State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 5/29/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 5 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) May 31, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary Sunshine??? For the week ending May 29, 2005, there were 3.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture was rated 2% short, 53% adequate, 45% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 9% short, 47% adequate, 44% surplus. Pasture condition was rated 2% poor, 19% fair, 61% good, and 18% excellent. Cool, cloudy and wet conditions continued through Friday. Warmer temperatures arrived for the weekend with some sun and scattered thunderstorms throughout New England. Warm, sunny days are needed to improve conditions for all crops in New England. The month of May was very wet and colder than normal and farmers are concerned about replanting crops in wet fields. Growers were hoping for an extended season to help crops reach full potential. Major farm activities: chopped grass silage, baled hay, planted and tilled field crops, spread manure and fertilizer on fields, repaired equipment, harvested asparagus, spinach, and rhubarb, planted warm weather vegetables, sprayed protective fungicides on fruit trees, and pulled bees from orchards. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 0 Short 2 2 1 Adequate 53 56 67 Surplus 45 42 32 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 0 Short 9 3 2 Adequate 47 55 80 Surplus 44 42 18 --------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report Unfavorable conditions continued to delay fieldwork yet another week and farmers were concerned about damage to crops already seeded. Warmer, sunny days are needed to enhance growth conditions. Field corn has started to emerge but color varied from yellow to brown spikes by weeks end. Weed applications need to be applied once fields are dry. In northern Maine, growers continued to plant small grains as weather permitted and some grains had emerged by the end of the month. Maine potato planting progress averaged two weeks behind schedule, with soils too wet and cold to allow field entry. Hay field growth was slow and lack of sunshine and warm days had harvest behind schedule. Low first crop hay yields were projected and poor conditions expected due to over maturity. Shade tobacco transplanting neared completion, while broadleaf tobacco planting were just getting underway. Farmers persist to prepare fields by spreading manure and fertilizer, plowing, and tilling grounds. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Poor pollination conditions continued to hinder bee activity in orchards. Orchardists applied petal fall and protective fungicide sprays when conditions permitted. Cranberry development was up to two weeks behind schedule due to prolonged cool, rainy conditions. Strawberries remained in bud stage in Maine; early bloom to petal fall elsewhere. Blight disease was seen in some raspberry fields in New Hampshire. VEGETABLES: Cooler than normal conditions forced greenhouse producers to continue to heat their facilities to keep temperature above 70 degrees. Greenhouse growers were struggling with fungal diseases such as botrytis mold caused from the cool, wet conditions. Vegetable growers started to plant warm weather transplants, sweet corn, tomatoes, and beans. Producers reported that earlier planted vegetables were not germinating due to cool soil temperatures. Farmers harvested asparagus, spinach, and rhubarb. Producers prepared fields for planting as weather permitted. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Percent Condition Emerged ---------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME 55 95 85 5 N/A Oats, ME 50 95 85 5 N/A Potatoes Maine 20 95 80 -- N/A Mass 95 95 90 25 Good Rhode Isl 90 85 95 50 Good Silage Corn 60 75 60 15 Fair/Good Sweet Corn 40 65 60 25 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 90 90 65 -- Good Broadleaf 15 20 15 -- Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut <5 10 10 -- Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Fruit Set Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples FB/PF Avg Good/Fair Peaches PF Avg/Below Fair/Good Pears PF Avg/Below Fair/Good Blueberries Highbush Bud/FB Avg Good Wild, ME Bud/FB -- Good Cranberries,MA Bud Avg Good Strawberries Bud/PF Below/Avg Fair/Good ----------------------------------------------------- FB-Full Bloom, PF- Petal Fall -- Weather Summary State Table Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday May 23, 2005 To: Sunday May 29, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 30 77 49 -7 0.75 6.27 NH 25 79 50 -8 0.79 4.08 VT 33 76 52 -6 0.43 1.93 MA 35 83 52 -8 0.57 4.95 RI 43 78 53 -7 0.47 2.67 CT 38 80 54 -7 0.92 2.09 Copyright 2005: 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. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday May 23, 2005 To: Sunday May 29, 2005 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 68 48 -11 42 -141 0 -19 Allagash 30 67 50 -4 25 -43 0 +0 Augusta_State_A 41 69 50 -9 69 -93 1 -13 Bangor_Intl_Arp 44 65 52 -5 85 -38 0 -8 Barnard 41 62 49 -7 37 -57 0 -4 Bath 42 72 50 -8 35 -82 0 -6 Bethel 41 73 50 -8 50 -84 2 -9 Brassua_Dam 36 59 47 -6 13 -40 0 +0 Brunswick_ME 41 70 49 -9 45 -72 0 -6 Caribou_Municip 35 66 51 -5 51 -40 0 -5 Corinna 42 64 51 -7 57 -69 0 -9 Danforth 39 60 49 -7 28 -67 0 -4 Dover-Foxcroft 36 63 47 -9 22 -72 0 -4 Durham 42 73 50 -9 42 -124 1 -11 East_Hiram 41 74 49 -9 47 -87 2 -9 Eustis 36 62 46 -7 17 -43 0 +0 Frenchville 35 65 50 -4 44 -24 0 +0 Gray 41 73 50 -7 73 -41 6 +4 Greenville_ME 34 56 48 -8 28 -76 0 -7 Guilford 37 59 48 -8 16 -78 0 -4 Hollis 42 71 49 -8 43 -66 0 -2 Houlton 40 64 51 -5 60 -33 0 -6 Kennebunkport 41 67 49 -12 43 -152 1 -15 Livermore_Falls 41 69 49 -7 43 -51 0 -4 Moosehead 38 57 47 -6 18 -35 0 +0 New_Sharon 40 65 48 -9 42 -52 0 -4 Patten 38 63 49 -7 27 -66 0 -6 Portage 32 65 50 -6 33 -58 0 -5 Portland_ME 44 70 51 -6 60 -54 4 +2 Rangeley 36 62 46 -7 12 -44 0 +0 Sebec_Lake 42 61 49 -7 31 -73 0 -7 Vanceboro 40 60 49 -6 28 -55 0 +0 Waterville 41 69 49 -10 48 -135 0 -19 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 36 79 48 -11 68 -112 1 -22 Benton 41 72 51 -7 52 -103 0 -19 Berlin_AG 41 70 49 -8 46 -88 1 -14 Bethlehem 42 73 51 -7 53 -100 3 -16 Concord 43 79 52 -7 127 -53 16 -7 Diamond_Pond 35 61 45 -7 11 -47 0 +0 First_Conn_Lake 37 63 47 -6 17 -41 0 +0 Greenville 42 76 50 -9 143 -24 14 -4 Keene_AP 45 75 52 -9 128 -117 12 -31 Lakeport 42 75 51 -7 103 -50 5 -11 Marlow 39 77 49 -12 71 -138 5 -26 Mount_Washingto 25 47 34 -5 0 +0 0 +0 North_Conway 42 75 51 -8 66 -90 6 -11 Otter_Brook_Lk 42 76 51 -11 92 -153 7 -36 Plymouth 42 75 51 -6 50 -71 4 -7 Rochester 40 72 49 -12 94 -115 8 -22 Weare 41 75 50 -11 84 -125 6 -25 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 40 75 50 -8 68 -87 6 -13 Bethel 43 74 52 -5 69 -67 5 -10 Burlington_Intl 47 72 55 -6 154 -69 17 -22 East_Haven 40 72 52 -3 53 -41 0 -7 Island_Pond 33 70 51 -4 42 -54 3 -4 Montpelier 46 73 53 -4 106 -44 16 -2 Morrisville_AG 42 73 52 -6 40 -96 0 -15 Mount_Mansfield 35 55 43 -7 13 -17 0 +0 Northfield 44 67 53 -3 68 -49 3 -8 Pownal 41 75 51 -7 108 -52 8 -13 Rochester 42 75 52 -6 69 -67 4 -11 Rutland_AG 44 73 52 -9 84 -175 6 -47 Sunderland 43 73 51 -9 89 -154 5 -38 Sutton 38 70 50 -5 42 -52 2 -5 Townshend_Lake 43 75 51 -9 99 -105 9 -23 Union_Vill_Dam 43 76 53 -7 80 -133 6 -28 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 40 76 50 -8 118 -28 10 -1 Boston/Logan_In 44 78 53 -10 164 -106 21 -9 Greenfield 44 79 54 -9 147 -126 16 -27 New_Bedford 44 75 53 -9 121 -150 7 -23 Otis_AFB 45 79 54 -5 183 +31 16 +8 Plymouth 44 77 52 -8 103 -66 8 -4 Walpole 42 76 51 -9 160 -51 11 -12 West_Medway 43 76 52 -9 124 -87 8 -15 Chicopee/Westov 43 77 54 -9 238 -119 32 -37 Worcester 42 74 51 -8 162 -21 19 +1 Worthington 35 75 50 -8 97 -58 7 -9 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 44 77 54 -8 186 -52 12 -12 Woonsocket 43 78 52 -8 168 -39 13 -5 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 38 76 53 -11 145 -190 11 -56 Bridgeport/Siko 48 76 56 -6 254 -31 15 -35 Hartford/Bradle 41 80 55 -9 258 -70 32 -32 Norfolk 40 72 50 -8 123 -28 10 -4 Norwich 45 76 55 -7 185 -103 14 -34 Thomaston_Dam 43 76 54 -7 170 -57 14 -17 Willimantic 40 76 54 -7 195 -32 15 -15 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 4.01 +3.17 7 20.10 +9.96 41 Allagash 0.75 +0.02 4 10.57 +2.84 37 Augusta_State_A 3.41 +2.57 6 17.43 +6.81 38 Bangor_Intl_Arp 2.95 +2.18 5 12.45 +2.56 31 Barnard 3.78 +2.94 7 19.37 +9.40 45 Bath 3.95 +3.11 7 21.22 +9.65 36 Bethel 4.05 +3.21 7 21.33 +11.00 35 Brassua_Dam 2.62 +1.82 6 13.40 +4.43 40 Brunswick_ME 6.27 +5.43 6 26.45 +14.88 33 Caribou_Municip 1.24 +0.54 4 11.55 +3.73 42 Corinna 2.71 +1.88 6 17.00 +6.95 32 Danforth 2.50 +1.65 5 15.72 +6.20 41 Dover-Foxcroft 2.66 +1.82 7 13.50 +3.53 33 Durham 3.49 +2.66 6 21.77 +10.14 34 East_Hiram 4.50 +3.66 7 22.14 +10.91 39 Eustis 4.35 +3.58 7 14.61 +5.57 38 Frenchville 1.02 +0.29 3 8.88 +1.15 41 Gray 3.46 +2.69 6 22.41 +11.14 36 Greenville_ME 2.59 +1.75 7 15.24 +5.27 43 Guilford 3.40 +2.56 7 18.68 +8.71 37 Hollis 4.35 +3.51 7 23.46 +11.90 41 Houlton 1.42 +0.65 6 12.05 +4.00 43 Kennebunkport 5.14 +4.30 6 22.40 +10.89 35 Livermore_Falls 3.87 +3.00 6 19.12 +8.18 36 Moosehead 2.59 +1.79 7 13.92 +4.95 41 New_Sharon 44.61 +3.74 7 21.19 +10.25 36 Patten 2.38 +1.61 6 17.24 +9.19 41 Portage 31.48 +0.78 5 13.79 +5.97 41 Portland_ME 3.40 +2.63 5 19.18 +7.91 36 Rangeley 3.21 +2.43 7 14.85 +6.95 45 Sebec_Lake 3.43 +2.59 7 19.57 +9.60 42 Vanceboro 2.50 +1.73 5 15.54 +5.08 40 Waterville 2.40 +1.56 6 18.39 +8.25 32 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 3.90 +3.18 6 16.74 +8.10 40 Benton 0.85 +0.01 4 10.18 +1.82 37 Berlin_AG 2.92 +2.07 6 14.25 +4.65 33 Bethlehem 1.25 +0.45 6 9.29 +0.76 42 Concord 1.93 +1.21 6 12.65 +4.01 37 Diamond_Pond 1.76 +0.79 7 14.63 +5.07 51 First_Conn_Lake 1.23 +0.26 6 10.98 +1.42 45 Greenville 3.48 +2.60 7 15.53 +4.87 31 Keene_AP 1.26 +0.36 5 12.91 +3.21 33 Lakeport 2.77 +1.93 6 13.92 +4.15 34 Marlow 2.22 +1.31 6 13.76 +2.37 35 Mount_Washingto 3.22 +1.52 7 24.61 +0.15 49 North_Conway 3.16 +2.25 6 16.38 +4.70 38 Otter_Brook_Lk 2.24 +1.34 6 12.61 +2.91 36 Plymouth 1.17 +0.26 6 10.76 +0.36 30 Rochester 4.08 +3.24 5 20.02 +8.13 34 Weare 2.74 +1.83 6 17.70 +6.31 36 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.93 +0.88 7 12.52 -0.07 35 Bethel 1.02 +0.04 7 10.83 -0.21 36 Burlington_Intl 0.65 -0.07 5 6.70 -1.25 35 East_Haven 0.64 -0.25 5 8.98 -0.10 45 Island_Pond 1.27 +0.36 6 9.36 +0.84 45 Montpelier 0.91 +0.14 5 9.09 +1.27 40 Morrisville_AG 0.85 +0.00 6 9.71 +0.17 41 Mount_Mansfield 0.81 -0.52 6 15.10 -0.88 48 Northfield 1.07 +0.30 5 10.56 +1.85 31 Pownal 1.38 +0.33 7 11.39 -1.20 37 Rochester 1.46 +0.48 7 12.04 +1.00 34 Rutland_AG 0.58 -0.26 5 7.42 -0.84 33 Sunderland 1.32 +0.48 6 11.70 +2.86 41 Sutton 1.00 +0.11 6 10.41 +1.33 47 Townshend_Lake 1.55 +0.78 7 11.49 +1.67 38 Union_Vill_Dam 0.99 +0.16 6 10.05 +1.09 38 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 2.99 +2.15 7 16.04 +6.06 43 Boston/Logan_In 2.42 +1.72 5 10.53 +0.07 35 Greenfield 1.38 +0.47 6 12.32 +1.72 35 New_Bedford 2.22 +1.38 5 14.56 +2.70 39 Otis_AFB 2.44 +1.62 5 15.39 +4.35 37 Plymouth 4.17 +3.33 6 17.47 +5.39 36 Walpole 4.03 +3.26 6 15.67 +4.38 35 West_Medway 2.42 +1.65 7 14.36 +3.07 39 Chicopee/Westov 1.10 +0.13 7 10.52 -0.80 39 Worcester 2.05 +1.07 6 13.79 +1.74 37 Worthington 1.65 +0.63 7 14.15 +2.50 42 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.45 +0.62 5 12.21 +0.38 35 Woonsocket 2.67 +1.76 7 17.25 +5.36 39 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.43 +0.52 7 13.88 +2.42 41 Bridgeport/Siko 1.09 +0.25 7 9.62 -1.68 39 Hartford/Bradle 1.25 +0.34 7 10.74 -0.72 40 Norfolk 0.92 -0.13 7 11.42 -1.62 38 Norwich 2.09 +1.15 5 13.78 +0.43 33 Thomaston_Dam 1.26 +0.28 7 11.90 -0.54 39 Willimantic 1.49 +0.58 5 11.33 -0.70 37 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 2005: 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: May has been cool and wet. Hay crop is not as tall as usual. Jude Boucher (Ext), Tolland: Continued cool, wet weather all week. More drizzle and clouds than actual rain...thankfully...we don't need a repeat of the last two seasons! Lorrianne Los, Univ of Connecticut: Some apple petals were holding on until the end of the week due to very cool weather. Some growers in cooler areas were planning to apply petal fall sprays over the Memorial Day weekend. Chemical thinning of apples may be more challenging this year due to the cool weather from the past week. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Despite frequent showers most corn planting continued with many complete. Some replanting of shade tobacco due to cold weather and plants not taking off. Broadleaf tobacco planting began but most are waiting for warmer weather. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: Field corn work started in again this weekend after coming off the most unusual cold week of weather seen in May in a lifetime. Rains saturated many typically wet fields. Fields began to dry out later in the week however, localized heavy rains fell where isolated thunderstorms hit during the later part of the week. Corn began emerging in fields where it was planted more than two to three weeks ago. We will soon be able to tell what areas need replanting. Overall May was not good for growing conditions with the average temp well below what is needed for good crop growth. A good heat wave and a long fall will be needed to make up for this month. Corn being planted now may actually do better than what was planted earlier especially on wet fields. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Sinking in wet soils, 3rd coldest May in 100 years, Nor'easter dropped a few inches of rain, high winds took some trees down, 40 degrees all day on Wednesday, brr!! Diesel fuel is high, stoking the furnace to keep greenhouses above 70 degrees. Corn that's up is wet, needs sunlight and heat, pollination concerns, chemical thinning held up in orchards due to less than 70 degree weather and waiting for proper fruit size. Optimistic farmers trying to hay. Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Another Nor'easter this week. Temps in the 40's. Weather was cool, windy and rainy. Heavy rains at night. Corn is up and looks good. Strawberries will be late, cool weather has slowed everything down. Hay is being cut. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Corn and weeds are emerging. Time for early post emergence weed control, if the wet fields allow equipment! Custom spray applicators will be under pressure to cover lots of ground after a week of rain. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: First cut haylage harvest is underway. Orchard grass is in full bloom, tonnage is light as most flowered extremely short - only 8 - 12 inches. Most of the silage corn has been planted and has emerged - but it is still just yellow looking spikes due to cold soil temps and too much water in the fields. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Rainy weather continued further delaying planting of crops. Growers were able to get on the fields for part of the week. However planting is difficult as wet spots in the field have to be left out and in some cases only portions of fields can be planted. It is getting late to be planting long season varieties of potatoes. Besides being very wet soil temperatures remain too cold for proper germination. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Farmers were able to get into the fields for a couple of days this week because of rain and overcast weather. Hopefully, this following week will be favorable for planting all crops. A small percentage of grains emerging. Still more to be planted. Let's hope all farmers are busy getting crops in the ground for this predicted sunny week ahead. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Some farmland was under water during the middle of the week. Weather remains cool and no sun to warm up the soil. Growth is slow on many things. Fields are too wet to work. Gleason Gray (Ext), Penobscot: Wet weather continued through the week. Kathy Hopkins (Ext), Somerset: Standing water in fields again. We need sun! Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Cold wet weather slowing plant development and preventing pollination. Bees are under stress from cold and lack of floral resources. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Planting conditions are getting seriously bad. There most likely will be some late planting and may be some prevented planting. Hay growth has been slowed due to lack of sun and heat. Hopefully the apple blossoms will hang in there for some late week sun & pollination. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Oxford County producers are still trying to dry out from last week's rain and cool temperatures. Potted plants have moved from greenhouse to the market. Some Producers are still waiting to plant crops. Pastures are too wet for animals. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Weather has still been cool, rain has been spotty in the county ranging from 1/8" to 1 3/4". Subsurface 3" down is dry. Folks continue to be concerned about pollination issues. Some haylage was made in the last week and corn continues to be planted. Some of the emerged corn was brown and yellow spotted from frost. Warmer weather is predicted. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: The miserable weather (40's and rain) associated with the most recent Nor'easter continued to slow down plant development. Scouting beds for insects was also pointless. Warmer temperatures over the long weekend got things moving again, although we are around two weeks behind the normal schedule. There are beds where growers have already had to spray for black-headed fireworm or gypsy moth larvae feeding on the emerging buds. Apart from that, there has been nothing to be concerned about except for worries about rainfall leaching the pre-emergent herbicides away from their target weeds. Growers are trying to evaluate whether winter moth larvae are feeding on the cranberry buds. These larvae have already caused significant injury to trees in the area. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Tilling and planting crops. Fruit growers taking a wait and see approach attitude from an earlier frost. Some blocks look okay where some do not have any fruit. Cool and rainy conditions have caused delays in planting schedules. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Season temperatures are still below normal. Crop fields have dried out and farmers are planting warm season crops. Harvesting hay, asparagus, spinach and rhubarb. Gary Guida, Worcester: Worst May I can remember! Finally though-a GOOD weather weekend and people came to area farm stands in droves. All us growers needed that boost in sales. Annuals and perennials big sellers. Vegetable plants doing well but most people were struggling to ready there gardens. No strawberries here as that frost burnt first three buds on plants. Hopefully a good weather week as transplanting and direct seeding needs to be done. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Four inches of rain, one sunny day. Early varieties of strawberries beginning to bloom. Flea beetle outbreak under row covers. Planting schedules in big trouble. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: A whole week of wet weather, plantings delayed, sprays missed could be big trouble ahead. Pastures and fields are getting mature. Bees are inactive, luckily blossoms are long lasting. Forecast calls for sun by the middle of the week, here's to hoping it lasts! Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Lots of cool, rainy weather, but a little bit of sun over the weekend. Most field corn planted, and more fields starting to emerge. No one has started first cutting yet, though orchard grass is beginning to head out. Vegetable growers setting out warm-weather transplants and late sweet corn plantings, crops are growing slowly. Fruit growers trying to keep up with apple scab and mummyberry spray schedules. Warm weather over weekend has brought a spurt of activity at greenhouses. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Weather remains generally cold and wet throughout the week. Corn field preparation and planting continues as best as possible although some fields are too soft to put equipment on. Grass pastures and hayfield growing well in these conditions, should really shoot up with a little sun. New seedings going in. Manure and fertilizing spreading continues. Some more alfalfa and grass winterkill seen and reported. Good time to put in vegetable transplants, some able to do so. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Wet weather continues to slow field work, especially hay harvest. Corn is finally emerging, but needs some sun and heat before it will do much. Hay crops continue to grow slowly due to cooler conditions. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Apples and pears are at petal fall stage to fruit set stage where later blooming areas in the county are at just starting to see petal fall. With all the rain during the weekend, orchardists had a difficult time applying protective fungicide sprays. Some orchardists started to move bees out of orchards. Blueberries and Strawberries are blooming. Vegetables: Harvesting asparagus and rhubarb. With the rain during week, it was very difficult to do any field work, including making successive plantings of sweet corn and trying to finish potato planting. Planting first field tomatoes transplants. Field Crops: Difficult to plant and weed spray corn fields with rainy conditions. No haylage chopping was done due to rainy weather. Sadie Puglisi (Ext), Merrimack: Rain and cool weather is delaying everything. The ground is wet and the soil is still cool. Rainy weather was not good for garden center sales. Fruit growers have concern about lack of pollination. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Rain, rain, rain. Another wet, cool week. Sun finally came out on Saturday but fields too wet. Trying to lay black plastic in vegetable fields. Plant growth slow because of cool weather. Spraying protective fungicide in orchards and insectides in apple blocks at petal fall. Blight diseases seen in raspberry fields. Repairing equipment and waiting anxiously for dry, warmer days. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: A very wet week. It was very difficult to work the soil. Grass on pastures and hayfields is growing well but could benefit from sunlight and higher temperatures. The soils have been too cold and wet. Growers complaining that corn and other vegetables planted several days ago are not germinating. Fruit growers spraying protective sprays for diseases and insect pests. It was a difficult week to spray because there were rains everyday. Plant sales in greenhouses and nurseries have been very slow because people are not going out to buy plants on rainy days. The greenhouse growers are also struggling with fungal diseases like botrytis mould due to wet cool weather. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Lots of rain, cold temperatures and high winds during the week, only to open up to some sun and heat over the weekend. Everyone playing catch up, sweet corn, field corn, tomatoes, beans and summer vegetables being planted. Roadside stands racing to fill up benches that were being emptied by customers. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Some improvement in the weather over the weekend helped the crops to grow. First cut of grass is pending better weather and there are some concerns about yields if the weather doesn't cooperate. Corn planting while somewhat delayed is still moving toward completion. Soybean planting on hold until warmer weather while spring planted barley is doing very well. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Cool, wet weather continues to plague landowners. Farmers are still trying to plant corn. I heard one report of a farmer who had to replant a field of corn due to seed rot. Most farmers have their cows out on pasture now. The wet weather has been good for grass growth but has made conditions muddy in the pastures. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Several farmers have started mowing this weekend hoping for some better weather. Corn is slow to get started germinated and two leaves and setting there waiting. Hay crop looks a little short with orchard grass headed out and only a foot tall. Veggie growers are having the same problem with the cold weather. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Wet and cool. Down pours on Sunday and Monday really topped off a cool wet May. Most of the silage corn is planted, I have not seen any emerged yet. Some milk cows out on pasture, but still not a lot of feed there, and lanes and soil conditions are very soft. I have not seen any first cut hay down. Weather report is looking for some sun and warmth this week, things should begin to grow then. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Still planting mid season sweet corn. Spraying for weed control. Many crops planted but growing weather very slow. Too cold and cloudy. 0.660 rain for week. Asparagus beginning to come back after frost. Rhubarb on the market. Slow growth on all crops. We need sun and warm weather. George Cook (Ext), Lamoille: Intermittent showers have kept folks busy with field work, with one eye on the sky. Overall, about an inch of rain has been received in the past week. Spring crop work varies from on schedule to being a bit behind. We need warm sun to get things moving. 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, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov and in the body, type subscribe usda-new-eng-crop-weather Statistician: Travis Averill Stat Assistant: Deirdre Davis Deputy Director: Gerald Tillman New England Agricultural Statistics 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 ***********************