 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 1 2 1 Short 33 19 5 Adequate 65 77 80 Surplus 1 2 14 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 0 Short 32 26 7 Adequate 67 70 83 Surplus 1 4 10 --------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report Cool conditions followed a period of extremely hot and humid weather. One day of showers failed to alleviate dry soil conditions and crops are in need of rain. Most crops remained in good condition or better, and hay and corn crops continued to recover from significant damage caused by the massive armyworm attacks which took place in early to mid-July. The first cut of hay is nearing completion in New England. Maine potato harvest continued ahead of normal, and potatoes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island just started to be picked. Broadleaf tobacco harvest also began last week; both shade and broadleaf tobacco were 15 percent harvested by week's end. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Farmers were actively mowing their orchards and monitoring for weeds and pests. Apple harvest is behind normal this year and reports of damage from hail have come in from parts of the region. As peach harvest is getting underway the crop is in good to fair condition. Highbush blueberry harvest is about a week behind normal. Maine wild blueberry picking has begun and the crop is currently in good condition. Massachusetts' cranberry crop benefited from the hot weather last week, as the berries continued to size up. VEGETABLES: Farmers harvested peas, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet corn, beets, tomatoes, lettuce, snap beans, radishes, and other vegetables last week; most crops were reported in good condition. Some hail damage to tomatoes was reported in Connecticut. Sweet corn harvest is going well and the crop remains in good condition. 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 5 Good Rhode Isl 10 5 5 Good Oats, ME -- <5 <5 Excel/Good Barley, ME -- <5 <5 Excel/Good Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Excel Sweet Corn 20 20 20 Good Tobacco Shade 15 10 30 Good Broadleaf 15 <5 10 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 95 95 95 Fair/Good Second Cut 65 40 40 Good/Fair Third Cut 10 5 5 Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2001 2000 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- <5 <5 Good/Fair Peaches 5 10 10 Good/Fair Pears -- -- -- Poor/Fair Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good Blueberries Highbush 25 30 35 Good/Fair Wild,ME <5 <5 5 Good -------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the Week ending Sunday, July 29, 2001 --------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 35 95 67 -1 0.00 1.60 NH 30 96 67 -1 0.06 1.49 VT 34 96 67 -2 0.00 1.20 MA 42 97 70 -1 0.21 2.88 RI 48 96 72 -1 0.12 2.50 CT 44 98 72 -1 0.13 1.60 -------------------------------------- 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 39 93 68 -3 1144 -68 413 -36 Allagash 35 88 61 -5 858 +56 247 +48 Augusta_ME 50 92 70 +0 1311 +148 534 +113 Bangor 44 93 70 +2 1263 +215 489 +143 Barnard 43 91 68 +2 1093 +183 364 +103 Bath 43 92 68 -2 1092 +35 394 +35 Bethel 44 92 68 -2 1104 +44 369 +21 Brassua_Dam 43 85 64 -1 892 +143 239 +61 Brunswick_ME 47 90 69 -2 1167 +110 438 +79 Caribou 44 87 65 -2 1059 +191 338 +104 Corinna 43 92 68 +1 1213 +189 443 +120 Danforth 38 87 65 -4 1001 +16 313 -2 Dover-Foxcroft 44 89 67 +0 1050 +140 339 +78 Durham 44 92 69 -4 1111 -123 415 -65 East_Hiram 41 91 68 -1 1087 +29 385 +38 Eustis 39 86 64 -1 812 +74 213 +49 Frenchville 47 85 64 -2 933 +131 263 +64 Gray 50 91 71 +2 1314 +276 552 +209 Greenville_ME 42 88 67 -1 1023 +102 331 +63 Guilford 46 89 68 +2 1095 +185 406 +145 Hollis 42 93 69 +2 1176 +178 455 +145 Houlton 39 88 65 -2 1030 +130 340 +82 Kennebunkport 46 93 68 -6 1089 -213 406 -113 Livermore_Falls 40 95 69 +2 1195 +289 465 +211 Moosehead 39 88 64 -1 866 +117 229 +51 New_Sharon 45 95 71 +5 1315 +409 538 +284 Patten 45 86 64 -3 886 -14 239 -19 Portage 48 88 66 +0 1078 +210 363 +129 Portland_ME 47 93 70 +2 1238 +200 502 +159 Rangeley 40 86 63 -2 833 +128 215 +67 Sebec_Lake 43 92 68 +2 1070 +149 358 +90 Vanceboro 43 86 66 -2 1028 +114 323 +56 Waterville 46 92 70 -1 1247 +35 485 +36 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 45 96 71 +2 1314 +123 548 +111 Benton 41 89 66 -1 1050 +52 329 +42 Berlin_AG 42 91 67 +0 1099 +101 363 +61 Bethlehem 37 90 65 -3 1009 +11 307 +19 Concord 42 93 70 +0 1320 +129 538 +101 Diamond_Pond 38 82 60 -3 746 +88 184 +69 First_Conn_Lake 34 88 61 -2 685 +27 161 +46 Greenville 40 96 69 +1 1104 +28 397 +54 Keene_AP 43 93 70 -2 1325 -19 524 -15 Lakeport 43 92 71 +3 1382 +264 584 +193 Marlow 38 92 67 -4 1015 -202 331 -112 Mt_Washington 30 65 49 +0 110 +80 7 +7 North_Conway 43 96 71 +2 1345 +231 557 +172 Otter_Brook_Lk 43 92 69 -3 1203 -141 427 -112 Plymouth 39 92 66 -2 1064 +89 354 +64 Rochester 46 94 71 +0 1343 +75 573 +83 Weare 45 90 67 -3 1144 -73 407 -36 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 35 90 65 -4 871 -165 246 -75 Bethel 39 94 68 +1 1172 +194 422 +129 Burlington_VT 45 91 69 -3 1449 +156 605 +94 East_Haven 34 90 64 -2 945 +123 280 +73 Island_Pond 39 88 64 -1 949 +139 274 +79 Montpelier 39 88 66 -2 1071 +61 355 +44 Morrisville_AG 36 89 65 -3 930 -68 274 -37 Mount_Mansfield 39 75 58 -2 508 +87 94 +52 Northfield 38 91 65 -1 1070 +160 342 +87 Pownal 44 89 67 -2 1137 +95 371 +45 Rochester 41 90 66 -2 1051 +73 331 +38 Rutland_AG 42 87 66 -5 1156 -185 383 -150 Sunderland 39 90 66 -5 995 -294 295 -196 Sutton 40 89 66 +1 993 +171 304 +97 Townshend_Lake 47 94 70 -1 1181 -73 431 -52 Union_Vill_Dam 40 96 68 -3 1143 -124 391 -97 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 47 89 69 +2 1297 +219 503 +144 Boston 56 95 74 +0 1641 +135 779 +122 Greenfield 44 96 71 -2 1372 -67 568 -36 New_Bedford 48 92 70 -5 1468 -24 624 -17 Otis_AFB 54 88 70 -2 1428 +243 622 +178 Plymouth 48 95 70 -2 1385 +140 570 +83 Walpole 48 96 72 +2 1545 +249 690 +180 West_Medway 46 95 72 +0 1540 +244 686 +176 Westover 46 97 73 -3 1600 -52 725 -30 Worcester 53 90 71 +1 1357 +157 544 +103 Worthington 42 90 67 -1 1086 +37 363 +33 RHODE ISLAND Providence 53 96 73 +0 1640 +217 757 +153 Woonsocket 48 96 73 +3 1603 +329 749 +267 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 44 94 70 -4 1302 -298 507 -217 Bridgeport 55 93 74 -1 1697 +174 793 +113 Hartford_AP 48 98 74 -1 1632 +39 746 +25 Norfolk 45 90 71 +3 1269 +216 491 +156 Norwich 50 96 72 -2 1628 +170 735 +122 Thomaston_Dam 46 95 71 +0 1406 +140 574 +101 Willimantic 48 97 73 +3 1618 +330 722 +232 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.19 -0.65 3 2.26 -0.90 16 Allagash 0.47 -0.44 1 2.71 -0.72 12 Augusta_ME 0.23 -0.52 3 3.57 +0.68 15 Bangor 0.07 -0.63 1 2.43 -0.58 14 Barnard 0.07 -0.70 1 1.99 -1.25 15 Bath 0.30 -0.36 2 3.22 +0.55 15 Bethel 0.08 -0.75 2 4.36 +1.14 12 Brassua_Dam 0.38 -0.53 3 2.74 -0.90 13 Brunswick_ME 0.44 -0.22 2 3.88 +1.21 14 Caribou 1.22 +0.24 3 5.46 +1.84 18 Corinna 0.00 -0.77 0 3.00 -0.08 11 Danforth 1.60 +0.69 3 6.33 +2.78 12 Dover-Foxcroft 0.12 -0.65 1 2.57 -0.67 15 Durham 0.36 -0.40 2 2.41 -0.69 14 East_Hiram 0.55 -0.29 2 3.13 -0.17 14 Eustis 0.05 -0.79 1 4.12 +0.76 12 Frenchville 0.29 -0.62 3 3.33 -0.10 20 Gray 0.43 -0.22 2 3.04 +0.24 15 Greenville_ME 0.06 -0.71 3 4.23 +0.99 16 Guilford 0.21 -0.56 1 3.38 +0.14 15 Hollis 0.58 -0.12 2 3.60 +0.64 13 Houlton 1.54 +0.64 3 3.31 -0.09 15 Kennebunkport 1.21 +0.53 4 4.32 +1.51 15 Livermore_Falls 0.84 +0.07 3 5.23 +2.12 17 Moosehead 0.25 -0.66 2 2.78 -0.86 15 New_Sharon 0.65 -0.12 1 4.80 +1.69 14 Patten 1.05 +0.15 3 3.49 +0.09 16 Portage 0.55 -0.43 3 3.02 -0.60 17 Portland_ME 0.37 -0.28 2 2.08 -0.72 14 Rangeley 1.07 +0.23 1 4.03 +0.84 15 Sebec_Lake 0.02 -0.75 1 1.58 -1.66 16 Vanceboro 1.00 +0.24 3 3.86 +0.79 17 Waterville 0.14 -0.70 3 2.48 -0.68 16 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.95 +0.18 2 3.82 +0.92 13 Benton 0.19 -0.62 1 2.65 -0.50 11 Berlin_AG 0.18 -0.68 1 4.74 +1.35 12 Bethlehem 0.06 -0.86 1 2.27 -1.28 13 Concord 1.03 +0.26 2 3.29 +0.39 14 Diamond_Pond 1.13 +0.08 1 5.10 +0.93 17 First_Conn_Lake 1.49 +0.44 1 5.87 +1.70 10 Greenville 0.70 -0.20 1 2.97 -0.45 9 Keene_AP 0.50 -0.34 1 0.50 -2.77 1 Lakeport 0.96 +0.12 2 2.60 -0.63 10 Marlow 1.06 +0.28 2 2.96 -0.17 11 Mt_Washington 0.29 -1.33 2 6.45 +0.09 12 North_Conway 0.41 -0.43 2 2.03 -1.34 14 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.00 +0.16 2 2.40 -0.87 13 Plymouth 0.59 -0.32 2 2.32 -1.18 12 Rochester 0.73 -0.09 2 4.32 +1.18 14 Weare 0.98 +0.20 2 2.84 -0.29 11 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.20 +0.29 3 5.04 +1.36 12 Bethel 0.34 -0.58 2 2.19 -1.27 14 Burlington_VT 0.00 -0.84 0 0.77 -2.51 8 East_Haven 0.28 -0.71 1 3.00 -0.84 13 Island_Pond 0.34 -0.66 1 3.82 -0.04 14 Montpelier 0.04 -0.68 1 1.42 -1.39 12 Morrisville_AG 0.05 -0.94 1 1.58 -2.17 11 Mount_Mansfield 0.32 -1.18 2 5.06 -0.80 13 Northfield 0.16 -0.67 1 2.33 -0.81 9 Pownal 1.16 +0.25 3 5.02 +1.34 13 Rochester 0.49 -0.43 2 2.36 -1.10 13 Rutland_AG 0.50 -0.41 1 4.43 +0.94 13 Sunderland 0.91 +0.19 3 4.29 +1.56 12 Sutton 0.40 -0.59 3 3.24 -0.60 16 Townshend_Lake 1.16 +0.35 2 3.08 +0.05 11 Union_Vill_Dam 0.50 -0.27 2 2.20 -0.76 13 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.55 -0.27 2 3.69 +0.35 14 Boston 0.21 -0.43 2 2.10 -0.44 12 Greenfield 0.85 +0.01 2 3.12 -0.26 12 New_Bedford 2.88 +2.14 2 4.73 +1.96 14 Otis_AFB 1.13 +0.46 2 2.98 +0.39 9 Plymouth 1.38 +0.61 2 2.60 -0.48 14 Walpole 0.33 -0.44 1 2.41 -0.69 13 West_Medway 0.52 -0.25 2 3.20 +0.10 11 Westover 0.59 -0.18 2 2.22 -1.05 11 Worcester 0.23 -0.61 2 1.93 -1.55 14 Worthington 0.81 -0.17 2 2.88 -1.00 12 RHODE ISLAND Providence 0.71 -0.04 2 1.91 -0.94 13 Woonsocket 0.12 -0.78 1 2.28 -1.29 12 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.36 -0.34 1 0.90 -1.96 8 Bridgeport 0.81 -0.03 2 1.87 -1.55 9 Hartford_AP 0.33 -0.37 2 0.99 -1.87 10 Norfolk 0.46 -0.50 2 1.41 -2.38 12 Norwich 1.60 +0.74 1 3.71 +0.38 11 Thomaston_Dam 0.33 -0.65 1 1.79 -1.96 13 Willimantic 0.29 -0.63 1 1.28 -2.47 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 - Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Producers were anxiously awaiting rain. Field corn and sweet corn had begun to curl in some areas of the county. Harvesting vegetables and the harvest of peaches and plums has just begun. Finishing second cutting of hay. Rain on Thursday ranged from 1.5" to 2.2" which was a welcome relief from high humidity and excessive heat. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Rainfall is two inches below normal. Blueberry harvest is dramatically lower in some areas due to freeze effects. Peaches, garlic and other vegetables are being harvested. Farmers' markets are busy. Hay harvest continues. Hail damage evident on apples and tomatoes. Heavy June drop in some varieties of apples. Corn looks good. Nancy Welsh (FSA), New Haven: One day of rain varied from light showers to downpours. Second cutting of hay was good to poor due to armyworms. Tomatoes and peppers are a week and a half late. Abnormally cool temperatures both day and night delayed crops from ripening. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Great week for working in the fields. Most growers back on regular spray schedule, most going on a five day schedule. Crop continues to grow rapidly with adequate moisture and sunlight, some early blight detected in older foliage on the plants. Growers are spraying to control it. Some isolated cases of armyworms in potatoes, but they are mostly being found in grain fields. Most growers applying insecticides to control them. Erin Chadbourne (Ext), Central Aroostook: Barley is looking very good for the most part. There's been some wind damage and some armyworm damage which is why there's a 2% good rating. For last week, 5% good in barley was a bit exaggerated on my part. It's been more like 2% good and 98% excellent. Forgive me. It's such a large county. Barley is maturing fast. Oats look excellent. For the most part, potatoes look 100% excellent when you consider minimal insect activity and no late blight reported in the area. Potatoes have been excellent throughout the season. There seems to be some fields with planter skips more than others, but overall, the actual potato crop looks excellent. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Crops are looking good with no pest pressure at this time. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Second crop forage came back well. Fields where armyworms had attacked recovered well. No rain this week. Corn is tasseled. Janet King/Jennifer Zweig (FSA), Somerset: Thunderstorms with severe winds came thought the county on Tuesday. There have been some reports of corn down. Some locations received up to two inches of rain. Otherwise, the week was good weather for harvesting dry hay. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Dry weather continued, with sporadic hit-or-miss rain showers. Strawberry renovation is complete. Sweet corn harvest begins with decent looking crop. Forage yields are beginning to return after armyworm damage. Second generation moths are beginning to fly! Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Blueberry harvest is underway. Reports are that the crop is looking good. Armyworm problems have subsided. Crops are looking good. Great week for field work. Second crop hay being harvested. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Harvest beginning in mid-coast fields, fruit only 70% ripe. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Growing conditions have been excellent for the past two weeks. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Hot, humid weather the first of the week turned to cool nights and drier air at the end of the week. Producers busy harvesting sweet corn, blueberries, and small vegetables. Oats are starting to turn and field corn looks good. Haying activities are still ongoing. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Busy making hay; first, second and third cutting. Most hay ground has rebounded well. Some spraying of sweet corn for worms, etc. Most corn (field and sweet) is looking real good. Very few if any picking of Berkshire grown corn. Vegetable producers are busy picking crops. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Conditions for all crops continue to be good, steady rain on Wednesday was just what the crops needed. Second crop of hay is excellent, sweet corn harvest continues with excellent production and quality, other vegetable crops also excellent. Cranberries are sizing up - some heavy insect pressure was reported. Shellfish harvest continues with good growth and strong demand. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Vegetable growers are continuing to spray crops on a regular basis. Fields are drying a bit after a few thundershowers. Some fertilizer applications being given. Fungicide and insecticide applications continued as routine. Armyworms calming down a bit. Crops drinking up the few days of rain, some more than others. The weather has been cooperative this past week. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Hot weather moved berry development along, then two inches of rain received Thursday should further help those berries size up. Moving into a quiet period, with pesticide applications complete, some weed wiping occurring, along with ditch maintenance. Some pockets of significant insect-caused injury. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Harvesting of all vegetables continues. The extreme heat and humidity at the beginning of the week took its toll on some crops. The rain on Thursday brought everything back to life. The first peaches of the season are being picked. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Hot weather has given crops the extra push they needed after sidedressing and final cultivation. Tobacco harvest, both shade and broadleaf, is in full swing this week with growers reporting a good crop. All producers are watching their fields closely for signs of blue mold. The potato crop looks very good and producers are reporting that the crop is sizing up well. Chip stock harvest is expected to start this week. Third cut hay is also expected to be harvested this week. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Record breaking temperatures in the low 40's and high 90's and it still produced an excellent week for all crop growth. Farmers are in full swing harvesting tobacco, blueberries, cucumbers, and sweet corn. Early potato and tomato harvest started this week. Gary Guida, Worcester: Hosted a Medieval Faire the past two weekends on this farm. Harvesting all summer crops. Insect pressure is high in summer squash and zucchini. Fall squash and pumpkins setting fruit. Weed pressure in corn still prevalent. Consumer support very strong for local produce and plants. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Bruce Clement (Ext), Cheshire: Nice rain on Thursday helped crops along. Pastures and hayfields starting to recover from armyworms. Fertilizing and manure spreading going on to stimulate regrowth. Raspberry and blueberry harvest in full swing, both crops look real good. Wide array of vegetables being harvested. Spraying and mowing of orchards going on. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Sunny days yet cold nights down into the 30- degree range during the week. Better hay drying weather, corn looking very good. A bit dry, could use some rain. Early sweet corn ears starting to fill out. All summer vegetables starting to show up at markets: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. Highbush blueberries and raspberries being picked. Seeing some animal damage in berry crops; highbush blueberries were especially hard hit by black bears. Armyworms done for now. Farmers still calling to assess damage and prospects for repeat appearance this year. Have seen evidence of parasitism on caterpillars. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables: Harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, cole crops, cucumbers, greens, peas, potatoes, radishes, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, and other vegetables. First regular sweet corn planting is very spotty in ripening, yields are low. Farmers kept busy cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insects and disease control where needed. Fruit: Orchardists harvesting peaches, blueberries and raspberries. Getting ready to harvest first apples. Starting to move bins into orchard. Field Crops: Hay cutting continued at a rapid pace during the week with both the first and second cut being made. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Farmers are cutting and baling hay. Some sweet corn is being harvested. Strawberry beds are renovated. Raspberries and blueberries are harvested. Timely rainfall has accelerated grass regrowth and the need for frequent mowing in fruit crops. Vegetables receiving sidedressing fertilizer. Pockets of armyworm infestations appearing in different regions of Merrimack County. Blueberry growers and orchardists are spraying for maggot. Tunnel tomatoes and other warm season field vegetables are being harvested. More disease is prevalent on ornamentals and vegetable crops. Second crop hay quality is very good. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Good weather this week, with rain on Thursday morning helpful for the growth of crops. Harvesting a whole array of vegetables and peaches. Blueberries and raspberries are also being harvested. The crop looks good. Second cutting of hay is underway. Renovating strawberry beds, weeding, irrigating, and monitoring for pests in orchards and vegetable fields. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Received much needed rain and humidity this week. Sweet corn being harvested and looks good. Blueberry and raspberry picking on the move and looking real good. Finishing second cut of hay and some third and fourth cut of alfalfa being done. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Seems as though the birds have been so busy eating armyworms, they are leaving blueberries and corn alone. Some damage from the worms on young sweet corn and hay crops. A good rain mid-week was appreciated. Harvesting sweet corn, spraying for potato beetle and fungicides being applied. Harvesting summer squash, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers. Crops look good. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Tassels are showing on about 50% of silage corn. Summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes available at farm stands. Potatoes especially need rain to size up. Top soil is dry, but normal for this time of year; farmers irrigating where possible. Armyworms seem to have moved on for the time-being. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Farmers have had delightful conditions for fieldwork. Second cut has progressed nicely and most corn has now tasseled. Armyworms have generally pupated with everyone nervous about their lingering effects. Generally dry conditions prevailed with scattered livestock water problems reported. Bill Snow (Ext), Orange: A quick shower early in the week helped keep the dust down. If we don't get any rain in the next two days it will be the second driest July on record. Hopes for a decent third cutting of hay are decreasing. Some corn showing drought stress. Need at least an inch of rain per week for ear development. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Corn looks great with tassels showing; some in poor condition, mostly on wet spots planted late. Hay crop growth good for alfalfa, grasses slow to dormant. Oats maturing for harvest. Pastures slow to recover. Richard Noel (FSA), Grand Isle/Franklin: Crops look good for the most part in Franklin County. Grass beginning to look burnt in some areas. Lake water is down, rivers are three to four feet down from banks. On July 24 - scattered showers; Highgate: 0.20 in., Sheldon: 0.50 in., Enosburg: 0.75 in., St Albans and Grand Isle: 0.0 in. This isn't helping the water table much, crops are taking up all the moisture! Some parts of the county are starting to have water problems. Reports coming in on springs starting to fail and some farmers hauling water. Rain is badly needed! Maria Garcia (Ext), Chittenden: Within the last week we have seen no rain and ground moisture conditions are falling short. If irrigation can be used, crop weather is still good with low wind, moderate to warm temperatures, and good sunshine. 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 ***********************