===========================================================
New England Agricultural Statistics Service
- - - a field office of the
      National Agricultural Statistics Service
      United States Department of Agriculture

Aubrey R. Davis, Director  Phone: (603) 224-9639
22 Bridge St, 3rd Floor      Fax: (603) 225-1434
PO Box 1444             Internet: http://www.usda.gov/nass/
Concord, NH 03302-1444    E-Mail: nass.nh@nass.usda.gov
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                     Ag Review
                   January 2004

Volume 24, Number 1                   February 5, 2004
   
The following is an abbreviated version of the report.
The entire document is available as a PDF file on
the Internet through: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nh/
===========================================================                     

A special "THANK YOU" goes to New England producers and 
agri-businesses who have helped us by completing surveys via 
mail, telephone or personal interviews.  This issue contains the 
results of monthly and quarterly surveys including the Potato 
Price Survey, various fruit and vegetable surveys, the 2003 Hog 
Report, and the December Agricultural Survey of field crops.

In This Issue     
  Chickens: Layers and Eggs
  Dairy Products
  Field Crops: Barley, Corn, Hay, Oats, Tobacco
  Fruit: Apples, Peaches, Pears, Cranberries, and Wild Blueberries 
  Hay Stocks
  Hogs: Inventory, Farrowings, and Pig Crop
  Milk: Production and Price
  Potatoes: Acreage, Production, Stocks, and Prices
  Turkeys: Number Raised
  Vegetables: Sweet Corn

FIELD CROPS:  Unseasonably cool temperatures dominated the 
month of May, delayed planting schedules as much as three 
weeks, and stunted germination of crops in the ground.  Sun 
and heat finally arrived at the end of June and allowed field 
entry to finish planting.  Hot, sunny weather continued for 
most of July and provided crops with much needed sunshine and 
heat, but also dried up soil moisture supplies.  Grain crops 
in Maine were rated in excellent condition, while forage crops 
were rated mostly good to fair as they struggled to catch up 
from the poor start.  Hot, humid conditions prevailed in 
August, and forage crop conditions improved by month's end.  
The 2003 crop season ended  with a mix of sun and rain in 
September, as growers attempted to get harvest back on 
schedule.  Hurricane Isabel pushed warm, humid air into New 
England near mid-September, and the above normal temperatures 
remained until the end of the month.

New England dry hay production totaled 1.14 million tons in 
2003, a fractional increase over 2002 production despite a 
reduction in acreage harvested.  Cool, wet conditions early 
in the season produced a heavy first crop of hay, but forced 
the majority to be chopped for haylage.  A dry month of July 
improved conditions for making dry hay, however, above average 
rainfall in early August prevented many farmers from baling 
much of the second crop.  Excellent haymaking weather returned 
for third crop hay, promoted good quality, and ensured plenty 
of feed for the upcoming winter.  Acres harvested, at 576,000 
acres, fell two percent short of the previous year, but were 

		- Page 1 of 4 Pages - 

offset by improved yields.  Dry hay yields averaged 2.02 tons 
per acre in 2003, compared with 1.93 tons per acre a year 
earlier.  Planting of corn for the corn silage crop was also 
affected by the cool, wet spring.  As of June 9, 70 percent 
of the crop was seeded, compared with 80 percent in 2002 and 
a five-year average of 85 percent. The lack of sunshine and 
warm temperatures slowed emergence to 55 percent by the middle 
of that month, compared with a normal average of 80 percent 
emerged.  Conditions had improved by the end of August and 
crop specialists rated the crop mostly good.  Warm days and 
dry conditions allowed farmers to harvest crops at a rapid 
pace, with above average yields realized at many locations.  
Production in New England, at 3.2 million tons in 2003, was 
nine percent above 2002's drought reduced output, with yields 
averaging 18 tons per acre. Cool, rainy spring weather delayed 
small grain planting in Maine from one to two weeks in 2003, 
but by early June the crop was all seeded on schedule with 
normal.  The right combination of moisture and heat provided 
ideal conditions for Maine's small grain crops until tropical 
conditions arrived in August.  Heavy winds and rain caused 
excessive lodging at many locations; some areas received over 
10 inches of water in 2 to 3 weeks, resulting in extremely 
poor grain quality.  Oat yields averaged 78 bushels per acre 
in 2003; placed grain production at 2.3 million bushels, 10 
percent under 2002 output.  Excessive moisture reduced barley 
grain yields to an average of 65 bushels per acre, and ruined 
quality at many locations.  Barley production totaled 1.8 
million bushels in 2003, 16 percent below  the previous year. 

TOBACCO:  The December 1, 2003 tobacco forecast placed 
broadleaf production at 3.2 million pounds in the Connecticut 
River Valley, 20 percent below 2002 output due to untimely 
rains and lack of sunshine.  Excessive moisture promoted blue 
mold, brown spot, and increased fertilizer leaching. Additional 
problems appeared when hung to cure, namely pole sweat, stem rot, 
brown spot, and sunburn not evident when initially harvested.  
Broadleaf yields were expected to average only 1,369 pounds per 
acre in the two States according to early December assessments, 
well below earlier season estimates of 1,800 pounds per acre.  
Producers intend to harvest 1.5 million pounds of shade tobacco 
in Connecticut and Massachusetts, a 25 percent increase over the 
previous year's disease-reduced output.  Yields were expected to 
average 1,409 pounds per acre, compared with the 1,270 pounds per 
acre average from a year earlier.  Tobacco harvest was completed 
in most areas by mid September, about one week behind normal.

FRUIT:  The 2003 New England apple crop utilized production 
totaled 3.9 million bushels (42-pound units), 19 percent 
above 2002 utilized production.  A wet, cool spring did little 
to hamper bloom, however, some operators reported poor pollination.  
By mid-June continued rain had some apple growers expressing 
concerns about scab.  Sunshine and warm temperatures finally 
arrived at the end of June, with the fruit crop reacting favorably 
to the sun and heat.  By mid-July, orchardists were hoping for rain 
to help size up fruit.  Rain finally arrived near the end of July 
causing noticeable improvements in fruit size.  In early-August, 
growers started picking early apple varieties and the New England 
crop condition was rated good to fair, overall.  A preliminary 
estimate of utilized production showed the 2003 New England crop 
valued at $55.0 million, 13 percent above the previous year.  A 
revised estimate of value will be available July 2004 after the 
majority of the 2003 crop has been marketed.

Pear growers in Connecticut had an outstanding crop this year 
after two devasting years where frost and hail damage wiped 
out much ofthe crop.  The size of fruit was generally medium 
to large, and the crop was reported in good to fair conditions.  
Utilized pear production in Connecticut totaled 51,000 bushels, 
155 percent above last year's destroyed crop.  The 2003 
utilized peach production in Connecticut and Massachusetts 

		- Page 2 of 4 Pages - 

totaled 87,000 bushels, 19 percent more than 2002 utilized 
output.  The value of the 2003 peach crop in the two States 
was placed at $3.2 million, 20 percent above the 2002 value.

Maine's 2003 wild blueberry crop totaled 80.2 million pounds, 
an increase of 29 percent from the 2002 output.  At the 
beginning of the 2003 blueberry growing season, most growers 
detected minimal winter kill due to adequate snow cover 
throughout the winter.  Weather was cool and rainy during the 
spring, causing poor, spotty pollination in many areas.  Mummy 
berry disease was prevalent for the second consecutive year.  
Showers arrived near the end of July and improved crop quality 
as growers prepared for harvest.  Warm, dry weather helped 
extend the harvest period in some areas.

Cranberry production in Massachusetts totaled 1.46 million 
barrels in 2003, a four percent increase from the previous 
year's production.  Growers harvested 14,400 acres, 100 acres 
more than the previous year.  The crop yielded 97.2 barrels 
per acre, the lowest since 1979.  Massachusetts cranberry 
growers rated the 2003 crop as fair-to-poor.  Many growers 
reported significant problems with insects and fruit rot.  
Some attributed the rot to excessive amounts of moisture 
received in the spring.  Many growers sanded their bog 
during the 2002-2003 winter which may partially explain 
the lower yield.

SWEET CORN:  Less than optimal weather early in the season got 
the 2003 sweet corn crop off to a slow start.  Local sweet corn 
was not ready for the Fourth of July celebrations at many 
locations as cool, wet spring conditions resulted in late 
planting and slow growth.  Drought conditions were prevalent 
during much of July, with farmers irrigating where possible.  
The 2003 sweet corn crop was 10 percent picked by the end of 
July, trailing last year's 20 percent and normal of 25 percent.  
Hot, damp conditions in August increased earworm and corn borer 
activity, however, promoted improved yields in most New England 
States.  Warm September weather helped to extend the growing 
season and the harvest was finished by the end of that month, 
on schedule with last year and normal.

In New England, fresh market sweet corn production totaled 1.1 
million hundredweight (cwt) in 2003, a nine percent increase 
over 2002 output due to increased acreage harvested and improved 
yields.  Growers in the six-State region harvested 15,800 acres, 
with an average yield per acre of 70 cwt, the highest yielding 
New England sweet corn crop since 1991.  Vermont sweet corn 
producers harvested a record 80 cwt per acre in 2003, a 30 cwt 
per acre increase from the previous year's drought reduced yields.  
Value of production for New England was placed at $35.8 million, 
an increase of 16 percent from the 2002 value.

POTATO STOCKS: Maine potato stocks on hand January 1, 2004 
totaled 12.1 million cwt, eight percent above 2003's January 1 
holdings.  Disappearance to January 1 in the State totaled 4.9 
million cwt, compared with 5.8 million cwt a year earlier.  
Storage accounted for 71 percent of Maine's total production, 
compared with the previous five-year average of 69 percent.  Of 
the stocks on hand January 1 in Maine, 47 percent were round 
white varieties, 48 percent were russets, one percent were 
long whites, and four percent were red varieties.

The 15 major potato States held 234 million cwt of potatoes in 
storage January 1, 2004, up one percent from last year and four 
percent above 2002.  Potatoes in storage account for 58 percent 
of the 2003 fall storage States' production, up one percentage 
point from last year.  Stocks by type show more round whites 
and fewer russets than a year ago.  Disappearance of 170 million 
cwt of potatoes is down three percent  from last year but five 
percent above 2001 movement.  Shrink and loss, at 17.4 million 

		- Page 3 of 4 Pages - 

cwt so far this season, is down four percent from last year but 
one percent above the same date in 2001.  Processors in the nine 
major States used 86.8 million cwt of potatoes this season, 
down six percent from a year ago but eight percent above two 
years ago.  Dehydrating usage accounts for 18.4 million cwt 
of the total processing, down six percent from last year.  
December 1, 2003 stocks were revised up slightly, with changes 
in Colorado, Nebraska, and New York.

Maine's Potato Aceage, Yield, Size and Grade report was published 
January 15, 2004.  Potato size and grade measurements were also 
published for the seven major States in the Potato Stocks report 
issued December 15, 2004.  Both reports are available from the 
NASS website at www.usda.gov/nass/.

HOGS:  On December 1, 2003, the New England inventory of hogs 
and pigs totaled 32,400 head, a decrease of seven percent from 
2002.  Massachusetts accounted for almost half of New England's 
hog inventory.  The average litter rate for New England in 2003 
was 7.5, 1.4 pigs per litter less than the 8.9 National litter 
rate.

MILK PRODUCTION:  Milk production in Vermont during December 
totaled 219 million pounds.  There were an estimated 146,000 
milk cows on Vermont farms during December, unchanged from 
November.  Milk production per cow averaged 1,500 pounds.

Milk production in New England during the third quarter 
(October - December) of 2003 totaled 1.04 billion pounds, 
down two percent from last quarter.  The three-month production 
per cow averaged 4,414 pounds across New England.  There were 
an average of 236,300 head of milk cows on hand from October - 
December 2003, a decrease of 3,000 cows from the previous 
quarter.

Milk production in the United States during the fourth quarter 
of 2003 totaled 41.3 billion pounds, down slightly from the 
previous quarter.  There were 9.0 million milk cows in the United 
States during the fourth quarter.  The United States average 
quarterly rate was 4,588 pounds per cow for the fourth quarter 
of 2003, an increase of 7 pounds from the previous quarter. 

TURKEYS: Four New England States, Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, and Vermont, raised 135,000  turkeys in 2003, 
up seven percent from the 2002 count.  Farmers in Massachusetts 
raised 54 percent of that total, while Vermont contributed 39  
percent.  The National total of 274 million turkeys raised in 
2003 was up one percent from the 2002 total.

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**********************end of report*****************************