State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 10/02/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 23 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) October 3, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary-- Another Warm Fall Week With Little Frost GENERAL CONDITIONS: For the week ending October 2, 2005, there were 5.8 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 3% very short, 13% short, 81% adequate, 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 4% very short, 14% short, 80% adequate, 2% surplus. Pasture condition was rated 7% very poor, 12% poor, 43% fair, 30% good and 8% excellent. Warm weather and rains early in the week provided much needed moisture to the crops as the harvest season comes to a close. For many crops, the rains came too late. More rain hit on Thursday with high winds in parts of New England causing some crop damage. Clear, sunny days arrived on Friday and remained through the weekend. Cool nights brought scattered light frost to northern New England. Sales from farm stands continued strong with mums, pumpkins and vegetables marketed. Major farm activities included baling hay, chopping corn silage, chopping grass, harvesting an array of fruits and vegetables, spreading manure, and weeding. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year Topsoil -- Percent -- Very Short 3 5 0 Short 13 18 5 Adequate 81 76 83 Surplus 3 1 12 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 4 5 0 Short 14 16 6 Adequate 80 77 84 Surplus 2 2 10 --------------------------------------------- -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: A warm, sunny weekend provided great conditions to pick fruit. Peach harvest should finish this coming week and condition was rated fair to good. Pear harvest has completed for some growers, however, most growers still have pears to pick. Pear conditions continue to vary in the region and at week's end was rated fair to good. Apple harvest is now coming down the back stretch and concentrating on second or strip picking. Growers are busy harvesting Cortland, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, Macoun and McIntosh apples. There were some reports of some apple drops and bruising. Cranberry harvest was progressing at a slow rate due to poor coloring in berries and fruitworm injury. Quantity of cranberries may be lower than projected, however quality continues to be very good. Maine wild blueberry growers continue to work fields but too early to burn or flail. Fall raspberry growers continued to pick berries. VEGETABLES: Rain showers during the week improved crops due to limited moisture through the summer months. Warm, sunny days over the weekend provided excellent conditions for sales at roadside stands and farmers markets. In Aroostook County, growers continued to harvest broccoli. Most vine crop yields are lower due to fields being infected by diseases. Some sweet corn growers reported wind damage to some of the fields from the storms during the week. Sweet corn harvest should finish picking this coming week or shortly thereafter as most growers were finished. Producers were still harvesting beets, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, kale, pumpkins, tomatoes, and winter squash. Growers were also busy discing, cleaning and planting cover crops on harvested fields. Roadside stands and farmers markets were busy selling fall mums, pumpkins and vegetables. FIELD CROPS: Rains during the week limited field work until the weekend. Wet conditions made it difficult to harvest the last of the barley and oats in Maine. Both barley and oats conditions were rated good. Maine potato harvest made big strides over the weekend after a wet week but remain behind the five year average. Massachusetts potato harvest improved over the week and on schedule with last year. Rhode Island potato harvest took advantage of the warm, sunny weekend and is close to wrapping up the season. Corn silage harvest continued strong and was three quarters completed as farmers took advantage of the warm weekend weather. Field corn conditions varied in the region from good to excellent in MA, NH, and VT and good to fair elsewhere. Some growers reported some wind damage to the corn fields from the storms on Thursday in the region. Farmers continue to welcome the rains to see if re-growth will justify another cutting of hay. Most farmers continued to bale second cutting and third cutting over the weekend after a wet week as the harvest season comes to a close. Some reports of fourth cutting of hay and maybe eve some alfalfa in the coming week. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME 90 95 95 Good Oats, ME 90 95 95 Good Potatoes Maine 55 70 65 Good Mass. 75 75 70 Good Rhode Isl. 95 100 90 Fair/Good Sweet Corn 95 99 99 Good/Fair Field Corn 75 60 60 Good/Excellent Dry hay, 2nd cut 95 95 95 Good Dry hay, 3rd cut 85 80 80 Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- --Percent Harvested-- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Fruit Condition Avg Size ----------------------------------------------------- Apples 65 70 65 Avg Good/Fair Peaches 99 99 99 Avg Fair/Good Pears 80 80 70 Avg/B. Avg Fair/Good Cranberries, MA 10 20 20 Avg/B. Avg Good ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the Period: Monday September 12, 2005 To: Sunday September 18, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 29 72 52 +1 0.37 3.67 NH 20 75 53 +1 0.53 3.63 VT 27 74 54 +2 0.39 3.02 MA 32 78 58 +2 0.37 1.62 RI 39 77 61 +3 0.80 1.22 CT 36 75 59 +1 0.43 1.15 ------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday September 26, 2005 To: Sunday October 2, 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 34 68 52 -4 1926 -191 787 -3 Allagash 30 69 49 +0 1427 +91 474 +151 Augusta_State_A 38 69 56 +3 2252 +209 1018 +272 Bangor_Intl_Arp 36 70 56 +4 2201 +340 951 +329 Barnard 33 69 52 +2 1815 +234 687 +235 Bath 36 70 53 -2 1933 +14 768 +108 Bethel 33 68 52 -2 1991 +160 811 +215 Brassua_Dam 34 67 51 +3 1599 +291 560 +250 Brunswick_ME 39 68 56 +2 2083 +164 900 +240 Caribou_Municip 35 67 53 +5 1765 +326 665 +287 Corinna 37 71 53 +2 1998 +257 824 +284 Danforth 33 68 52 +2 1753 +72 647 +122 Dover-Foxcroft 31 69 51 +1 1685 +104 582 +130 Durham 37 67 52 -5 1948 -233 790 -51 East_Hiram 33 67 51 -2 1949 +126 790 +200 Eustis 29 67 48 -2 1504 +236 498 +215 Frenchville 37 67 53 +5 1741 +405 662 +339 Gray 38 69 57 +3 2286 +393 1054 +417 Greenville_ME 37 66 52 +2 1765 +171 664 +201 Guilford 31 69 51 +0 1816 +235 715 +263 Hollis 33 68 52 -1 2032 +292 869 +337 Houlton 31 68 53 +4 1773 +269 677 +253 Kennebunkport 35 69 53 -6 1868 -463 729 -211 Livermore_Falls 32 72 52 +2 2028 +479 874 +445 Moosehead 32 69 50 +2 1545 +237 512 +202 New_Sharon 32 68 52 +3 1999 +450 849 +420 Patten 30 68 50 +2 1645 +141 588 +164 Portage 33 68 51 +3 1711 +272 638 +260 Portland_ME 37 69 57 +3 2242 +349 1017 +380 Rangeley 32 68 50 +2 1613 +377 553 +289 Sebec_Lake 37 69 53 +3 1790 +196 661 +198 Vanceboro 33 68 52 +2 1738 +115 626 +148 Waterville 39 68 54 -2 2102 -15 912 +122 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 31 69 52 -3 2100 +57 919 +180 Benton 35 69 52 +0 1966 +294 799 +323 Berlin_AG 35 69 52 +1 1983 +307 806 +309 Bethlehem 32 72 51 -2 1963 +295 803 +327 Concord 38 72 57 +4 2510 +467 1203 +464 Diamond_Pond 35 68 49 +2 1475 +366 480 +275 First_Conn_Lake 33 68 50 +3 1450 +341 452 +247 Greenville 38 70 56 +3 2583 +733 1277 +692 Keene_AP 37 72 57 +2 2502 +203 1190 +274 Lakeport 42 72 56 +4 2521 +623 1217 +572 Marlow 34 71 53 -3 2196 +117 974 +227 Mount_Washingto 20 53 41 +5 370 +309 15 +15 North_Conway 35 68 53 +2 2201 +318 974 +341 Otter_Brook_Lk 37 70 55 -2 2295 -4 1025 +109 Plymouth 33 70 51 +0 2022 +374 840 +363 Rochester 36 72 55 -2 2295 +91 1050 +198 Weare 38 70 54 -1 2295 +216 1041 +294 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 36 70 51 -2 2056 +274 857 +306 Bethel 37 72 53 +2 2192 +499 964 +460 Burlington_Intl 40 71 58 +5 2690 +519 1346 +505 East_Haven 29 71 52 +3 1957 +575 792 +455 Island_Pond 34 67 52 +2 1901 +527 764 +439 Montpelier 33 71 56 +5 2272 +570 1017 +505 Morrisville_AG 34 71 52 +1 1940 +244 789 +273 Mount_Mansfield 27 65 47 +3 1182 +466 267 +201 Northfield 33 73 53 +3 2088 +543 880 +458 Pownal 37 69 54 +2 2278 +490 980 +428 Rochester 37 72 55 +3 2198 +505 961 +457 Rutland_AG 36 72 55 -2 2382 +111 1109 +215 Sunderland 34 71 53 -2 2275 +102 1012 +195 Sutton 34 69 51 +3 1884 +502 747 +410 Townshend_Lake 37 74 54 -1 2360 +208 1081 +258 Union_Vill_Dam 34 72 52 -3 2149 -18 939 +110 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 38 70 56 +4 2435 +586 1130 +532 Boston/Logan_In 48 77 62 +3 2850 +154 1493 +280 Greenfield 38 71 55 -3 2563 +78 1232 +190 New_Bedford 37 75 60 -3 2587 -153 1255 +4 Otis_AFB 41 75 61 +3 2786 +574 1402 +543 Plymouth 39 75 59 +3 2559 +297 1277 +379 Walpole 39 75 58 +2 2745 +485 1390 +501 West_Medway 39 73 57 +2 2584 +324 1257 +368 Chicopee/Westov 36 73 59 -2 2924 +65 1491 +158 Worcester 41 70 59 +4 2666 +555 1310 +531 Worthington 34 70 53 -2 2211 +378 948 +373 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 44 77 62 +3 3026 +457 1613 +491 Woonsocket 39 75 59 +4 2747 +521 1372 +526 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 36 70 54 -5 2439 -292 1115 -126 Bridgeport/Siko 44 75 64 +3 3151 +367 1657 +351 Hartford/Bradle 39 75 61 +3 3120 +396 1656 +423 Norfolk 39 67 54 +2 2307 +481 1004 +431 Norwich 40 75 59 -1 2899 +337 1491 +392 Thomaston_Dam 40 72 58 +2 2768 +552 1375 +538 Willimantic 37 74 59 +2 2785 +521 1377 +507 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 1.11 +0.34 2 3.19 +0.16 11 Allagash 3.50 +2.72 3 5.00 +1.62 10 Augusta_State_A 0.94 +0.17 2 2.50 -0.43 12 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.90 +0.13 2 2.89 -0.31 13 Barnard 1.47 +0.58 2 3.73 +0.11 11 Bath 1.11 +0.41 2 2.62 -0.18 9 Bethel 1.07 +0.30 2 1.96 -1.14 7 Brassua_Dam 1.27 +0.46 3 3.11 -0.26 12 Brunswick_ME 1.17 +0.47 2 3.95 +1.15 7 Caribou_Municip 2.61 +1.88 3 4.58 +1.42 12 Corinna 1.22 +0.42 2 3.07 -0.28 9 Danforth 1.50 +0.73 3 3.53 +0.23 11 Dover-Foxcroft 0.37 -0.52 2 2.14 -1.48 6 Durham 0.89 +0.14 2 2.18 -0.67 10 East_Hiram 1.24 +0.47 2 2.78 -0.14 8 Eustis 1.15 +0.45 3 2.37 -0.48 12 Frenchville 3.12 +2.34 4 4.30 +0.92 12 Gray 0.79 +0.02 2 2.69 -0.22 7 Greenville_ME 1.61 +0.72 3 3.93 +0.31 11 Guilford 1.40 +0.51 2 3.72 +0.10 11 Hollis 0.84 +0.07 2 2.33 -0.74 6 Houlton 1.29 +0.52 3 3.71 +0.40 11 Kennebunkport 0.71 -0.06 2 2.42 -0.50 7 Livermore_Falls 1.01 +0.24 2 2.18 -1.10 8 Moosehead 1.34 +0.53 3 3.19 -0.18 12 New_Sharon 0.94 +0.17 2 2.49 -0.79 9 Patten 1.54 +0.77 4 3.81 +0.50 12 Portage 2.46 +1.73 4 4.33 +1.17 12 Portland_ME 0.57 -0.20 2 1.87 -1.04 8 Rangeley 1.37 +0.72 2 2.73 -0.09 12 Sebec_Lake 1.55 +0.66 2 3.84 +0.22 10 Vanceboro 1.43 +0.58 3 3.42 -0.16 10 Waterville 1.00 +0.23 2 3.12 +0.09 9 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 1.42 +0.78 3 3.06 +0.47 7 Benton 1.05 +0.35 4 2.32 -0.58 10 Berlin_AG 1.30 +0.57 2 2.57 -0.45 6 Bethlehem 1.17 +0.47 3 2.90 -0.02 12 Concord 1.40 +0.76 3 2.39 -0.20 8 Diamond_Pond 1.73 +0.89 4 3.58 -0.08 12 First_Conn_Lake 2.12 +1.28 4 5.20 +1.54 13 Greenville 0.53 -0.17 2 1.24 -1.63 5 Keene_AP 1.13 +0.48 2 1.36 -1.39 4 Lakeport 2.20 +1.50 3 3.88 +1.14 8 Marlow 1.75 +0.98 2 2.66 -0.43 6 Mount_Washingto 2.38 +0.82 3 3.85 -2.90 8 North_Conway 1.25 +0.42 3 2.86 -0.34 8 Otter_Brook_Lk 3.63 +2.98 3 4.60 +1.85 8 Plymouth 1.34 +0.60 2 2.54 -0.36 7 Rochester 1.09 +0.30 2 2.61 -0.40 7 Weare 1.18 +0.41 2 1.98 -1.11 8 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 1.09 +0.25 2 2.03 -1.47 7 Bethel 0.75 -0.09 3 3.21 -0.27 9 Burlington_Intl 1.20 +0.50 3 2.70 -0.32 9 East_Haven 1.23 +0.53 3 2.57 -0.53 12 Island_Pond 1.30 +0.60 3 3.57 +0.52 12 Montpelier 1.23 +0.60 5 2.15 -0.47 16 Morrisville_AG 0.92 +0.17 4 2.49 -0.72 12 Mount_Mansfield 3.02 +1.75 4 6.17 +0.56 14 Northfield 1.06 +0.36 3 2.02 -0.92 9 Pownal 1.56 +0.72 4 3.52 +0.02 9 Rochester 1.57 +0.73 3 3.57 +0.09 9 Rutland_AG 0.68 -0.05 3 2.99 -0.25 8 Sunderland 1.50 +0.79 4 2.48 -0.68 9 Sutton 1.08 +0.38 4 3.06 -0.04 14 Townshend_Lake 0.90 +0.20 3 2.17 -0.83 8 Union_Vill_Dam 1.14 +0.37 3 2.39 -0.69 7 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.16 +0.46 2 1.95 -0.77 7 Boston/Logan_In 0.47 -0.23 2 1.59 -1.23 5 Greenfield 0.37 -0.40 1 1.90 -1.26 5 New_Bedford 1.62 +0.92 2 3.97 +0.89 6 Otis_AFB 1.15 +0.32 2 4.89 +1.72 6 Plymouth 0.94 +0.03 2 4.20 +0.40 5 Walpole 0.76 -0.08 2 2.70 -0.73 7 West_Medway 0.93 +0.09 2 2.75 -0.68 7 Chicopee/Westov 0.74 -0.04 2 2.50 -0.77 6 Worcester 0.78 -0.19 2 2.82 -0.94 6 Worthington 0.99 +0.15 4 1.29 -2.10 8 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 1.22 +0.45 2 4.28 +1.06 6 Woonsocket 0.80 -0.04 2 2.28 -1.23 7 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.91 +0.07 2 2.68 -0.83 6 Bridgeport/Siko 0.43 -0.27 2 2.12 -0.75 5 Hartford/Bradle 0.55 -0.29 2 1.47 -2.04 6 Norfolk 0.62 -0.29 2 1.56 -2.24 7 Norwich 1.15 +0.28 2 3.49 -0.11 6 Thomaston_Dam 0.74 -0.17 2 2.39 -1.33 8 Willimantic 0.60 -0.31 2 1.30 -2.36 7 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: Farmers continue to harvest corn silage. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Some showers mid week led to clear and a wonderful weekend for visiting farmers markets and farm stands. No killing frost yet so vegetables are still being harvested by some. Pear harvest is complete with mixed results for producers. Apple harvest is making good progress at about 75% complete. Corn silage harvest is wrapping up while grain corn is continuing to dry down. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: Hay - Very little activity on hay production during the week. The rains received this week may allow enough re-growth to justify one more cut on some fields before the end of the year. Corn Silage - A number of later planted fields still have not been chopped. Some damage may have occurred from the strong winds that came through earlier in the week. Grains yields down considerably in many areas due to lack of rain during the growing season. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Showers helped restore pastures and some 3rd cutting of hay. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Heavy wind and rain Thursday, first major drink in a long time. Dust storm off sod farm, still dry. Applying rye, harvesting apples, some varieties small in size. Young Christmas trees lost due to dry conditions, woods are dry, trees stressed by drought dropping leaves before turning color, smaller roots under surface have dried up and will offer little support if wet spring occurs. Hickory nuts plentiful, not much of an acorn crop. Chrysanthemums, pumpkins and corn stalks brighten fall decorating. Apples 50% harvested. Corn about 80% done. Joyce Meader (Ext), Windham: Farmers are torn between their political obligations and a beautiful weekend to get the cropping season finished. 2006 Farm Bill Forum was a unique opportunity for local farmers to express their wishes. Instead many spread manure and finished corn chopping. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Corn silage harvest is winding down, most farms are finished. A few late planted fields hanging around yet. Some late grass silage coming off with the week's unseasonably warm temperatures. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Potato harvest in full swing. However rains during the middle of the week curtailed harvest operations until the weekend. Good weather predicted for the next few days, will see substantial acreage harvested. Ground drying out quite well over the weekend. Condition of the harvested crop is very good with yields about average. Wet weather has made it difficult to harvest remaining acres of small grains and their condition is deteriorating. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: It was a very rainy week which delayed harvesting until Wednesday. Thursday we had more showers later in the day. The weekend was beautiful with lots of sunshine and warm temperatures. Growers took advantage of the warm weather and harvested long hours on Saturday and Sunday. Crop looks excellent! Broccoli harvesting still continuing. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Harvesting is coming along good. Leslie Nelson (NRCS), Piscataquis: Harvesting of corn silage is in full force. Potato harvest has just started. Pumpkins, squash and apples are dominating roadside stands. Donald Burke (FSA), Waldo: Silage corn harvest underway with perfect fall weather. More hay remains to be cut if the weather holds. Field work on blueberries underway but too early to burn or flail now. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Fall crops such as broccoli, pumpkins, butternut and buttercup squash are ready at farm stands. Silage corn harvested is underway by our dairy farmers. Mulch hay is ready in preparation for colder months ahead. Perfect weather for harvesting silage corn and vegetables and outdoor activities. Very little fall foliage here on the coast so far. Sandy Truslow (FSA), Cumberland/York: The weather has been great for harvesting. Yields of pumpkins and winter squash are way down on some fields due to last June's weather. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: There has been some frost. With good field conditions corn silage & 3rd cut hay are coming in nicely. Apple harvest is coming down the stretch. After a wet start, we had a pretty good growing season. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Harvest of silage corn is going strong. Sweet corn almost done being harvested. Potato crop being harvested along with haylage. Pumpkins, winter squash and apples are being harvested and available around the county in farm stands. Autumn color is just beginning. Laura Rand (FSA), Androscoggin: Cool nights, warm days have been the norm. Pumpkins, squash, brussel sprouts, potatoes, silage corn, hay are all being harvested. No reports of frost as of yet. Silage corn production is being reported at normal or above normal yields as an average. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Some areas in county had up to two inches of rain this week. Corn silage is being harvested at a very fast rate, with only a few minor breakdowns. With cold weather coming squash & pumpkins are being harvested & taking cover. Orchards are at full speed picking their crop. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Harvesting has been progressing at a slow rate, as many growers are waiting for better color. Color has been poor so far. Several growers report that their harvested crops have been 25-30% below their projections. If that continues throughout the industry, there's no way we reach the 1.7 million barrel crop prediction. Quality continues to be very good, but fruitworm injury certainly took away some of the crop. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Farmers in Franklin County have made the most of excellent harvest conditions. Silage, potatoes, and late fall crop growers are reporting excellent yields. Grain farmers have remarked that perfect weather conditions have allowed their crops to be ready well ahead of schedule. Fall vine crops producers, especially pumpkins, have not been so lucky. Some growers were affected by phytopthora on low-lying acreage. Many have reported that their crops are breaking down during harvest or in storage. These losses appear to be field specific rather than widespread. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: A rainy Monday brought the first tobacco damp for the Valley tobacco growers. This tobacco damp allowed growers to take down and start bundling their crop for sale. Many growers also finished harvesting their crop of tomatoes, peppers, winter and summer squash. Greens, cabbage, potatoes, apples and pumpkins are still being harvested. Corn silage harvest is coming to an end and growers are reporting an excellent yield. Many growers are sowing a protective cover crop on their harvested fields. Gary Guida, Worcester: Heavy rain along with fierce wind flattened wide areas of ripening sweet corn, and really added moisture to soils. Most winter squash and pumpkins have been harvested now, still picking sweet corn, tomatoes and eggplant. Growers are mowing fields and removing plastic. Cover crops being applied. Just a beautiful weekend for retail sales of fall crops and of course sweet corn. Everyone selling mums. New strawberry fields look just beautiful, weed free and plenty of plant vigor. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: What a wind storm we had on Thursday!! Picking McIntosh, Cortland, Ginger Gold and more...it's prime time at the orchards. Farm stands are featuring winter squash, pumpkins, gourds and mums. Corn silage chopping and late hay cutting are in progress. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Warm sunny days, cool nights, still no frost. Little to no leaf color. Quite an unusual beginning to fall. Conditions favorable for pasture growth, so pastures still look very good. Most crops harvested, everyone waiting for frost. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: One day with heavy rains, but otherwise a gorgeous week. Many farms are done chopping corn, and the remainder should be done pretty soon - the weather has been quite cooperative this season. Some third cut hay/baylage harvested, some farms may try a fourth cut on alfalfa/grass in the next week or so. Great weekend for picking apples and orchards are keeping busy. Farm stands still hanging in there with late season sweet corn and an abundance of pumpkins. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Very good quality/quantity silage corn coming in. Heavy rain and winds earlier in week damped spirits, knocked down scattered trees. Harvest continues, a little hay where possible. Manure spreading on hay land. Most pumpkins now out of field and on display at fair. Honey bees kicking drones out of the hive. Summer is over! Approaching peak autumn colors in northern part of county, rather late for us. Honeycrisp apples are now on sale. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables: Great weather and good demand for all vegetable continues. Harvesting wide array of vegetables including: cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, winter squash and pumpkins along with the tail end of warm season crops. Good demand for all vegetable continues. Farmers kept busy discing, cleaning up and planting cover crops on harvested fields. Fruit: Pick-your-own apple and farm stand operations had a wonderful weekend. Apple harvest is in full swing with most growers concentrating on second or strip picking McIntosh apples, and working on Cortland and Macoun. Fruit size is good, but bruising can be a problem and orchardists seeing quite a bit of apple drop. Fall raspberries and pear harvest continues. Field Crops: Silage corn harvest in full swing. Cover crops were being planted in harvested fields. Sadie Puglisi (Ext), Merrimack: Finally seeing some fall color in the trees. Cortlands and Macs are being picked along with some fall raspberries. Squash and pumpkins are filling the farm stands. Looking forward to some warm days this week to possibly extend the season a little longer. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Different apple varieties are being harvested. Harvesting an array of vegetables, pumpkins and gourds. Abundant supply of mums at garden centers. Some cool nights but no frost. Gusty winds and high rain in the afternoon of September 29. Some apples being bruised and vegetables plants uprooted. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: Most of the silage corn is harvested with excellent yields being reported. Fall fertilizing with manure and seeding of winter rye is following. The last of the hay crops are getting in. A good year for apples with reports of smaller than usual size. Warmer than usual fall weather has helped to get the fall crop and field chores done. Very little frost to date. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: A few showers during the week interrupted hay making for some days. However, growers continued to make hay and haylage from the second cut. Vegetable growers busy harvesting sweet corn and an assortment of other vegetables. Fruit growers busy harvesting apples. Fall mums continued to sell at most garden centers. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Field corn being chopped and still harvesting some potatoes. Lots of field work, haying, and harvesting. Rain midweek was good for pastures and cool grasses. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Warm summer weather has provided great harvesting conditions. Had one day of rain and high winds that slowed fieldwork but did no substantial agricultural damage. Corn silage harvest is more than half done. Soybeans almost ready for harvest. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers are continuing to harvest corn. Most farmers I have talked to are very happy with the quantity and quality of the crop. The weather has been somewhat cooperative for the harvest as well. Most all of the 3rd hay crop has been harvested. A few hay fields are being cropped for the fourth time this year. We still haven't had widespread frost in the county. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Corn harvesting continues. Got rain one day. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Another warm fall week with no wide-spread frost. High winds on Thursday caused some damage. Lots of haying, corn chopping and manure spreading. Lots of moisture in the ground, fields are soft. Quantity of hay and haylage appears greater than average. Heather Darby (Ext), Franklin: Corn silage continues this week with some delays due to rain. Overall the yields have been high. Manure is being spread on harvested fields and fall tillage has begun. Some people still finishing up third cut. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Still seeding winter rye on late harvested fields. All squash stored ready for sales. Late potato crop half dug with good yield. 0.586 inches of rain for the week. Markets full of good fall crops, potatoes, squash, cabbage, tomatoes, beets and carrots. Also all kinds of produce for decorating, corn stalks, pumpkins, Indian Corn, gourds and bittersweet. 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: Travil 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*********************