State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 09/14/03 Issue NH-CW3703 Volume 23, Number 21 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) September 15, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- GREAT WEEK FOR FIELD WORK For the week ending September 14, 2003, there were 6.8 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 0% very short, 21% short, 71% adequate, 8% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0% very short, 21% short, 75% adequate, 4% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 8% poor, 47% fair, 36% good, 9% excellent. A very dry week in New England, providing excellent conditions for making hay. Cool temperatures with near-frost nights prevailed at the start of the week, but warm, humid weather arrived near the weekend as Hurricane Isabel approached the east coast. Major farm activities included: cutting haylage and making dry hay; harvesting broadleaf and shade tobacco, potatoes, small grains, apples, peaches, pears, highbush blueberries and vegetables; desiccating potato vines; spreading manure; monitoring fields; performing general farm maintenance. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 1 32 Short 21 17 37 Adequate 71 76 31 Surplus 8 6 0 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 39 Short 21 21 32 Adequate 75 77 29 Surplus 4 2 0 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Excellent hay making conditions prevailed as the weather remained dry for most of the week. Second cut progressed to 95 percent complete, and progress of the third crop harvest reached the half-way mark last week; crop specialists rated the third hay crop in good to excellent condition. Silage corn harvest got underway last week, and growers kept their fingers crossed that Hurricane Isabel would steer clear of New England. Potato crops throughout the region were rated in good condition last week as harvest progressed. Maine potato growers were active killing vines on early varieties and readying equipment for harvest. Farmers commented that grain yields in Maine appear to be light this year, due to lodging from heavy winds and rain earlier in the season. Broadleaf and shade tobacco crop harvests neared completion in the Connecticut River Valley. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Harvest of apples, peaches, pears and plums was ongoing last week. Fall raspberries and white cranberries were also harvested, while highbush blueberry harvest continued to wind down in most states. Growers geared up for red cranberry harvest in Massachusetts. Pick-your-own orchards were open for business. VEGETABLES: Beans, beets, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, squash, tomatoes and zucchini were harvested last week, among other vegetables. Sweet corn remained in good condition and harvest progressed to 85 percent complete. Decorative fall crops appeared at farm stands. Local markets experienced good sales of fall vegetables and mums. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME 75 85 85 Good/Fair Oats, ME 65 60 75 Good/Fair Potatoes Maine 10 20 20 Good Mass 45 50 55 Good Rhode Isl 65 75 60 Good Silage Corn 5 15 20 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 85 90 85 Good Tobacco Shade 95 99 99 Good/Fair Broadleaf 95 100 99 Fair/Good Dry Hay Second Cut 95 95 90 Good/Fair Third Cut 50 65 60 Good/Excellent --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples 30 35 30 Good/Fair Peaches 80 90 90 Good/Fair Pears 20 35 35 Good/Fair Blueberries Highbush 95 99 99 Good/Fair Cranberries,MA <5 <5 <5 Good/Fair -------------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, September 14, 2003 -------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 30 83 57 +0 0.00 0.08 NH 31 82 58 +0 0.00 0.14 VT 30 84 60 +1 0.00 0.11 MA 35 82 62 -1 0.00 0.51 RI 40 80 64 -1 0.00 0.03 CT 41 82 64 +0 0.06 0.69 -------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table -- Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday September 8, 2003 To: Sunday September 14, 2003 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 78 56 -6 1747 -235 672 -98 Allagash 30 83 53 -2 1228 -63 382 +59 Augusta_State_A 43 78 61 +1 2003 +84 853 +123 Bangor_Intl_Arp 38 79 60 +0 1968 +216 832 +220 Barnard 36 78 58 +1 1623 +113 582 +131 Bath 36 80 58 -3 1762 -36 679 +27 Bethel 38 83 60 +1 1752 +22 661 +73 Brassua_Dam 32 80 55 +0 1414 +160 488 +178 Brunswick_ME 37 79 62 +1 1907 +109 786 +134 Caribou_Municip 36 81 56 +2 1572 +182 580 +202 Corinna 38 77 59 +2 1796 +139 698 +161 Danforth 31 79 56 -3 1645 +35 641 +116 Dover-Foxcroft 34 73 58 +1 1464 -46 489 +38 Durham 36 81 59 -4 1741 -299 713 -112 East_Hiram 37 78 56 -4 1683 -39 632 +50 Eustis 30 77 54 -2 1343 +126 438 +155 Frenchville 32 78 56 +3 1436 +145 490 +167 Gray 44 80 62 +3 2028 +256 872 +243 Greenville_ME 39 76 58 +2 1564 +43 557 +95 Guilford 31 77 55 -3 1381 -129 464 +13 Hollis 36 79 57 -3 1788 +138 700 +169 Houlton 30 81 55 +0 1643 +191 624 +200 Kennebunkport 38 73 58 -7 1738 -423 621 -289 Livermore_Falls 33 81 58 +1 1809 +327 741 +312 Moosehead 33 82 56 +1 1365 +111 447 +137 New_Sharon 37 78 59 +2 1819 +337 736 +307 Patten 36 78 56 +2 1554 +102 556 +132 Portage 36 82 58 +4 1618 +228 605 +227 Portland_ME 41 77 60 -1 1949 +177 805 +176 Rangeley 35 78 56 +2 1379 +197 448 +184 Sebec_Lake 34 78 57 -1 1610 +89 584 +122 Vanceboro 35 78 57 -2 1607 +66 589 +114 Waterville 40 80 60 -2 1877 -105 754 -16 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 40 78 59 -2 1984 +60 829 +101 Benton 39 77 57 +0 1692 +105 616 +143 Berlin_AG 37 78 57 -1 1743 +146 653 +158 Bethlehem 34 79 56 -2 1602 +16 561 +88 Concord 38 82 63 +3 2227 +303 1017 +289 Diamond_Pond 37 74 54 +0 1227 +156 371 +166 First_Conn_Lake 33 76 54 +0 1273 +202 389 +184 Greenville 36 82 58 -3 1685 -56 646 +70 Keene_AP 41 79 61 -2 2137 -13 914 +23 Lakeport 45 80 63 +4 2181 +383 978 +339 Marlow 35 74 55 -6 1580 -371 574 -157 Mount_Washingto 33 65 47 +6 239 +178 6 +6 North_Conway 38 79 59 -1 1963 +177 822 +194 Otter_Brook_Lk 41 80 61 -2 1967 -183 792 -99 Plymouth 38 77 58 +1 1710 +139 632 +156 Rochester 40 82 60 -3 1985 -76 834 +4 Weare 42 74 58 -3 1952 +1 782 +51 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 40 78 58 -2 1763 +85 659 +118 Bethel 40 81 60 +2 1978 +383 801 +308 Burlington_Intl 42 83 64 +4 2365 +314 1084 +259 East_Haven 30 81 56 +0 1638 +314 583 +247 Island_Pond 36 81 57 +2 1621 +310 578 +255 Montpelier 40 78 60 +3 1768 +155 660 +157 Morrisville_AG 35 82 59 +1 1888 +279 759 +251 Mount_Mansfield 39 67 55 +5 914 +223 197 +131 Northfield 36 80 58 +2 1772 +303 660 +243 Pownal 44 76 60 +2 1862 +178 670 +128 Rochester 42 81 60 +2 1805 +210 668 +175 Rutland_AG 41 79 59 -3 1925 -201 759 -109 Sunderland 39 80 59 -3 1731 -306 595 -197 Sutton 40 79 58 +4 1628 +304 568 +232 Townshend_Lake 45 79 61 -1 1978 -40 794 -7 Union_Vill_Dam 39 82 60 -2 1942 -92 802 -6 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 46 79 61 +3 2086 +341 882 +290 Boston/Logan_In 49 81 65 -2 2517 +43 1243 +91 Greenfield 47 81 63 -2 2260 -46 989 -17 New_Bedford 43 78 63 -4 2266 -237 1042 -136 Otis_AFB 43 75 63 -2 2258 +222 1065 +239 Plymouth 40 79 62 -2 2177 +84 974 +105 Walpole 39 81 62 +0 2321 +211 1078 +214 West_Medway 37 81 61 -2 2334 +224 1078 +214 Chicopee/Westov 41 81 63 -4 2351 -291 1065 -208 Worcester 45 76 62 +1 2164 +195 932 +175 Worthington 38 78 59 -1 1794 +77 649 +86 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 46 79 65 +0 2507 +146 1219 +151 Woonsocket 40 80 63 +1 2281 +204 1042 +218 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 41 76 59 -6 1924 -614 728 -465 Bridgeport/Siko 52 78 67 -1 2586 +43 1288 +61 Hartford/Bradle 45 82 66 +1 2590 +58 1245 +56 Norfolk 43 78 60 +1 1877 +159 704 +141 Norwich 44 81 64 -2 2459 +92 1177 +126 Thomaston_Dam 43 79 62 +0 2329 +272 1036 +230 Willimantic 41 78 64 +2 2397 +298 1119 +279 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.00 -0.77 0 1.54 -1.68 4 Allagash 0.00 -0.89 0 0.45 -3.20 4 Augusta_State_A 0.00 -0.70 0 1.45 -1.43 7 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.00 -0.84 0 1.51 -1.66 3 Barnard 0.00 -0.91 0 1.28 -2.25 6 Bath 0.00 -0.70 0 2.03 -0.88 5 Bethel 0.00 -0.77 0 1.85 -1.56 5 Brassua_Dam 0.00 -0.87 0 0.81 -2.59 4 Brunswick_ME 0.00 -0.70 0 1.92 -0.99 6 Caribou_Municip 0.00 -0.84 0 0.69 -2.81 10 Corinna 0.00 -0.84 0 2.07 -1.45 4 Danforth 0.00 -0.84 0 0.83 -2.74 6 Dover-Foxcroft 0.00 -0.91 0 0.59 -2.94 3 Durham 0.00 -0.70 0 0.71 -2.09 4 East_Hiram 0.00 -0.71 0 1.67 -1.47 9 Eustis 0.00 -0.72 0 0.75 -2.27 6 Frenchville 0.00 -0.89 0 0.22 -3.43 6 Gray 0.00 -0.70 0 1.50 -1.24 6 Greenville_ME 0.00 -0.91 0 0.05 -3.48 4 Guilford 0.00 -0.91 0 1.47 -2.06 8 Hollis 0.00 -0.77 0 1.48 -1.44 5 Houlton 0.00 -0.86 0 0.77 -2.84 5 Kennebunkport 0.03 -0.67 3 1.83 -0.99 9 Livermore_Falls 0.00 -0.84 0 1.37 -2.25 4 Moosehead 0.00 -0.87 0 0.51 -2.89 5 New_Sharon 0.00 -0.84 0 1.30 -2.32 2 Patten 0.00 -0.86 0 0.91 -2.70 6 Portage 0.00 -0.84 0 1.01 -2.49 5 Portland_ME 0.00 -0.70 0 1.60 -1.14 5 Rangeley 0.08 -0.66 1 1.29 -2.05 6 Sebec_Lake 0.00 -0.91 0 0.93 -2.60 4 Vanceboro 0.00 -0.91 0 1.18 -2.22 7 Waterville 0.00 -0.77 0 0.98 -2.24 2 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.00 -0.66 0 1.42 -1.39 7 Benton 0.00 -0.77 0 2.08 -1.30 3 Berlin_AG 0.00 -0.78 0 1.64 -1.91 4 Bethlehem 0.00 -0.76 0 1.76 -1.85 8 Concord 0.00 -0.66 0 1.24 -1.57 8 Diamond_Pond 0.00 -0.97 0 1.39 -2.89 8 First_Conn_Lake 0.14 -0.83 1 0.82 -3.46 7 Greenville 0.00 -0.74 0 0.80 -2.50 7 Keene_AP 0.02 -0.68 2 1.23 -1.93 9 Lakeport 0.00 -0.70 0 2.16 -0.90 7 Marlow 0.00 -0.77 0 2.05 -1.19 7 Mount_Washingto 0.01 -1.77 1 3.75 -3.66 9 North_Conway 0.00 -0.80 0 1.63 -1.81 5 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.11 -0.59 1 1.94 -1.22 10 Plymouth 0.00 -0.73 0 1.69 -1.49 7 Rochester 0.00 -0.70 0 1.49 -1.52 4 Weare 0.07 -0.70 1 2.02 -1.22 8 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.11 -0.80 2 2.43 -1.35 12 Bethel 0.00 -0.91 0 3.23 -0.71 4 Burlington_Intl 0.00 -0.80 0 0.52 -2.94 6 East_Haven 0.01 -0.81 1 1.50 -2.29 8 Island_Pond 0.00 -0.82 0 1.26 -2.59 7 Montpelier 0.00 -0.69 0 1.35 -1.81 6 Morrisville_AG 0.00 -0.85 0 0.59 -3.33 4 Mount_Mansfield 0.00 -1.50 0 1.33 -5.15 7 Northfield 0.00 -0.77 0 1.22 -2.02 5 Pownal 0.05 -0.86 1 2.17 -1.61 10 Rochester 0.05 -0.86 1 2.37 -1.57 4 Rutland_AG 0.02 -0.84 1 2.02 -1.63 8 Sunderland 0.00 -0.84 0 4.15 +0.60 10 Sutton 0.01 -0.81 1 1.53 -2.26 8 Townshend_Lake 0.10 -0.67 1 2.27 -1.13 10 Union_Vill_Dam 0.04 -0.73 1 1.99 -1.21 6 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.13 -0.57 1 2.50 -0.42 9 Boston/Logan_In 0.00 -0.70 0 0.85 -2.14 5 Greenfield 0.51 -0.31 1 2.93 -0.36 11 New_Bedford 0.13 -0.68 1 2.62 -0.99 7 Otis_AFB 0.08 -0.69 1 3.38 +0.28 7 Plymouth 0.00 -0.98 0 1.83 -2.02 6 Walpole 0.00 -0.88 0 1.97 -1.64 6 West_Medway 0.00 -0.88 0 2.65 -0.96 6 Chicopee/Westov 0.27 -0.57 1 2.32 -1.02 10 Worcester 0.03 -0.88 1 1.52 -2.08 7 Worthington 0.15 -0.69 1 2.21 -1.36 8 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.00 -0.84 0 2.72 -0.64 6 Woonsocket 0.00 -0.91 0 2.47 -1.17 6 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.18 -0.73 1 4.90 +1.36 8 Bridgeport/Siko 0.09 -0.68 1 2.45 -0.42 9 Hartford/Bradle 0.32 -0.59 1 3.66 +0.12 8 Norfolk 0.20 -0.78 1 3.95 -0.14 8 Norwich 0.17 -0.74 1 4.55 +0.91 9 Thomaston_Dam 0.20 -0.76 1 3.08 -0.82 10 Willimantic 0.28 -0.63 1 2.68 -0.90 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 2003: 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 - Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: A wonderful dry week for harvesting crops. Much second and third cut hay was put up as farmers waited for field corn to dry down. Vegetable and fruit harvest continued as crops continue to mature. Tobacco harvest wound down as only a few still had broadleaf in the field. Farm stands were busy selling a mix of fruits and vegetables. Mums were also good movers at markets. Pumpkin crop looks to be light this year. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Cutting first, second and third hay crops. Some fields still wet. Corn at every stage across the county, from short and very green to tall, tasseling and almost ready to harvest. A lot of hay went in this week with awesome weather except for a big rain overnight Saturday. Picking peaches, waiting for color on apples, vegetables winding down. Quality of forage crops and potential big winds a concern. Ear worm trouble in sweet corn. Picking for three more weeks likely. Nancy Welsh/Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Weather conditions of rain and high humidity continue to destroy crops as they become ready to harvest. Pears are coming up with Fabraea disease. Squash and tomatoes are rotted and most plants have been overcome by weeds where herbicides were ineffective. Apples being harvested, nectarines are excellent. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Potato harvesting has begun on a limited basis. Potatoes that are now being harvested are either being delivered to the processor or are being shipped as fresh pack. Very few are going into storage. Yields are very spotty. Also, more potato vines are being desiccated, some with a second application. Small grains and canola are being harvested. Growers finding grain yields a little on the light side. Soils are getting very dry. A little moisture would improve harvesting conditions. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Growers continue to apply vine kill on early varieties; later varieties still have time to size up for a week or so. Growers are getting equipment and storages ready to harvest. Harvest will be in full swing next week. Let's hope for a harvest of good weather and good crop of potatoes. Canola is being harvested - approximately 25 percent of crop. Oats and barley continue to be harvested. Harvest time is here in the County! Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Potato harvest is underway. Crops all look good. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Another very dry week with excellent hay making conditions. Crops and soils are very dry. Corn silage harvest is starting, with many farmers' eyes and ears to the weather reports concerning the possible high winds and rain forecast for the end of the week. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Farmers have been busy harvesting their hay/grass crop. The weather has been perfect this past week for all farming activities. Silage corn harvest should be starting soon. The crop looks good in some areas and poor in other areas (small ear development). Could have problems from hurricane later this week. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Another week of good weather with cool nights. Sunny days had producers working in the fields. Some silage corn harvest began. Pick-your-own apple signs are up. Great weather for fairs! Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: The silage choppers have started on the corn, some corn looks very good and some poor. This pleasant weather has brought out the apple pickers at the pick-your-own operations. The fall colors are starting to show up in the low areas. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Measured grain harvest for oats and barley so a slightly above average harvest. Quantity would have been higher, but there was a lot of lodging. Time to get in the firewood... no killing frost yet. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: What a glorious week! Farmers cutting hay; silage harvest has begun and fall vegetables at the farm stands. All reports are that the season, although not much sun, is a hit! Potato harvest is ongoing. Soil conditions are dry and dust flying in the air while harvest is upon us! MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Great weather to make hay, very heavy dew in morning. The ground is very damp making drying hay a little slow. Most everybody reporting excellent looking forage corn. A few fields and portions of fields look bad because of wet/cold ground. Veggie people are happy with their crops this fall. There are reports that orchards will have a good crop although fruit may be smaller than normal. Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Harvest of white cranberries in underway with mixed reviews. Growers are finding an average crop at best. Harvest of red fruit will begin in a week and many growers are concerned with poor quality because of fruit rot and insect damage. Fall vegetables are poor because of the wet, humid conditions crops faced all summer. Many hay growers continue to struggle to make hay because of the wet, humid weather. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Harvesting of apples, pears, peaches and plums continues. Blueberries are just about ended. The birds are feasting on what is left. The cooler weather is approaching quite rapidly. Vegetables are also continuously being harvested - tomatoes, squash (summer and zucchini), peppers, greens, cole crops, beets, beans and others. Some growers reporting losing tomatoes probably due to the earlier humid weather in August. Haying continues and corn will shortly be in full swing. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: White berry harvest completed this week. The remainder of the crop will be harvested later than usual, as many growers wait for anthocyanin development. It appears that the growing season never really caught up to a normal schedule. Some dry harvesting for fresh fruit will probably occur later in the upcoming week. The long period of high humidity resulted in very thick vine overgrowth in many beds, leading to the occurrence of red leaf spot disease. Of course, the area watches Isabel very closely to see what impact it will have here. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Harvesting continues of all crops. Corn mazes are open. Equipment being fixed to begin silage corn harvest. A good week to make hay. Cranberry producers starting to harvest for the white cranberry juice. Cool nights have slowed the ripening of some crops. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: This past week's weather was perfect for making hay and harvesting fall crops. Every farm with haying equipment was really busy this week. Silage cutting has started but it's off to a slow start. Right now everyone's watching Hurricane Isabel to see where she's going. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: It was a beautiful week with a well needed rain shower on Sunday. Fall harvest is in full swing. Growers are harvesting apples, pears, mums, fall raspberries, potatoes, winter squash, pumpkins, Indian corn and many more fall crops. Gary Guida, Worcester: Another hectic week for farmers and farm stands. All summer and fall crops being harvested. Big sellers this week were sweet corn, mums and tomatoes. Everyone made or finished up second cut of hay. Pumpkins here just starting to ripen. No insect problems in corn. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Plenty of bright sunshine for most of the week. Corn chopping has started on early hybrids or early-planted fields, later fields are not yet mature enough. Great week for haying, and producers finished up last of third cutting haylage. Blueberry harvest is about done, apples are ripening and harvest should get in full swing soon. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Fairly warm and dry for mid-September. Still lots of baled hay being harvested - I hear a few farms have stopped, no room left to put it. Field corn looks very good, looks like a little early corn being chopped. Vine killing of potatoes, getting ready for harvest. Apples about ready for picking, seems to be plenty of wild ones this year, but spotty in some locations. Fall veggies abundant, into late season Silver Queen type sweet corn. Pumpkins, winter squash, mums and flowering kale ready for the decoration market. Beans, cucumbers, mid-summer veggies about gone. More reports of bear sightings getting into the corn. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Third cut continuing. Corn ears continue to mature, but leaf and stalk moisture still high. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: The week of the 7th through the 13th was an excellent week for haying and getting field work done. The mornings were damp and cooler, but from mid-morning to evening things dried out well, and quite a bit of dry hay and haylage was made. Corn harvest has begun and is looking good. The yields appear to be very good this year. This should be a good feed year for almost everyone. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Field Crops: Hay cutting continued at a rapid pace during the week with the second and third cuttings being made. Some spreading manure on hay fields. Farmers making new forage seedings. Farmers starting corn silage harvest. Fruit: Orchardists harvesting Marshall McIntosh and Honey apples, peaches, and fall raspberries. Vegetables: Harvesting an array of vegetables: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, potatoes, radishes, summer squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, zucchini, and other vegetables. Some farmers are starting to clean up harvested fields and plant cover crops. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Great cool and sunny weather for pick-your-own operations. Picking apples, peaches, plums, different types of vegetables, pumpkins and winter squashes. Good weather for haying. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: The week was dry. It was a nice week to work outdoors. Farmers were busy making hay and haylage from third cut. The silage corn is doing great in most of the fields. Harvesting of sweet corn and a variety of other vegetables continued throughout the week. Pumpkin harvesting and sales picked up momentum. Fruit growers were busy harvesting early apples and fall raspberries. Harvesting of peaches also continued throughout the week. Nurseries and garden centers were busy with fall mum sales. Perennials were on sale at most garden centers. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Big, big week for haying. Couldn't have asked for a better week for fieldwork. Corn crop continues to thrive even though bears have decided to take up residence in many of the cornfields. Sweet corn harvest winding down and have seen some problems with corn borers. Corn silage harvest should really get underway this week. It is very dry and that has slowed grass growth particularly in pastures. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Last week was a very nice week to finish harvesting hay and get ready to cut corn. A few of the large corn growers have begun to cut corn. The corn is still a little green but not too bad. Everybody I have talked to says this was one of the best hay years in a while. The second cut was a little short due to a dry period but the first and third crop was excellent. Reports on quality for first crop is that it is high. The corn harvest should be high also. Looks like there will be no shortage of feed this winter. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Full week of warm and sunny weather was much needed by farmers in southern Vermont. The good drying conditions allowed farmers to put in large quantities of high quality third cut and allowed for the dry down of corn. Corn harvesting is just getting under way with producers opening up fields and getting their equipment ready for the big push over the next month. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Corn silage harvest in progress. Most corn still too immature. Some at 1/3 milk line. Finishing third crop harvest of alfalfa and grass mixed hay. New seedings of hay fields being planted. New stands look good, uniform. Pasture regrowth better, moderate amounts of rust disease on foliage. Soybean leaves starting to yellow. Some soil conditions very dry. Manure spreading on harvested hay crop fields. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: During the past week we had warm, sunny days and cool nights. As you might expect in September the mornings were foggy. Sunday brought rain, at least in southern parts of the two counties. The Tunbridge fair has ended and farmers are ready to begin chopping corn this week. There is still quite a bit of moisture in the corn, so some of this year's crop may go into silos green. Some farms are still on their third cutting of grass. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Sunny, dry week. Lots of hay. Nearly frost early in week, heavy fog later in week. Some starting to chop corn. -- 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 Director: Joe Samson 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 ***********************