NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 08/19/01 Issue NH-CW3301 Volume 21, Number 16 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) August 20, 2001 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary NEW ENGLAND STILL NEEDS RAIN For the week ending August 19, 2001, there were 6.6 days available for fieldwork across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 16% very poor, 39% poor, 40% fair, 5% good, 0% excellent. Major farm activities included: spreading manure; cultivating; irrigating; hoeing; cutting hay and chopping haylage; harvesting shade and broadleaf tobacco, oats, barley, potatoes, apples, peaches, raspberries, highbush and lowbush blueberries, sweet corn and other vegetables; and spraying for weeds, disease and insects. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year --------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 44 38 1 Short 34 37 12 Adequate 22 25 64 Surplus 0 0 23 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 32 27 0 Short 38 36 10 Adequate 30 37 74 Surplus 0 0 16 --------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report FIELD CROPS: Drought conditions have persisted in New England over the past 3-4 weeks. Growers have been actively irrigating their crops, where possible. Where irrigation has not been available, crops are suffering. Potato harvest continued, with no reports of disease thus far. Hay fields are extremely dry and yields are low. The dry weather has also had a significant impact on silage corn, as growth has slowed and leaves are curled, particularly where there has been no irrigation. Broadleaf and shade tobacco plants have been ripening quickly due to the hot weather. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: Farmers continued to pick highbush and lowbush blueberries, apples, peaches and raspberries. Pear harvest just got underway. Some apple trees have experienced increased drop due to the lack of moisture. Lack of rain has also caused highbush and lowbush blueberry crops to decrease to fair condition. Maine wild blueberries are being picked at a rapid pace; fruit size is below average due to shrinkage. Cranberries continued to size up nicely in Massachusetts, but the fruit will need some cooler temperatures to gain color. VEGETABLES: Farmers harvested a wide variety of vegetables last week and irrigated (where available) those left to be harvested. Many vegetable crops have been ripening quickly due to the recent hot, humid weather, but the lack of rain has stunted growth in some. Fields continued to be actively scouted for weeds, insects and disease, and applications were made where necessary. Where sweet corn has not been irrigated, ear size is smaller than normal. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2001 2000 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- Potatoes Maine <5 <5 <5 Good Mass 20 20 30 Good/Fair Rhode Isl 35 35 20 Good/Fair Oats, ME 15 <5 10 Good/Excel Barley, ME 30 <5 20 Good Silage Corn -- -- -- Good/Fair Sweet Corn 45 45 50 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 60 70 85 Good/Fair Broadleaf 60 70 70 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 100 95 99 Good/Fair Second Cut 85 65 65 Fair/Good Third Cut 25 15 20 Fair/Poor ----------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2001 2000 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples 10 10 5 Good Peaches 40 55 50 Good/Fair Pears <5 5 5 Poor Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good Blueberries Highbush 70 80 80 Fair Wild,ME 60 60 60 Fair -------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the Week ending Sunday, August 19, 2001 --------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 40 90 67 +2 0.00 0.89 NH 35 90 67 +2 0.05 0.79 VT 40 88 67 +2 0.08 1.05 MA 48 88 70 +1 0.11 2.78 RI 56 87 71 +1 1.04 3.20 CT 54 89 71 +1 0.96 5.70 -------------------------------------- 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 46 87 67 -2 1589 -26 648 +5 Allagash 40 86 63 +2 1199 +112 381 +96 Augusta_ME 53 83 70 +2 1810 +247 823 +212 Bangor 48 84 69 +2 1742 +317 758 +246 Barnard 48 84 67 +3 1520 +274 581 +194 Bath 50 86 67 -2 1536 +88 628 +88 Bethel 49 87 68 +2 1542 +120 597 +98 Brassua_Dam 44 86 65 +2 1264 +227 401 +134 Brunswick_ME 53 86 69 +1 1637 +189 698 +158 Caribou 45 85 67 +5 1473 +303 542 +208 Corinna 48 85 68 +3 1663 +289 683 +220 Danforth 43 85 66 +1 1392 +55 495 +39 Dover-Foxcroft 48 81 65 +1 1443 +197 522 +135 Durham 50 84 66 -3 1553 -103 647 -45 East_Hiram 50 86 66 +0 1514 +98 602 +106 Eustis 42 83 63 +2 1154 +142 347 +103 Frenchville 49 84 67 +6 1339 +252 459 +174 Gray 50 84 69 +3 1807 +382 835 +314 Greenville_ME 45 85 67 +3 1461 +204 559 +163 Guilford 50 83 67 +3 1533 +287 634 +247 Hollis 48 86 68 +3 1625 +272 694 +238 Houlton 43 84 66 +3 1427 +207 527 +156 Kennebunkport 51 82 66 -4 1497 -247 604 -147 Livermore_Falls 45 90 68 +4 1652 +422 712 +342 Moosehead 41 88 65 +3 1250 +213 403 +136 New_Sharon 48 86 68 +5 1782 +552 795 +425 Patten 46 83 65 +1 1265 +45 408 +37 Portage 49 85 67 +5 1513 +343 588 +254 Portland_ME 52 84 67 -2 1673 +248 727 +206 Rangeley 44 83 63 +2 1177 +202 349 +124 Sebec_Lake 46 86 67 +3 1495 +238 573 +177 Vanceboro 46 83 67 +2 1439 +180 524 +122 Waterville 51 86 69 +1 1727 +112 755 +112 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 52 86 68 +2 1780 +197 804 +186 Benton 45 83 67 +4 1477 +157 546 +139 Berlin_AG 46 85 67 +3 1523 +194 577 +148 Bethlehem 37 85 65 +2 1404 +84 492 +84 Concord 52 87 70 +3 1801 +218 809 +191 Diamond_Pond 44 77 62 +2 1068 +170 299 +123 First_Conn_Lake 42 81 62 +2 987 +89 259 +83 Greenville 48 90 68 +3 1546 +114 629 +139 Keene_AP 54 84 71 +2 1814 +50 803 +53 Lakeport 56 88 72 +6 1901 +412 893 +342 Marlow 45 84 65 -3 1408 -195 514 -104 Mt_Washington 40 63 52 +5 206 +155 10 +10 North_Conway 48 88 69 +3 1819 +338 821 +280 Otter_Brook_Lk 53 85 69 +0 1659 -105 673 -77 Plymouth 40 85 65 +1 1465 +159 545 +131 Rochester 53 88 69 +0 1818 +136 838 +144 Weare 52 83 67 +0 1571 -32 624 +6 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 40 83 64 -2 1237 -142 402 -56 Bethel 42 86 67 +3 1621 +312 661 +245 Burlington_VT 50 87 72 +4 1989 +288 935 +228 East_Haven 44 84 66 +4 1307 +200 432 +141 Island_Pond 44 82 66 +5 1356 +267 471 +195 Montpelier 44 83 68 +4 1513 +173 587 +153 Morrisville_AG 40 85 65 +0 1326 -7 461 +24 Mount_Mansfield 49 70 61 +5 814 +232 194 +131 Northfield 43 85 67 +5 1507 +288 569 +210 Pownal 51 80 68 +3 1557 +171 581 +121 Rochester 44 85 67 +3 1474 +165 544 +128 Rutland_AG 47 83 68 -1 1600 -150 617 -114 Sunderland 49 82 67 -2 1407 -273 497 -175 Sutton 48 81 66 +4 1402 +295 503 +212 Townshend_Lake 51 86 69 +2 1653 -3 693 +17 Union_Vill_Dam 45 88 68 +0 1601 -70 639 -43 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 54 83 69 +4 1777 +338 773 +264 Boston 60 84 71 -2 2170 +181 1098 +166 Greenfield 51 88 72 +2 1884 +2 870 +33 New_Bedford 53 82 70 -4 1955 -37 901 -33 Otis_AFB 55 82 71 +2 1919 +303 903 +238 Plymouth 52 83 69 +0 1865 +186 840 +127 Walpole 55 83 69 +0 2054 +333 989 +266 West_Medway 53 86 70 +1 2039 +318 975 +252 Westover 57 84 72 -2 2122 -29 1037 -9 Worcester 58 82 69 +2 1845 +242 822 +188 Worthington 50 82 66 +1 1498 +96 565 +93 RHODE ISLAND Providence 59 83 71 +0 2174 +282 1081 +217 Woonsocket 56 87 72 +4 2152 +460 1088 +400 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 54 84 69 -4 1770 -310 765 -230 Bridgeport 63 84 74 +2 2261 +234 1147 +171 Hartford_AP 57 87 73 +2 2191 +119 1095 +103 Norfolk 55 89 69 +4 1725 +317 737 +258 Norwich 58 85 72 +2 2157 +240 1054 +191 Thomaston_Dam 54 86 71 +3 1906 +234 864 +197 Willimantic 57 83 72 +3 2148 +445 1042 +347 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.04 -0.81 2 0.43 -2.94 8 Allagash 0.58 -0.40 2 1.20 -2.51 4 Augusta_ME 0.09 -0.68 2 0.32 -2.71 5 Bangor 0.05 -0.72 2 0.80 -2.13 6 Barnard 0.13 -0.71 1 0.24 -2.96 4 Bath 0.11 -0.66 2 0.51 -2.35 6 Bethel 0.07 -0.84 2 0.71 -2.81 11 Brassua_Dam 0.28 -0.56 2 0.90 -2.57 7 Brunswick_ME 0.09 -0.68 2 0.68 -2.18 5 Caribou 0.11 -0.80 3 1.34 -2.44 7 Corinna 0.05 -0.79 1 0.39 -2.87 2 Danforth 0.36 -0.59 2 1.96 -1.75 5 Dover-Foxcroft 0.07 -0.77 1 0.30 -2.90 4 Durham 0.22 -0.48 3 0.76 -2.17 8 East_Hiram 0.14 -0.71 2 1.13 -2.29 6 Eustis 0.28 -0.49 2 0.86 -2.31 6 Frenchville 0.18 -0.80 4 0.54 -3.17 9 Gray 0.07 -0.56 2 0.52 -2.02 6 Greenville_ME 0.43 -0.41 2 1.14 -2.06 8 Guilford 0.03 -0.81 1 0.38 -2.82 5 Hollis 0.19 -0.51 2 1.02 -1.78 6 Houlton 0.79 -0.17 2 2.37 -1.31 6 Kennebunkport 0.89 +0.19 2 2.39 -0.39 9 Livermore_Falls 0.38 -0.57 2 1.28 -2.20 8 Moosehead 0.25 -0.59 2 0.56 -2.91 6 New_Sharon 0.04 -0.91 1 1.15 -2.33 5 Patten 0.25 -0.71 2 1.41 -2.27 9 Portage 0.04 -0.87 1 0.60 -3.18 5 Portland_ME 0.19 -0.44 2 1.44 -1.10 6 Rangeley 0.72 -0.22 2 2.43 -1.15 8 Sebec_Lake 0.04 -0.80 2 0.24 -2.96 6 Vanceboro 0.33 -0.40 2 1.40 -1.50 6 Waterville 0.04 -0.81 1 0.68 -2.69 6 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.20 -0.57 2 1.93 -1.15 11 Benton 0.16 -0.75 2 0.47 -3.04 5 Berlin_AG 0.25 -0.74 1 0.68 -3.10 4 Bethlehem 0.29 -0.76 2 1.95 -2.06 7 Concord 0.21 -0.56 2 1.60 -1.48 6 Diamond_Pond 0.56 -0.63 4 2.81 -1.73 11 First_Conn_Lake 0.63 -0.56 4 3.10 -1.44 9 Greenville 0.42 -0.51 2 2.23 -1.46 7 Keene_AP 0.06 -0.85 2 3.77 +0.24 7 Lakeport 0.49 -0.35 2 1.50 -1.86 5 Marlow 0.79 -0.05 2 2.45 -0.81 8 Mt_Washington 0.08 -1.81 1 1.14 -5.96 8 North_Conway 0.08 -0.83 1 0.65 -2.92 6 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.05 -0.86 2 1.54 -1.99 9 Plymouth 0.28 -0.63 1 1.57 -2.07 8 Rochester 0.38 -0.44 3 1.83 -1.47 7 Weare 0.13 -0.71 2 1.28 -1.98 6 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.22 -0.76 2 2.44 -1.35 9 Bethel 0.08 -0.97 1 1.18 -2.83 6 Burlington_VT 0.47 -0.47 2 0.74 -2.85 5 East_Haven 1.04 -0.07 3 2.54 -1.72 9 Island_Pond 0.61 -0.51 2 1.62 -2.70 7 Montpelier 0.22 -0.69 2 0.55 -2.76 7 Morrisville_AG 0.43 -0.69 3 1.02 -3.26 9 Mount_Mansfield 1.05 -0.69 4 2.35 -4.16 11 Northfield 0.14 -0.73 1 0.46 -2.94 3 Pownal 0.93 -0.05 3 4.12 +0.33 10 Rochester 0.18 -0.87 2 1.53 -2.48 10 Rutland_AG 0.34 -0.64 2 1.29 -2.47 7 Sunderland 0.75 -0.16 2 3.22 -0.05 9 Sutton 0.46 -0.65 2 1.34 -2.92 11 Townshend_Lake 0.30 -0.61 2 1.96 -1.52 9 Union_Vill_Dam 0.31 -0.53 3 1.25 -1.94 9 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.50 -0.27 3 1.61 -1.64 9 Boston 1.47 +0.74 3 3.95 +1.18 9 Greenfield 0.11 -0.73 1 1.28 -2.08 8 New_Bedford 1.30 +0.32 3 5.07 +1.56 13 Otis_AFB 0.92 +0.15 3 2.72 -0.20 9 Plymouth 1.47 +0.56 4 4.27 +0.90 11 Walpole 1.15 +0.24 3 2.10 -1.27 8 West_Medway 1.45 +0.54 3 3.57 +0.20 9 Westover 1.78 +1.01 4 6.06 +2.98 11 Worcester 0.41 -0.43 4 2.41 -0.95 10 Worthington 0.76 -0.16 1 2.27 -1.59 7 RHODE ISLAND Providence 1.65 +0.81 3 3.26 +0.10 8 Woonsocket 3.20 +2.29 3 4.35 +0.72 8 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.39 +0.55 3 2.32 -0.77 8 Bridgeport 1.59 +0.87 4 4.06 +0.93 7 Hartford_AP 1.49 +0.65 4 2.38 -0.71 10 Norfolk 1.56 +0.51 3 5.56 +1.57 11 Norwich 0.96 +0.05 2 3.04 -0.45 7 Thomaston_Dam 2.92 +1.94 4 3.36 -0.47 8 Willimantic 1.23 +0.35 4 2.07 -1.55 9 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: Although some areas of the county have gotten showers, most of the area is very dry. More scattered showers are predicted for this week. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Tobacco harvest for both broadleaf and shade progressing nicely. Vegetable producers finding soft markets this past week. Pest pressure in sweet corn and peppers require closer spray schedules than we have seen all year. Scattered showers have reduced drought stress for crops in most, but not all areas. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Gearing up for major corn chopping. Apples, peaches, raspberries, nectarines and a variety of vegetables are all being marketed now. Hay recovered a bit from drought and third cutting is looking better. Garlic Festival held this weekend in Pawcatuck attracted over 5,000 people. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Heat and humidity have affected crops severely. Sweet corn ears are not fully developed. Peaches and apples are ready for pick-your-own. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Grain harvest continues. Great weather for harvesting grain. A few insects appearing, mainly green peach aphids which have been spotted in various locations. Growers continue to get equipment ready for potato harvest. Soil continues to get drier. Early maturing varieties suffering from drought stress. Yields have been affected on later varieties. Light showers Friday and Saturday did little to help the situation. Erin Chadbourne (Ext), Central Aroostook: Very dry, need rain. Barley/oats continue to be harvested. Some canola is being cut and wind-rowed at this time. Some vine-dessicant applications are being sprayed in potatoes. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: in the Houlton area - we could stand some water. Only a few aphids around, not that bad yet. No disease whatsoever. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Pastures are not growing. Some graziers are supplementing pasture feed with hay. Except where they have been irrigated, crops are all stressed due to lack of moisture. Janet King/Jennifer Zweig (FSA), Somerset: RAIN RAIN RAIN - we need it badly. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Another week without any significant rainfall. Pastures and second crop hay or third crop hay is drying up. Very little harvest activity due to no growth. Corn is curled in many fields and sweet corn ear size has been significantly reduced on fields without irrigation. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Harvesting of sweet corn and small vegetable crops continues. Crops are wilting in the fields. Substantial rains are desperately needed. Some blueberry barrens will go unharvested due to drought. Farmers are monitoring for armyworm. I am assuming that the apple crop has also been affected by the lack of rain. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: The dry and hot weather continues to shrivel fruit from loss of moisture. A number of fields will not be harvested because berry quality is too poor and fruit is not expected to recover. Stems are dying back to the ground in both crop and non-crop fields on sandy soils Downeast. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Hot, dry conditions continue. Scattered showers not enough to make a difference for crops. Vegetable growers continue to harvest and irrigate. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Dry! Those with irrigation are working steady; otherwise, the corn is curling up, the grass is brown and the apples are dropping from lack of moisture. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: We need rain! Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Dry, dry, dry!! In addition to regular farming activities, producers are cultivating, spraying, and if available, are irrigating. Promised rain has not arrived in the most needed areas and some rain showers have prevailed along the river corridors. Vegetable growers are noticing that the vegetables are maturing earlier and are smaller. Apple growers are irrigating when possible and have noticed that the earliest fruit is very small. The general consensus is that due to the dry, hot weather, the crops are about 1-2 weeks ahead of schedule. Hay producers have reported trouble getting a normal second crop and very few are reporting a third crop. MASSACHUSETTS - Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: All crops continue to look good. Vegetable growers are harvesting good to excellent yields on most crops. Cranberries continue to size up with some concerns for quality of fresh fruit. Shellfish production continues to be excellent. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: The industry awaits the crop forecast during the annual summer meeting on Tuesday, not that any of the growers care a whole lot. Many are on the brink of going over the edge, especially with meager returns (far below the cost of production) promised for the next five (!!!) years by Ocean Spray management. The berries that are out there are sizing up nicely, but the color is nothing to write home about to date. Those cold nights needed for coloring will come soon enough. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Another week of hot and dry weather has affected harvesting schedules in Franklin County. Broadleaf and shade tobacco producers have been very busy because the remaining fields are ripening much quicker than anticipated. The same may be true with the fall vine crops, some pumpkins are turning color now. Silage corn looks excellent on all acreage except sandy soils. Most of the acreage has already tasseled and is forming ears now. We need rain now. Gary Guida, Worcester: Spot thundershowers have dropped 2.5" of rain in some locations (New Braintree), while here (Hubbardston) we have not received any rain whatsoever. Soil, needless to say, is very dry. Pumpkins really coloring up, winter squash sizing up. European Corn Borer in corn low (2%), no Colorado Potato Beetle since late spring. Still harvesting all summer crops. Mums appearing on farm stands and consumers buying. Corn is still the big sales leader, tomatoes not far behind. New plantings of strawberries starting to flower, weed pressure very low, crop looks excellent for next year. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Bruce Clement (Ext), Cheshire: Dry weather continues, although not as hot and humid as last week. Pastures and hayfields very dry. Some new seedings going in. Silage corn still doing well. Apples, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, sweet corn and a full array of vegetables being harvested. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Field corn is in full tassel throughout the county as dry weather continues during the week. Not quite 0.5" of rain from thundershowers. Corn on sandier soils showing drought stress - need a deep soaking rain. Some marginal fields being mowed as farms try to make up for hay losses. Raspberries are done and blueberries are past peak. Good assortment of summer vegetables including local sweet corn at markets. Reports of lots of possible armyworm moths being stirred up in some fields mowed last week. No sightings of European Corn Borer or Earworm problems in sweet corn of note. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Dry weather continues to limit crop growth. Brief showers did little to alleviate drought conditions. Corn maturing slowly with variable results. Steve Schmidt (FSA),Grafton: The weather in most of the county is extremely dry. We have only had about two inches of rain since the first of July. Many, if not most of the hay fields are under severe drought stress, or have burned up. Drought stress is evident to some degree on 90% of the corn fields in the county. As you move further north, the corn shows a higher degree of loss. On some of the sandier soils, the corn is completely brown (dead). Most of the fields are uneven and irregular, with ear development being retarded due to drought. Some fields will be a total loss. On the bright side: those who planted their corn real early have stronger stands. Much of the mid-season and later season sweet corn is not shaping up as expected. Pumpkin plantings are wilting on the vine, with reduced running of the vines. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Peach, plum, and fall raspberry harvest continued. First Paulared apples were harvested on the weekend, most orchardists finishing harvesting Early Macs. The main-season highbush blueberry harvest starting to wind down. Vegetables: Crops growing rapidly if irrigated. Harvesting wide array of vegetables. Farmers kept busy irrigating, monitoring pest pressures, and spraying pesticides for insects and diseases. Successive sweet corn plantings are coming at the same time ready to be harvested due to previous weeks' heat. Field Crops: Hay cutting continued. Farmers making new forage seedings. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Vegetable harvest at full tilt. Irrigation systems running during this period of drought. Second cut hay brought in. Other practices include mowing between rows in fruit crops, hoeing weeds and spraying to control insects and disease. Some early apples were harvested. Vine crop diseases prevalent. Brown rot showing up on peaches. Blueberry maggot a problem on some sites. Blueberry crop yields declined due to winter injury. More rain is needed; showers are not sufficient. Overall, a good year for vegetables if irrigated. RHODE ISLAND - Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Average hot temperatures over this past week have brought vegetables to peak harvest conditions. Unfortunately, the result is low prices at the wholesaler. One producer reports low sales at retail. He's contemplating not harvesting a couple of fields of sweet corn. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Small grain harvest finished last week with reasonable yields. Grass still pretty much at a standstill. The few showers we received benefitted corn the most. Some manure being spread. Larry Hamel (NRCS), Orleans: Small grain harvest finished last week with reasonable yields. Grass still pretty much at a standstill. Few showers that we received benefitted corn the most. Some manure being spread. Small grain harvest finished last week with reasonable yields. Grass still pretty much at a standstill. Few showers that we received benefitted corn the most. Some manure being spread. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: Corn down in the sunbelt of Vermont is showing signs of drought on the really light soil, also alfalfa. The apple crop continues to produce another excellent crop. Veggie farmers are worried about their fall crops - with lack of rain there will be no size to produce. Richard Noel (FSA), Grand Isle/Franklin: Finally a little bit of rain! On 8/17: Highgate 0.31 in., St. Albans 0.11 in. More showers on 8/20: both Highgate and St. Albans got 0.17 in. But we're far below the amount that's needed to put the ground water back in balance! Corn looks better, but some has barren ears due to poor pollination and some is burnt brown and won't recover. Grass doesn't look much better, needs more rain. Vegetables look shot in short and some will not recover. We're supposed to get more rain this week, here's hoping. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Another hot, dry week. Only 0.5 in. of rain. A number of farmers are low on water and hauling water. Corn still dry, ears are not maturing normally. Grass not growing, legumes are growing some. Getting serious. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Last application for blight on potatoes. Beginning to get early harvested fields ready to seed winter rye. On what few fruit trees we have, the crop looks good: size is good, no scab, not much color, though. "Dryer than a cork." No rain for the week. Corn planted in light soils is suffering and the leaves are rolling, corn in heavy soils is holding on. Vine crops show a lot of stress. Rain promised for today, sure hope it's true. 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 ***********************