new-eng-crop-weather State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date For week ending 06/17/01 Issue NH-CW2401 Volume 21, Number 7 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) June 18, 2001 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary For the week ending June 17, 2001, there were 6.0 days available for field work across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 5% poor, 23% fair, 65% good, 7% excellent. Major farm activities included: planting row crops and vegetables, cultivating potatoes, spreading manure, transplanting tobacco and some vegetables, testing soils for nitrate, cutting hay and haylage, harvesting strawberries and early season vegetables, and spraying for weeds, insects, and fungus. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 9 7 0 Short 6 8 0 Adequate 71 79 60 Surplus 14 6 40 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 8 8 0 Short 7 7 2 Adequate 77 81 62 Surplus 8 4 36 --------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report It was a hot, humid week until the arrival of tropical storm Allison on Sunday, which brought significant rainfall to most locations. A mix of sun and rain provided excellent growing conditions, pushing emergence ahead of last year and the normal for most crops. Potato planting was completed in New England last week, with emergence well underway and farmers actively cultivating their crop. Oat and barley crops in Maine were fully emerged and in excellent condition. Silage corn planting in New England was 99% complete by the end of last week and was in good condition. Growers wrapped up shade tobacco transplanting. Broadleaf tobacco transplanting was ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Both shade and broadleaf tobacco crops were in good condition. The harvesting of first cut hay in the six-state region was half-way complete, and preparations were being made for second cutting. Farmers are hoping the recent weather will allow the second cut crop to make up for any losses incurred from the low-yielding first cut. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report VEGETABLES: Farmers continued to plant sweet corn, eggplant, peppers and other vegetables. The harvesting of asparagus, rhubarb, radish, lettuce, and other early season vegetables progressed, with most crops being reported in good condition. Fungicide applications were made and crops were actively monitored for the presence of insects. Fields were sidedressed with fertilizer. Soil nitrate testing began for sweet corn; the crop is now in tassel stage. Roadside stands welcomed the good business that came along with the nice weather. FRUIT: Growers sprayed fruit crops for weeds and insects. Apple scab was reported; the crop remains in very poor condition in the southern New England states and in good condition in the northermost states. Peaches and pears were also reported in very poor condition in the southernmost states. Strawberry harvesting was underway and the crop was in good condition. Blueberry crops, particularly lowbush, were in good condition. Bees had excellent weather last week to begin their work on the Massachusetts' cranberry crop, which was in bud to early bloom stage. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------------------- --Percent Emerged-- Crop 2001 2000 5-yrAvg Condition --------------------------------------------------------- Potatoes Maine 85 65 65 Excellent Mass 99 95 95 Good Rhode Isl 100 99 95 Good/Excel Oats, ME 100 95 90 Excellent Barley, ME 100 95 90 Excellent Silage Corn 90 55 80 Good Sweet Corn 75 60 75 Good Tobacco --Percent Planted-- Shade 100 99 100 Good Broadleaf 80 70 70 Good Sweet Corn 90 75 85 Good Dry Hay --Percent Harvested-- First Cut 50 35 45 Good/Fair ------------------------------------------------------ FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- Percent Fruit Fruit Crop Harvested Set Size Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples -- Avg/B.Avg Avg Good/Fair Peaches -- Avg/B.Avg Avg/B.Avg Fair Pears -- B.Avg/Avg B.Avg/Avg V.Poor/Poor Strawberries 15 Avg Avg Good Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush -- Avg Avg Good/Fair Wild,ME -- A.Avg Avg Good -------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the Week ending Sunday, June 17, 2001 --------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 34 97 68 +7 0.00 1.28 NH 40 96 69 +8 0.00 1.98 VT 42 96 69 +8 0.19 3.61 MA 44 94 71 +7 0.40 2.48 RI 52 93 72 +8 0.57 2.02 CT 46 89 71 +6 0.41 3.98 -------------------------------------- Weather Information Table 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 93 69 +5 431 +7 109 +24 Allagash 34 95 65 +6 323 +103 69 +54 Augusta_ME 52 92 70 +6 512 +125 155 +86 Bangor 51 95 70 +8 488 +161 132 +85 Barnard 46 93 68 +8 415 +153 97 +70 Bath 46 87 67 +5 377 +56 93 +47 Bethel 49 95 70 +8 438 +96 113 +60 Brassua_Dam 46 90 67 +8 319 +129 58 +49 Brunswick_ME 50 86 67 +5 423 +102 114 +68 Caribou 39 90 66 +7 417 +161 99 +72 Corinna 49 94 70 +8 475 +150 120 +74 Danforth 38 93 66 +5 369 +85 75 +38 Dover-Foxcroft 39 92 67 +7 379 +117 78 +51 Durham 38 94 65 +0 379 -30 95 +15 East_Hiram 48 92 69 +7 406 +65 111 +59 Eustis 46 92 66 +8 275 +80 54 +46 Frenchville 40 87 65 +6 368 +148 87 +72 Gray 53 90 70 +8 504 +195 162 +126 Greenville_ME 47 89 67 +7 369 +95 79 +49 Guilford 50 95 69 +9 381 +119 97 +70 Hollis 46 91 69 +8 429 +127 122 +86 Houlton 36 91 66 +6 382 +121 84 +55 Kennebunkport 49 91 68 +3 389 -63 121 +28 Livermore_Falls 48 97 71 +11 455 +188 133 +104 Moosehead 43 89 65 +7 319 +129 61 +52 New_Sharon 51 97 71 +11 517 +250 160 +131 Patten 39 91 65 +5 320 +59 62 +33 Portage 43 92 68 +8 436 +180 126 +99 Portland_ME 49 88 68 +7 446 +137 129 +93 Rangeley 46 92 67 +10 293 +108 59 +53 Sebec_Lake 46 94 68 +8 396 +122 93 +63 Vanceboro 41 91 67 +6 371 +115 74 +50 Waterville 51 93 70 +6 464 +40 122 +37 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 50 96 72 +9 534 +119 181 +95 Benton 48 90 69 +9 424 +75 103 +50 Berlin_AG 48 92 70 +9 443 +113 108 +57 Bethlehem 46 91 68 +7 398 +50 87 +33 Concord 50 92 72 +8 539 +124 169 +83 Diamond_Pond 46 88 66 +9 289 +114 71 +68 First_Conn_Lake 41 89 64 +7 226 +51 41 +38 Greenville 44 92 69 +7 426 +50 122 +59 Keene_AP 46 90 72 +7 545 +31 156 +23 Lakeport 53 92 72 +9 547 +175 166 +97 Marlow 44 93 70 +6 390 -61 99 -1 Mt_Washington 40 69 54 +11 44 +44 6 +6 North_Conway 52 95 72 +9 556 +180 184 +115 Otter_Brook_Lk 45 90 69 +5 483 -31 119 -14 Plymouth 42 93 70 +9 423 +112 109 +65 Rochester 50 95 72 +8 565 +103 209 +103 Weare 49 88 69 +5 457 +6 130 +30 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 42 90 66 +5 313 -40 68 +10 Bethel 43 93 70 +10 459 +134 117 +65 Burlington_VT 52 93 73 +9 646 +170 216 +99 East_Haven 42 92 68 +10 364 +117 80 +50 Island_Pond 47 90 68 +9 378 +129 83 +52 Montpelier 47 90 68 +8 420 +77 100 +43 Morrisville_AG 44 91 67 +6 336 +8 72 +18 Mount_Mansfield 48 90 64 +10 200 +106 42 +42 Northfield 46 92 69 +9 420 +131 93 +53 Pownal 49 87 69 +8 481 +121 120 +58 Rochester 43 92 68 +8 408 +83 88 +36 Rutland_AG 48 89 69 +4 474 -51 109 -32 Sunderland 42 89 66 +2 383 -114 76 -45 Sutton 50 90 69 +10 395 +148 95 +65 Townshend_Lake 48 94 68 +4 444 -6 110 +6 Union_Vill_Dam 44 95 70 +6 451 -14 103 -6 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 52 88 71 +9 538 +181 162 +103 Boston 56 92 73 +7 714 +148 272 +131 Greenfield 45 91 71 +5 557 -5 173 +24 New_Bedford 51 83 71 +5 618 +61 193 +62 Otis_AFB 55 82 71 +8 572 +193 186 +122 Plymouth 51 86 71 +7 571 +158 171 +91 Walpole 53 91 73 +9 676 +211 241 +139 West_Medway 51 94 73 +9 669 +204 234 +132 Westover 55 90 73 +5 709 +29 253 +48 Worcester 59 86 72 +8 603 +187 207 +128 Worthington 45 88 68 +6 445 +84 120 +60 RHODE ISLAND Providence 58 85 72 +7 722 +206 259 +137 Woonsocket 52 93 73 +9 685 +227 250 +161 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 50 88 70 +3 547 -102 165 -31 Bridgeport 60 83 71 +5 719 +139 235 +75 Hartford_AP 52 89 73 +5 719 +77 252 +59 Norfolk 46 87 69 +7 507 +151 144 +87 Norwich 53 88 73 +8 718 +147 245 +96 Thomaston_Dam 48 88 72 +8 602 +126 187 +82 Willimantic 50 88 73 +9 731 +249 255 +149 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.26 -0.58 3 2.65 -0.71 8 Allagash 1.28 +0.58 1 4.72 +1.89 11 Augusta_ME 0.79 +0.02 3 4.08 +0.86 9 Bangor 0.05 -0.72 2 1.18 -1.94 8 Barnard 0.19 -0.71 3 2.79 -0.63 8 Bath 0.67 -0.19 2 4.49 +1.09 9 Bethel 0.29 -0.68 2 4.18 +0.58 8 Brassua_Dam 0.75 -0.16 2 3.82 +0.39 11 Brunswick_ME 1.01 +0.15 2 6.29 +2.89 9 Caribou 0.14 -0.50 1 3.00 +0.33 12 Corinna 0.28 -0.56 2 2.65 -0.68 7 Danforth 0.11 -0.73 1 2.17 -1.20 11 Dover-Foxcroft 0.15 -0.75 2 2.04 -1.38 8 Durham 0.92 +0.02 3 5.01 +1.62 9 East_Hiram 0.53 -0.38 2 4.27 +0.76 8 Eustis 0.24 -0.53 2 3.50 +0.42 10 Frenchville 0.05 -0.65 2 3.10 +0.27 13 Gray 0.71 -0.13 3 4.56 +1.35 11 Greenville_ME 0.05 -0.85 1 2.11 -1.31 10 Guilford 0.22 -0.68 2 3.52 +0.10 8 Hollis 1.28 +0.40 3 5.76 +2.34 10 Houlton 0.22 -0.55 1 3.44 +0.36 13 Kennebunkport 1.15 +0.31 2 4.55 +1.09 10 Livermore_Falls 0.63 -0.35 3 4.14 +0.41 8 Moosehead 0.00 -0.91 0 2.39 -1.04 9 New_Sharon 0.50 -0.48 3 4.17 +0.44 10 Patten 0.03 -0.74 1 3.04 -0.04 14 Portage 0.10 -0.54 2 3.15 +0.48 13 Portland_ME 1.22 +0.38 1 5.18 +1.97 11 Rangeley 0.06 -0.84 1 3.25 -0.09 12 Sebec_Lake 0.29 -0.61 3 3.26 -0.16 9 Vanceboro 0.11 -0.63 1 2.55 -0.52 12 Waterville 0.22 -0.62 3 3.92 +0.56 10 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 1.45 +0.68 1 5.75 +2.82 10 Benton 0.18 -0.73 1 2.95 -0.52 12 Berlin_AG 0.00 -0.98 0 2.33 -1.34 6 Bethlehem 0.07 -0.89 2 3.27 -0.23 15 Concord 1.52 +0.75 3 5.88 +2.95 11 Diamond_Pond 0.08 -1.01 2 3.79 -0.30 14 First_Conn_Lake 1.34 +0.25 2 6.71 +2.62 12 Greenville 0.93 +0.04 1 5.30 +1.78 12 Keene_AP 1.98 +1.14 2 3.30 -0.13 7 Lakeport 0.84 +0.00 1 5.98 +2.62 9 Marlow 1.73 +0.88 1 5.81 +2.23 11 Mt_Washington 0.23 -1.66 2 6.40 -0.78 12 North_Conway 0.31 -0.65 1 3.74 +0.03 7 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.75 -0.09 1 6.03 +2.60 12 Plymouth 0.40 -0.44 1 4.68 +1.20 12 Rochester 1.11 +0.27 1 4.72 +1.36 9 Weare 1.36 +0.51 2 5.51 +1.93 11 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.84 +0.77 2 6.77 +2.50 13 Bethel 0.59 -0.30 2 4.11 +0.38 11 Burlington_VT 0.77 -0.05 3 2.74 -0.32 12 East_Haven 0.82 -0.18 4 4.59 +0.81 14 Island_Pond 0.82 -0.19 1 3.46 -0.38 12 Montpelier 0.19 -0.65 2 2.42 -0.85 14 Morrisville_AG 0.69 -0.26 2 2.63 -0.97 13 Mount_Mansfield 0.91 -0.67 3 6.56 +0.75 15 Northfield 1.37 +0.65 2 4.10 +1.06 9 Pownal 1.23 +0.16 2 5.74 +1.47 14 Rochester 0.68 -0.21 2 4.11 +0.38 14 Rutland_AG 2.35 +1.51 2 5.42 +2.09 15 Sunderland 1.52 +0.75 2 5.62 +2.34 16 Sutton 0.46 -0.54 3 3.61 -0.17 15 Townshend_Lake 1.18 +0.44 2 6.78 +3.73 13 Union_Vill_Dam 0.33 -0.44 2 3.38 +0.22 14 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.46 +0.62 2 5.03 +1.70 15 Boston 0.54 -0.19 1 2.51 -0.39 11 Greenfield 0.75 -0.16 1 8.34 +4.70 15 New_Bedford 2.48 +1.63 2 9.48 +6.09 12 Otis_AFB 1.29 +0.52 1 5.63 +2.47 11 Plymouth 1.33 +0.51 1 7.87 +4.52 11 Walpole 1.08 +0.17 1 5.15 +1.83 12 West_Medway 1.17 +0.26 1 5.01 +1.69 11 Westover 0.40 -0.58 2 6.11 +2.22 14 Worcester 0.77 -0.14 2 4.64 +0.89 15 Worthington 0.62 -0.29 2 7.93 +4.10 13 RHODE ISLAND Providence 2.02 +1.25 1 7.53 +4.33 10 Woonsocket 0.57 -0.41 1 7.05 +3.31 12 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.63 -0.28 2 6.50 +2.85 14 Bridgeport 0.46 -0.31 5 4.59 +1.31 16 Hartford_AP 0.41 -0.50 2 6.38 +2.73 13 Norfolk 1.70 +0.59 2 8.53 +4.22 14 Norwich 2.73 +1.96 1 9.61 +6.21 11 Thomaston_Dam 3.98 +3.00 3 9.01 +5.09 15 Willimantic 0.82 -0.02 1 5.01 +1.47 11 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 2001: 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: Heavy rain, up to five inches, fell in some areas at the end of the week. Many fields are too wet to work. Hay has been beaten down by the rain. There is erosion in some of the steeper corn fields. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Excessive heat and humidity last week helped immature crops. Crops like strawberries were pushed too fast to keep up with picking before ripening. Heavy rains both Monday night and Sunday did cause some washouts and minor flooding. Some hay made at the end of the week. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Allison dropped 5.5" all day Sunday causing flooding, runoff and some tree damage. Water receding rapidly and fields should recover. Drought concerns have washed away and efforts are being made to bring crops to fruitful harvest. Strawberries are ready for pick-your-own. Farmers' markets have begun. Blueberries are being pruned to save the shrubs, as they don't have adequate leafing due to previous frost damage. Pastures look good. Vegetables are being planted. Almost done planting silage corn, weed control needed. First cut hay is about 70% complete with not much of a harvest, but second cutting already looks promising. Foliar feeding and mowing in orchards. Ninety-degree days anticipated! Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Haymaking and nitrate testing were most common activities. Seven plus inches of rain over the weekend - thanks to Allison! No idea yet what effect this will have or has had on crops! MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Cultivating potatoes. Applying last of herbicides. Rock picking. Emergence is very good. Crops are growing rapidly. Soil starting to get a little dry but showers (June 17) will really give plants a boost. Erin Chadbourne (Ext), Central Aroostook: All potato, barley, and oat fields are greening fast. Not sure what the storms this past week will bring to the area as far as pests go. We're keeping our eye out for aphids and leafhoppers that may have hitched a ride on some of the storm fronts that went through "The County" over the weekend. Herbicides are still being applied in many places. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Very good growing weather, seems to be a little more grass in the fields this year. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Haying is well underway. Two-tenths of an inch of rain was welcomed Sunday. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Extreme hot weather has allowed some farmers to get in their first crop of hay. Janet King/Jennifer Zweig (FSA), Somerset: Corn is still being planted. First crop of grass silage is being harvested. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Hot weather has allowed the corn crop to jump. Lots of first cutting hay/haylage being harvested. Rain last night cooled things off and helped the moisture conditions. Strawberries are coming fast with the hot weather. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Vegetables looking good. Haying in progress, but crop may be short. One to two inches of rain fell from tropical storm Allison. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Pollination completed. Excellent pollination. Bees being moved out of fields. Post-emergence grass herbicides being applied. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: The combination of the previous rain and the heat has caused plants to jump out of the ground. A farmer told me today that he could hear the grass grow. If we can keep the hail away, crops will be doing just fine. It has been a great early season so far. Some hay was short because of the dry conditions. Hopefully, a hearty and early 2nd crop will make up the difference. Farmers are hoping that Mother Nature is in a good mood and gives one of her appreciated "farmer-friendly" years. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Initial heavy downpour of rain on Sunday was welcomed after a hot and humid mid-week of 90 degree temperatures. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Farmers busy making dry hay and haylage. Finishing weed control on silage corn. Another inch of rain on Saturday. Hay fields have some wet spots that are not being harvested. Some farmers had put up more good hay last week than in all of 2000. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Warmer weather has pushed most crops along. First cutting of hay is only fair. Vegetables look very good but are a week behind. Early cranberry varieties are coming into full bloom. No set-aside announcement has come from the USDA, so growers don't know whether to apply fertilizer, fungicides or flood the bogs out for this year. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: First crop of hay completed. Fair crop. Silage corn is looking good. Sprayed squash, pumpkin, melons and cucumbers for striped cucumber beetle. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce was sprayed for cabbage worm and looper. Damage to blueberry bushes will result in a 35-40% crop loss. Strawberries looking awesome as of June 18th. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Most cranberry beds heading into bloom; mid-bloom for the early varieties. Pollination weather has been good so far. Many bumblebees this year helping to set the berries. Still no word from USDA on the crop set-aside issue. It is almost too late for most growers. Why does it take so long to make a decision? First fruit rot fungicide applications went on last week. Insecticide applications going on for various pests. Another nice dose of rain on Sunday into Monday will mean no irrigation necessary for a few days. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Hot and humid this past week. Farmers continue to make hay. The harvest of summer squash, zucchini and strawberries is in full swing. Fruit continues to size up. Between 2.5 and 3.0 inches of rain fell yesterday, stopping all field work. Paul Fischer (FSA), Essex/Middlesex: Heavy rains (up to 5 inches) over the weekend flooded many fields. Crop fields that historically cannot handle excessive moisture will need several days to dry out in order to be worked. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The past week brought excellent growing conditions; hot, sunny days with a great rain on Sunday, the 17th. Harvesting greens, lettuce, radishes, and strawberries. Planting of summer and fall crops continues. Early potatoes are flowering and early sweet corn is in tassel stage. Due to the high 80 degree temperatures, vegetable growers are monitoring insect development. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Bruce Clement (Ext), Cheshire: Hot humid weather has spurred crop growth. Most crops are still a little behind schedule. Early season vegetables being harvested. Strawberry harvest started this week. Hay and haylage harvest continues. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Quite hot, good hay-drying weather predominating through most of the week, actually getting grass too dry to chop by week's end. Haying and haylage harvest going at rapid pace. Corn up about six inches now, making noticeable growth. Manure spreading on cut haylands. Looks like very good fruit set on blueberries. Strawberries at or past bloom, also nice set. Some clipper damage seen. Hi-tunnel tomatoes doing well, many now with green fruit. Spring vegetables coming along well with mix of sun and rain this season. Overall good yields reported on hay, although some quality losses by rain earlier in harvest. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Corn planting finishing up and first cut continuing at a rapid pace. Dryness earlier in the week was helped by rain over the weekend. Early planted corn is six to eight leaves (15"-18"). Regrowth on alfalfa is excellent, grasses as well. Weed control is good, but variable. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruits: Strawberry harvest started at the end of week. Fruit growers monitoring pest and crop development and applying sprays for pest control. Apple scab is seen in some orchards. June drop continues, heavy in some orchards. Vegetables: Continuing successive planting and finishing transplanting peppers. Growers continued harvesting early season vegetables such as lettuce and radishes. Asparagus harvest winding down. Growers busy side dressing fields with fertilizer, cultivating weeds, scouting for pests and spraying if needed. Cucumber beetle, four-lined plant bug and Tortoise Beetle. Starting to soil nitrate test for sweet corn. Field Crops: Finish planting and weed spraying corn fields. Farmers are continuing to make haylage and baled hay. Starting to soil nitrate test for field corn to determine nitrogen fertilizer needs. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Fruit growers are mowing and spraying. Weed control is poor in many corn fields, making re-application necessary. First cut hay continuing. Strawberries are being harvested. Timing of rainfall was very good. Reports of hail damage being received. Apple and peach yields are expected to be down this year. Quality of first cut hay below average. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: The week started on Monday with rain and ended on Sunday with rain. The middle of the week was very hot and humid. Had hail in some areas. Crops growing well. Picking early green vegetables and strawberries. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Haying continues and the crop is thin. Still planting sweet corn and summer vegetables. Harvesting lettuce and cole crops which look just great. Some straw being cut and field corn finishing up planting. Strawberries have arrived and pick- your-own operations are busy. The rain on Sunday put a cramp in some harvesting, but Saturday was picture perfect. Roadside stands are still busy. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain over most of Rhode Island on Tuesday night. Rainfall reports vary from 0.75 inches to 3.0 inches, which fell in a couple hours. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Last week's heat wave was positive for most crops, particularly corn. Many are finished first cut of haylage. Weed control on corn should keep many busy this week. Bill Snow (Ext), Orange: If farmers could pick weather, it would be nice all week and rain on Sunday to get rest. This describes this past week. Of course not all farmers would agree and not all received the correct amount of rain. It probably was too hot for some. A lot of first cut hay was cut last week with a lot of round bales made. Yields are looking better. Corn crop is variable. Some is over a foot tall and some normal for this time of year. Seems to be more weed problems in corn this year. Wild Chervil is spreading in central Vermont! If you see it, control it now before it goes to seed. It looks like Queen Anne's Lace and is in bloom now. It can grow up to six feet tall and can take over fields. You don't want it. Larry Hamel (NRCS), Orleans: Very hot this past week in Orleans County. Finally received plenty of rain Sunday morning. Plenty of hay and haylage harvested during the dry and hot weather. Good soaking rains will help prospects for the second cutting. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: Strawberry harvest started this past weekend with a good crop. Haying and silage harvesting is in full swing, with second cut alfalfa coming on strong. The rains has fallen at the right time for the crops. Bindweed and burley cucumber like the hot humid weather of the past week, so tell farmers to scout their fields for the pest and control it when it's young. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Corn growth excellent, some uneven germination, insects. Weed control good to excellent. Some side dressing of nitrogen. First crop haylage mostly complete, second crop regrowth good. Damage from machinery wheel traffic evident. Alfalfa stands thinned out. New seedings of hay fields good, some spotty germination. Manure spreading on harvested hay fields. Richard Noel (FSA), Grand Isle/Franklin: Hay still going in and manure being spread, all forms. Big rain Saturday, 6/16: Highgate 1.10 in., St. Albans 1.50 in. Corn looks great, some farmers starting to topdress nitrogen. Second cut coming back extremely well. Crops and pastures look great. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Week of real summer weather. Hit 90 degrees for the first time in a couple of years. Corn responded to heat. Rain coming along nicely, about a half-inch on Saturday. First cut of hay pretty well in. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Nitrogen applied to early sweet corn. Potatoes cultivated and hilled up. Tomatoes and peppers sprayed for beetles. Fertilizer applied to tomatoes, peppers and summer squash. All crops showed good growth for the week. Ample rain and sun helped a great deal. Strawberries ready to pick this weekend. Two inches of rain has helped our area a great deal. Early sweet corn is knee high plus. Looking for tassels. Peas in full bloom. 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 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 ***********************