State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 8/21/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 17 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) August 22, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary-- Lots of Clouds and A Few Warm Days GENERAL CONDITIONS: For the week ending August 21, 2005, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture: 11% very short, 44% short, 45% adequate. Subsoil moisture: 8% very short, 35% short, 55% adequate, 2% surplus. Pasture condition: 4% very poor, 22% poor, 33% fair, 37% good, and 4% excellent. Cooler weather arrived to the region on Monday, after weeks of hot and humid conditions. Scattered rain and cloudy conditions settled over New England until Thursday. Warm and hazy weather returned to the region on Sunday with rain throughout most of New England. Rain early in the week and Sunday's rain were appreciated but more rain required to enhance crop conditions overall regionally. Some crops remained under stress due to a lack of rainfall and moisture in August. Major farm activities included cultivating, weeding, irrigating, monitoring pests and diseases, spraying fungicides and pesticides, spreading manure, baling hay, chopping grass, harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 11 16 0 Short 44 39 0 Adequate 45 45 62 Surplus 0 0 38 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 8 13 0 Short 35 23 0 Adequate 55 61 73 Surplus 2 3 27 --------------------------------------------- -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Some light rain and cooler temperatures improved and advanced Maine wild blueberry harvest ahead of schedule. Maine wild blueberries percent harvested increased sharply by 45 percent from the previous week. Highbush blueberry growers were going strong as harvest approaches the end. Peach harvest reached the half-way point rated in good to fair condition. Apple growers were just underway picking early varieties of apples: Paula Reds, Ginger Golds and JeseyMac. Pear harvest just started in Massachusetts as conditions were rated fair to good in New England. The recent spotty rainfall has caused concern for Massachusetts cranberry growers and if adequate moisture not received soon, yield will be affected. Strawberry growers were busy cultivating and weeding newly renovated beds. Orchardist's were busy irrigating, monitoring for pests, summer pruning, mowing orchard floors and moving bins to fields for the upcoming harvest. VEGETABLES: In southern New England, vegetables need more moisture since spotty rain showers have hindered the region. Some crops were under stress due to a lack of moisture and also caused mildew and some disease problems in vine crops. Sweet corn harvest passed the halfway point as conditions varied in the southern region from good to fair and excellent to good in northern New England. Growers were busy harvesting a variety of vegetables such as: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes and zucchini. Greenhouses and nurseries were busy harvesting and selling flowers. High gas prices were keeping people shopping locally buying an array of vegetables at farm stands and farmers' markets. FIELD CROPS: Cool, cloudy and a few warm days provided farmers with desirable working conditions. Limited rainfall allowed farmers to near completion and ahead of last year for first cutting of hay. Inadequate rainfall in August has limited re-growth of grass and hindered yield for second and third cutting of hay, but still quality rated good to excellent in the region. In Connecticut and Massachusetts, some corn fields were under stress due to limited rainfall in recent weeks. A very poor yield expected in Connecticut and Massachusetts due to drought like conditions, where leaves were curling up and ears were not filled out. Field corn in the rest of New England was doing well as crop condition rated excellent to good for all six states. Some Maine oats and barley growers started to harvest some of the 2005 crop as both were rated in good to excellent condition. Cooler weather allowed broadleaf tobacco harvest to catch up to shade tobacco as both were almost three quarters completed. Some tobacco growers in the Connecticut River Valley reported that yield was reduced due to standing water and hail damage. The warm, dry weather had continued to create unfavorable late blight conditions. Maine potato growers have only reported three cases of late blight in Southern Aroostook County this year. Growers continued to spray on a seven to ten day schedule. Rhode Island potato harvest just underway rated in fair to poor condition, whereas Massachusetts potatoes were rated in good condition. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME -- -- 10 Good/Excellent Oats, ME -- -- 10 Good/Excellent Potatoes Maine -- -- -- Good/Fair Mass. 15 20 20 Good Rhode Isl. 10 20 30 Fair/Poor Sweet Corn 55 55 50 Good/Fair Field Corn -- -- -- Excellent/Good Tobacco Broadleaf 70 50 65 Good/Fair Shade 70 65 70 Good Dry hay, 1st cut 99 95 97 Good/Fair Dry hay, 2nd cut 70 65 70 Good/Excellent Dry hay, 3rd cut 25 15 25 Good/Excellent ---------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- --Percent Harvested-- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Fruit Condition Avg Size ----------------------------------------------------- Apples 5 5 10 Avg Good/Fair Peaches 50 50 50 Avg Good/Fair Pears 5 <5 <5 Avg Fair/Good Blueberries Highbush 80 80 80 Avg/A Avg Good/Excel Wild, ME 80 55 65 Avg/B Avg Fair/Good Cranberries, MA - - - Avg Good ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the Period: Monday August 15, 2005 To: Sunday August 21, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 34 84 63 -3 0.16 1.85 NH 33 92 64 -1 0.55 2.47 VT 40 88 65 +0 0.43 2.19 MA 46 94 69 +1 0.00 2.21 RI 55 94 72 +2 0.00 1.08 CT 51 95 71 +2 0.08 2.00 ------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday August 15, 2005 To: Sunday August 21, 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 42 80 63 -6 1444 -206 636 -22 Allagash 36 82 58 -5 1124 +15 401 +110 Augusta_State_A 49 79 66 -3 1633 +36 787 +162 Bangor_Intl_Arp 46 80 66 -1 1621 +164 749 +225 Barnard 44 78 63 -3 1367 +93 571 +175 Bath 45 81 64 -4 1402 -80 596 +42 Bethel 46 79 64 -3 1489 +37 651 +140 Brassua_Dam 41 77 61 -3 1206 +145 465 +192 Brunswick_ME 50 82 66 -2 1471 -11 670 +116 Caribou_Municip 37 79 61 -2 1356 +162 562 +222 Corinna 46 80 64 -2 1479 +76 656 +183 Danforth 41 78 62 -3 1320 -46 535 +69 Dover-Foxcroft 43 75 61 -4 1265 -9 500 +104 Durham 46 79 63 -6 1461 -231 644 -64 East_Hiram 46 78 63 -4 1471 +25 645 +138 Eustis 40 78 60 -3 1174 +140 432 +182 Frenchville 40 81 61 -2 1328 +219 546 +255 Gray 53 81 66 -2 1653 +194 810 +275 Greenville_ME 48 75 62 -3 1332 +47 553 +148 Guilford 42 79 63 -2 1359 +85 589 +193 Hollis 44 79 64 -3 1510 +127 689 +223 Houlton 34 78 62 -2 1343 +97 553 +174 Kennebunkport 45 80 63 -7 1379 -403 579 -190 Livermore_Falls 41 81 64 +0 1535 +279 713 +335 Moosehead 40 78 61 -2 1175 +114 436 +163 New_Sharon 44 80 64 +1 1486 +230 677 +299 Patten 40 78 61 -3 1252 +6 486 +107 Portage 40 81 60 -3 1320 +126 534 +194 Portland_ME 50 83 66 -2 1594 +135 756 +221 Rangeley 41 76 61 -2 1213 +216 462 +231 Sebec_Lake 43 79 62 -3 1344 +59 551 +146 Vanceboro 41 77 62 -3 1295 +7 511 +99 Waterville 47 81 66 -3 1545 -105 721 +63 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 44 83 64 -4 1597 -19 753 +121 Benton 45 77 63 -2 1500 +153 655 +240 Berlin_AG 45 80 64 -1 1519 +162 671 +233 Bethlehem 42 80 63 -2 1508 +161 661 +245 Concord 46 83 67 +0 1860 +244 935 +303 Diamond_Pond 39 73 59 -2 1142 +225 413 +233 First_Conn_Lake 37 75 59 -2 1153 +236 409 +229 Greenville 50 87 68 +3 1935 +473 1003 +503 Keene_AP 48 86 68 -1 1871 +71 938 +172 Lakeport 52 81 67 +2 1854 +334 939 +376 Marlow 46 80 65 -2 1688 +52 815 +183 Mount_Washingto 33 57 49 +3 320 +267 15 +15 North_Conway 46 79 64 -2 1639 +128 774 +221 Otter_Brook_Lk 47 86 66 -3 1746 -54 842 +76 Plymouth 45 79 63 -2 1540 +206 690 +268 Rochester 50 82 66 -3 1683 -35 809 +99 Weare 49 84 66 -2 1714 +78 828 +196 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 44 85 65 +0 1608 +199 738 +270 Bethel 44 81 65 +2 1645 +308 767 +341 Burlington_Intl 48 84 68 +1 2029 +294 1058 +337 East_Haven 43 82 63 +2 1493 +363 645 +348 Island_Pond 42 79 62 +0 1453 +341 628 +346 Montpelier 44 81 65 +2 1710 +342 807 +365 Morrisville_AG 41 81 63 -3 1483 +122 651 +205 Mount_Mansfield 40 66 57 +1 924 +330 238 +173 Northfield 43 83 64 +2 1588 +343 717 +350 Pownal 48 84 66 +2 1743 +328 809 +339 Rochester 45 82 65 +1 1660 +323 775 +349 Rutland_AG 45 80 66 -3 1799 +13 889 +142 Sunderland 45 81 65 -3 1749 +35 839 +153 Sutton 43 77 62 +0 1458 +328 633 +336 Townshend_Lake 49 88 68 -1 1785 +95 872 +182 Union_Vill_Dam 46 84 67 -1 1626 -79 754 +57 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 53 85 67 +2 1812 +343 888 +368 Boston/Logan_In 60 85 70 -3 2031 +0 1083 +129 Greenfield 52 86 68 -2 1923 +3 965 +110 New_Bedford 51 89 71 -3 1850 -187 910 -49 Otis_AFB 57 84 70 +1 2048 +394 1055 +372 Plymouth 54 92 71 +2 1853 +136 958 +227 Walpole 56 87 71 +3 2029 +272 1065 +326 West_Medway 55 88 69 +1 1896 +139 957 +218 Chicopee/Westov 52 89 70 -4 2198 +3 1159 +89 Worcester 58 88 69 +2 1950 +313 997 +348 Worthington 46 89 65 +0 1675 +243 769 +287 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 59 93 74 +3 2183 +249 1178 +292 Woonsocket 55 94 71 +3 2021 +293 1041 +337 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 52 90 68 -5 1851 -271 887 -130 Bridgeport/Siko 64 90 74 +1 2258 +186 1180 +179 Hartford/Bradle 57 93 72 +2 2313 +199 1251 +237 Norfolk 51 88 67 +2 1740 +302 809 +320 Norwich 56 93 72 +3 2139 +182 1130 +247 Thomaston_Dam 55 90 70 +3 2048 +340 1052 +369 Willimantic 54 91 71 +3 2061 +322 1048 +337 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.97 +0.13 2 2.99 -0.38 7 Allagash 0.53 -0.44 2 1.29 -2.43 8 Augusta_State_A 0.78 +0.01 3 2.17 -0.88 9 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.64 -0.13 3 5.12 +2.17 12 Barnard 0.36 -0.48 2 5.28 +2.06 13 Bath 0.76 -0.01 3 1.89 -1.01 9 Bethel 0.99 +0.08 3 1.99 -1.56 7 Brassua_Dam 0.25 -0.59 3 2.80 -0.65 12 Brunswick_ME 0.92 +0.15 2 2.97 +0.07 9 Caribou_Municip 0.24 -0.67 2 1.49 -2.27 13 Corinna 0.49 -0.35 2 2.55 -0.73 11 Danforth 0.38 -0.55 3 3.01 -0.70 12 Dover-Foxcroft 0.29 -0.55 2 3.35 +0.13 11 Durham 1.13 +0.43 2 3.40 +0.49 9 East_Hiram 1.85 +1.01 3 3.06 -0.36 8 Eustis 0.50 -0.27 2 2.45 -0.70 11 Frenchville 0.63 -0.34 2 2.25 -1.47 11 Gray 0.84 +0.21 3 2.57 +0.05 9 Greenville_ME 0.52 -0.32 3 4.17 +0.95 13 Guilford 0.32 -0.52 2 3.27 +0.05 14 Hollis 0.86 +0.16 4 1.84 -0.96 9 Houlton 0.16 -0.80 4 1.32 -2.37 13 Kennebunkport 0.74 +0.04 3 1.61 -1.18 9 Livermore_Falls 0.97 +0.00 2 3.04 -0.50 10 Moosehead 0.23 -0.61 3 4.52 +1.07 12 New_Sharon 0.64 -0.33 3 2.48 -1.06 10 Patten 0.23 -0.73 2 2.33 -1.36 12 Portage 0.55 -0.36 2 2.17 -1.59 13 Portland_ME 0.76 +0.13 2 1.81 -0.71 8 Rangeley 0.64 -0.29 2 3.42 -0.18 12 Sebec_Lake 0.18 -0.66 2 5.10 +1.88 12 Vanceboro 0.37 -0.38 3 2.87 -0.03 12 Waterville 0.95 +0.11 2 2.97 -0.40 10 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.74 -0.03 2 2.17 -0.91 6 Benton 1.19 +0.28 3 3.03 -0.52 11 Berlin_AG 1.14 +0.15 3 1.87 -1.95 6 Bethlehem 1.79 +0.74 3 4.33 +0.28 12 Concord 0.55 -0.22 3 2.17 -0.91 8 Diamond_Pond 0.60 -0.59 3 3.17 -1.41 12 First_Conn_Lake 0.58 -0.61 4 4.06 -0.52 12 Greenville 1.45 +0.54 4 2.51 -1.19 9 Keene_AP 1.02 +0.12 2 2.47 -1.07 6 Lakeport 1.09 +0.25 3 3.10 -0.26 7 Marlow 1.62 +0.78 2 3.14 -0.14 5 Mount_Washingto 1.36 -0.53 3 4.58 -2.60 11 North_Conway 0.77 -0.14 3 2.77 -0.82 11 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.33 +0.43 3 2.93 -0.61 7 Plymouth 0.79 -0.10 3 1.39 -2.23 9 Rochester 0.75 -0.05 1 2.33 -0.97 4 Weare 1.82 +0.98 5 3.96 +0.68 13 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.17 +0.19 4 2.68 -1.13 10 Bethel 1.12 +0.07 3 3.39 -0.66 7 Burlington_Intl 0.43 -0.50 3 2.73 -0.88 8 East_Haven 1.16 +0.07 3 3.38 -0.90 9 Island_Pond 0.54 -0.58 2 3.66 -0.70 11 Montpelier 1.57 +0.66 4 3.12 -0.25 11 Morrisville_AG 0.52 -0.60 2 2.75 -1.57 11 Mount_Mansfield 1.03 -0.72 4 4.03 -2.56 13 Northfield 1.73 +0.88 3 3.47 +0.06 10 Pownal 0.57 -0.41 3 2.91 -0.90 9 Rochester 1.05 +0.00 3 1.82 -2.23 8 Rutland_AG 1.03 +0.05 3 1.86 -1.92 9 Sunderland 1.00 +0.09 3 2.34 -0.99 9 Sutton 1.38 +0.29 3 3.59 -0.69 11 Townshend_Lake 1.20 +0.29 3 2.61 -0.91 12 Union_Vill_Dam 0.92 +0.08 4 1.58 -1.63 10 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 2.21 +1.44 3 3.59 +0.36 8 Boston/Logan_In 0.73 -0.02 2 2.17 -0.64 8 Greenfield 0.83 -0.01 2 2.62 -0.74 7 New_Bedford 0.15 -0.83 1 0.52 -3.07 4 Otis_AFB 0.10 -0.67 1 0.35 -2.61 3 Plymouth 0.19 -0.72 1 0.52 -2.89 4 Walpole 0.84 -0.07 2 2.24 -1.17 7 West_Medway 0.90 -0.01 3 2.01 -1.40 9 Chicopee/Westov 0.69 -0.10 2 2.27 -0.83 10 Worcester 1.46 +0.62 3 1.96 -1.40 8 Worthington 1.01 +0.10 3 1.10 -2.74 5 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.10 -0.74 1 0.33 -2.87 5 Woonsocket 1.08 +0.17 2 1.47 -2.17 7 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.89 +0.05 3 1.89 -1.24 8 Bridgeport/Siko 0.70 +0.00 1 1.75 -1.34 5 Hartford/Bradle 1.01 +0.17 2 1.24 -1.89 5 Norfolk 0.74 -0.31 3 3.00 -1.03 9 Norwich 0.30 -0.61 1 1.39 -2.12 4 Thomaston_Dam 0.88 -0.10 3 1.67 -2.16 8 Willimantic 0.08 -0.78 3 0.78 -2.81 6 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 AWIShome page at www.awis.com or call toll free at1-888-798-9955. -- Other Agricultural Comments and News CONNECTICUT - Howard Rood (FSA), Fairfield/Litchfield: We have had some scattered showers, but we need a good rain. Vegetable crops really need water. Field corn looks good. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: The week started out with a few showers but cleared with refreshing air on Tuesday, allowing much dry hay to be baled progressing well for 2nd cutting. Sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, summer squash, cucumbers, eggplant, and water melons harvested. Scattered showers on Sunday were most appreciated. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: Hay-Excellent week for making hay although there was not much re-growth in most fields. Corn Silage-The crop continues to suffer due to lack of rain in the county. Any rain now will be too late to improve crop yields for the majority of the corn acreage. A significant amount of curling of the plants seen in fields. Very poor yields will be likely for many farmers. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Severely dry, hot weather is dramatically affecting field corn with drying from top and bottom, leaves curling up to points, ears not filled in and not developing on a lot of corn, all types of soil types affected from gravelly to heavy soils, no corn is untouched by this dry spell, concern over lack of feed quality and inability to recover at this late date, irrigating fruits and vegetables where possible, peach and blueberry picking expected to continue for a few more weeks, size and quality of peaches good with some irrigation, ponds drying up, water, the lack of water or rain, a major concern. Nancy Welsh (FSA), New Haven: Hot and dry conditions continue to have a negative affect on all crops in the county. If any scattered showers occurred they barely dampened the ground and weren't any help. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Mowing what little grass has grown in these dry conditions. Need to mow regardless of yield to try to keep bedstraw weed from propagating. More intensive mowing schedule should help control this invasive weed. Richard Meinert (Ext), Litchfield: Farmers growing short season corn have started harvesting silage. Others still finishing up hay. Widely scattered showers still washing hay in some areas. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Growers continue to ready equipment for harvest. Some small grains have been combined. Yields are better than expected. Q uality excellent. Fields are being monitored for insects and disease. The dry weather continues. Showers during the weekend did little to relieve the situation. Early maturing potato varieties have been adversely affected. Later maturing varieties may do better if we get some rain in time. No late blight reported but some white mold has been detected. Flea beetles and tarnished plant bug found. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Barley being harvested. Some early potatoes for roadside stands being harvested. Growers in this area were on a 7-10 day spray schedule for fungicides. Showers this past weekend were welcomed, but we are still short. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Seven day spray schedule. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: One and a quarter inch of rain over the week-end. Farmers are doing summer seeding of hay fields. Kathy Hopkins (Ext), Somerset: Rain over the weekend very welcome. Donald Burke (FSA), Waldo: Sweet corn is now ready. Early plantings failed, making for a late crop. Second crop haying is underway. Blueberry harvest is winding down. Occasional showers have helped vegetable gardens and blueberry crop. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Second crop of hay is now being harvested. Sweet corn is in but a little late from the wet spring. Spotty development in some fields. Over 50 locally grown varieties of fruits and veggies at farm markets! Blueberry harvest slowing down. Pastures still dry despite showers during the week. Dr. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild blueberries: Rain and cooler temperatures have improved crop yield and quality. Harvest on the barrens is average but many smaller fields have a poor crop. Overall a less than average crop is still expected. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Light rain at the end of the week gave a little relief to crops; more rain is needed as some pastures are drying out. Great weather for haying. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Oxford County has had another good weather week. Hay is being harvested through out the county. Field Corn is growing and sweet corn is being harvested. Barley is being harvested. Vegetables are being picked daily and marketed. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: A glorious week all around. Hay being harvested, vegetables at the farm stands, potatoes being harvested, and silage corn getting a chance to grow. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Not much real hot weather this week. Lots of clouds and few warm days. Some reports of pastures drying up, having to feed hay, etc. Veggies still doing great, as well as most tree fruits. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Mother Nature gives and she also takes. We have a decent set of cranberries, but unless we get rain soon they won't size up like they could. That will mean we won't reach the USDA crop estimate of 1.7 million barrels reported at the CCCGA Annual Summer Meeting last Tuesday. Rainfall has been very spotty, but no reports of hail to date. Blushes of color on the fruit, but because we are still running 7-10 days behind the normal schedule, there is concern whether the berries will have decent color. Cold nights will account for that, but if we don't get rainfall, growers won't have sufficient water to protect the berries on those frost nights (or to continue irrigation). It's always a double-edged sword. Fruit quality continues to be very good so far, but stress on the vines won't help. Jason Otto (FSA), Bristol: Very hot and dry. Weather is taking its toll on the crops. Temps hit the high 90s over the weekend. A very brief shower hit the area Sunday but did not help much. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Another hot and muggy week kept farmers on their toes. Silage corn and hay look awesome and yields should be very good. The mechanical cucumber harvest is going well although the crop is growing too fast. Fall vine crops are also ripening ahead of schedule. Pumpkins are turning orange now and vines are starting to die back on acorn squash. The tobacco harvest should conclude this week with farmers reporting a fair year. Standing water and hail damage reduced yields on many fields. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: This week brought a few rain showers across the county. Farmers are still reporting conditions are dry and crop yields have suffered. Harvesting tobacco, sweet corn, apples, peaches, blueberries, summer squash, cucumbers and tomatoes. A cover crop is being applied to harvest fields. Growers are scouting for insects and diseases. Late summer and early fall crops are being irrigated. Orchardists are mowing orchard beds and starting to pick Paula Reds and Jersey Macs. Gary Guida, Worcester: Thunderstorm last Sunday knocked out phone and power but only brought little rain for water stressed crops. Maturing sweet corn drying up on the cob, rendering many ears unmarketable. Powdery mildew appearing in pumpkin fields as it's that time of year. Growers harvesting all summer crops. Cantaloupe melon crop harvest underway and this year is a bumper harvest. Many melons coming in at size four with average weight of 8lbs. Pumpkins now "flecking" but size is reduced due to lack of water. It's very dry up in Northern Worcester County, sub soil has no moisture, it's like powder. Consumer sales still very strong; local farm stands getting good prices and price of gas keeping people shopping in there home towns. Mums starting to show up. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Hot and humid gives way to cooler but dry. Haying continues. Pastures are starting to show the effects of the dry weather. All crops coming in nicely. Blueberries showing less mummy berry than expected. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Some needed rain at the very beginning of the week and again over the weekend, with gorgeous haying weather in between. Field corn is maturing nicely, with a few fields in dent stage and farms anticipating harvest in a couple weeks. Grass growth is slow, but farms out getting whatever hay is out there. Third cutting haylage wrapping up. PYO blueberries still going strong. Apple harvest just starting this week with Paula Reds and Ginger Golds; yields from May 13 freeze are down considerably. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Somewhat colder weather conditions, temps even dipping into the 30's this week. Heavy soaking rain on Saturday with 3-4 inches in some locations. Field corn ears filling out well, looks very good, 3rd cut commencing also good. Sweet corn now readily available along with all other summer veggies. Blueberries still being picked. Honey bees now into the golden rod. Nice re-growth of hayland and pastures with change in the weather. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Second cutting finishing up and third cut continuing. Hay quality is good to excellent and yields are better than first cut in some instances. Corn continues to mature. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Weekend rain showers were needed. Some areas received less than an inch of rain and other areas received considerably more. The corn crop looks good as a general rule. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Orchardists harvesting peaches, plums, and JerseyMac apples. Highbush blueberry harvest continues and soon will be winding down, and fall raspberry harvest continued. Cultivating and weeding newly strawberry renovated beds. Orchardists busy monitoring for pests, summer pruning trees, mowing orchard floors, fixing up orchard roads and move bins into orchard. Vegetables: Farmers kept busy harvesting array of vegetable crops, monitoring pest pressures, spraying pesticides for insect and disease control where needed. Major out break of mildew in pumpkins and some winter squash. Field Crops: Hay making and cutting haylage continued during the week with the second cut and some third cutting being made. Growth has been good to excellent. The remaining first cutting is only good for mulch hay. Farmers make new seeding for pasture and hayfields. Corn looks good to excellent. Sadie Puglisi (Ext), Merrimack: Peaches, apples and potatoes are showing up at the markets now. Blueberries are winding down. We had a little rain on Saturday, but could use more. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Blueberry harvest continues. Picking early apple varieties, peaches, apricot and many vegetables. Haying. Irrigating, weeding and monitoring pests. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Spot rain showers have been a blessing. PYO blueberries is ongoing with reports of a good yield. Still waiting on results from hail damage. More dry hay being made and fourth cutting of alfalfa coming along. Many winter killed alfalfa fields have been plowed up and reseeded recently. Summer vegetables aplenty, thanks to summer long humidity. Early apples not far from being ready to pick. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: A thunderstorm passed through at the beginning of the week giving a little bit of moisture and cooling down some of the temperatures. Haying being done, harvesting some potatoes, along with sweet corn and tomatoes and all summer vegetables. Farmers still irrigating, although no longer doing potatoes. Farm stands are filled with local crops and starting to show some colorful mums. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Another relatively dry week made for great fieldwork conditions. Some manure being spread on second cut grass fields. Most crops including corn are on the fast track to maturity. Maybe two weeks ahead of normal?? Soybean crop appears to be outstanding.Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Last week was another great week for cropping. Almost all of second crop hay has been harvested. I haven't seen or heard of anyone harvesting third crop yet. Reports are that the drier weather has slowed the grass growth for third crop. The corn continues to look very good. The corn appears to be maturing fast and we may see some corn harvested earlier then normal. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Got some rain the end of the week but could use more. Corn does look better. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Seeding early harvested sweet corn fields with winter rye. Digging good crop of early potatoes, still spraying late potatoes for blight. 0.254 inches of rain for the week. A good rain would help all crops to mature. Great year for cabbage, broccoli, and lettuce. Mid-season sweet corn in the market with excellent flavor. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext),Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources ConservationServices (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*********************