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New England Agricultural Statistics Service
- - - a field office of the
National Agricultural Statistics Service
United States Department of Agriculture
Aubrey R. Davis, Director Phone: (603) 224-9639
22 Bridge St, 3rd Floor Fax: (603) 225-1434
PO Box 1444 Internet: http://www.usda.gov/nass/
Concord, NH 03302-1444 E-Mail: nass.nh@nass.usda.gov
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Ag Review
July 2002
Volume 22, Number 7 July 26, 2002
The following is an abbreviated version of the report.
The entire document is available as a PDF file on
the Internet through: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nh/
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A special "THANK YOU" goes to New England producers and
agri-businesses who have helped us by completing surveys
via mail, telephone or personal interviews. This issue
contains the results of monthly and quarterly surveys
including the annual Maple Syrup survey.
In This Issue:
Cash Rents
Cattle: U.S. Inventory and Calf Crop
Chickens: Layers and Eggs
Dairy Products
Field Crops: Barley, Corn, Hay, Oats, Potatoes &
Tobacco
Fruit: Apples, Cranberries, Peaches, Pears &
Wild Blueberries
Milk: Production and Price
Potatoes: Prices
Prices Paid: Feed and Fuel
FIELD CROPS: Field corn acreage planted across New England
in 2002 is estimated at 189,000 acres, unchanged from 2001,
but 7,000 acres below 2000. Cool and wet spring weather
provided poor planting conditions and allowed growers to
have only 70 percent of the crop planted by June 3,
compared with last year at 90 percent, and the normal of
75 percent planted. Close to one-third of the crop had
emerged by June 3 and was reported to be in good to fair
condition, despite occasional thunderstorms and frost
coming through the area.
In 2002, Maine farmers expect to harvest 29,000 acres of
oats for grain, down 2,000 acres from last year. Maine
barley acreage harvested for grain in 2002 is also
expected to total 29,000 acres, an increase of 3,000 acres
from the year 2001.
New England farmers expect to cut 594,000 acres for dry
hay in 2002, a slight decrease from last year's dry hay
harvest. Alfalfa acreage to be cut for dry hay across
New England is forecast at 82,000 acres, two percent
below 2001's harvested acreage. All other dry hay acreage
is expected to remain unchanged from last year at 512,000
acres. Rain showers and cool temperatures during the month
of June slowed the harvesting of dry hay. By the end of
June, nearly two-thirds of the first cutting of dry hay was
harvested and was rated in good to fair condition.
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Tobacco growers in Connecticut and Massachusetts plan to
harvest 2,300 acres of broadleaf tobacco in 2002, an
increase of seven percent over the previous year. Cool,
wet spring weather provided less than optimum planting
conditions this year, however, the last of the crop was
transplanted by the end of June, on schedule with normal.
Shade tobacco growers intend to harvest 1,000 acres in
2002, a reduction of 300 acres from a year earlier. The
Massachusetts shade tobacco crop was all planted by June 9;
Connecticut producers had finished transplanting at the
end of June. Timely rains and hot, humid conditions
followed in July which promoted excellent growth, but
heightened the susceptibility of the crop to blue mold
infestation. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
identified blue mold in the Connecticut River Valley at the
end of June, and intensive spray programs are in fullforce
to control the spread of this pathogen. Area crop specialists
had rated the crops in good to fair condition as of mid-July,
with harvest just getting under way.
Potatoes: Maine growers planted 64,000 acres of fall potatoes
in 2002, an increase of 2,000 acres compared with the previous
year. Cool, wet conditions got the planting season off to a
slow start, with 55 percent planted by May 26, compared with
85 percent the previous year, and the five-year average of 65
percent. Growers had the remainder of the crop in the ground
by June 9, on schedule with last year and slightly ahead of
normal of 95 percent. July's heat and timely rains have
promoted rapid crop growth, but have growers on high alert
for signs of disease. As of July 21, 2002, crop specialists
reported no evidence of late blight in the state of Maine.
Excellent growing conditions through mid-July have growers
optimistic for a high quality, high yielding crop. In Maine,
acreage planted by type for 2002 averaged 59 percent white
varieties, 37 percent russet and 4 percent reds; more
russets and fewer whites than a year earlier.
PEACHES: Based on July 1 conditions, Connecticut's peach
crop is expected to total 31,000 bushels in 2002, down 23
percent from 2001. Peach production in Massachusetts for
2002 is forecast at 46,000 bushels, 21 percent above the
previous year's total. The crop was rated in good to fair
condition as of mid-July, with average fruit size.
2001 REVISED FRUITS: The 2001 New England apple crop
available for utilization totaled 3.9 million bushels
(42-pound units), five percent below 2000 utilized
production. A severe frost on May 7, 2001 hit southern New
England states when fruit trees were at peak bloom. Damage
was extensive at many locations. Warm and dry weather
throughout the end of May provided favorable conditions for
pollination. By mid-June the apple crop was reported to be
in very poor condition in the southern New England states
due to the earlier frost, and in good condition in the
northern most states. By mid-July both apple scab and hail
damage were reported throughout the area. Early apples were
ready for harvest at the beginning of August and the New
England crop condition was rated good overall. The total
value of the 2001 utilized apple crop was placed at $45.9
million, up three percent from 2000.
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The 2001 utilized peach production in Connecticut and
Massachusetts totaled 75,000 bushels, 13 percent below
2000 utilized output. The value of the 2001 peach crop in
the two states was placed at $2.4 million, 12 percent below
the 2000 value. Utilized pear production in Connecticut in
2001 totaled 500 tons, 60 percent below 2000 production. The
total value of the utilized crop equaled $322,000 less
than half the 2000 value.
Cranberry production in Massachusetts during 2001 was 1.42
million barrels, 27 percent below 2000's output. Harvested
acreage decreased from 13,900 acres in 2000 to 12,000 acres
in 2001. Massachusetts' cranberry yield per acre in 2001
averaged 118.0 barrels. The average price per barrel
increased from $17.90 in 2000 to $21.60 in 2001. Although
2001's average price per barrel of cranberries increased by
over $3.00 from 2000's price, the 2001 total value of
production decreased by 13 percent due to the lower production.
Maine's 2001 wild blueberry crop totaled 75.2 million pounds,
32 percent below 2000's record-breaking production and 14
percent above the 1999 output. The average price per pound
for berries sold for processing in 2001 was 30 cents, compared
with 40 cents in 2000, and 51 cents in 1999. The total
value of Maine's 2001 wild blueberry crop was $22.9 million,
down 49 percent from the record 2000 crop.
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