new-eng-crop-weather State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 08/25/02 Issue NH-CW3402 Volume 22, Number 18 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) August 26, 2002 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary COOLER TEMPERATURES, LIGHT RAIN BRING MINIMAL RELIEF For the week ending August 25, 2002, there were 6.5 days suitable for field work across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 11% very poor, 39% poor, 36% fair, 12% good, 2% excellent. Localized showers arrived last week, though were not enough to significantly improve parched crops or water levels. Much more rain is needed in New England. Temperatures and humidity decreased from the previous week, improving the condition of some fruit crops. Major farm activities included: harvesting tobacco, potatoes, oats, barley, highbush and lowbush blueberries, apples, peaches, pears and vegetables; spreading manure; cutting dry hay and chopping haylage; irrigating; monitoring for pests and disease; applying fungicides and insecticides. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ---------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 35 36 29 Short 42 34 49 Adequate 23 28 22 Surplus 0 2 0 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 32 25 35 Short 41 42 39 Adequate 27 31 26 Surplus 0 2 0 ---------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report Hay condition declined from the previous week as fields left to be cut continued to burn and brown in the dry ground. Corn growth has slowed drastically in the hot, dry conditions; harvest should get underway soon. Grain harvest in Maine is currently underway, behind last year and normal schedules. Most of Aroostook County, Maine is still preparing for fall potato harvest; brief showers last week improved crop condition. Massachusetts and Rhode Island potato harvests approached the half-way mark, and both crops remain in good to fair condition. Tobacco growers in the Connecticut River Valley had good weather for harvest last week, and both shade and broadleaf progressed to 90+ percent harvested. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: The harvest of apples, highbush and wild blueberries, peaches, plums and raspberries continued last week. Fruit had been ripening rapidly in the hot, humid weather of the previous week, but ripening slowed a little with last week's cooler temperatures. Most fruit crops continued to be irrigated last week, where needed and where available. Apples were rated in poor condition in Massachusetts due to earlier hail damage. Maine wild blueberry growers will be wrapping up harvest shortly; last week's cooler temperatures helped improve berry quality. The quality of Massachusetts cranberries is looking better than expected, though growers remain concerned about water supplies as frost season approaches. VEGETABLES: Vegetable yields have been reported as below average in many areas due to lack of rain. Growers irrigated last week, though some crops are past the point of help. Sweet corn harvest progressed to 60 percent complete as of August 25. Growers in some areas are finding that ear size is smaller than normal due to dry conditions. Last week growers harvested many summer vegetables including beans, cucumbers, greens, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2002 2001 5-yrAvg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME 15 35 30 Excellent/Good Oats, ME 10 25 25 Excellent/Good Potatoes Maine <5 <5 <5 Good/Excellent Mass 35 20 35 Good/Fair Rhode Isl 45 50 30 Good/Fair Silage Corn -- <5 <5 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 60 65 60 Fair/Good Tobacco Shade 95 75 90 Good/Fair Broadleaf 90 80 85 Good/Fair Dry Hay First Cut 99 100 99 Good Second Cut 85 85 75 Good/Fair Third Cut 45 35 30 Fair --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Crop 2002 2001 5-yrAvg Condition ---------------------------------------------------------- Apples 15 15 10 Good/Fair Peaches 75 60 60 Good/Fair Pears 10 5 10 Very Poor/Poor Blueberries Highbush 95 80 85 Good Wild, ME 90 85 80 Good Cranberries,MA -- -- -- Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the week ending Sunday, August 25, 2002 ---------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 40 96 65 +2 0.00 2.11 NH 39 99 66 +2 0.29 1.84 VT 40 96 65 +1 0.33 1.56 MA 46 97 70 +2 0.16 1.70 RI 50 94 72 +3 0.00 1.41 CT 51 96 71 +2 0.25 1.27 ---------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Weather Information Table Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday August 19, 2002 To: Sunday August 25, 2002 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 45 93 67 -1 1498 -219 595 -91 Allagash 41 85 60 -2 1055 -96 362 +61 Augusta_State_A 51 91 69 +3 1744 +81 797 +145 Bangor_Intl_Arp 47 91 68 +4 1643 +125 722 +175 Barnard 46 90 65 +3 1383 +57 524 +112 Bath 46 87 66 -1 1464 -83 577 -3 Bethel 49 91 67 +3 1537 +27 625 +94 Brassua_Dam 44 86 62 +1 1197 +92 422 +137 Brunswick_ME 49 88 69 +3 1635 +88 717 +137 Caribou_Municip 44 85 63 +2 1284 +45 478 +126 Corinna 45 90 66 +2 1500 +42 590 +99 Danforth 43 90 64 +0 1247 -173 434 -49 Dover-Foxcroft 42 89 64 +0 1246 -80 440 +28 Durham 46 90 68 +0 1601 -161 684 -54 East_Hiram 47 92 66 +2 1556 +52 629 +102 Eustis 42 90 61 +1 1139 +64 366 +107 Frenchville 46 85 62 +2 1184 +33 440 +139 Gray 51 91 70 +4 1805 +282 846 +286 Greenville_ME 49 86 63 +0 1339 +2 506 +85 Guilford 40 88 64 +1 1220 -106 410 -2 Hollis 47 94 67 +3 1680 +240 729 +244 Houlton 41 87 62 +0 1315 +21 493 +101 Kennebunkport 50 82 66 -4 1491 -365 595 -208 Livermore_Falls 44 95 67 +5 1608 +302 699 +306 Moosehead 41 89 62 +1 1171 +66 384 +99 New_Sharon 47 92 67 +5 1734 +428 775 +382 Patten 42 87 63 +2 1275 -19 477 +85 Portage 47 87 65 +4 1330 +91 517 +165 Portland_ME 51 87 69 +4 1722 +199 766 +206 Rangeley 45 88 63 +3 1165 +127 378 +138 Sebec_Lake 42 91 65 +2 1374 +37 510 +89 Vanceboro 45 88 65 +1 1313 -30 478 +48 Waterville 49 91 68 +2 1623 -94 707 +21 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 51 92 68 +2 1826 +147 819 +162 Benton 47 91 65 +3 1544 +146 630 +199 Berlin_AG 47 91 65 +2 1467 +58 562 +108 Bethlehem 44 83 62 -2 1364 -34 499 +67 Concord 49 96 70 +5 1983 +304 961 +304 Diamond_Pond 46 83 60 +2 1032 +79 316 +128 First_Conn_Lake 43 87 61 +3 1017 +64 289 +101 Greenville 42 99 67 +2 1729 +210 761 +241 Keene_AP 46 91 67 -1 1928 +58 893 +97 Lakeport 55 93 70 +6 1950 +371 931 +347 Marlow 43 90 63 -4 1499 -201 594 -62 Mt_Washington 39 66 50 +5 238 +181 12 +12 North_Conway 51 90 68 +4 1812 +243 845 +272 Otter_Brook_Lk 50 91 69 +2 1810 -60 813 +17 Plymouth 46 94 66 +4 1552 +166 628 +190 Rochester 52 94 69 +2 1918 +131 897 +158 Weare 51 90 67 +2 1761 +61 775 +119 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 45 91 65 +2 1679 +214 710 +223 Bethel 47 92 65 +2 1740 +350 766 +324 Burlington_Intl 51 93 68 +2 1995 +194 965 +217 East_Haven 40 90 62 +2 1382 +209 516 +208 Island_Pond 44 88 63 +3 1369 +213 505 +211 Montpelier 46 88 63 +0 1584 +164 640 +182 Morrisville_AG 43 89 63 -2 1408 -6 524 +62 Mount_Mansfield 43 73 56 +1 845 +228 218 +152 Northfield 46 91 63 +1 1604 +311 654 +274 Pownal 50 85 65 +1 1653 +182 681 +193 Rochester 47 90 64 +1 1569 +179 640 +198 Rutland_AG 47 89 66 -3 1690 -164 717 -59 Sunderland 46 91 65 -2 1590 -188 637 -74 Sutton 48 88 63 +3 1416 +243 531 +223 Townshend_Lake 50 93 67 +0 1833 +77 824 +107 Union_Vill_Dam 46 96 66 -2 1717 -54 757 +32 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 52 93 69 +5 1900 +373 876 +336 Boston/Logan_In 58 95 72 +2 2415 +300 1290 +293 Greenfield 52 92 69 -1 2091 +96 1019 +129 New_Bedford 54 90 71 -2 2159 +34 1043 +37 Otis_AFB 55 90 71 +3 2049 +321 977 +260 Plymouth 53 90 69 +1 2070 +280 1005 +241 Walpole 50 93 70 +3 2179 +352 1101 +331 West_Medway 49 97 71 +4 2205 +378 1110 +340 Chicopee/Westov 52 97 71 -2 2324 +44 1205 +90 Worcester 54 90 69 +3 2003 +299 967 +291 Worthington 49 90 65 +0 1711 +221 739 +237 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 57 94 74 +4 2415 +401 1285 +359 Woonsocket 50 94 71 +4 2162 +365 1080 +347 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 51 91 67 -4 1979 -224 926 -132 Bridgeport/Siko 61 93 74 +3 2480 +320 1327 +278 Hartford/Bradle 55 96 72 +2 2467 +272 1319 +264 Norfolk 53 85 67 +3 1933 +438 892 +383 Norwich 55 95 72 +3 2292 +257 1182 +261 Thomaston_Dam 52 95 70 +3 2163 +387 1065 +354 Willimantic 52 94 70 +3 2193 +384 1094 +353 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.52 -0.32 3 1.27 -2.10 10 Allagash 0.20 -0.73 2 0.62 -3.10 6 Augusta_State_A 0.39 -0.37 3 1.05 -1.99 7 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.45 -0.32 4 0.99 -2.00 9 Barnard 0.22 -0.62 4 0.95 -2.31 10 Bath 0.60 -0.17 3 1.15 -1.81 8 Bethel 0.28 -0.63 4 1.24 -2.35 11 Brassua_Dam 0.58 -0.26 3 1.47 -1.94 8 Brunswick_ME 0.49 -0.28 3 2.26 -0.70 10 Caribou_Municip 0.28 -0.63 2 0.65 -3.07 7 Corinna 0.21 -0.66 2 1.47 -1.88 8 Danforth 0.34 -0.57 3 3.69 -0.02 10 Dover-Foxcroft 0.49 -0.35 4 1.03 -2.23 8 Durham 0.41 -0.29 4 0.84 -2.03 9 East_Hiram 0.49 -0.35 3 1.15 -2.27 8 Eustis 0.06 -0.71 2 0.89 -2.22 5 Frenchville 2.11 +1.18 2 2.60 -1.12 9 Gray 0.26 -0.39 3 0.58 -1.96 8 Greenville_ME 0.26 -0.58 3 1.33 -1.93 9 Guilford 0.28 -0.56 4 1.39 -1.87 11 Hollis 0.49 -0.21 4 1.19 -1.61 8 Houlton 0.17 -0.75 2 1.43 -2.26 10 Kennebunkport 0.32 -0.39 3 1.55 -1.26 7 Livermore_Falls 0.32 -0.65 4 0.80 -2.85 10 Moosehead 0.50 -0.34 3 1.18 -2.23 8 New_Sharon 0.28 -0.69 4 0.76 -2.89 6 Patten 0.23 -0.69 2 1.69 -2.00 8 Portage 0.36 -0.55 1 0.85 -2.87 6 Portland_ME 0.25 -0.40 3 0.69 -1.85 7 Rangeley 0.22 -0.69 3 0.58 -3.06 6 Sebec_Lake 0.22 -0.62 4 0.87 -2.39 10 Vanceboro 0.29 -0.48 3 1.87 -1.03 9 Waterville 0.21 -0.63 3 0.75 -2.62 9 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.63 -0.11 4 1.41 -1.64 12 Benton 0.76 -0.15 3 1.07 -2.53 7 Berlin_AG 0.29 -0.69 3 1.42 -2.47 9 Bethlehem 0.55 -0.47 3 2.27 -1.83 10 Concord 0.63 -0.11 4 0.79 -2.26 10 Diamond_Pond 0.56 -0.59 3 1.71 -2.91 8 First_Conn_Lake 0.37 -0.78 4 1.93 -2.69 9 Greenville 0.38 -0.53 2 0.78 -2.92 5 Keene_AP 1.84 +0.98 4 3.47 -0.07 8 Lakeport 0.67 -0.17 4 1.10 -2.26 10 Marlow 1.08 +0.24 3 1.68 -1.64 6 Mt_Washington 0.84 -1.05 3 4.50 -2.84 10 North_Conway 0.43 -0.48 5 0.81 -2.82 13 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.97 +0.11 3 2.03 -1.51 6 Plymouth 1.01 +0.16 2 1.34 -2.24 9 Rochester 0.56 -0.21 3 1.00 -2.26 5 Weare 0.75 -0.09 3 1.40 -1.92 6 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.66 -0.32 3 1.52 -2.33 8 Bethel 0.75 -0.30 3 1.23 -2.90 7 Burlington_Intl 0.69 -0.22 3 1.26 -2.39 10 East_Haven 0.42 -0.63 4 1.65 -2.67 10 Island_Pond 0.94 -0.15 3 2.01 -2.39 10 Montpelier 0.81 -0.07 2 1.93 -1.52 11 Morrisville_AG 0.42 -0.67 2 1.76 -2.61 7 Mount_Mansfield 0.87 -0.84 4 3.50 -3.19 14 Northfield 0.77 -0.07 2 2.15 -1.26 8 Pownal 0.67 -0.31 3 3.17 -0.68 9 Rochester 1.01 -0.04 3 1.62 -2.51 8 Rutland_AG 0.78 -0.18 3 1.75 -2.05 7 Sunderland 1.56 +0.65 3 2.80 -0.64 9 Sutton 0.45 -0.60 5 1.72 -2.60 12 Townshend_Lake 1.19 +0.28 4 2.05 -1.52 8 Union_Vill_Dam 0.70 -0.14 3 1.09 -2.16 9 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.74 -0.03 4 2.24 -0.96 10 Boston/Logan_In 1.10 +0.33 4 1.25 -1.64 7 Greenfield 0.58 -0.26 4 3.92 +0.56 9 New_Bedford 0.54 -0.44 5 0.90 -2.82 8 Otis_AFB 0.35 -0.42 3 0.89 -2.12 5 Plymouth 0.89 -0.03 5 1.32 -2.18 8 Walpole 1.64 +0.73 4 2.18 -1.31 6 West_Medway 1.07 +0.16 4 2.26 -1.23 6 Chicopee/Westov 0.63 -0.20 4 1.82 -1.32 9 Worcester 0.75 -0.13 4 1.88 -1.52 10 Worthington 0.54 -0.37 3 1.46 -2.34 8 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.83 -0.01 4 1.47 -1.77 6 Woonsocket 1.41 +0.50 4 1.77 -1.87 6 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 1.18 +0.34 3 2.84 -0.37 7 Bridgeport/Siko 0.54 -0.16 3 1.81 -1.20 6 Hartford/Bradle 0.83 -0.01 3 1.74 -1.47 6 Norfolk 1.19 +0.14 5 2.34 -1.73 10 Norwich 0.58 -0.33 4 1.89 -1.65 7 Thomaston_Dam 1.27 +0.29 3 2.44 -1.39 8 Willimantic 0.86 +0.00 4 2.16 -1.41 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 2002: 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: Rain in the middle of the week helped fruit and vegetable crops suffering from the drought. Field corn looks good. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Finishing blueberries. Starting picking early apples. Irrigating. Not much to mow, but working on third and fourth cutting. Getting fields ready for seedings. Livestock and crops to local fairs. Corn on gravel soil is suffering. Need rain to size up fruit. Vegetables on plastic holding moisture. Legumes mature with little growth. NEED RAIN. Nancy Welsh/Karen Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Temps have cooled down. Two nights of downpours has helped some crops, but was too late for others. We need a lot more rain to catch up on precipitation we have not had. Mums are for sale. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Dry weather continues with no relief in sight. Crops are withering in the fields. Irrigation is saving vegetables, but field crops are in sorry shape in a lot of areas. Farmers are beginning to harvest field corn, particularly the drought damaged corn that hasn't eared. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Normal spraying schedule kept. Preparing harvesting equipment and storage. Harvesting small grains. Windrowing canola. Showers during the week have improved drought conditions. Crop is responding to the moisture. Potato crop in general looks pretty good this week. Grain yields are better than average. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Grain harvest going on. Early potatoes being harvested. Vine dessication going on. Continuing fungicide and aphicide spray schedule. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Potato growers are applying fungicides and some insecticides. Potatoes are showing drought stress, need more water desperately. No blight has been found in this area. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Very little rain. Grain is being harvested. Vegetable production is very good. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Crops are very dry. Have had on occasion light rain, but it has not been enough. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Need rain very badly for our crops and wells. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Dry weather continues with only 1/4 inch rain during one evening. Corn still shows drought stress. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Only a few blueberry fields left to harvest. Sweet corn showing stress from drought. Half an inch of rain fell over the weekend, but more is needed. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Cooler temperatures have improved fruit quality. Most growers expect to finish harvesting this week. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: The broken record continues. Please give us some rain, please give us moisture for our crops. Some corn producers are harvesting corn now because of the dry weather. We've had calls about curling corn, brown corn, short corn, no ears and small ears. Some of the farms we've visited have poor corn - either burning up or three feet tall. Many of our silage corn growers will have little grain in their corn. Apples are doing fine, with one or two growers experiencing hail damage. The market garden folks are doing okay; there seems to be plenty of cukes and squash. Hang on for the final few laps. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: We're still very dry, some are reporting their irrigation systems just cannot keep up. There is some hay being harvested along with summer vegetables. Apples just starting to be picked. Elaine Moceus (FSA), Franklin: Another dry week with some light rain. Several producers have reported their livestock wells are dry. We need rain! Haying is continuing steadily. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Early apples are being harvested along with potatoes. Hay fields are turning brown due to a lack of water. Sweet corn being harvested; however, ears are small and plants are in varied stages of growth due to lack of moisture. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Still harvesting first, second and third cut hay. Alfalfa yield is the only OK grass. A little rain, 0.75 inches for the week. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Most field corn is tasseling. Lack of rain producing smaller yields. Second cutting of hay about finished. Third cutting underway. Apple crops beginning to be harvested. Due to hail in many areas, apple crop is poor. Sweet corn harvest in full swing. Some moisture stress seen in field and sweet corn. Hot and dry weather continues to affect crop growth. Particularly where there is no irrigation, crops have slowed way down. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Three rain episodes within the past week, but each was only 0.2 inches in most locations. We need considerably more on a regular basis. At this point, rain that falls will be too late to properly size up the early varieties, but could still help the later varieties. Crop estimate for Massachusetts is 1.78 million barrels, a VERY optimistic estimate made back in July. Only a miracle would see that come to fruition. So far, fruit quality in the field is better than anticipated, but that could change in a moment's notice. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Showers on Saturday allowed many farms to start fall tillage projects that have been delayed. Field conditions are still really dry and dusty. Silage corn is starting to curl on most fields and hay yields are decreasing. Several producers have called about their fall crops, dry weather is affecting vine cover on hard squash and pumpkins. On a brighter note, this has been excellent weather for tobacco harvesting. Most broadleaf farms will finish this week. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Summer drought continues with the week ending with a light rainfall and cooler temperatures. Many crop yields are reduced because of the drought conditions. Farmers who are irrigating are reporting irrigation ponds and streams drying up. Fall crops including apples, potatoes, pumpkins and winter squash are at a critical stage of fruit development where irrigation or a very good rainfall is needed. Gary Guida, Worcester: Rain finally on Saturday, but only enough to get weeds growing and help sweet corn out a little. Most crops way past point of recovery. Harvesting drought tolerant corn again as two sections scheduled to come in are lost. Pumpkins loved the little rain we got, size and yields are low this year (goes without saying). Mums are here and are appearing throughout area. Corn and tomatoes - big sellers. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: A few showers signaled a break in the weather pattern. While a welcome relief from hazy, hot and humid, the showers were not enough to provide any significant moisture. Blueberry picking continues in full force, while farmers markets are bursting with tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Mostly dry weather with a welcome spell of rain showers Saturday afternoon and night. Field corn still maturing well - late milk stage. Third cut haylage starting to wind down. Third cut hay continues, and there's still some second cut hay waiting to be harvested. Regrowth on grass fields is slow due to dry conditions. Harvest of early apple varieties has begun. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Weather remains warm during the day but is much colder at night. Still dry, only light scattered showers this week. Silk on field corn generally drying down. Replanted shorter season varieties beginning to tassel. Moisture stress seen on those in sandy soils. Both corn and grasses can use some rain. Sweet corn now more available as are other summer vegetables. Blueberries look good this year. PYO continues. Hot, dry weather bringing some mite problems in Christmas trees, necessitating control. Some local farms beginning to prepare for Lancaster Fair coming this weekend. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Dry weather continues to affect crop growth despite half-inch of rain. Still very dry. Third cut continues; summer seedings completed or in progress. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Peach, plum, Paula red apple, and fall raspberry harvest continued. With very hot weather occurring, peaches and other fruit crops are ripening rapidly. It's hard to stay ahead of harvesting fruit before it turning soft. Blueberry harvest winding down. Vegetables: Harvesting wide array of vegetables. With very hot weather, crops ripening quickly. Farmers kept busy monitoring pest pressures and spraying pesticides for insects and diseases. Field Crops: Hayfield cutting continued. Weather: Drought conditions throughout the county with three localized showers occurring during the week - gave temporary local relief, but not for long. Where irrigation is not available, all crops are suffering. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Farmers are irrigating all crops. Crops located away from the farm are suffering. Christmas trees and fruit trees are showing stress. Producers are doing a good job of controlling competitive weeds. Warm season vegetable harvest continues. The quality of second cut hay has declined dramatically as fields continue to dry up. Severe drought has resulted in losses of field corn and sweet corn. Sun scald on peppers, blossom-end rot of tomatoes, poor growth of raspberry canes, and several other problems are now surfacing as the drought continues. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Harvesting early apple varieties, blueberries, raspberries, sweet corn and a whole array of vegetables. Pick-Your-Own apple orchards are getting ready to open for PYO on Labor Day weekend. We had very little relief from the small amount of rain received this week. Many non-irrigated crops show drought signs. Irrigating vegetables, small fruits and tree fruits. Waiting for wetter weather to start seeding some pasture and hay fields. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: A day or two of steady rain helped, but is not enough yet to turn some of the drought damaged corn fields around. Helped bring along the fourth cutting of alfalfa haylage and some hay fields. Still an abundance of sweet corn and mixed vegetables at local farm stands and farmers markets. Next year's blueberry crop is in need of rain, as reports of water shortages have been coming in from various areas of the county. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: We had some rain showers by end of the week. However, we would have been happier with more rain. Vegetable growers continued to harvest tomatoes, sweet corn, beans and other kinds of vegetables, though the yields have been badly affected by the drought. Fruit growers continued to harvest peaches and blueberries. The growth of third cut hay has been affected by the drought. Field cut flowers managed to hold on despite the drought, but stem lengths were generally shorter than normal. Greenhouse and nursery businesses were slow due to dry and hot weather. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Minimal rainfall did very little to stave off the drought. A better week, however, in terms of temperature and humidity. Haying, harvesting potatoes, summer vegetables and corn continues. Roadside stands gearing up for fall push with early mums and ornamental kale. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: Farmers have been calling in with reports of water shortages or fear of shortages and crops drying up. An emergency flash report has been generated and Rhode Island is pursuing an emergency designation to make low interest loans available and also seeking emergency conservation program funds to help eligible farmers with wells and ponds. Though a little light rain came to most areas in RI last week, it was not enough to turn crops around. More was received inland than along the shore, but everything remains dry. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Great weather for fieldwork. Need some rain to keep the grass growing. Pastures not providing any feed. Corn is maturing nicely and on some fields is drying from the bottom up and showing signs of heat stress. Bill Snow (Ext), Orange: Crops look fairly good in the central part of the state, but they seem to be the best in the state. We have gone from a wet spring to a dry summer. We had a half-inch of rain last week, the first in many weeks. Other areas are very dry and crops are suffering. Yields of good quality feed are below normal. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Lack of rain over the last several weeks has caused dry conditions in many places. Fields with sandy soils have begun to show signs of dry conditions. Most of second hay crop has been harvested. Yields tend to be good. Corn has tasseled and ears are forming. This area could use a good soaking rain for third crop hay. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: Windham received about one-third inch of rain last Saturday, just enough to lay the dust. Some field corn might as well be harvested - because of the drought, it is dry to the point where growing has stopped. Grass fields have also stopped growing, so no third cutting. Veggie growers are very concerned about the dry weather. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Some dry hay harvest, little manure spread. Corn crop looks fine, late ear development. Soil conditions still very dry. Pasture growth very slow. Maria Garcia (Ext), Chittenden: Perfect weather last week! Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Seeded down early corn and pea fields with winter rye. Top soil very dry. Sprayed one more time for late blight on potatoes and early vine crops. Started digging early Norland and Superior potatoes. Crop looks good. Nice shower yesterday evening will help all crops to hold up. Especially good for winter squash and pumpkins. Beans slowing down. Cole crops doing well in spite of dry spell. Total rain for the week was 0.625 inches, need more but every bit helps. Have a nice week. 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 ***********************