State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 09/21/03 Issue NH-CW3803 Volume 23, Number 22 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) September 22, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- UNUSUALLY WARM SEPTEMBER WEEK For the week ending September 21, 2003, there were 5.8 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 17% short, 76% adequate, 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 1% very short, 19% short, 77% adequate, 3% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 3% very poor, 8% poor, 42% fair, 39% good, 8% excellent. Unseasonably warm temperatures and sunshine dominated the week, allowing for much field work to be completed. Hurricane Isabel traveled a course southwest of New England, but still caused scattered precipitation and increased wind activity. Major farm activities included: cutting haylage and making dry hay; harvesting potatoes, small grains, corn silage, apples, peaches, pears, highbush blueberries and vegetables; finishing harvest of broadleaf and shade tobacco; desiccating potato vines; spreading manure; irrigating; monitoring fields; performing general farm maintenance. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 1 0 22 Short 17 21 35 Adequate 76 71 43 Surplus 6 8 0 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 1 0 32 Short 19 21 33 Adequate 77 75 35 Surplus 3 4 0 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Ideal weather accompanied third crop hay harvest and the final cuttings of the second hay crop. Silage corn harvest advanced at a rapid rate last week, as farmers took advantage of the mostly dry weather. Potato harvest in Massachusetts reached the half-way mark last week, while Rhode Island had a mere 15 percent left to harvest. Potato growers in Maine started to wrap up vine kill applications; harvest progress was behind normal last week, however the crop was rated in excellent to good condition. Farmers were nearing the end of small grain harvest, with only ten to twenty percent remaining by week's end. Tobacco growers in the Connecticut River Valley completed the harvest of broadleaf and shade tobacco crops, on schedule with normal harvest progress. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Growers continued to harvest apples, peaches, pears, plums, fall raspberries and the last of this season's highbush blueberries last week. In order to prepare for the worst that Hurricane Isabel might have to offer, some growers picked tree fruit early to avoid later drops. Reports from across the region indicate tree fruit size is generally small this year. Massachusetts' cranberry growers completed white berry harvest and spent the week preparing for red harvest. Irrigation was necessary for some cranberry bogs. VEGETABLES: Growers harvested cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, zucchini and other vegetables. Sweet corn harvest progress remained on schedule with the five-year average as harvest started to wind down. Harvested vegetable fields were cleaned up last week. Sweet corn, decorative fall crops and mums were popular items at local markets. Congratulations to Bruce and Mary Whittier of Henniker, NH for their world- record giant pumpkin, weighing in at 1,458 lbs. A defect will prevent it from competing at the Topsfield Fair. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME 90 90 90 Good/Fair Oats, ME 80 85 85 Good/Fair Potatoes Maine 15 25 25 Excellent/Good Mass 50 55 60 Good Rhode Isl 85 80 70 Good/Excellent Silage Corn 25 35 35 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 90 95 90 Good Tobacco Shade 100 99 100 Good/Fair Broadleaf 100 100 99 Fair/Good Dry Hay Second Cut 95 99 95 Good/Fair Third Cut 70 75 65 Good/Excellent --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples 45 45 45 Good/Fair Peaches 85 95 95 Good/Fair Pears 45 40 40 Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush 99 100 99 Good/Fair Cranberries,MA <5 5 5 Good -------------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, September 21, 2003 -------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 38 87 62 +7 0.09 2.68 NH 35 88 62 +7 0.91 3.41 VT 39 85 63 +7 0.14 1.55 MA 43 84 67 +7 0.06 3.06 RI 51 83 70 +8 0.31 2.34 CT 45 83 68 +7 0.40 3.67 -------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table -- Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday September 15, 2003 To: Sunday September 21, 2003 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 41 82 62 +3 1830 -216 697 -85 Allagash 40 87 61 +9 1303 -12 401 +78 Augusta_State_A 48 80 65 +7 2106 +128 886 +146 Bangor_Intl_Arp 43 83 65 +8 2072 +267 867 +248 Barnard 40 82 61 +7 1704 +158 603 +151 Bath 45 80 62 +4 1847 -9 700 +41 Bethel 44 77 62 +5 1835 +55 680 +85 Brassua_Dam 41 83 61 +8 1491 +209 509 +199 Brunswick_ME 47 79 64 +7 2008 +152 820 +161 Caribou_Municip 42 84 63 +11 1667 +252 610 +232 Corinna 43 82 63 +8 1888 +189 724 +184 Danforth 43 83 62 +8 1732 +85 662 +137 Dover-Foxcroft 41 80 60 +6 1539 -7 505 +53 Durham 45 76 62 +3 1827 -281 733 -102 East_Hiram 44 79 61 +5 1764 -8 652 +63 Eustis 39 83 59 +7 1406 +163 458 +175 Frenchville 47 85 63 +12 1530 +215 520 +197 Gray 49 77 64 +7 2132 +302 906 +270 Greenville_ME 49 80 63 +9 1653 +94 580 +117 Guilford 42 80 60 +6 1451 -95 484 +32 Hollis 44 80 62 +6 1875 +180 720 +188 Houlton 39 85 63 +11 1735 +256 655 +231 Kennebunkport 47 76 63 +3 1830 -409 643 -284 Livermore_Falls 42 81 62 +8 1892 +376 760 +331 Moosehead 39 87 60 +8 1437 +155 469 +159 New_Sharon 44 80 63 +9 1911 +395 761 +332 Patten 44 83 63 +11 1647 +168 581 +157 Portage 38 85 64 +12 1716 +301 636 +258 Portland_ME 50 76 65 +7 2055 +225 841 +205 Rangeley 42 82 60 +8 1451 +241 466 +202 Sebec_Lake 43 83 62 +8 1693 +134 604 +141 Vanceboro 43 82 62 +7 1694 +112 610 +132 Waterville 47 83 64 +5 1973 -73 781 -1 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 43 78 62 +5 2067 +86 851 +115 Benton 44 75 62 +7 1778 +150 640 +164 Berlin_AG 43 80 62 +7 1828 +192 677 +180 Bethlehem 36 79 59 +5 1668 +42 578 +102 Concord 46 82 67 +9 2346 +365 1066 +330 Diamond_Pond 42 77 59 +8 1290 +199 387 +182 First_Conn_Lake 38 79 57 +7 1326 +235 409 +204 Greenville 40 88 63 +6 1778 -15 671 +88 Keene_AP 48 79 67 +7 2256 +36 963 +58 Lakeport 51 79 65 +9 2291 +444 1018 +373 Marlow 41 75 60 +3 1654 -357 592 -149 Mount_Washingto 35 58 48 +9 246 +185 6 +6 North_Conway 47 77 63 +7 2055 +221 845 +212 Otter_Brook_Lk 46 78 65 +6 2070 -150 825 -80 Plymouth 45 78 62 +8 1799 +190 654 +177 Rochester 47 80 64 +6 2083 -45 863 +21 Weare 50 77 64 +5 2047 +36 807 +66 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 42 75 61 +5 1840 +112 676 +128 Bethel 47 80 64 +8 2075 +434 828 +328 Burlington_Intl 48 85 68 +11 2496 +388 1145 +310 East_Haven 39 78 60 +8 1713 +359 600 +263 Island_Pond 43 75 62 +9 1704 +362 602 +277 Montpelier 43 76 63 +8 1859 +203 688 +178 Morrisville_AG 40 82 63 +8 1978 +326 786 +271 Mount_Mansfield 44 65 54 +6 941 +236 199 +133 Northfield 41 79 62 +8 1856 +349 687 +265 Pownal 44 78 63 +7 1958 +224 699 +150 Rochester 46 79 64 +8 1903 +262 696 +196 Rutland_AG 46 81 64 +6 2026 -167 793 -89 Sunderland 43 79 63 +5 1825 -276 623 -183 Sutton 43 75 61 +8 1705 +351 583 +246 Townshend_Lake 47 77 64 +5 2077 -4 823 +10 Union_Vill_Dam 45 78 64 +6 2039 -58 829 +9 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 48 78 65 +8 2190 +395 916 +318 Boston/Logan_In 58 83 69 +5 2651 +78 1307 +124 Greenfield 49 82 67 +6 2380 -8 1039 +14 New_Bedford 55 80 69 +5 2402 -206 1108 -107 Otis_AFB 59 79 69 +8 2395 +278 1132 +288 Plymouth 53 82 69 +8 2310 +140 1037 +152 Walpole 51 82 68 +9 2447 +267 1134 +256 West_Medway 49 84 68 +9 2465 +285 1139 +261 Chicopee/Westov 46 81 67 +4 2475 -265 1119 -185 Worcester 56 80 68 +9 2291 +256 989 +221 Worthington 43 77 63 +6 1887 +116 674 +104 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 57 83 70 +8 2650 +195 1292 +196 Woonsocket 51 83 69 +9 2412 +265 1103 +267 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 45 77 64 +3 2025 -601 761 -456 Bridgeport/Siko 57 81 71 +6 2737 +87 1369 +103 Hartford/Bradle 50 83 70 +8 2730 +109 1315 +102 Norfolk 47 77 64 +7 1977 +207 736 +166 Norwich 52 83 70 +8 2601 +145 1249 +173 Thomaston_Dam 46 82 66 +6 2444 +314 1081 +259 Willimantic 49 82 69 +9 2531 +357 1183 +327 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 2.32 +1.60 3 3.86 +0.76 7 Allagash 0.66 -0.18 3 0.91 -2.64 5 Augusta_State_A 1.90 +1.18 4 3.33 +0.50 9 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.45 -0.35 3 1.96 -1.24 6 Barnard 1.54 +0.63 3 2.82 -0.78 9 Bath 2.68 +1.98 2 4.71 +1.87 7 Bethel 2.22 +1.45 4 3.81 +0.54 8 Brassua_Dam 1.05 +0.21 3 1.81 -1.59 6 Brunswick_ME 0.82 +0.12 3 2.74 -0.10 9 Caribou_Municip 0.43 -0.36 3 0.78 -2.60 9 Corinna 1.94 +1.10 3 4.01 +0.51 7 Danforth 0.79 -0.05 3 1.59 -1.91 8 Dover-Foxcroft 0.91 +0.00 3 1.50 -2.10 6 Durham 1.69 +0.99 3 2.35 -0.45 6 East_Hiram 1.75 +1.05 4 3.21 +0.21 11 Eustis 1.66 +0.96 2 2.35 -0.60 7 Frenchville 0.53 -0.31 3 0.66 -2.89 7 Gray 2.37 +1.67 3 3.79 +0.99 8 Greenville_ME 0.37 -0.54 2 0.42 -3.18 6 Guilford 1.53 +0.62 3 2.94 -0.66 9 Hollis 2.02 +1.25 3 3.48 +0.49 7 Houlton 0.29 -0.55 3 1.02 -2.50 7 Kennebunkport 1.33 +0.62 4 3.15 +0.32 12 Livermore_Falls 1.62 +0.78 4 2.99 -0.49 8 Moosehead 1.21 +0.37 3 1.69 -1.71 7 New_Sharon 1.40 +0.56 3 2.70 -0.78 5 Patten 0.82 -0.02 4 1.62 -1.90 9 Portage 0.75 -0.04 3 0.98 -2.40 6 Portland_ME 1.81 +1.11 3 3.40 +0.60 7 Rangeley 1.82 +1.12 4 3.08 -0.05 9 Sebec_Lake 1.41 +0.50 3 2.33 -1.27 6 Vanceboro 0.71 -0.20 3 1.80 -1.74 8 Waterville 1.78 +1.06 3 2.76 -0.34 5 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 1.30 +0.67 6 2.31 -0.38 11 Benton 1.09 +0.39 3 3.17 +0.00 6 Berlin_AG 1.69 +0.94 2 3.28 -0.04 5 Bethlehem 1.20 +0.50 4 2.47 -0.81 10 Concord 1.44 +0.81 5 2.53 -0.16 11 Diamond_Pond 1.57 +0.66 6 2.83 -1.20 13 First_Conn_Lake 0.91 +0.00 3 1.56 -2.47 8 Greenville 1.88 +1.18 4 2.57 -0.52 9 Keene_AP 1.21 +0.51 3 2.31 -0.68 11 Lakeport 1.12 +0.47 4 2.47 -0.40 9 Marlow 1.50 +0.73 4 2.82 -0.35 10 Mount_Washingto 3.41 +1.71 5 7.02 -0.20 12 North_Conway 1.38 +0.61 4 2.80 -0.50 7 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.93 +1.23 4 3.39 +0.40 12 Plymouth 0.96 +0.26 4 2.54 -0.48 9 Rochester 3.10 +2.35 3 4.38 +1.39 6 Weare 1.95 +1.18 4 3.39 +0.22 11 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.49 +0.61 4 3.33 -0.35 13 Bethel 0.44 -0.41 5 3.66 -0.08 8 Burlington_Intl 0.18 -0.58 3 0.70 -2.61 9 East_Haven 0.93 +0.16 5 2.31 -1.19 12 Island_Pond 0.45 -0.30 5 1.70 -1.80 11 Montpelier 0.14 -0.49 3 1.44 -1.46 8 Morrisville_AG 0.35 -0.43 3 0.94 -2.66 7 Mount_Mansfield 0.76 -0.65 3 2.09 -4.08 10 Northfield 0.28 -0.46 4 1.38 -1.76 8 Pownal 1.30 +0.42 5 3.17 -0.51 13 Rochester 0.38 -0.47 3 2.50 -1.24 6 Rutland_AG 0.38 -0.44 3 2.26 -1.24 10 Sunderland 0.91 +0.11 3 2.88 -0.56 11 Sutton 0.71 -0.06 5 2.05 -1.45 11 Townshend_Lake 1.46 +0.69 3 3.10 -0.16 10 Union_Vill_Dam 1.18 +0.41 5 3.17 +0.04 11 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.55 +0.89 4 3.06 +0.25 10 Boston/Logan_In 0.73 +0.03 3 1.55 -1.37 7 Greenfield 2.30 +1.53 4 4.21 +0.99 12 New_Bedford 1.03 +0.26 4 3.13 -0.27 9 Otis_AFB 0.09 -0.68 2 2.78 -0.32 7 Plymouth 1.10 +0.13 4 2.89 -1.02 9 Walpole 1.59 +0.75 3 3.04 -0.50 7 West_Medway 1.73 +0.89 3 3.29 -0.25 7 Chicopee/Westov 3.06 +2.22 4 5.15 +1.79 12 Worcester 1.12 +0.19 5 2.32 -1.34 10 Worthington 2.75 +1.91 4 4.72 +1.22 10 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.87 +0.06 4 3.16 -0.17 8 Woonsocket 2.34 +1.45 5 4.66 +1.04 9 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 2.48 +1.59 4 6.35 +2.76 11 Bridgeport/Siko 0.93 +0.23 3 2.49 -0.38 10 Hartford/Bradle 2.11 +1.22 5 5.17 +1.58 12 Norfolk 2.22 +1.25 4 5.51 +1.50 10 Norwich 1.55 +0.64 3 5.14 +1.50 8 Thomaston_Dam 2.21 +1.30 5 4.49 +0.66 12 Willimantic 1.44 +0.51 4 4.08 +0.42 9 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 2003: 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 - Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Major efforts made to harvest vegetables, fruit, hay, silage to reduce risk of loss from Isabel. Farmers sighed with relief Friday as the hurricane went Northwest. Heavy, brief rains and wind passed through and sunshine graced the weekend. Third Annual Celebrating Agriculture brought about 4,000 people to Woodstock to participate in events of the day, showcasing agriculture in the Quinebaug Shetucket National Heritage Corridor. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: More rain - just what we didn't need to start the corn harvest. Some corn chopped around the effects of Isabel. Not as much as farmers would have liked, but that has been the story all year. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potato harvest is in full swing in Aroostook County. Soil conditions are extremely dry. Last of potatoes are being desiccated with second application going on some fields. Potato yields might be down a little, however quality is very good. Size is a little smaller on late varieties but tuber set is high. Small grain harvest is nearly completed. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: All growers have started to harvest potatoes this past weekend. The weather has been very nice, although we could use some rain. The ground is very dry. Growers are continuing to apply vine kill - this should be done by the end of the week. Canola harvesting is approximately 70 percent done. Oats and barley are 60 to 90 percent done, respectively. It looks like its going to be a good harvest and an excellent looking potato crop! Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Rains were welcome by most this past week. Potato farmers had delays in harvesting due to the rain. Pastures are picking up with the cooler weather and moisture. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Rain from the tropical storm didn't slow corn silage harvest by much. Pastures did green up quickly from the moisture. Apple harvest starting up and in full swing. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Silage corn harvest underway with good crop reported. Pumpkins and winter squash now at roadside stands. Fall work on blueberry fields continues. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Good weather for field work for most of this week. Rained on Tuesday. Farmers harvesting apples, sweet corn, pumpkins and squash. Silage corn harvest in full swing. Yields look pretty good. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: The last full week of summer brought out the potato harvesters, the russets are still green but the rest are being dug. Corn choppers are busy, the apple harvest is going very well and the vegetables are about done. All in all, it's been a good year. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Apple pickers are everywhere! Apple producers are reporting that it is a very good year and yields are projected at the average rate. Some apples are small, however, of good quality. Potato harvest is in full swing. Grain corn looks good, tall with heavy ears. Silage corn is being harvested with a vengeance. No reports of significant frost yet. Fall color is starting to appear on farm stands. Pumpkins, squash, and corn stalks demonstrate that fall is upon us. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: There was a lot of silage chopping Monday - Thursday. Heavy rain (0.75 inches) left the ground muddy and tough to get equipment around the field. Corn doesn't have many dry leaves. Dry haying also had a wet ground problem. Growers were harvesting pumpkins, close to end of sweet corn. Still no frost. Orchards in full swing picking the fruit. A nice looking crop but a little smaller. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: The in-between period between white berry and red berry harvest. Some irrigation has been necessary, as not much rainfall from the remnants of Isabel. Growers simply getting ready for harvest and waiting for color. Frost nights have been minimal. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Another nice week as we avoid the hurricane. Many farmers were busy harvesting corn for silage just in case the hurricane paid us a visit. All crops still in good supply. Many fields being harrowed and cover cropped. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: All farmers are very thankful that hurricane rain and winds didn't effect the remaining crops to harvest. Following Isabel's departure, we had nice weather for the weekend. Field conditions are still a bit wet but nothing like they could have been. Silage, potatoes, onions, apples, squash and fall ornamentals are all being harvested now. Road-side stands were very busy this past weekend. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Fall harvest in full swing despite Hurricane Isabel's rainfall. She left us with 1 1/4" of rain. Gary Guida, Worcester: Harvesting all summer crops as warm weather continues! Pumpkins getting closer to all orange but not yet. Most consumers are preferring sweet corn over pumpkins. All crops at farm stands doing exceptionally well with retail sales. Fall mums still popular along with apples, honey and decorations. Grass herbicide applied to strawberry fields, no insect pressure to report other than squash bugs. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Still harvesting sweet corn, tomatoes, red peppers, melons and other crops. Other than powdery mildew on vine crops, things look good. Strawberry plugs for annual system planted. Apple crop is excellent - now picking McIntosh and Cortland. Garden center and farm stand sales are strong. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Second cutting is there, very few drying days available to get it in the barn. Corn silage chopping began last week, looks like an excellent corn silage year. Farm stands doing a less than brisk business in mums and pumpkins, should pick up once trees show more color. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: A couple days of rain, but lots of sunshine, too. Most corn looks good. More corn being chopped, but not quite in full swing yet. Regrowth on grass and alfalfa looks great - some farms might take a fourth cutting on early-harvested fields. PYO apples doing a brisk business. Vegetable stands offering pumpkins, tomatoes; cleaning up fields for fall. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Fairly warm week for this time of year, just a bit of rain, foggy mornings in valleys, no hard frost reports. Some corn silage being chopped, at various locations at dent stage and still others at milk. Haying and pasturing continues as farmers make use of favorable weather. Macs and Cortland apples now available, some orchards being thoroughly harvested in case of winds hurricane/storm may bring. Pumpkins, squash, late variety corn available, along with other late summer veggies. Now hearing of bear damage in apple orchards, too. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Third cut finishing up and corn silage harvest beginning. Cool weather has slowed dry down of corn, although ears are showing dent. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Five days suitable for field work. The hurricane only dumped 0.47 inches of rain in our area. Wind damage was negligible. Corn is still drying down and grass is still growing well. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Field Crops: Farmers continuing corn silage harvest. Hay cutting continued, along with making haylage. Some spreading manure on hayfields. Fruit: Orchardists harvesting McIntosh, Gala, Honey crisp and some early Cortland apples, peaches, pears, plums and fall raspberries. Vegetables: Harvesting wide array of summer and fall vegetable crops. Farmers are starting to clean up harvested fields, putting away irrigation equipment and planting cover crops. Pumpkin crop is light and winter squash yields vary from field to field and within a given field. Good demand for all vegetables continues. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Apple harvest progressing well. More apples harvested in anticipation of high winds. Orchards were mowed for pick-your-own customers. Fall raspberries being harvested. Winter squash, pumpkins, mums and other fall crops being harvested. Landscapers are planting perennial plants and seeding lawns. Excellent weather for roadside stand sales. Winter rye seedings on vegetable land. Pasture seedings being made and dry hay was cut. Some field corn was harvested. Excellent silage corn yields although ears are a little small due to cool weather. No frost yet. Ideal disease conditions in winter squash and pumpkins as excessive growth prevented good air circulation. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Good weather for outdoors work for most of the week. Hurricane Isabel gave rain and winds on Friday. Picking pumpkins, many apples varieties, peaches, plums, a whole array of vegetables and sweet corn. Haying and harvesting field corn. Late blight on tomatoes and powdery mildew on cucurbits are noticed in many fields. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: The week was dry but just a few showers at the end of the week. Farmers are now finished with the third cut and have started harvesting silage corn. Fruit growers are busy harvesting apples, late peaches and fall raspberries. Vegetable growers continue to harvest a wide variety of vegetables. Pumpkin sales are picking up for both vegetable growers and garden centers. Garden centers and nurseries are very busy with fall mum sales. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Winter cover on potatoes, with harvest almost finished. Sweet corn, tomatoes and summer vegetables still coming in strong. Field corn looks good with chopping going well. Some needed rain this week was welcomed. Farm stands full of fall decorative crops, mums, corn stalks and summer vegetables along with hard squashes. Dexter Miller (RC&D), All Counties: Crops look great as many farmer are currently harvesting several fall crops. Mums, pumpkins, corn stalks, and apples are being harvested and available. Tomatoes, squash, eggplant and peppers are available and appear in excellent condition. Hurricane Isabel provided some threat to Rhode Island, but fortunately did not hit the area with more than mild wind and some rain. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Corn silage harvest made good progress last week along with second and third cut grass harvest. Soybeans are looking good but need to dry down further. Good year for pumpkins as they seem to be everywhere. Remnants of Hurricane Isabel left us with very little much needed rain. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Landowners are spending long hours chopping corn this past week. The hurricane totally missed us so the conditions here remain dry. This has made it much easier to harvest corn. Almost all hay has been harvested now. By all accounts it appears to have been a good year for hay. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: The hurricane of last week did little damage with only about an inch of rain. Field corn harvest is in full swing with better than average yields. Apple producers are reporting an average yield but they say apples have some of the best color they have ever seen. Winter squash and pumpkins are beginning to show up at local roadside stands along with some late summer veggies. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Harvesting corn silage. Finishing third crop haylage. Some manure spreading on cut hay fields. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: This past week began with some rain Monday night and Tuesday morning. The middle of the week was sunny and dry. Friday we saw the residual effect of Hurricane Isabel with stiff breezes and a little rain. Overall, we got off rather easy from that storm. The principal field activity this week was the initial chopping of corn silage. The quantity seems to be ahead of last year. Most farmers are telling us that the crop is very green for this time of year. One farm reported half dent for 85-day corn, while other varieties had just started to dent. Most third cutting of grass, alfalfa and mixed forage crops has been completed. Overall, it looks like production was very good this year but with a possible decrease in quality due to delayed harvesting of these crops. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Hurricane Isabel dropped about a half-inch of rain and some wind on us on Friday afternoon and night. Some have begun opening corn fields in preparation of real chopping. Some late season haying. No frost yet. Seems unusually warm. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Possibilities of Isabel coming our way brought our pickers in droves to avoid premature drops. Although, lower than expected winds combined with some moisture offered fair conditions. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: Another beautiful fall work week. In the Northwest region of Vermont, corn harvest is in full force. Hay being harvested for third cut. Manure being spread on harvested hay and corn fields. Pastures could use some rain. Soils are very dry. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Rainfall this week: 0.211 inches. Great week to bring in the harvest. No frost, all crops maturing in good shape, half of the potato crop has been dug (good crop). Picking and storing squash and pumpkins. Shops full of all sorts of fall decorations. That good fall feeling is in the air. Hope for all New England that Isabel doesn't get too rough. -- 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 Deputy Director: Joe Samson 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 ***********************