new-eng-crop-weather State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 10/13/02 Issue NH-CW4102 Volume 22, Number 25 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) October 15, 2002 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary NEW ENGLAND HARVEST NEARLY COMPLETE For the week ending October 13, 2002, there were 5.7 days suitable for field work across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 14% very poor, 19% poor, 47% fair, 18% good, 2% excellent. Cool, rainy conditions persisted in New England last week as harvest for most crops was winding down. Poor weather over the holiday weekend reduced the number of buyers at local farmers' markets and roadside stands. Most farmers are readying fields for next season and are preparing for the winter months ahead. Major farm activities included: harvesting silage corn, hay, potatoes, apples, pears, cranberries, and late season vegetables for roadside stands; sampling soil for next year; disking; tilling; cleaning up and planting cover crops on harvested fields; and spreading manure and lime. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ---------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 5 8 11 Short 18 26 49 Adequate 74 64 40 Surplus 3 2 0 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 9 16 31 Short 36 39 35 Adequate 55 44 34 Surplus 0 1 0 ---------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report Most farmers have finished chopping silage corn; fifteen percent of this year's crop remains in the field. Second crop hay harvest is mostly finished, with the third crop not far behind. Wet conditions have made baling difficult, causing many farmers to chop remaining grass. Maine potato growers are close to finishing harvest, with five percent of their crop left to be dug. If weather cooperates, crop specialists predict harvest will be complete by the end of next week. Potato farmers in Rhode Island also have five percent of their crop left to harvest, while Massachusetts growers have 15 percent left to go. Prolonged rainy weather provided excellent tobacco damp conditions for growers to take down the crop in Connecticut and Massachusetts last week. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: The amount of apples and pears remaining to be harvested is quickly diminishing, with a quarter of each crop left to be picked at most. Pear harvest is complete in Connecticut. Cool temperatures and some frost added good coloring to apples. Fall raspberry picking and grape harvest were active last week. Massachusetts' cranberry growers made good progress with harvest, passing the half- way point by week's end. Those harvesting dry were not happy to see showers last week, except to replenish water supplies. VEGETABLES: Though most vegetable harvest has been completed, late harvest continued last week with brussel sprouts, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, squash, spinach, and tomatoes. A small number of sweet corn fields have yet to be completely harvested. With favorable weather, harvest should be finished soon. Cool and rainy weather hurt farm business over the holiday weekend. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2002 2001 5-yrAvg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Potatoes Maine 95 99 95 Good/Excellent Mass 85 90 90 Good Rhode Isl 95 99 90 Good/Fair Silage Corn 85 90 80 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 99 100 100 Good/Fair Dry Hay Second Cut 100 99 95 Good/Fair Third Cut 95 85 85 Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2002 2001 5-yrAvg Condition ---------------------------------------------------------- Apples 75 85 85 Good/Fair Pears 90 90 85 Very Poor/Poor Cranberries,MA 65 65 60 Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, October 13, 2002 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 19 69 45 -3 0.00 0.65 NH 17 73 47 -2 0.14 1.38 VT 23 66 49 +1 0.01 1.58 MA 30 73 53 +0 0.05 4.13 RI 37 73 56 +2 0.45 0.63 CT 35 77 55 +1 0.37 2.34 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weather Information Table Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday October 7, 2002 To: Sunday October 13, 2002 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 24 59 45 -8 1932 -225 724 -66 Allagash 19 62 40 -6 1347 +4 449 +126 Augusta_State_A 30 61 49 -2 2343 +266 1015 +269 Bangor_Intl_Arp 25 61 47 -3 2187 +297 902 +280 Barnard 25 60 43 -4 1798 +203 644 +192 Bath 28 61 48 -3 1929 -23 698 +38 Bethel 27 67 47 -3 2050 +194 794 +198 Brassua_Dam 24 60 44 -2 1571 +254 530 +220 Brunswick_ME 30 61 50 -2 2194 +242 887 +227 Caribou_Municip 25 61 43 -3 1674 +226 600 +222 Corinna 27 69 46 -2 1935 +177 701 +161 Danforth 24 62 43 -4 1618 -78 531 +6 Dover-Foxcroft 25 57 42 -5 1621 +26 530 +78 Durham 28 61 48 -5 2088 -133 828 -13 East_Hiram 27 59 46 -4 2018 +172 764 +174 Eustis 22 57 42 -4 1481 +204 469 +186 Frenchville 26 66 45 +0 1549 +206 549 +226 Gray 33 61 50 -1 2439 +515 1089 +452 Greenville_ME 27 57 44 -4 1774 +165 632 +169 Guilford 25 60 42 -5 1547 -48 483 +31 Hollis 26 61 47 -3 2179 +420 892 +360 Houlton 20 60 44 -2 1721 +207 612 +188 Kennebunkport 32 63 49 -5 1965 -420 717 -224 Livermore_Falls 24 65 46 -2 2099 +536 863 +434 Moosehead 23 58 42 -4 1534 +217 489 +179 New_Sharon 25 60 44 -4 2207 +644 932 +503 Patten 24 60 43 -4 1664 +150 584 +160 Portage 27 63 44 -3 1740 +292 643 +265 Portland_ME 31 61 51 +1 2332 +408 977 +340 Rangeley 24 69 44 -2 1527 +283 472 +208 Sebec_Lake 26 61 44 -4 1792 +183 627 +164 Vanceboro 25 60 44 -4 1716 +76 582 +104 Waterville 29 62 48 -5 2143 -14 871 +81 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 30 62 49 -1 2384 +309 1001 +262 Benton 26 60 47 -3 1989 +293 757 +281 Berlin_AG 26 60 47 +0 1907 +213 692 +195 Bethlehem 25 62 45 -3 1746 +58 606 +130 Concord 27 63 50 +0 2619 +544 1201 +462 Diamond_Pond 25 54 43 -2 1342 +224 390 +185 First_Conn_Lake 23 66 44 -1 1331 +213 358 +153 Greenville 24 67 49 -2 2230 +348 927 +342 Keene_AP 28 64 51 -2 2526 +182 1104 +188 Lakeport 34 63 50 +2 2604 +680 1174 +529 Marlow 27 64 47 -5 1878 -240 690 -57 Mount_Washingto 17 43 32 -1 307 +246 14 +14 North_Conway 28 61 47 -3 2354 +448 1031 +398 Otter_Brook_Lk 30 64 50 -3 2331 -13 961 +45 Plymouth 26 62 46 -2 2014 +349 759 +282 Rochester 31 65 50 -2 2536 +288 1136 +284 Weare 31 73 49 -2 2305 +187 954 +207 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 27 60 47 -3 2126 +315 829 +278 Bethel 29 63 50 +2 2250 +530 928 +424 Burlington_Intl 34 65 54 +5 2657 +451 1212 +371 East_Haven 23 63 46 +2 1740 +345 616 +279 Island_Pond 27 60 47 +2 1763 +373 611 +286 Montpelier 27 60 49 +2 2066 +339 786 +274 Morrisville_AG 27 62 48 +0 1858 +139 660 +144 Mount_Mansfield 25 60 43 +3 1091 +375 259 +193 Northfield 29 63 49 +3 2082 +519 787 +365 Pownal 33 65 51 +3 2149 +332 813 +261 Rochester 31 64 49 +2 2081 +361 800 +296 Rutland_AG 31 63 50 -2 2185 -133 867 -33 Sunderland 29 65 50 -1 2064 -150 767 -54 Sutton 27 61 46 +1 1832 +437 650 +313 Townshend_Lake 31 64 51 +1 2392 +200 1000 +177 Union_Vill_Dam 28 63 48 -3 2215 +12 918 +89 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 37 66 51 +3 2500 +624 1073 +475 Boston/Logan_In 45 71 56 -1 3251 +473 1663 +436 Greenfield 34 67 51 -3 2738 +193 1244 +193 New_Bedford 39 72 56 -3 2930 +98 1362 +95 Otis_AFB 38 72 55 +2 2799 +527 1274 +409 Plymouth 36 72 53 -2 2773 +455 1278 +375 Walpole 36 72 53 +1 2866 +559 1355 +461 West_Medway 35 73 53 +2 2901 +594 1376 +482 Chicopee/Westov 36 72 53 -3 3024 +86 1479 +132 Worcester 39 67 52 +0 2654 +497 1203 +419 Worthington 32 68 49 -2 2204 +335 884 +309 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 43 73 57 +2 3263 +622 1666 +532 Woonsocket 37 72 53 +3 2855 +586 1337 +491 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 35 68 51 -4 2520 -278 1077 -175 Bridgeport/Siko 46 74 59 +3 3335 +459 1703 +379 Hartford/Bradle 39 76 56 +2 3247 +460 1648 +406 Norfolk 36 73 52 +4 2513 +656 1067 +494 Norwich 39 74 56 +2 3028 +399 1465 +356 Thomaston_Dam 37 73 53 +1 2784 +513 1257 +411 Willimantic 37 73 55 +2 2904 +586 1360 +484 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.04 -0.80 2 3.24 +0.11 10 Allagash 0.00 -0.74 0 0.70 -2.46 5 Augusta_State_A 0.07 -0.76 2 3.09 -0.01 11 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.00 -0.70 0 3.58 +0.58 9 Barnard 0.07 -0.74 2 4.36 +0.88 11 Bath 0.06 -0.72 2 4.11 +1.20 9 Bethel 0.15 -0.68 3 3.20 +0.06 10 Brassua_Dam 0.05 -0.69 2 2.70 -0.49 10 Brunswick_ME 0.03 -0.75 1 5.62 +2.71 10 Caribou_Municip 0.21 -0.48 3 1.94 -0.99 14 Corinna 0.34 -0.43 1 5.09 +1.88 7 Danforth 0.02 -0.72 1 3.85 +0.72 11 Dover-Foxcroft 0.12 -0.69 3 2.84 -0.64 13 Durham 0.08 -0.72 2 4.31 +1.32 10 East_Hiram 0.12 -0.73 4 5.17 +2.08 13 Eustis 0.00 -0.67 0 3.42 +0.67 7 Frenchville 0.11 -0.63 2 1.35 -1.81 11 Gray 0.07 -0.74 2 5.12 +2.06 10 Greenville_ME 0.01 -0.80 1 3.55 +0.07 9 Guilford 0.15 -0.66 2 5.08 +1.60 12 Hollis 0.09 -0.75 4 4.31 +1.15 13 Houlton 0.03 -0.67 2 3.40 +0.35 12 Kennebunkport 0.17 -0.65 2 4.60 +1.52 13 Livermore_Falls 0.11 -0.73 4 3.56 +0.30 13 Moosehead 0.32 -0.42 2 3.41 +0.22 11 New_Sharon 0.07 -0.77 2 3.32 +0.06 10 Patten 0.05 -0.65 3 3.07 +0.02 12 Portage 0.25 -0.44 2 2.05 -0.88 11 Portland_ME 0.02 -0.79 2 3.47 +0.41 13 Rangeley 0.02 -0.68 2 3.30 +0.58 11 Sebec_Lake 0.10 -0.71 2 4.23 +0.75 10 Vanceboro 0.19 -0.58 2 3.73 +0.37 10 Waterville 0.08 -0.76 3 3.38 +0.25 13 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.52 -0.18 3 4.09 +1.45 11 Benton 0.33 -0.37 4 3.97 +1.17 13 Berlin_AG 0.24 -0.53 4 3.70 +0.72 10 Bethlehem 0.25 -0.45 4 4.19 +1.39 13 Concord 0.46 -0.24 3 4.05 +1.41 13 Diamond_Pond 0.15 -0.69 2 3.39 -0.05 16 First_Conn_Lake 0.14 -0.70 2 4.75 +1.31 13 Greenville 0.93 +0.16 2 4.21 +1.30 8 Keene_AP 1.15 +0.45 3 4.67 +1.95 9 Lakeport 0.17 -0.59 2 4.10 +1.30 10 Marlow 0.76 -0.05 5 4.29 +1.17 14 Mount_Washingto 0.32 -1.16 4 5.54 -0.72 14 North_Conway 0.30 -0.58 4 3.57 +0.28 11 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.38 +0.68 5 5.39 +2.67 14 Plymouth 0.22 -0.57 5 4.44 +1.47 14 Rochester 0.21 -0.69 2 2.97 -0.29 10 Weare 1.04 +0.23 3 3.95 +0.83 10 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.45 +0.62 6 5.85 +2.48 16 Bethel 0.59 -0.25 5 5.50 +2.14 12 Burlington_Intl 0.01 -0.62 1 5.16 +2.42 9 East_Haven 0.06 -0.70 2 3.92 +0.97 11 Island_Pond 0.11 -0.59 2 5.09 +2.25 13 Montpelier 0.25 -0.38 4 3.94 +1.42 15 Morrisville_AG 0.23 -0.50 3 5.42 +2.44 14 Mount_Mansfield 0.36 -0.83 4 6.74 +1.63 15 Northfield 0.50 -0.20 4 4.17 +1.34 11 Pownal 1.58 +0.75 3 7.35 +3.98 11 Rochester 0.67 -0.17 5 6.91 +3.55 13 Rutland_AG 0.63 -0.02 3 4.53 +1.61 13 Sunderland 0.58 -0.06 3 3.88 +1.01 13 Sutton 0.34 -0.42 4 4.09 +1.14 14 Townshend_Lake 1.37 +0.67 3 5.10 +2.24 12 Union_Vill_Dam 0.63 -0.08 5 5.40 +2.41 15 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.31 +0.61 3 4.49 +1.77 10 Boston/Logan_In 0.33 -0.37 3 2.51 -0.29 11 Greenfield 2.10 +1.33 3 5.09 +2.01 11 New_Bedford 0.60 -0.17 4 3.61 +0.64 12 Otis_AFB 0.60 -0.24 3 5.54 +2.26 11 Plymouth 0.88 +0.02 4 3.10 -0.54 14 Walpole 0.80 -0.04 3 4.59 +1.23 12 West_Medway 0.93 +0.09 3 4.17 +0.81 11 Chicopee/Westov 2.35 +1.58 3 5.55 +2.39 12 Worcester 1.27 +0.29 3 4.96 +1.11 11 Worthington 3.24 +2.44 4 6.80 +3.51 13 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.54 -0.25 3 4.60 +1.47 11 Woonsocket 0.63 -0.27 3 3.95 +0.49 11 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 2.33 +1.56 3 4.89 +1.56 10 Bridgeport/Siko 2.21 +1.56 4 5.65 +2.90 11 Hartford/Bradle 2.34 +1.57 3 4.84 +1.51 9 Norfolk 1.95 +1.11 4 5.51 +1.91 13 Norwich 0.37 -0.53 3 5.71 +2.16 11 Thomaston_Dam 2.31 +1.47 4 4.77 +1.21 12 Willimantic 0.53 -0.38 4 4.27 +0.61 11 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 2002: 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: Rain that fell Friday, Saturday, and Sunday did little to slow field corn harvest. Most farmers are nearing the end of corn harvest. Yields are somewhat less than last year, due to the late spring frosts and early summer's drought. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Most completed corn silage harvest this past week. Many other crops are winding down such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc. Sweet corn producers with their own stands are still picking. Pumpkins are moving, but not as fast as previous years. Chopping second/third cut grass since drying will be difficult for baling. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Chopping hay, mowing hay. Spreading manure. Chopping last of corn. Leaving fields for future shell corn. Picking apples. No frost yet. Third and fourth cutting of hay looks good. Holiday weekend activities intense at local orchards with hay rides, chicken barbecue, pumpkin painting and more. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: We have had three days of rain. Temps have been humid to cool. Mums have sold out at many stands. Looking for good weekends to sell pumpkins and fruits. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: PYO raspberries still going strong. Some reports that pumpkins are not keeping well in the field. Fall manure spreading well underway. Soil samples being taken for next season. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Nearly all growers have completed harvesting with a quality crop in storage. Two or three days of good weather would allow the rest of the growers to finish. Cold morning temperatures have caused some late starts. Those who have completed harvesting are tilling their fields, picking rocks, spreading lime, etc. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Harvesting of potatoes is winding down. We have had an excellent harvest to get the crops out. Potato harvesting should be done this week if the weather cooperates. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Most of the farmers finished harvesting this week. Quality is very good. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: A good soaking rain has added more green to the landscape. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: The apple crop is looking very good this year. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Flail mowing has begun on blueberry fields, but no burning yet. Pumpkins and corn stalks are available for Halloween decorating. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: It's almost over for another year. I see the tractor and plow go by my house daily. Producers are preparing the fields for the next round they fight with Mother Nature. They are spreading manure, harrowing, plowing - whatever it takes to ready the land for another crop next year. A few silage corn growers are still chopping. The market gardens are hanging on for the final sale. Apple growers are sharing their crop (for a price) with the general public. We are still looking for some rain to replenish the ground water. Hopefully, we'll get some before the ground freezes. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Harvest season is winding down, equipment is being readied for winter. Cold weather (there was ice on the puddles) has brought out the fall colors about a week later than usual. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: It is time to finish up that firewood and button down the hatches! Hopefully, we will get enough rain to improve the ground water situation before the ground freezes. Time to finish cleaning out the manure storage before this year's new supply. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Apple harvest is in full swing with reports of a good harvest this year. Silage corn mostly harvested with a few finishing up this week. Farm stands are showing fall colors of pumpkins, squash, mums and potatoes. This week's wet weather came as a blessing, in that the grass has turned green again and pastures restored briefly. A full frost was received mid-week throughout the county. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: A few farms still chopping, fall tillage and last of veggie crops being harvested. Two more reports of between 90 and 100 percent crop loss for apples. Apples harvested are poor quality and small size. Fall squash, pumpkins had some crop loss, sales of decorative vegetables hurt by poor weekend weather. Lightly scattered frost mid-week, heavy rain (2-4 inches) on weekend. Lawns still green, fall foliage color late this year. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Silage corn progressively being chopped, trying to beat the frost. The second crop of hay is pretty much near completion. Many farmers are well on their way cutting their third crop. Apple pickers are enjoying the fall foliage as they are actively picking apples, though the harvest is a bit behind normal. Vegetables are rapidly nearing the end, though farmers can still be seen harvesting the last of their crops. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Harvesting continues with more than half the crop "in the barn." The weekend's weather was not very conducive for dry harvesting. Hard frost on October 15. Crop predictions are pretty much on the mark so far. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Tobacco growers are reporting that this year's crop looks very good following the curing process. This past weekend had perfect conditions for "taking down" the crop in the curing sheds. Potato growers were delayed by the wet weather, but most are reporting that they're ahead of schedule. The same is true with apple producers, but many are forecasting lower yields due to the late spring frosts and drought conditions this past summer. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: A rainy holiday weekend. Two or three inches of rain fell across the Connecticut River Valley. This rain caused another excellent tobacco damp. Corn grain harvest began and the potato harvest is in high speed to complete before a deep freeze comes. Vegetable growers are removing irrigation pipe and plastic covers off harvested fields. Harvesting cabbage, spinach and apples continues. Gary Guida, Worcester: We need the rain, but did it have to rain 2 of 3 days during Columbus Day weekend? Sold out of small mums; apples, gourds, pumpkins and related items did well at farm stands. Final picking of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant as frost finally arrived on Monday night (10/14). Field work will now take a front seat in farm chores as everyone will be putting farms to rest as the season ends (including me). Consumers somewhat careful in dollar purchases this week because of soft economy, stock market and possible war. Dry well not recovered yet. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Apple harvest almost completed; only late varieties left on trees. Fall raspberries and pears still being picked. Pumpkins, winter squash, corn stalks and late seeded vegetables are available. Farmers are preparing fields for the winter. Field corn harvest continues. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Finally got widespread frost. Extra moisture and cooler weather caused most everything left to green up. Pretty much everything is finished for the year. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Farmers in the area are just about wrapping up corn silage harvest. There are a number doing a fourth cutting of alfalfa. Dairy farmers are also spreading manure. PYO apples still going strong. Pumpkins are available everywhere. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn harvest finishing up. Crop was quite variable due to dry weather during August and early September. The last of third and fourth cut is being cleaned up. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Pick-your-own apple operations had rainy weekend, sales were off. Apple harvest is in full swing with most growers concentrating on strip picking McIntosh, Macoun, and Cortland. Harvesting late maturing varieties like Red Delicious, Empire, etc. Fruit size is excellent, but bruising can be a problem. Pear harvest almost completed. Vegetables: Harvesting wide array of vegetables left, including cool season crops like cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, lettuce, winter squash and pumpkins, also warm season vegetables like sweet corn, tomatoes and peppers, but most vegetables are done for the season. Farmers kept busy working on harvested fields by pulling plastic mulch & tomato stakes, disking fields, cleaning up fields, and planting cover crops. Field Crops: Field corn harvest in full swing - the end is in sight. Cover crops were being planted in harvested fields. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Most silage corn has been harvested. Frost in low-laying areas. Late maturing apples harvested. Grapes and fall raspberries harvested. Winter rye seeded after field clean up. Farmers cut hay from alfalfa fields. Pumpkins and squash were harvested. More farms are making compost with plant refuse. Mum sales beginning to pick up after a slow start. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Various field activities are continuing from harvesting to manure applications to liming and winter rye. Some reports of corn yields are better than expected, but still down from a year ago. The first real frost (October 15) has hit the county for this year and most fall vegetables are through the harvest period. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Rain showers toward the end of the week. Most vegetable growers are done with harvest. Had some frost last week, which ended most vegetable harvest. A few greenhouse tomato growers are still harvesting. Final harvest for late apple varieties. A few farmers are still doing seeding for cover crops. Pasture seems to be looking better due to rains we've received as of late. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: A light soaking rain toward the end of the week helped ground water. Chopping field corn, harvesting pumpkins, gourds and fall crops. Cabbage and cole crops coming in well, still harvesting tomatoes. Roadside stands are full of mums and fall decorations. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Rainy weekends don't bring customers out to the farms! Plenty of apples, decorative corn, corn stalks, pears, cider, gourds and pumpkins... but very few buyers. Pick-your-own operations are really hurting! Silage corn harvest continues as well as potatoes. Why is it that the rains always come at the worst possible time? VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Corn silage harvest is winding down after a month of favorable harvest conditions. Many are spreading manure on harvested fields and plowing some fields in anticipation of spring planting. Vegetable season was longer than average due to light and scattered frost. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: The county experienced its first county-wide killing frost on October 15. Temperature was 22 degrees this morning. Almost all of the corn has been harvested. Farmers are finishing third cut hay and in some cases fourth cut hay. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: October 15 and the first killing frost. Corn silage in Windham is about 90 percent completed. Third cut alfalfa is being chopped and the quality is good to excellent. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Most crops about all harvested. Heavy rain on Saturday. Killing frost on Monday (10/14). Richard Noel, Franklin/Grand Isle: We only had a touch of frost. Grass and legumes are still growing, but very slow. We had 0.25 inches of rain in a short hard shower last night. We need a steady rain before winter. Water table is getting low again! A lot of third cut hay put up this week. Some farmers waiting for hard frost to finish up that late planted corn. Still to green! Timely planted corn is chopped and the remainder is waiting to dry down for the combine. Shouldn't be too many farms that can't empty their manure storages, spreading conditions are excellent. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Killing frost on October 15. Foliage a week late. Some showers on Sunday. Most of the corn silage in and covered. Some late season haying. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: With a low of 33 degrees and a high of 63 degrees, last week perfectly outlined fall New England weather. These temperatures along with some rain provided great apple picking and maturing weather. Harvest is past the halfway mark and will continue throughout this week. We've also had good sunshine, so good coloring of the apples has occurred. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Finished seeding winter rye on sweet corn, potato and pumpkin fields. First frost on October 9. A great long season. Received 0.346 inches of rain this week, moisture enough to germinate winter rye. Finished picking squash and pumpkins. Hoping for good Columbus Day week for sale of all fall crops. Lots of nice winter cabbage. Have a nice week. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals. Contact Information To receive this report 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 Stat Assistant: Wayne Colpitt 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 ***********************