new-eng-crop-weather State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date For week ending 05/27/01 Issue NH-CW2101 Volume 21, Number 4 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) May 29, 2001 - 4 pm Agricultural Summary For the week ending May 27, 2001, there were 5.1 days available for field work across New England. Pasture condition was rated as 1% very poor, 23% poor, 38% fair, 37% good, 1% excellent. Major farm activities included: planting row crops and vegetables, transplanting tobacco and some vegetables, applying fertilizer, plowing, and spraying for weeds and insects. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ---------------------------------------------- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 6 24 0 Short 34 42 1 Adequate 53 34 51 Surplus 7 0 48 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 5 9 0 Short 32 33 1 Adequate 57 57 58 Surplus 6 1 41 ---------------------------------------------- Field Crops Report The rain which fell over most of New England this past week raised farmers' spirits for the coming growing season; however, the northernmost parts of the region are still looking for rain clouds. Growers were active with spring fieldwork in between showers. Potato planting in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island is almost complete. Transplanting of broadleaf tobacco has begun. Farmers are expected to begin chopping haylage this next week as crops have headed out; first cut hay crops are looking very short due to the lack of rain early in the spring. Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report VEGETABLES: Farmers planted broccoli, sweet corn, onions, cucumbers, squash, peas, peppers and other spring vegetables. Cole crops were in good condition. Asparagus and rhubarb crops were being harvested. Farmers who were previously hesitant to plant should be starting now that the ground has received some moisture. Farmers who had vegetables already planted are hoping the rain will accelerate growth; it had been previously reported as slow. Roadside stands did well over the holiday weekend. FRUIT: Growers were active in spraying fruit crops for weeds and insects between showers. Orchard fruit in the southern New England states was still struggling to improve from the frosts which hit earlier this month. Bees were being moved onto berry fields in preparation for bloom. Most strawberry crops are approaching petal fall stage. Maine wild blueberries are currently on the path toward another successful season. Cranberry plants in Massachusetts appeared to have weathered the near-drought conditions well and are nearing early bloom stage. Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------------------- --Percent Planted-- Percent Crop 2001 2000 5-yrAvg Emerged Condition --------------------------------------------------------- Potatoes Maine 90 55 65 5 Good Mass 90 85 90 55 Good Rhode Isl 100 99 85 80 Good Oats, ME 85 75 75 45 Excel/Good Barley, ME 90 80 75 50 Excel/Good Silage Corn 80 30 50 35 Good Sweet Corn 65 45 50 35 Good/Fair Tobacco Shade 60 55 55 -- Good Broadleaf 5 10 15 -- Good Dry Hay -Percent Harvested- First Cut 10 <5 10 -- Fair/Good ------------------------------------------------------ FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- Fruit Fruit Crop Stage Set Size Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples Petal Fall Avg Avg Good Peaches Petal Fall B.Avg/Avg Avg Fair Pears Petal Fall B.Avg/Avg Avg Poor Strawberries Full Blm -- -- Good/Excel Cranberries,MA Bud -- -- Good Blueberries Highbush Full Blm Avg -- Good/Fair Wild,ME Full Blm A.Avg -- Good -------------------------------------------------------- Weather Summary For the Week ending Sunday, May 27, 2001 --------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 30 83 57 +2 0.00 0.28 NH 32 79 57 +0 0.00 1.66 VT 32 78 58 +2 0.02 3.09 MA 41 78 57 -2 0.87 4.47 RI 44 77 58 -1 2.84 4.68 CT 44 73 57 -3 2.45 5.02 -------------------------------------- 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 34 77 56 -3 193 +29 39 +24 Allagash 33 83 59 +7 146 +88 15 +15 Augusta_ME 42 74 57 -2 250 +106 64 +53 Bangor 38 79 58 +3 222 +114 48 +42 Barnard 37 77 58 +4 188 +106 31 +29 Bath 35 72 53 -4 161 +58 32 +28 Bethel 35 79 58 +2 216 +98 37 +28 Brassua_Dam 38 79 58 +6 140 +95 9 +9 Brunswick_ME 40 69 54 -3 189 +86 42 +38 Caribou 40 80 61 +8 210 +131 40 +37 Corinna 39 79 59 +3 223 +112 42 +35 Danforth 30 81 57 +3 164 +82 21 +19 Dover-Foxcroft 39 75 58 +4 171 +89 21 +19 Durham 36 73 55 -5 187 +39 42 +34 East_Hiram 37 74 56 -2 190 +72 41 +32 Eustis 36 75 55 +3 115 +64 6 +6 Frenchville 43 79 61 +9 195 +137 37 +37 Gray 40 71 55 -2 244 +144 67 +67 Greenville_ME 38 77 58 +4 170 +78 22 +17 Guilford 34 76 56 +2 180 +98 30 +28 Hollis 36 74 55 -1 204 +109 49 +49 Houlton 31 79 58 +5 181 +100 31 +27 Kennebunkport 39 69 51 -9 167 -8 54 +42 Livermore_Falls 35 80 57 +3 214 +132 51 +49 Moosehead 36 78 57 +5 140 +95 14 +14 New_Sharon 39 78 59 +5 247 +165 62 +60 Patten 37 76 56 +3 143 +62 16 +12 Portage 44 82 62 +9 225 +146 58 +55 Portland_ME 41 67 53 -4 201 +101 49 +49 Rangeley 37 75 56 +5 119 +71 4 +4 Sebec_Lake 35 79 58 +4 175 +83 28 +23 Vanceboro 35 78 58 +4 162 +91 21 +21 Waterville 38 76 57 -2 207 +43 37 +22 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 40 74 57 -2 263 +101 68 +49 Benton 41 73 58 +2 213 +74 35 +18 Berlin_AG 40 78 60 +4 219 +100 35 +22 Bethlehem 40 77 59 +3 202 +65 28 +11 Concord 39 74 57 -2 281 +119 77 +58 Diamond_Pond 41 75 58 +7 157 +107 23 +23 First_Conn_Lake 39 75 57 +6 123 +73 3 +3 Greenville 38 78 54 -4 216 +65 51 +35 Keene_AP 45 73 59 -2 287 +64 67 +30 Lakeport 44 75 59 +3 274 +138 60 +47 Marlow 40 72 56 -4 186 -3 29 +2 Mt_Washington 32 57 43 +6 2 +2 0 +0 North_Conway 41 77 59 +2 282 +143 73 +59 Otter_Brook_Lk 44 74 58 -3 248 +25 48 +11 Plymouth 36 79 56 +1 210 +103 36 +27 Rochester 38 78 56 -4 275 +86 91 +65 Weare 40 70 55 -4 229 +40 58 +31 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 42 73 54 -4 146 +7 16 -1 Bethel 38 77 59 +4 226 +104 39 +26 Burlington_VT 53 78 63 +5 355 +153 107 +74 East_Haven 32 77 58 +5 174 +92 20 +15 Island_Pond 44 77 61 +8 188 +103 27 +22 Montpelier 43 72 58 +2 215 +80 39 +23 Morrisville_AG 39 74 58 +3 150 +28 19 +6 Mount_Mansfield 39 73 51 +3 93 +67 4 +4 Northfield 41 74 59 +5 213 +109 30 +21 Pownal 46 75 57 +2 258 +114 56 +37 Rochester 42 76 58 +3 203 +81 23 +10 Rutland_AG 49 74 60 +0 241 +4 41 -6 Sunderland 47 73 57 -3 195 -27 24 -13 Sutton 44 74 58 +6 199 +117 33 +28 Townshend_Lake 44 77 57 -2 222 +38 41 +13 Union_Vill_Dam 40 77 58 -1 223 +30 29 +0 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 47 70 56 -2 279 +149 73 +64 Boston 50 61 55 -7 367 +121 122 +98 Greenfield 45 76 57 -4 297 +48 81 +44 New_Bedford 46 68 59 -3 299 +52 73 +49 Otis_AFB 46 68 57 +1 252 +117 66 +60 Plymouth 43 72 57 -2 270 +119 65 +57 Walpole 48 72 58 -2 356 +165 115 +96 West_Medway 48 73 59 +0 355 +164 112 +93 Westover 50 73 58 -6 384 +55 119 +60 Worcester 46 68 55 -4 322 +157 101 +87 Worthington 43 70 54 -4 229 +90 59 +45 RHODE ISLAND Providence 49 70 59 -2 381 +165 118 +100 Woonsocket 44 77 59 +0 368 +181 122 +108 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 45 73 56 -7 290 -18 82 +24 Bridgeport 51 64 57 -5 377 +116 94 +52 Hartford_AP 48 73 58 -6 398 +97 124 +68 Norfolk 44 70 54 -3 267 +132 76 +64 Norwich 49 73 60 -2 377 +113 99 +57 Thomaston_Dam 46 73 57 -3 317 +110 83 +56 Willimantic 50 72 61 +2 399 +193 117 +91 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.00 -0.84 0 1.01 -2.32 5 Allagash 0.04 -0.69 1 0.68 -2.14 4 Augusta_ME 0.00 -0.84 0 0.52 -2.95 7 Bangor 0.00 -0.77 0 1.00 -2.24 9 Barnard 0.00 -0.84 0 0.91 -2.35 8 Bath 0.06 -0.77 1 0.34 -3.02 5 Bethel 0.01 -0.83 1 0.37 -2.94 4 Brassua_Dam 0.00 -0.78 0 1.21 -1.86 6 Brunswick_ME 0.00 -0.83 0 0.36 -3.00 5 Caribou 0.01 -0.69 1 0.53 -2.23 7 Corinna 0.00 -0.81 0 1.01 -2.21 5 Danforth 0.00 -0.85 0 1.70 -1.67 7 Dover-Foxcroft 0.00 -0.84 0 1.15 -2.11 8 Durham 0.00 -0.81 0 0.42 -2.88 5 East_Hiram 0.12 -0.72 1 0.49 -2.96 6 Eustis 0.00 -0.77 0 2.92 -0.03 6 Frenchville 0.00 -0.73 0 0.44 -2.38 5 Gray 0.01 -0.76 1 0.44 -2.87 5 Greenville_ME 0.00 -0.84 0 0.77 -2.49 7 Guilford 0.00 -0.84 0 1.00 -2.26 7 Hollis 0.26 -0.58 1 0.60 -2.86 4 Houlton 0.01 -0.76 1 0.93 -2.07 6 Kennebunkport 0.28 -0.56 2 0.82 -2.72 6 Livermore_Falls 0.00 -0.85 0 1.12 -2.27 6 Moosehead 0.00 -0.78 0 1.18 -1.89 7 New_Sharon 0.00 -0.85 0 1.28 -2.11 4 Patten 0.03 -0.74 2 1.03 -1.97 8 Portage 0.04 -0.66 1 0.57 -2.19 6 Portland_ME 0.04 -0.73 1 0.41 -2.90 4 Rangeley 0.01 -0.76 1 0.99 -1.85 6 Sebec_Lake 0.00 -0.84 0 0.94 -2.32 8 Vanceboro 0.00 -0.79 0 1.08 -2.23 7 Waterville 0.00 -0.84 0 0.79 -2.54 5 NEW HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.62 -0.08 3 1.21 -1.59 9 Benton 0.22 -0.60 2 1.38 -1.66 6 Berlin_AG 0.00 -0.84 0 0.42 -2.76 4 Bethlehem 0.04 -0.74 2 0.81 -2.12 7 Concord 0.71 +0.01 2 0.90 -1.90 5 Diamond_Pond 0.01 -0.94 1 1.64 -1.85 6 First_Conn_Lake 0.06 -0.89 1 1.77 -1.72 6 Greenville 1.50 +0.64 5 1.61 -1.77 8 Keene_AP 0.02 -0.87 2 1.00 -2.40 3 Lakeport 0.32 -0.52 2 0.57 -2.66 6 Marlow 0.76 -0.15 5 0.95 -2.72 9 Mt_Washington 0.09 -1.59 1 1.32 -5.44 5 North_Conway 0.16 -0.75 1 0.52 -3.11 4 Otter_Brook_Lk 1.66 +0.77 5 2.24 -1.16 10 Plymouth 0.18 -0.73 3 0.46 -3.12 6 Rochester 0.25 -0.59 2 0.98 -2.59 7 Weare 0.85 -0.06 3 1.05 -2.62 7 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 2.04 +0.99 5 2.22 -1.92 6 Bethel 0.84 -0.14 3 0.98 -2.94 6 Burlington_VT 0.21 -0.49 3 1.10 -1.68 6 East_Haven 0.17 -0.70 1 0.56 -2.64 3 Island_Pond 0.02 -0.88 1 1.58 -1.67 4 Montpelier 0.51 -0.26 3 0.72 -2.15 6 Morrisville_AG 0.14 -0.70 3 1.06 -2.15 5 Mount_Mansfield 0.54 -0.76 3 2.10 -2.88 6 Northfield 0.76 -0.02 2 0.91 -2.25 3 Pownal 1.89 +0.84 6 2.10 -2.04 7 Rochester 1.03 +0.05 4 1.20 -2.72 6 Rutland_AG 1.02 +0.18 5 1.39 -1.71 8 Sunderland 1.50 +0.66 6 1.92 -1.28 9 Sutton 0.25 -0.62 2 1.27 -1.93 4 Townshend_Lake 3.09 +2.32 6 3.40 +0.19 10 Union_Vill_Dam 0.25 -0.59 3 0.67 -2.55 8 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 1.06 +0.22 5 1.22 -1.95 8 Boston 1.03 +0.33 5 1.11 -1.85 9 Greenfield 4.47 +3.56 6 4.48 +0.98 7 New_Bedford 4.22 +3.39 5 4.28 +0.94 7 Otis_AFB 2.79 +1.95 5 2.86 -0.55 8 Plymouth 4.19 +3.34 5 4.28 +0.64 7 Walpole 2.29 +1.52 6 2.39 -0.78 8 West_Medway 2.24 +1.47 5 2.47 -0.70 8 Westover 3.45 +2.50 6 3.55 -0.13 8 Worcester 1.90 +0.92 6 2.18 -1.74 9 Worthington 4.09 +3.05 6 4.12 -0.07 9 RHODE ISLAND Providence 3.73 +2.89 5 3.75 +0.31 6 Woonsocket 4.68 +3.77 5 4.77 +1.07 8 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 4.32 +3.40 6 4.69 +0.96 8 Bridgeport 2.92 +2.07 6 2.96 -0.62 7 Hartford_AP 4.13 +3.21 6 4.43 +0.70 9 Norfolk 4.10 +3.05 6 4.25 +0.11 11 Norwich 4.83 +3.87 6 4.84 +0.74 7 Thomaston_Dam 3.64 +2.66 6 3.70 -0.35 7 Willimantic 2.45 +1.54 5 2.46 -1.36 6 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: Several inches of much needed rain fell this past week. Hay that has been cut up to this time has been very short, due to the dry weather. Dry weather may have hurt weed control in corn. Apple and peach crops may have been damaged by frosts early this week. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Rain finally arrived and decided to stay, good thing as farmers were comparing our current soil loss to the pictures of the 30's when the wind would blow it across the open plains. Rain was too late to help first cutting hay, but corn and vegetables have happy feet soaking up the moisture. Fruit crops are in sad shape due to earlier freeze, and early vegetables stopped producing without irrigation. June around the corner should bring better crop days. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: For weeks we didn't have any rain - now we have TOO MUCH. Seven inches in 7 days - what a difference a week makes! Grass hay/haylage is going by as timothy and orchard grass are or have flowered. Yield of first cut low, most growers wondering if it will even pay to go harvest it. Weeds are exploding out of the ground now that they have some water. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes: Growers finishing up planting potatoes. Planting last of small grain crops. Emergence is very slow due to extremely dry conditions. Grain that has emerged is suffering from dry conditions. Rain is needed very badly. Dee Potter (Ext), Northern Aroostook: Many farms have wrapped up planting of potatoes and small grains. Cattle are out on pasture. Much needed rain began the evening of May 28; up until then it had been hot and dry. Erin Chadbourne (Ext), Central Aroostook: Potato planting finishing. Barley and oats emerging. Broccoli planting continuing. Herbicide applications in potatoes has begun. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook: Planting has been going very well, could use some rain. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Remained dry. Tilling and planting still going on. Silage corn has emerged on some fields. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Weekend rains were a great relief to farmers. Forage growth has started to respond to the added moisture. Earlier this week berry growers were irrigating their crop. Janet King/Jennifer Zweig (FSA), Somerset: Much needed rain on Sunday, although moisture is still needed. Silage and sweet corn is being planted, much of it has emerged. Rick Kersbergen (Ext), Waldo: Finally -- some substantial rain -- corn crops are popping out of the ground. Hay/haylage harvest should begin this week. Strawberries will be flowering soon as well. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: The first crop of fresh greens has arrived. Much needed rain over the weekend! Bees had a good week for pollination. Hay crop looking short. David Yarborough (Ext), Washington: Wild Blueberries: Bees have been moved into all fields for pollination. Cool weather has slowed development so crop development is near normal. Plants have emerged on all pruned fields. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: The recent rain has helped but we need more. Planting has gone great but water is needed to get things growing. There's talk about haying but the crop will be short without the water. All producers have been able to get field work done. We need the rain but it's nice to have the time to work the fields. Let's hope that we get a good mix in the coming weeks. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Great spring for all outside activities, but too dry. If we don't get a lot of rain soon it will be very serious. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: The rain was timely once again. Pastures and hayfields are now starting to grow. Planting conditions have been optimum. Sprouting plants look good. Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: Dry weather continues. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: Still some corn planting. Several operators cutting and chopping forage (not much wilting), but real short growth. Dry crops got rain as needed. Finally, some rain, a little over 1.5 inches. It's a real help. Everything is greening, nice! Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast Massachusetts: Much needed rain arrived and has improved conditions for all crops; however, more is needed. Row crops continue to be planted, cranberry growers are applying fertilizer and moving bees onto their property in anticipation of bloom. Shellfish growers are harvesting some product and planting new seed. Kip Graham (FSA), Worcester: Asparagus and rhubarb continuing to be harvested. The continuous mild rain is helping the freshly planted crops for a good start for those who have planted. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: The drought ended after 33 days with no measurable precipitation; droughts like this past one hardly ever occur in April and May. The vines held up well through the period. Rainfall amounts were in excess of two inches in most locations. Good growth of the plants continues. Sporadic outbreaks of cranberry weevil, gypsy moth, black-headed fireworm. Very little oxygen deficiency injury or winterkill noted. Weed growth really has exploded in response to the rainfall. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: The drought has passed. Moderate to heavy rains for the past 5 days have ended farmer concerns about dry conditions. These conditions have allowed much of the planted acreage to be sprayed with herbicide. Hay and pasture conditions have improved, although the first cut hay is "heading out" quickly. Broadleaf tobacco is being transplanted now and shade tobacco is all planted in this county. Some parts of Franklin County suffered hail damage on 5/28/01. Tree fruit was the only crop affected, and the damage doesn't appear to be significant at this time. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Rained 5 out of 7 days with 2.5 to 3.5 inches total. The rain was well appreciated. Everyone wants to see the sun now so they can start harvesting hay and plant their summer crops. Gary Guida, Worcester: Well, we wanted rain and did we get it. One-half inch size hail Monday afternoon. Transplanted crops are fine. Laying plastic, transplanting tomatoes, peppers, squash, cukes, etc. Spraying post-emergence herbicide in corn. Plant sales still strong with geraniums (of course), the main flower for this weekend. Perennials looking good and selling well, vegetable plants in big demand. Corn sales brisk. Consumer response to local grown products is on the increase as big retail stores continue to market inferior or poor quality plant material. Consumers are in a spending mood. David Rose (FSA), Norfolk and Bristol: Field activity slowed as much needed rain fell on several different days. The harvest of rhubarb and asparagus continues. The drought is over as nearly 3 inches of rain fell last week. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: A welcome soaking rain ends what had been a quite a spell of dry weather. Most field corn now planted. Hay and pasture grasses have seemed somewhat behind normal for this time of year. Upper soil conditions quite dry. Alfalfa at pre-bud stage, orchard grass about bud stage. Past full bloom now for apples, highbush blueberries at full bloom. Spring vegetables and peas planted and emerged. Good week to get field work done. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruits: Strawberries blooming. Fruit growers are applying sprays for pest control. Field Crops: Planting and weed spraying corn fields. Grasses in pastures and hayfields starting to head. Vegetables: Plowing, disking, fertilizing fields, planting vegetables and transplanting field tomatoes. Laying down plastic and drip irrigation. Harvesting asparagus and rhubarb. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: The less than one-inch of rain and showers on Sunday and Monday, May 27th and 28th, was welcomed. However, more rain is needed. Spraying protective sprays on tree fruit orchards and small fruit fields. Irrigating small fruits and vegetables. Continuing to make successive plantings of sweet corn and many other vegetables. Some vegetables are growing very slowly because of lack of rain. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: A welcome rain for most of the week helped most crops. Cole crops look great, lettuce, etc. doing well. Field and sweet corn emerging. Strawberries and blueberries doing great, especially after the frost. Most field work has been delayed, fungicides being applied to potatoes, and let's hope not too many had hay down. Marilu Soileau (FSA), All Counties: The rains finally came! Slow, steady showers were quickly absorbed by the parched soil. Fields responded immediately. Pastures have greened up and the weeds are trying to take over in many gardens. Field corn is mostly all planted now. The soil is moist and germination is finally possible. More rain is predicted for the next few days. VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Weekend rain gave thirsty plants a big boost. Corn planting is starting to wind down and first cut of grass should be underway soon. Pastures should also respond to the moisture. Northern areas in the state missed much of the mid-week rain. Bill Snow (Ext), Orange: Most of the field corn has been planted and some are thinking about chopping haylage. However, lack of moisture may have made a short first crop. Rain and downpours with large hail in some areas on Monday may not have helped much. Wait and see if the hay crop responds. Ground was white from hail in White River area, and other areas reported hail, too! Snow in the forecast for Wednesday in the higher elevations. Looks like another odd year. Larry Hamel (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers are waiting for the rains to stop from this weekend to finish up corn planting. Hay/grass crop too high now for manure fertilizer application. Getting equipment ready for haying! Hay/grass ready to harvest. Especially orchard grass. Plenty of rain this weekend which will help get some more growth for first cut. Lynette Hamilton (FSA), Windham: In the southern part of Windham County we have had about 5 inches of rain in the past week. It is hard to tell yet if the fertilizer will help the hay crop that was spread early this spring. Orchard grass is all headed out and should be cut. Alfalfa crops took a pounding from Sunday's heavy rains. Haylage harvesting should start as soon as we have a weather change. George Cook (Ext), Lamoille: Rain over the weekend was needed. Spring crop work going smoothly. Rain should give crops needed boost. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Finishing corn planting and spraying. New seeded hay crops are coming up nicely. Much needed rain finally came at end of week. First crop hay is light, grasses headed out, dandelions white, alfalfa starting to bud. Richard Noel (FSA), Grand Isle/Franklin: Haying started last week for haylage. Showers during the week slowed harvest up a little bit - 5/23: 0.15 in., 5/26: 0.25 in., 5/28: 0.06 in. Hay and corn needed the rain, and all I did was the two-step! Now we need some sunshine. You don't get energy or protein from clouds! Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Received about 3/4 inch of rain this week. First real rain this spring. Most of the corn planted now, some has emerged. People getting ready to start haying. One rainy day early in the week, then showers and thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday. Everyone quite pleased to see the rain even though some of the Memorial Day parades got soaked. Dairy cows out on pasture, this rain will really encourage them. Prediction is for wet snow flurries tonight in higher elevations. We will take moisture any way we can get it. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Early strawberries in full bloom. Early potatoes beginning to show. Early apple blossoms full. Small vegetable crops coming slow. Asparagus volume down. Too dry. One quarter inch of rain for the week. Hay crop very short and stunted. Maria Garcia (Ext), Chittenden: There was a hail storm last night in the area. Damage has yet to be assessed. 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 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 ***********************