new-eng-crop-weather State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 04/28/02 Issue NH-CW1702 Volume 22, Number 1 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) April 29, 2002 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary UNUSUAL SPRING WEATHER WORRIES FARMERS For the week ending April 28, 2002, there were 5.0 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 12% short, 74% adequate, 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 11% very short, 32% short, 51% adequate, 6% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 6% very poor, 14% poor, 29% fair, 45% good, 6% excellent. Above average temperatures two weeks ago gave way to cold temperatures and snow last week, causing farmers to be concerned about possible frost damage to early fruit and vegetable crops. Drought conditions remain a problem throughout the Northeast. Major farm activities included: planting field corn, early vegetables, sweet corn, and potatoes; spreading manure; prepping seed beds for planting; applying fertilizer; plowing; fixing fences; and setting up irrigation systems for frost protection. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 4 -- -- Short 12 -- -- Adequate 74 -- -- Surplus 10 -- -- Subsoil Moisture Very Short 11 -- -- Short 32 -- -- Adequate 51 -- -- Surplus 6 -- -- --------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report Warm temperatures in early spring allowed some farmers to plant field and sweet corn ahead of normal. Potato planting in Rhode Island is well ahead of last year and normal, while Massachusetts is slightly behind last year and normal. Most Maine potato farmers have yet to begin planting. Tobacco seed is germinating and fields being plowed. Some animals have been put onto pastures. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Apples were in the bud to early bloom stage last week. Growers fertilized orchards and applied protective fungicide sprays. Strawberries are starting to grow. Reports of possible frost damage to strawberries and peaches have surfaced. Fungicide application for mummy berry disease in blueberries took place in Maine, and fields were burned and mowed for pruning. Cranberry growers in Massachusetts cleaned ditches, repaired dikes, applied herbicides, and watched for frost. VEGETABLES: Planting of early sweet corn, peas, onions, carrots, spinach, asparagus, beans, lettuce and cabbage has begun. Plastic sweet corn has germinated. Tomatoes are being transplanted into high tunnels. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2002 2001 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Planted -- Barley, ME 0 0 0 -- Oats, ME 0 0 0 -- Potatoes Maine 0 0 0 -- Mass 20 25 30 Good Rhode Isl 30 5 5 Good Silage Corn <5 0 0 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 10 <5 <5 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 0 0 0 -- Dry Hay -- Percent Harvested -- First Cut 0 0 0 Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- Crop Stage Condition ----------------------------------------------------- Apples Bud/Early Bloom Good/Fair Peaches Early/Full Bloom Fair/Good Pears Full/Early Bloom Fair Blueberries Highbush Bud/Dormant Good/Fair Wild, ME Bud Good Cranberries,MA Bud Good/Fair Strawberries Bud Good/Fair ----------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, April 28, 2001 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 15 62 38 -7 0.00 1.51 NH 6 62 37 -9 0.32 1.21 VT 15 62 37 -9 0.25 1.36 MA 24 66 43 -7 0.69 1.63 RI 29 60 45 -6 0.97 1.41 CT 25 63 44 -7 0.83 1.09 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2001: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weather Information Table Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the week ending Sunday, April 28, 2001 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 20 59 39 -9 29 +19 0 +0 Allagash 15 62 35 -6 3 +3 0 +0 Augusta_ME 26 56 41 -7 39 +32 1 +1 Bangor 22 59 40 -7 25 +21 0 +0 Barnard 20 59 38 -6 13 +11 0 +0 Bath 21 55 39 -8 27 +24 4 +4 Bethel 22 60 38 -9 51 +47 8 +8 Brassua_Dam 17 55 34 -6 10 +10 0 +0 Brunswick_ME 24 54 40 -7 27 +24 3 +3 Caribou 22 58 38 -5 11 +9 0 +0 Corinna 23 58 39 -6 26 +22 0 +0 Danforth 19 58 37 -7 8 +7 0 +0 Dover-Foxcroft 17 54 36 -8 9 +7 0 +0 Durham 22 58 39 -9 41 +34 7 +7 East_Hiram 22 58 38 -8 53 +49 13 +13 Eustis 17 57 34 -8 19 +19 0 +0 Frenchville 22 54 35 -6 4 +4 0 +0 Gray 26 56 41 -6 43 +40 6 +6 Greenville_ME 22 55 36 -7 18 +15 4 +4 Guilford 23 55 38 -6 11 +9 0 +0 Hollis 21 58 37 -9 65 +62 15 +15 Houlton 20 59 38 -5 16 +14 0 +0 Kennebunkport 24 56 39 -10 32 +22 9 +9 Livermore_Falls 17 61 38 -7 32 +30 5 +5 Moosehead 18 58 35 -5 10 +10 0 +0 New_Sharon 20 60 40 -5 31 +29 3 +3 Patten 20 58 36 -7 3 +1 0 +0 Portage 23 59 38 -5 5 +3 0 +0 Portland_ME 25 55 40 -7 44 +41 3 +3 Rangeley 18 56 34 -7 14 +14 0 +0 Sebec_Lake 19 62 38 -6 13 +10 0 +0 Vanceboro 22 56 38 -7 7 +7 0 +0 Waterville 24 58 40 -8 24 +14 0 +0 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 27 60 40 -8 77 +65 20 +20 Benton 24 55 37 -9 75 +63 24 +24 Berlin_AG 22 59 37 -8 48 +40 8 +8 Bethlehem 19 58 36 -10 63 +53 14 +14 Concord 23 60 40 -8 124 +112 40 +40 Diamond_Pond 15 56 33 -6 17 +17 0 +0 First_Conn_Lake 17 51 32 -8 17 +17 0 +0 Greenville 22 60 39 -9 90 +79 24 +24 Keene_AP 25 57 40 -10 138 +117 45 +45 Lakeport 26 60 41 -6 88 +81 25 +25 Marlow 20 62 36 -13 98 +84 26 +26 Mt_Washington 6 30 16 -10 2 +2 0 +0 North_Conway 22 60 39 -8 70 +63 18 +18 Otter_Brook_Lk 27 59 40 -10 106 +85 34 +34 Plymouth 23 60 38 -8 70 +66 19 +19 Rochester 26 60 41 -8 90 +75 23 +23 Weare 27 56 40 -9 90 +76 26 +26 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 24 58 38 -9 107 +97 33 +33 Bethel 22 61 38 -8 96 +88 31 +31 Burlington_VT 25 58 40 -8 119 +99 40 +40 East_Haven 17 57 36 -6 53 +51 14 +14 Island_Pond 19 56 36 -7 55 +50 12 +12 Montpelier 22 55 37 -9 98 +88 33 +33 Morrisville_AG 19 55 35 -11 71 +63 17 +17 Mount_Mansfield 15 41 27 -10 47 +47 9 +9 Northfield 22 58 38 -7 87 +80 26 +26 Pownal 26 56 39 -8 116 +103 42 +42 Rochester 25 58 38 -8 86 +78 26 +26 Rutland_AG 26 57 39 -11 103 +73 29 +29 Sunderland 22 56 36 -13 106 +73 32 +32 Sutton 21 55 36 -7 56 +54 18 +18 Townshend_Lake 26 60 40 -8 115 +98 41 +41 Union_Vill_Dam 25 60 38 -10 89 +72 27 +27 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 28 57 41 -6 116 +108 34 +34 Boston 34 60 46 -6 153 +122 43 +43 Greenfield 28 66 43 -8 130 +102 48 +48 New_Bedford 30 60 45 -7 155 +121 38 +38 Otis_AFB 34 54 44 -4 112 +103 16 +16 Plymouth 27 58 43 -6 118 +108 28 +28 Walpole 28 61 44 -6 142 +124 47 +47 West_Medway 27 61 43 -7 157 +139 58 +58 Westover 28 59 43 -11 186 +128 70 +70 Worcester 30 55 41 -7 132 +119 43 +43 Worthington 24 59 39 -8 118 +107 42 +42 RHODE ISLAND Providence 33 60 46 -6 164 +139 47 +47 Woonsocket 29 60 43 -6 150 +135 51 +51 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 25 62 42 -12 153 +103 61 +61 Bridgeport 33 59 47 -6 151 +115 44 +44 Hartford_AP 30 61 45 -9 206 +162 79 +79 Norfolk 26 57 41 -6 125 +117 47 +47 Norwich 30 63 45 -7 170 +132 64 +64 Thomaston_Dam 27 61 43 -7 160 +137 58 +58 Willimantic 26 60 43 -7 178 +158 63 +63 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.39 -0.45 2 4.69 +1.48 12 Allagash 0.15 -0.48 2 2.05 -0.31 11 Augusta_ME 0.51 -0.40 1 4.40 +0.94 12 Bangor 0.42 -0.35 2 4.90 +1.82 12 Barnard 0.28 -0.56 2 3.73 +0.45 15 Bath 0.89 -0.04 1 3.67 -0.16 11 Bethel 0.43 -0.41 1 5.03 +1.67 10 Brassua_Dam 0.31 -0.46 2 3.76 +0.90 14 Brunswick_ME 0.02 -0.91 1 3.19 -0.64 11 Caribou 0.15 -0.44 2 2.75 +0.48 14 Corinna 0.51 -0.33 2 4.69 +1.39 12 Danforth 0.79 -0.01 3 4.52 +1.50 15 Dover-Foxcroft 0.12 -0.72 1 2.43 -0.85 13 Durham 0.82 -0.09 2 4.98 +1.19 12 East_Hiram 0.70 -0.21 2 3.58 -0.08 12 Eustis 0.53 -0.22 2 4.23 +1.38 13 Frenchville 0.31 -0.32 1 2.56 +0.20 14 Gray 0.65 -0.29 3 4.38 +0.56 13 Greenville_ME 0.26 -0.58 2 3.13 -0.15 15 Guilford 0.25 -0.59 2 3.17 -0.11 13 Hollis 0.96 -0.02 2 4.38 +0.46 14 Houlton 0.25 -0.40 3 3.90 +1.50 15 Kennebunkport 1.51 +0.53 2 3.24 -0.60 14 Livermore_Falls 0.51 -0.40 1 4.77 +1.14 11 Moosehead 0.19 -0.58 2 3.06 +0.20 13 New_Sharon 0.41 -0.50 1 3.07 -0.56 12 Patten 0.42 -0.23 2 3.64 +1.24 14 Portage 0.50 -0.09 2 3.10 +0.83 14 Portland_ME 1.07 +0.13 3 3.30 -0.52 13 Rangeley 0.30 -0.33 2 2.81 +0.49 13 Sebec_Lake 0.42 -0.42 2 3.77 +0.49 15 Vanceboro 0.44 -0.40 2 3.79 +0.44 13 Waterville 0.27 -0.57 1 3.70 +0.49 12 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.80 +0.10 2 3.45 +0.74 15 Benton 0.70 +0.00 2 4.20 +1.66 11 Berlin_AG 0.32 -0.51 1 4.28 +1.12 10 Bethlehem 0.42 -0.28 2 3.65 +0.93 12 Concord 0.69 -0.01 2 2.23 -0.48 12 Diamond_Pond 0.44 -0.33 4 4.71 +1.87 17 First_Conn_Lake 0.57 -0.20 3 4.34 +1.50 17 Greenville 0.92 +0.08 2 2.81 -0.51 10 Keene_AP 0.40 -0.37 2 3.08 +0.15 13 Lakeport 0.67 -0.11 3 3.01 -0.05 12 Marlow 0.70 -0.21 2 3.49 -0.04 12 Mt_Washington 1.21 -0.63 5 9.64 +1.98 19 North_Conway 0.67 -0.31 2 5.69 +1.85 13 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.87 +0.10 4 3.11 +0.18 13 Plymouth 0.63 -0.20 2 2.86 -0.25 11 Rochester 1.13 +0.15 2 3.26 -0.70 10 Weare 0.95 +0.04 2 2.97 -0.56 9 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.80 -0.25 4 3.58 -0.44 14 Bethel 0.65 -0.26 2 4.87 +1.43 10 Burlington_VT 0.52 -0.17 2 2.20 -0.36 11 East_Haven 0.36 -0.34 1 2.79 +0.10 13 Island_Pond 0.47 -0.21 2 3.73 +1.25 13 Montpelier 0.60 +0.00 2 3.39 +1.15 12 Morrisville_AG 0.54 -0.23 4 2.84 -0.16 15 Mount_Mansfield 1.36 +0.08 6 5.96 +0.74 18 Northfield 0.50 -0.20 2 3.76 +1.11 10 Pownal 0.83 -0.22 4 3.31 -0.71 13 Rochester 0.75 -0.16 2 5.17 +1.73 10 Rutland_AG 0.63 -0.05 3 4.37 +1.91 9 Sunderland 0.91 +0.21 2 3.60 +0.95 13 Sutton 0.55 -0.15 2 2.62 -0.07 13 Townshend_Lake 0.95 +0.18 3 2.95 -0.10 13 Union_Vill_Dam 0.67 -0.04 2 2.62 -0.04 10 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.76 -0.08 3 2.82 -0.34 12 Boston 0.83 -0.01 2 2.34 -1.02 10 Greenfield 0.85 -0.04 4 2.93 -0.45 16 New_Bedford 1.63 +0.71 4 3.56 -0.30 11 Otis_AFB 1.21 +0.30 3 2.96 -0.64 9 Plymouth 1.24 +0.26 2 3.55 -0.40 10 Walpole 1.09 +0.13 4 2.75 -1.20 13 West_Medway 1.04 +0.08 2 2.73 -1.22 9 Westover 0.69 -0.22 3 2.42 -1.17 13 Worcester 0.72 -0.19 3 2.72 -0.92 14 Worthington 0.95 -0.04 4 2.78 -0.90 16 RHODE ISLAND Providence 1.05 +0.13 4 2.61 -1.24 11 Woonsocket 0.97 -0.01 4 2.58 -1.28 11 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.99 +0.08 4 3.12 -0.47 14 Bridgeport 1.00 +0.09 4 2.10 -1.39 12 Hartford_AP 0.96 +0.05 4 2.34 -1.25 14 Norfolk 1.08 +0.03 4 3.74 -0.41 13 Norwich 0.85 -0.24 4 2.15 -2.09 8 Thomaston_Dam 0.99 -0.03 4 2.79 -1.15 12 Willimantic 0.85 -0.13 4 2.12 -1.77 13 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 2002: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIS home page at www.awis.com or call toll free at 1-888-798-9955. Other Agricultural Comments and News CONNECTICUT - Howard Rood (FSA), Fairfield/Litchfield: Farmers were busy with a variety of chores this past week. Dairy farmers were pumping their manure pits and spreading corn fields. Ground rye cover has been sprayed with herbicide. Heifers have been turned out to pasture. Warmer than normal early spring weather has pushed the season ahead. Some corn land has already been plowed. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Planting greens, cabbage, collards, sweet corn and peas. Spreading manure, plowing and planting field corn. Tobacco seed is germinating and tobacco fields plowed to keep ahead of fast growing rye. Fruit trees approaching full bloom and were nailed by frost last week, especially on Saturday morning. Showers last week were great. Livestock put out on pasture. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Producers are readying the fields for planting silage corn. Areas of the county will begin planting by May 1st. Reports of dry, powdery soil. A small percentage of sweet corn has been planted. Some concerns for predicted frost. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: For the week of 4/14-4/20, temperatures ranged from the mid 90's to the 60's. That pushed the already swelled buds of the fruit trees to flower. This week's temperatures were in the 60's in the day, then dropped to the 20's at night with rain freezing buds of strawberries and causing heavy frozen frost. We are still in drought conditions due to lack of precipitation this winter and warm temps for the season. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Field corn planting is underway. Manure spreading is continuing. Rain at the end of the week was a welcome sight. In general spring is about 2 weeks earlier than normal...things greened up fast! MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: No field activity as soils are too wet and cold for any crop planting. Some potato seed being cut. Another week before much activity. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: There have been some people who have planted a few acres to grain and potatoes but the ground really hasn't warmed up enough. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Farmers spreading manure, building fences. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: This past week we have had two snow storms. The most recent was Sunday night, leaving over six inches of snow on the ground. When able to get on the fields, farmers have been spreading manure and fertilizer. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Farmers getting ready for the spring planting of their crops. Need rain. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Cold wet weather is a change! Four inches of snow last night will delay lots of field activity. Some forage seedings were done before the wet weather. Some sweet corn planted under clear plastic. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Burning continues on blueberry fields when weather permits. Spraying for mummyberry on blueberry fields is in the works. The cold, damp weather could cause a problem with mummyberry this year. Pastures are unusually green for this time of year. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Fields being burned and mowed for pruning. Preemergence herbicide and fertilizer being applied. Field season was two weeks ahead of normal, but cold weather this past week has slowed plant development to one week ahead of normal development. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: We had a very short spring and now the snow wants to return. After one week of warm weather we have been plagued with cool, damp, snowy days for over a week. Not much is getting planted other than the cold weather crops. This week's forecast is not much better. Hang on to your hats! It could be an interesting season. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Just starting to see real activity, plowing, spreading manure and fertilizer, and even some small grain planting. Apples were about a week ahead until last week's cold and snowy weather slowed things down. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Ground water is still in a long term drought situation. Snow and rain in March and April have helped the surface soil and reservoirs some. Grass is just starting to get some growth at this elevation. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Can you believe this weather? Soil conditions are dry in spite of the amounts of snow that we have received. Between showers, producers are preparing the ground for seeding. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Applying lime and fertilizer on crop fields. Started to till corn and vegetable ground. Most of the land has been planted to forage crop. May start planting field corn in the near future. Light snow on Thursday and Friday; up to four inches in hill town. A lot of discussion on future crops because of questionable ground water supply and rainfall for the crops. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Vegetable growers are starting to plant early crops. Dairy farmers are preparing fields to plant corn and readying hay equipment for the first cutting. Cranberry growers are running sprinkler systems to protect bogs from frost. Most cranberry growers have spread herbicides and will be applying their first application of fertilizer this week. Shellfish growers are planting seed and harvesting some quahogs. Shellfish are in great shape with lots of growth and the market has firmed up after the collapse caused by 9/11. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Growers are cleaning the ditches, repairing dikes, applying herbicides, and watching for frost. Due to early-season temperatures, things are two weeks ahead of the usual. Should be a horrendous year for insects, based on the mild winter. Precipitation for the month and the year is close to the norm. Ponds are down due to the deficit encountered in 2001. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Everyone is busy plowing and harrowing fields. Some planting being done, but the cold wet weather of this past week has slowed this activity. Fruit trees are in full bloom to petal drop. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: After 90 degree weather the week before, the other shoe fell last week. Franklin County had frost or freeze conditions that may have effected tree and vine fruit. Peaches, apples and lowbush blueberries may have been damaged. Producers in the western sections of the county have reported that temperatures fell to the mid-teens. Asparagus growers have reported that their fields were also damaged by the frost. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Dairy farmers spreading manure, fertilizing hay fields, and preparing corn fields to plant. Vegetable growers are plowing fields, planting seed corn, potatoes, peas, cabbage, lettuce and parsnips. Harvesting spinach, asparagus, and fiddleheads. Greenhouse industry reports growing conditions are good and crops look excellent. Everyone is happy with the rain showers on Sunday. More is greatly needed. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Rain and snow this week have helped somewhat with replenishing ground water reserves. Hay and pasture grasses are growing well. Peas and cold-tolerant greens are seeded. Farms and garden centers are busy preparing fields, seeding and transplanting. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Alfalfa has overwintered well. New seedings are planted and some are up and growing well. Despite snow and cold weather, field work is progressing. Spreading manure and preparing corn ground. Some corn planted but nothing up. Soil temperature in high 30's to low 40's as of Sunday. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Field Crops: Liming and fertilizing hayfields. Spreading manure, plowing, disking, fertilizing and planting corn. Making new pasture and hayfield seedings. Vegetables: Transplanting tomatoes into high tunnels. Early season vegetables (peas, lettuce, greens) are being planted, along with sweet corn. Plastic sweet corn germinated. Fruits: Bloom is two weeks ahead. Peaches were in full bloom to petal fall in the Hollis area on Sunday. The earliest blooming apple varieties are in bloom and most of apple trees are in pink stage. Strawberry plants starting to grow and strawberry plants under floating row-cover starting to bud. Planting fruit trees, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. Fertilizing orchards. Protective fungicide sprays applied. Weather: From 90+ degrees two weeks ago to snow last week, crops are two weeks ahead of schedule. Cold weather (under freezing temperatures) last week damaged peach and strawberry blossoms, waiting to evaluate if apple blossoms were damage. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Rained almost every day or night and had frost (down to 21 degrees) six nights in a row. We had about 2 inches of snow on Thursday night. Protecting strawberry plants from frost with either overhead irrigation or straw/Reemay. Peaches, cherries and apricots are in full bloom. Pruning apples, blueberries and grapes. Disking and plowing vegetable fields and laying black plastic. Applying manure and seeding pasture and hayfields. Established pastures and hay fields are infested with white grubs. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: With the recent unusually warm weather, preparing of corn fields and some planting is about 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Many other crop fields are being tilled and fertilized. First crop of hay looks like it will be good with the help of much needed rain in April. Geoffery Njue (Ext), Strafford: There was rain and light snow in the last half of the week. Most fields have been plowed, but the conditions last week were not suitable for harrowing because of wet soils. Peach growers were worried about falling temperatures last week because the peaches were in early bloom. Frost damage to the flowers would seriously affect the peach yields. Grass and other forage crops were growing well because of warm weather and rains in the previous week. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Some good rain has fallen this week which has helped. Potatoes still being planted, along with spring crops of lettuce, spinach and cole crops. Manure being spread, some haying done along with strawberry preparation. Greenhouses are full and ready to stock roadside stands with annuals, hanging baskets and tons of geraniums. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: The previous week's 90-degree temps pushed the fruit trees toward blooming, much too early. Remember this happened last year, but it was the first week of May when they got a freeze; peaches were completely wiped out and apples took a really hard punch. Now it's happening again, only two weeks earlier. Cole crops are planted. Equipment preparation underway, a few farmers are tilling under covercrop. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Mother Nature has been playing plenty of tricks on us this month. Between weather extremes, farmers have been plowing, harrowing, and spreading manure. Greenhouses are full of started plants waiting for warmer ground temperatures. Bill Snow (Ext), Orange: Spring tried to sneak in early, but winter came back! Grazers had their cows out in pasture in mid-April, but pastures are white this morning. They were covered with four inches of snow on the 23rd of April. Spring spreading of manure was completed two weeks early on some farms. Fertilizer has been spread on hayfields and corn fields were prepared. Farm activities are ahead of schedule. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers have just started to disk their drier fields this week. Most farmers are spreading manure on their dry fields. Pasture are getting very green. Growth of grass in pastures is one to two inches. Landowners are repairing fences to begin pasture season. Soil moisture appears to be adequate at this time, however some farmers are still short of water for their livestock. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: The last week in April and strange things are happening! Peaches and pears are in bloom along with some apples, but with wet weather, pollination could be low. Some farmers have planted new seeding and the winter kill to alfalfa was less than ten percent. In southern Windham County most of the corn land is plowed and ready to plant. More rain this week will help the drought situation. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Spreading manure on corn and hay fields. Spreading nitrogen fertilizer on grass hay fields. Some tillage to incorporate manure and some seedbed preparation. Started planting new seed alfalfa/grass fields. Some lime delivered to fields. Pasture growth good, hay fields good vigor. Richard Noel (FSA), Grand Isle/Franklin: 2002 wild weather this weekend! Three-quarters inch of rain, then rain gauge got choked up with snow. A lot of manure and fertilizer was spread in the last two weeks. Some of the land has been plowed and worked up. Some sweet corn planted under plastic. A lot of fences have been repaired, winter wasn't too hard on them this year. Some cows out on pasture; I think after yesterday they may want to get back inside. We're already behind on moisture for this year. Many new wells drilled in Franklin County in the past six months. Lake is down two feet compared to last year and precipitation is also down two inches. Had to plow off the snow before I could mow the lawn. That's northern Vermont for you. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Planted early sweet corn, peas, early vegetables, onions, carrots, lettuce, spinach, asparagus and beans. Harrowed and fertilized. Started planting during the warm spell, but things are froze down now. Rhubarb nearly ready to market. Excellent crop of winter rye to plow under. Soil temperature good. Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals. Contact Information To receive this report every Monday evening, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov and in the body, type subscribe usda-new-eng-crop-weather Statisticians: Emily McAllister, Robin Helrich Stat Assistant: Wayne Colpitt Deputy: David Luckenbach 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 ***********************