State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 07/18/04 Issue NH-CW2904 Volume 24, Number 13 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) July 19, 2004 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary MIX OF RAIN AND SUN For the week ending July 18, 2004, there were 5.0 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 24 percent short, 65 percent adequate, 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 23 percent short, 71 percent adequate, six percent surplus. Pasture condition was rated 11 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 56 percent good, nine percent excellent. Scattered showers that fell across the six State region hindered harvest activities in many locations. Many crops are in need of more warmth and sunshine to aid in development. Major farm activities included: haying; harvesting strawberries, highbush blueberries and shade tobacco; spreading manure; mowing; cultivating; top-dressing, side-dressing fields with fertilizer; monitoring fields; applying pesticides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 4 11 Short 24 14 31 Adequate 65 77 55 Surplus 11 5 3 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 3 8 Short 23 20 25 Adequate 71 74 67 Surplus 10 3 0 --------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report When able, farmers were busy harvesting hay in between showers as both first cut and second cut hay harvest advanced five percentage points from last week. Massachusetts potato growers harvested 10 percent of their crop, ahead of last year and normal. Potato farmers in Maine finished hilling their fields. Small grains were forming heads and the crop condition was rated excellent to good. Early planted broadleaf tobacco was being topped and shade tobacco harvest continued. Corn silage fully emerged during the week with the crop condition rated as good to fair. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Orchardists continued monitoring for pest and applied pesticides as needed. Fifteen percent of highbush blueberries have been harvested and the crop was reported in good to fair condition. Mummyberry disease has been reported in some highbush blueberries due to the wet conditions during the spring and early summer. The cool conditions have also hindered maturity in Maine wild blueberries. Fungicide and fruit worm applications were applied to Massachusetts cranberries. Strawberry harvest is nearly complete with only five percent of the crop left to harvest. VEGETABLES: More sun and heat is needed for summer vegetables. Growers applied protective sprays to prevent diseases. Sweet corn harvest is still in its early stages but is expected to pick up in the next few weeks. Vegetable growers harvested cucumbers, early sweet corn, summer squash, cabbage, beans, beets, broccoli, and peas. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Emerged -- Silage Corn 100 95 99 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 100 100 99 Good -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME -- -- -- Excel/Good Oats, ME -- -- -- Excel/Good Potatoes: Maine -- -- -- Excel/Good Mass 10 -- -- Good Rhode Isl -- -- -- Good/Excel Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Fair Sweet Corn -- 5 10 Good Tobacco: Shade 5 5 5 Good Broadleaf -- -- -- Good/Fair Dry Hay: First Cut 90 90 90 Fair/Good Second Cut 20 25 35 Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2004 2003 5-yr Avg Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples -- -- -- Good/Fair Peaches -- -- <5 Good/Fair Pears -- -- -- Good Blueberries Highbush 15 10 15 Good/Fair Wild -- -- -- Poor/Fair Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good/Fair Strawberries 95 95 95 Fair/Good ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, July 18, 2004 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 45 84 66 -2 0.00 3.01 NH 43 88 66 -2 0.03 1.12 VT 50 87 68 +0 0.17 3.29 MA 46 87 68 -3 0.05 0.99 RI 57 85 68 -4 0.43 1.26 CT 56 88 70 -3 0.40 2.29 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service - Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday July 12, 2004 To: Sunday July 18, 2004 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 54 81 67 -4 753 -259 192 -154 Allagash 46 83 64 -1 471 -181 76 -67 Augusta_State_A 58 81 67 -3 869 -94 259 -62 Bangor_Intl_Arp 55 82 68 -2 806 -52 233 -23 Barnard 54 80 66 -2 666 -74 156 -34 Bath 55 84 66 -3 725 -139 192 -72 Bethel 54 80 66 -3 825 -47 227 -33 Brassua_Dam 49 78 64 -1 528 -71 82 -42 Brunswick_ME 55 81 67 -3 873 +9 256 -8 Caribou_Municip 50 81 66 +0 599 -109 141 -31 Corinna 54 81 67 -2 770 -74 210 -33 Danforth 52 81 66 -3 591 -213 112 -121 Dover-Foxcroft 54 79 64 -4 584 -156 122 -68 Durham 56 81 66 -6 775 -246 215 -150 East_Hiram 54 79 65 -4 768 -103 206 -54 Eustis 49 77 63 -2 524 -69 87 -27 Frenchville 53 80 65 +0 529 -123 103 -40 Gray 56 82 67 -3 916 +70 285 +36 Greenville_ME 58 83 68 +2 831 +80 247 +54 Guilford 51 79 63 -4 506 -234 85 -105 Hollis 54 81 66 -3 822 +4 242 +12 Houlton 45 82 65 -2 596 -134 144 -44 Kennebunkport 55 78 64 -8 688 -394 158 -241 Livermore_Falls 52 84 67 +2 832 +96 254 +70 Moosehead 48 81 64 -1 539 -60 91 -33 New_Sharon 53 80 66 -1 739 +3 172 -12 Patten 54 80 65 -2 574 -156 117 -71 Portage 52 84 66 +0 559 -149 117 -55 Portland_ME 58 78 66 -3 834 -12 249 +0 Rangeley 50 76 64 +0 568 +3 99 -1 Sebec_Lake 51 82 66 -1 673 -78 165 -28 Vanceboro 51 81 66 -2 598 -141 124 -66 Waterville 56 82 68 -3 794 -218 221 -125 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 51 81 65 -6 865 -126 263 -74 Benton 56 78 66 -1 808 -21 218 +1 Berlin_AG 54 79 67 +1 823 -5 239 +11 Bethlehem 54 82 67 +0 735 -94 188 -30 Concord 55 84 68 -3 1136 +145 423 +86 Diamond_Pond 51 74 62 -1 495 -33 65 -10 First_Conn_Lake 50 78 64 +2 509 -19 82 +7 Greenville 53 88 68 +1 1129 +233 415 +152 Keene_AP 57 82 67 -4 1069 -65 354 -75 Lakeport 59 84 69 -2 1041 +113 366 +66 Marlow 53 78 64 -6 709 -310 154 -190 Mount_Washingto 43 58 49 +1 36 +17 0 +0 North_Conway 57 81 67 -3 942 +18 313 +18 Otter_Brook_Lk 55 83 67 -4 983 -151 308 -121 Plymouth 55 81 66 -3 790 -15 207 -13 Rochester 55 80 66 -5 952 -106 318 -62 Weare 58 83 66 -4 956 -63 299 -45 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 56 81 65 -3 884 +28 241 +0 Bethel 53 84 68 +2 914 +106 288 +65 Burlington_Intl 62 81 71 +0 1157 +74 460 +59 East_Haven 53 79 68 +3 753 +81 209 +53 Island_Pond 55 79 67 +3 712 +50 181 +36 Montpelier 56 80 68 +1 902 +64 285 +47 Morrisville_AG 56 82 68 +1 754 -71 219 -18 Mount_Mansfield 51 72 58 -1 343 +12 31 +3 Northfield 55 80 68 +3 818 +68 231 +37 Pownal 58 79 67 -1 969 +107 283 +36 Rochester 56 83 68 +2 890 +82 266 +43 Rutland_AG 59 83 69 -3 964 -167 293 -130 Sunderland 57 80 67 -4 882 -207 240 -151 Sutton 55 79 67 +2 725 +53 189 +33 Townshend_Lake 59 82 67 -4 981 -66 303 -72 Union_Vill_Dam 50 83 68 -3 912 -148 300 -80 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 58 84 68 -1 1052 +162 356 +84 Boston/Logan_In 60 85 70 -5 1291 +25 539 +22 Greenfield 59 83 69 -4 1169 -50 429 -55 New_Bedford 52 83 68 -7 1139 -110 408 -88 Otis_AFB 57 81 68 -4 1064 +89 383 +52 Plymouth 52 85 68 -5 1084 +58 400 +33 Walpole 59 87 69 -3 1217 +135 466 +72 West_Medway 57 86 68 -3 1231 +149 474 +80 Chicopee/Westov 59 84 69 -6 1376 -26 572 -33 Worcester 58 81 67 -4 1162 +165 425 +88 Worthington 56 81 65 -3 931 +62 272 +22 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 60 85 70 -4 1320 +128 534 +63 Woonsocket 57 85 68 -3 1198 +134 456 +84 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 57 81 66 -9 1045 -315 334 -250 Bridgeport/Siko 63 87 72 -3 1413 +136 600 +68 Hartford/Bradle 61 87 71 -4 1419 +66 605 +24 Norfolk 56 79 66 -3 1028 +155 334 +79 Norwich 61 86 70 -3 1312 +84 523 +40 Thomaston_Dam 57 88 70 +0 1347 +281 546 +174 Willimantic 58 84 69 -2 1262 +184 483 +103 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.14 -0.63 2 2.57 -0.57 13 Allagash 1.35 +0.51 3 5.34 +2.11 14 Augusta_State_A 0.36 -0.34 4 2.21 -0.71 15 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.28 -0.49 3 2.77 -0.31 14 Barnard 0.72 -0.10 6 3.45 +0.11 17 Bath 0.27 -0.36 2 3.50 +0.62 13 Bethel 1.32 +0.55 4 3.56 +0.22 13 Brassua_Dam 1.21 +0.30 4 4.51 +0.81 14 Brunswick_ME 0.84 +0.21 4 4.11 +1.23 16 Caribou_Municip 0.33 -0.58 5 2.94 -0.36 19 Corinna 0.38 -0.39 4 2.75 -0.40 12 Danforth 0.60 -0.31 5 4.55 +1.05 18 Dover-Foxcroft 0.30 -0.52 3 2.48 -0.86 12 Durham 0.44 -0.33 4 3.02 -0.19 15 East_Hiram 0.62 -0.16 5 2.65 -0.66 15 Eustis 0.93 +0.09 4 4.06 +0.74 13 Frenchville 0.96 +0.12 4 6.64 +3.41 17 Gray 0.42 -0.28 3 2.40 -0.55 13 Greenville_ME 0.80 -0.02 5 3.57 +0.23 15 Guilford 0.52 -0.30 5 3.24 -0.10 17 Hollis 0.74 +0.00 5 2.84 -0.32 16 Houlton 0.24 -0.60 4 2.56 -0.68 20 Kennebunkport 0.84 +0.14 3 3.18 +0.19 14 Livermore_Falls 0.91 +0.14 5 3.46 +0.14 16 Moosehead 0.34 -0.57 6 3.47 -0.23 18 New_Sharon 0.68 -0.09 4 2.32 -1.00 11 Patten 0.64 -0.20 4 4.18 +0.94 20 Portage 0.69 -0.22 3 4.71 +1.41 18 Portland_ME 0.59 -0.11 3 3.25 +0.30 13 Rangeley 0.68 -0.09 5 4.25 +1.04 14 Sebec_Lake 0.61 -0.21 4 3.05 -0.29 13 Vanceboro 0.51 -0.26 5 3.56 +0.49 17 Waterville 0.37 -0.40 4 2.37 -0.77 14 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.34 -0.36 4 3.74 +0.91 12 Benton 0.14 -0.63 2 5.01 +1.80 13 Berlin_AG 0.03 -0.81 1 2.87 -0.63 10 Bethlehem 0.31 -0.55 4 3.84 +0.28 16 Concord 0.51 -0.19 5 2.71 -0.12 14 Diamond_Pond 1.07 +0.03 4 4.53 +0.33 15 First_Conn_Lake 0.63 -0.41 4 3.55 -0.65 14 Greenville 0.62 -0.22 3 2.13 -1.23 7 Keene_AP 0.28 -0.55 3 2.00 -1.27 12 Lakeport 1.12 +0.30 4 3.17 +0.03 14 Marlow 0.52 -0.25 5 2.56 -0.66 14 Mount_Washingto 0.75 -0.79 5 6.50 -0.09 18 North_Conway 0.27 -0.57 4 4.74 +1.27 16 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.52 -0.31 6 3.50 +0.23 17 Plymouth 0.34 -0.54 5 3.07 -0.33 15 Rochester 0.65 -0.12 2 3.70 +0.60 10 Weare 1.00 +0.23 5 3.48 +0.26 16 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.00 +0.09 5 3.82 -0.02 15 Bethel 0.48 -0.36 5 3.29 -0.07 16 Burlington_Intl 1.67 +0.83 3 5.15 +1.88 18 East_Haven 0.83 -0.11 4 5.50 +1.67 16 Island_Pond 0.49 -0.46 4 4.27 +0.43 16 Montpelier 0.37 -0.32 4 2.78 -0.09 20 Morrisville_AG 0.79 -0.12 6 4.53 +0.86 19 Mount_Mansfield 3.29 +1.86 5 9.63 +3.68 20 Northfield 0.28 -0.49 2 2.24 -0.77 13 Pownal 1.99 +1.08 3 5.78 +1.94 14 Rochester 0.46 -0.38 4 3.44 +0.08 14 Rutland_AG 0.41 -0.46 4 3.34 -0.05 15 Sunderland 1.48 +0.82 5 3.41 +0.67 16 Sutton 0.53 -0.41 3 3.89 +0.06 17 Townshend_Lake 0.60 -0.17 5 2.52 -0.37 17 Union_Vill_Dam 0.17 -0.59 3 3.03 +0.13 14 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.71 -0.13 5 3.43 +0.07 16 Boston/Logan_In 0.63 +0.00 2 3.35 +0.72 9 Greenfield 0.39 -0.45 4 2.45 -0.94 11 New_Bedford 0.59 -0.07 3 1.46 -1.39 11 Otis_AFB 0.49 -0.14 2 1.13 -1.53 6 Plymouth 0.55 -0.22 4 1.94 -1.14 10 Walpole 0.43 -0.34 2 2.87 -0.34 7 West_Medway 0.50 -0.27 2 4.61 +1.40 8 Chicopee/Westov 0.74 -0.09 3 2.82 -0.65 10 Worcester 0.50 -0.35 2 1.82 -1.73 9 Worthington 0.94 -0.04 4 3.98 +0.20 14 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.03 +0.33 2 2.24 -0.65 8 Woonsocket 0.43 -0.45 3 2.79 -0.82 9 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.59 -0.11 3 1.96 -1.07 11 Bridgeport/Siko 2.29 +1.41 3 3.07 -0.34 7 Hartford/Bradle 0.61 -0.09 4 3.49 +0.46 11 Norfolk 0.40 -0.51 4 2.92 -1.00 15 Norwich 0.69 -0.15 3 1.96 -1.24 9 Thomaston_Dam 0.74 -0.18 4 2.22 -1.43 12 Willimantic 1.34 +0.36 4 2.09 -1.62 10 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 2004: 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 fell at the end of the week. Some areas received heavy showers, and others received nothing at all. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Picking blueberries, summer squash, herbs. Beginning to pick tomatoes. Sweet corn nearly ready to be picked. Scattered showers all week. The crops all needed a fresh drink. Corn, for the most part, looks good. Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Warm, humid weather. Rained for two days. Rain was welcomed by all crops. Corn is showing stress. Some growers are irrigating. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Heavy rains and showers during the week made getting any field work done difficult, however, most growers have completed their hilling of potato fields. Growers managing to get their fungicide sprays on. Moisture and warm temperatures are bringing crops along rapidly. Small grains are forming heads. No disease or insect problems spotted yet. Keeping our eye out for corn borer egg masses. Some grains have lodged due to heavy rains. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Insecticides and fungicides are being applied. Hilling and cultivating continue. Crops look excellent. Crops are growing rapidly and coming into blossom with many fields in full bloom. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: There have been no reports of European Corn Borer hatching yet, but the corn borer moths are still being seen. The weather has been slowing down their maturing. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Cool wet and changing conditions have made dry hay harvest a struggle. Corn silage is growing, but very slowly. Strawberry harvest almost complete. Where is the summer? Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Blueberry fruit fly trapping and spraying is in progress. Potatoes are ready. A sunny weekend was good news to home gardeners. Foggy, wet weather during the week has slowed the first crop hay harvest. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Crop maturity delayed a week because of cool conditions, fruit size is good because of adequate moisture. Few fruit files being captured on traps. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Crops are doing OK, but we do need some heat; some of those warm summer evenings are what corn and some other crops demand. Apples are still a problem when we look at the dead or dying trees, only time will tell. The strawberry folks had some problems with the winter weather. In some places, the berries were small and some plants didn't survive the cold. The hay crop looks pretty good but the farmers are having a hard time making hay. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Very little haying this week. There are reports of worms in the sweet corn crop. Growers are (due to the wet weather) repairing equipment. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Much needed rain arrived, warm weather pushed all crops along. Vegetable growers are picking sweet corn and many other vegetables. Insect pressure has been high but manageable, most crops are at a normal stage in growth with growing conditions near perfect. Hay growers are wrapping up their first cutting with good yields and quality. Silage corn is improving daily, weed control is good and growing conditions are good but a little hot humid weather would push the crop along. Cranberries have set and the crop looks great, insect pressure is high. Growers continue to apply insecticides and fungicides and fertilizer as this crop starts to size. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Bloom is nearly over. Bees have done an excellent job pollinating, as fruit set looks excellent. Many hives are being removed. Final fungicide applications and fruit worm applications are being applied. Weeds being wiped with Roundup. Some beds lack crop, due to winter injury or frost. By and large, things look very good. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Harvesting all types of vegetables. Crops look real good. Prices are somewhat depressed. No disease or insect problems right now. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: A week of peculiar weather effected the farmers in this county. A strong low pressure system brought storms from the southwest. Bright, clear, and sunny skies clouded over quickly and dropped a half inch of rain. The humid, wet weather increased the threat of blue-mold on tobacco and scab on apples. Corn, potatoes, blueberries and cukes look great! Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Rainy and cloudy throughout the week. Lots more sun and heat needed for summer vegetables. Growers are applying a protective spray to prevent disease. This weather is ideal for bacterial diseases. Mostly all crops look good in the valley. Harvesting cucumbers, sweet corn, summer squash, zucchini, cabbage, beets, pears, and blueberries. The early planted broadleaf tobacco is being topped and shade tobacco harvest continues. Gary Guida, Worcester: Just another perfect weather week for crops and people. Spraying sweet corn and completing strawberry field renovation. Harvesting wide array of vegetable crops. Growers in Worcester County now harvesting sweet corn, mine's about four days away from picking. Fruit setting on pumpkins and fall squashes. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: A dry day early in the week followed by cool, damp wet weather. Haying not even an option! Mummyberry running rampant, last weeks estimate of 30 percent is an understatement. Some growers report a near total loss. Squash, cukes and peas available from most farm stands. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Rainy, with the sun making a brief appearance towards the end of the week. Corn continues to look good - most of it in pre-tassel stage. Moisture has been good for regrowth on forage crops, but many farms are delayed in harvesting second cut hay and alfalfa/grass haylage. Field operations limited to spreading manure or fertilizer on harvested fields. PYO raspberries and strawberries selling briskly in between showers, and an ever-increasing variety of vegetables at farmers' markets and farm stands. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Haying operations continuing as weather permits. Corn continues to grow. Weather still cool but crops still growing well. Spotty showers delayed haying. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Light, intermittent showers frustrated farmers trying to put up hay and haylage. Light showers occurred on five days out of seven last week. Total accumulation for the week was only one tenth of an inch. The topsoil is starting to get dry and subsoil is below normal. The corn crop responded well to a couple of hot days. It still has some catching up to do. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables: Growers harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, sweet corn (grown with plastic & floating row covers) and other vegetables. Farmers kept busy cultivating, hoeing weeds, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insects and diseases - if needed. Very good demand for produce at most local farmer's markets and farm stands. Fruit: Blueberry and raspberry harvests continued. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, spraying if needed, and mowing orchard floors. Blueberry mummyberry disease is very bad in some blueberry plantings due to the wet conditions in spring and early summer. Field Crops: Rain showers stopped farmers from making dry hay. Silage corn is rapidly growing, rain storms occurred, along with the humid weather. John Porter (Ext), Merrimack: Adequate rainfall has kept pastures in good condition. Corn is growing well, but needs heat units. Vegetables doing well, broccoli starting to form heads. For those who survived the winter, there is a good blueberry crop. Several reports of mummyberry. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: First, not enough rain, now too much. The county has seen numerous down pours from Friday through Sunday. So far all crops holding their own. Some second cut of alfalfa turning yellow from inability to harvest with on/off rain showers. Excellent silage corn crop. Roadside stands doing good business with various vegetables being harvested. Some mummyberry reports in blueberries. Frost in spring pretty much wiped out peach crop. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Haylage making continued through the week. Last week of strawberry harvesting on most farms. Blueberry and raspberry harvesting strong. Apples doing well and growers monitoring for pests and spraying if necessary. Vegetable growers busy harvesting an assortment of vegetables. Weeding around other vegetables and monitoring for diseases and insect pests and spraying if necessary. Farmers markets busy with an assortment of vegetables and cut flowers. Fall mums doing well and greenhouse growers also busy planting poinsettia cuttings. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Some needed rain midweek helped kick summer vegetables into high gear. Blueberries look good with some nice size. Getting fungicides down on squash and potatoes. Some haying the first part of the week. Shearing started on Christmas trees. Crops look good. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Last week's humid, hot weather was beneficial to crops but detrimental to our hay farmers. The southern end of LaMoille county suffered a severe weather event of four inches of rain in one hour, resulting in road and property damage, but no agricultural land damage. Slugs and mosquitoes are thriving. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Some farms have begun harvesting second cut hay. A few farms are still trying to dry first cut hay. Some manure is being spread on hay fields. Second crop hay looks short in the field. Some corn looks very poor while other fields look good, field drainage probably accounts for this variance. The showery weather has made it very challenging to harvest crops. Finally some warmer temperatures have helped the corn crop. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Second cut hay is slow because of the wet weather. Most all alfalfa is in full bloom. Field corn looks the best ever - we only need some hot, dry weather now. Some ears are starting to develop. Veggie growers are still having problems with bugs in cucumbers and squash along with blight. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Starting second harvest of hay. Top-dress fertilizer and manure on hay land. First harvest of newly seeded hay fields. Good uniform stands in most situations. Corn vigorous growth, some side-dress nitrogen. Mostly good weed control. Annual grasses showing up. Pasture regrowth good to fair. Chris Benedict (Ext), Chittenden: Excessive moisture has sized up fruit accordingly but has placed additional pressure on apples and peaches. 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 Statistician: Dianne Johnson 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 ***********************