new-eng-crop-weather

State               
NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER

Week ending date 09/01/02

Issue                                        
NH-CW3502
Volume 22, Number 19
(issued weekly on the Internet, May - October)
September 3, 2002 - 4 pm

Agricultural Summary

SCATTERED SHOWERS ARRIVE

For the week ending September 1, 2002, there were 6.2 days
suitable for field work across New England.  Pasture
condition was rated as 15% very poor, 37% poor, 34% fair,
14% good, 0% excellent.  More showers arrived in New
England, some areas receiving over two inches, others not
a single drop.  Cool temperatures were prevalent for the
week, dipping low at night. Frost hit some northern
regions.  Major farm activities included: harvesting
tobacco, potatoes, oats, barley, highbush blueberries,
apples, peaches, pears and vegetables; completing Maine
wild blueberry harvest; applying vine desiccants to
potatoes; cutting dry hay and chopping haylage;
irrigating; applying manure; monitoring for pests and
disease and spraying where necessary.

SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND
----------------------------------------------
Soil Rating    This Week  Last Week  Last Year
----------------------------------------------
                        -- Percent --
Topsoil Moisture
   Very Short      32        35         27
   Short           35        42         42
   Adequate        33        23         31
   Surplus          0         0          0
Subsoil Moisture
   Very Short      37        32         28
   Short           34        41         42
   Adequate        29        27         30
   Surplus          0         0          0
----------------------------------------------

Field Crops Report

Hay fields experienced some relief from showers last week. 
First cut hay is complete, with second not far behind at
90 percent. Corn also benefitted a little from last week's
rain; harvest has barely begun.  Farmers jumped ahead with
grain harvest last week during the dry days.  Drought
conditions in Maine have had a negative impact on this
year's potato crop; size has been reported below normal
and yields off, due to lack of moisture.  Massachusetts
and Rhode Island potato harvests continued, both rated in
good to fair condition.  Massachusetts tobacco growers
have completed this year's harvest, while Connecticut has
five to ten percent remaining to be harvested.

Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report

FRUIT: Apples, highbush blueberries, peaches, plums and
raspberries were harvested last week. Late apple varieties
are expected to improve in size from recent showers. 
Fruit crops in most areas need more rain; irrigation
continued last week.  Maine growers completed wild
blueberry harvest after berries had time to gain color and
size from recent cool weather and scattered showers.  Rain
last week brought some relief to tight water supplies in
the Massachusetts cranberry region.  Growers are hopeful
there will be sufficient water for frost protection. 
White cranberry harvest is expected to begin this week.

VEGETABLES: Roadside stands did good business over Labor
Day weekend, selling a variety of fresh vegetables. 
Growers welcomed last week's rain, but for some vegetable
crops the moisture came too late to help.  Sweet corn
harvest continued and completed fields were cut and plowed
under.  Last week growers harvested many vegetables
including cucumbers, eggplant, greens, onions, peppers,
pumpkins, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes.

Crop Progress Tables

FIELD CROP PROGRESS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND
--------------------------------------------------------
                 -- Percent Harvested --  
  Crop         2002     2001    5-yrAvg     Condition
--------------------------------------------------------
Barley, ME      55       70       50      Good/Excellent   
Oats, ME        30       45       40      Good/Excellent  
Potatoes     
  Maine          5        5        5        Good/Fair
  Mass          40       30       45        Good/Fair    
  Rhode Isl     55       55       40        Good/Fair 
Silage Corn     <5        5        5        Fair/Good 
Sweet Corn      75       75       70        Fair/Good   
Tobacco
 Shade          95       85       95        Good/Fair
 Broadleaf      95       90       95        Good/Fair  
Dry Hay
  First Cut    100      100       99          Good    
  Second Cut    90       90       80        Good/Fair
  Third Cut     50       45       35          Fair
---------------------------------------------------------

FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND
---------------------------------------------------------- 
                 -- Percent Harvested --  
  Crop          2002     2001    5-yrAvg     Condition
----------------------------------------------------------
Apples           20       15       15        Good/Fair 
Peaches          85       70       70        Good/Fair
Pears            10       30       20     Very Poor/Poor
Blueberries 
  Highbush       95       95       95          Good
  Wild, ME      100       99       95          Good 
Cranberries,MA   --       --       --        Fair/Good 
----------------------------------------------------------

Weather Summary

For the week ending Sunday, September 1, 2002
----------------------------------------------
       AIR TEMPERATURES   PRECIPITATION
STATE   LO  HI AVG DFN      LO      HI
----   --- --- --- ---    ----    ----
ME      29  88  61  -2    0.00    1.44
NH      34  87  61  -2    0.04    1.58
VT      37  85  61  -2    0.05    1.46
MA      41  87  65  -2    0.15    2.06
RI      47  85  67  -2    0.26    1.50
CT      47  87  66  -3    0.49    2.50
---------------------------------------------- 
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 26, 2002 
            To:     Sunday   September 1, 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           34  81  61  -5  1576 -248  611 -115  
Allagash         30  79  55  -5  1089 -125  362  +48  
Augusta_State_A  40  83  65  +0  1852  +85  840 +150  
Bangor_Intl_Arp  37  82  64  +0  1743 +129  757 +178  
Barnard          36  81  61  -1  1461  +56  540 +107  
Bath             37  79  62  -4  1549 -101  599  -17  
Bethel           36  88  63  +0  1632  +31  654  +95  
Brassua_Dam      36  79  59  -1  1262  +92  429 +130  
Brunswick_ME     39  81  63  -2  1732  +82  750 +134  
Caribou_Municip  34  79  58  -3  1338  +31  487 +120  
Corinna          37  82  62  -1  1583  +41  609  +94  
Danforth         34  79  60  -3  1315 -187  439  -67  
Dover-Foxcroft   38  79  60  -2  1317  -88  449  +16  
Durham           36  82  63  -4  1691 -183  710  -70  
East_Hiram       34  83  61  -2  1636  +42  648  +94  
Eustis           36  81  58  -2  1195  +58  373 +101  
Frenchville      34  77  57  -3  1234  +20  447 +133  
Gray             44  83  66  +2  1918 +293  892 +298  
Greenville_ME    41  80  60  -2  1413   -3  517  +74  
Guilford         38  78  58  -4  1280 -125  412  -21  
Hollis           34  84  62  -2  1766 +238  756 +246  
Houlton          35  79  59  -2  1378  +13  501  +91  
Kennebunkport    41  77  61  -7  1568 -408  611 -242  
Livermore_Falls  30  87  63  +3  1700 +317  728 +316  
Moosehead        36  84  58  -2  1229  +59  390  +91  
New_Sharon       37  86  63  +3  1829 +446  806 +394  
Patten           38  78  60  -1  1347  -18  489  +79  
Portage          38  81  60  +0  1400  +93  528 +161  
Portland_ME      39  83  64  -2  1819 +194  800 +206  
Rangeley         36  80  59  +0  1228 +127  386 +132  
Sebec_Lake       35  83  61  -2  1450  +34  523  +80  
Vanceboro        38  79  60  -3  1387  -40  489  +35  
Waterville       39  83  64  -2  1720 -104  736  +10  
 
NEW_HAMPSHIRE
Barnstead        42  82  63  -2  1919 +140  847 +156  
Benton           40  79  60  -2  1614 +137  641 +188  
Berlin_AG        38  81  61  -1  1546  +58  579 +103  
Bethlehem        40  79  59  -3  1429  -48  508  +54  
Concord          39  84  64  +0  2085 +306  997 +306  
Diamond_Pond     42  75  57  -2  1081  +75  317 +119  
First_Conn_Lake  38  80  59  +2  1070  +64  295  +97  
Greenville       38  86  62  -2  1811 +202  785 +238  
Keene_AP         41  82  64  -3  2025  +43  925  +84  
Lakeport         45  85  65  +2  2058 +388  969 +357  
Marlow           38  78  59  -7  1561 -240  600  -92  
Mt_Washington    39  60  47  +3   240 +179   12  +12  
North_Conway     38  84  64  +2  1914 +254  881 +280  
Otter_Brook_Lk   43  83  63  -4  1894  -88  834   -7  
Plymouth         37  80  61  -2  1627 +162  641 +183  
Rochester        40  87  64  -2  2019 +122  936 +154  
Weare            42  82  62  -3  1848  +47  801 +109  
 
VERMONT
Ball_Mt_Lake     44  80  61  -3  1756 +203  726 +213  
Bethel           44  81  62  +0  1824 +350  784 +318  
Burlington_Intl  47  85  65  +1  2104 +200 1006 +220  
East_Haven       37  81  59  -1  1446 +208  525 +203  
Island_Pond      39  78  59  -1  1434 +212  512 +204  
Montpelier       44  78  60  -2  1657 +156  651 +171  
Morrisville_AG   39  80  59  -4  1472  -24  532  +47  
Mount_Mansfield  42  72  55  +1   878 +228  220 +154  
Northfield       41  82  59  -2  1677 +310  661 +263  
Pownal           47  76  61  -3  1729 +170  695 +181  
Rochester        46  82  63  +1  1659 +185  664 +198  
Rutland_AG       46  79  61  -5  1767 -196  730  -88  
Sunderland       45  78  61  -5  1669 -212  653  -95  
Sutton           43  79  60  +1  1488 +250  541 +219  
Townshend_Lake   47  82  62  -3  1923  +62  851  +95  
Union_Vill_Dam   40  84  62  -4  1805  -72  778  +14  
 
MASSACHUSETTS
Ashburnham       48  80  64  +1  2000 +383  908 +342  
Boston/Logan_In  54  85  68  -3  2539 +287 1344 +281  
Greenfield       47  84  65  -3  2197  +80 1057 +115  
New_Bedford      49  82  67  -5  2278   +9 1092  +13  
Otis_AFB         55  81  67  -1  2167 +319 1025 +258  
Plymouth         49  83  65  -3  2178 +269 1045 +233  
Walpole          46  84  64  -3  2280 +340 1136 +322  
West_Medway      46  85  65  -2  2313 +373 1150 +336  
Chicopee/Westov  46  84  66  -5  2434  +14 1250  +67  
Worcester        48  81  64  -2  2102 +292 1003 +288  
Worthington      44  83  62  -2  1795 +213  763 +232  
 
RHODE_ISLAND
Providence       53  85  68  -1  2547 +400 1347 +359  
Woonsocket       47  82  65  -2  2267 +359 1117 +341  
 
CONNECTICUT
Bakersville      47  81  62  -8  2065 -269  947 -171  
Bridgeport/Siko  57  83  68  -4  2607 +301 1384 +261  
Hartford/Bradle  50  86  67  -3  2584 +257 1367 +252  
Norfolk          50  79  64  +1  2030 +444  921 +386  
Norwich          51  86  67  -2  2416 +252 1236 +258  
Thomaston_Dam    50  84  64  -2  2266 +379 1099 +345  
Willimantic      50  83  65  -2  2303 +380 1134 +348  
 
                  1-WEEK PRECIP     4-WEEK CUM PRECIP
                  -------------     -----------------
                TOTAL               TOTAL
STATION        INCHES    DFN DAYS  INCHES    DFN DAYS
-------         -----   ----  ---   -----   ----  ---
MAINE
Albion           0.26  -0.57    1    1.11  -2.25    8
Allagash         0.00  -0.91    0    0.45  -3.27    4
Augusta_State_A  0.43  -0.28    1    0.91  -2.10    5
Bangor_Intl_Arp  0.25  -0.52    3    0.73  -2.33    9
Barnard          0.07  -0.81    1    0.58  -2.79    8
Bath             1.05  +0.32    2    1.88  -1.11    7
Bethel           0.26  -0.63    1    0.76  -2.86    8
Brassua_Dam      0.00  -0.84    0    0.60  -2.76    4
Brunswick_ME     1.28  +0.55    2    3.04  +0.05   10
Caribou_Municip  0.01  -0.89    1    0.48  -3.16    4
Corinna          0.20  -0.71    1    0.80  -2.66    6
Danforth         0.00  -0.91    0    1.72  -1.99    6
Dover-Foxcroft   0.00  -0.88    0    0.64  -2.73    5
Durham           0.92  +0.22    1    1.55  -1.28    8
East_Hiram       0.86  +0.05    1    1.54  -1.85    7
Eustis           0.00  -0.76    0    0.06  -3.01    2
Frenchville      0.13  -0.78    2    2.27  -1.45    7
Gray             1.10  +0.40    1    1.47  -1.14    7
Greenville_ME    0.00  -0.88    0    0.39  -2.98    5
Guilford         0.10  -0.78    2    1.13  -2.24   10
Hollis           1.44  +0.71    1    2.02  -0.81    7
Houlton          0.12  -0.79    2    1.09  -2.60    8
Kennebunkport    0.85  +0.14    1    2.23  -0.59    6
Livermore_Falls  0.18  -0.73    1    0.58  -3.15    7
Moosehead        0.00  -0.84    0    0.58  -2.78    4
New_Sharon       0.12  -0.79    1    0.64  -3.09    6
Patten           0.00  -0.91    0    0.67  -3.02    5
Portage          0.00  -0.90    0    0.43  -3.21    3
Portland_ME      0.94  +0.24    1    1.24  -1.37    5
Rangeley         0.08  -0.80    2    0.40  -3.24    7
Sebec_Lake       0.08  -0.80    1    0.51  -2.86    8
Vanceboro        0.05  -0.78    1    0.97  -2.05    7
Waterville       0.16  -0.67    1    0.59  -2.77    7
 
NEW_HAMPSHIRE
Barnstead        0.96  +0.26    1    1.92  -1.06    9
Benton           0.46  -0.42    1    1.35  -2.26    6
Berlin_AG        0.10  -0.83    1    0.67  -3.21    6
Bethlehem        0.13  -0.82    1    2.15  -1.92    9
Concord          1.20  +0.50    1    1.91  -1.07    8
Diamond_Pond     0.04  -1.06    1    1.10  -3.51    5
First_Conn_Lake  0.16  -0.94    1    1.22  -3.39    6
Greenville       1.58  +0.73    1    2.23  -1.41    4
Keene_AP         1.28  +0.47    2    3.42  -0.07    7
Lakeport         1.25  +0.46    1    2.07  -1.24    8
Marlow           1.36  +0.55    1    2.80  -0.53    6
Mt_Washington    0.12  -1.77    2    3.38  -4.13   10
North_Conway     0.56  -0.32    2    1.00  -2.61   11
Otter_Brook_Lk   1.40  +0.59    3    2.80  -0.69    7
Plymouth         0.92  +0.11    1    2.23  -1.25    8
Rochester        0.95  +0.18    1    1.95  -1.26    6
Weare            1.31  +0.50    2    2.20  -1.13    6
 
VERMONT
Ball_Mt_Lake     1.46  +0.49    2    2.68  -1.23    8
Bethel           0.35  -0.66    1    1.49  -2.67    6
Burlington_Intl  0.28  -0.62    1    1.16  -2.50    9
East_Haven       0.05  -0.94    1    0.86  -3.40    8
Island_Pond      0.07  -0.94    1    1.60  -2.74    7
Montpelier       0.19  -0.63    2    1.70  -1.77    9
Morrisville_AG   0.26  -0.76    2    1.34  -3.00    7
Mount_Mansfield  0.21  -1.45    1    2.77  -4.00   12
Northfield       0.24  -0.60    1    1.98  -1.43    7
Pownal           1.40  +0.43    2    2.39  -1.52    8
Rochester        0.35  -0.66    1    1.82  -2.34    7
Rutland_AG       0.39  -0.52    1    1.27  -2.53    6
Sunderland       1.22  +0.31    1    3.11  -0.46    7
Sutton           0.08  -0.91    1    1.29  -2.97    9
Townshend_Lake   1.43  +0.56    1    3.31  -0.29    8
Union_Vill_Dam   0.68  -0.13    1    1.67  -1.62    8
 
MASSACHUSETTS
Ashburnham       1.23  +0.49    2    2.99  -0.14    9
Boston/Logan_In  0.89  +0.13    2    2.01  -0.94    7
Greenfield       1.82  +1.03    3    2.73  -0.58    9
New_Bedford      0.18  -0.76    2    0.84  -2.99    8
Otis_AFB         0.80  +0.01    2    1.25  -1.85    6
Plymouth         0.40  -0.58    3    1.31  -2.36    9
Walpole          0.95  +0.04    2    2.59  -0.99    6
West_Medway      1.27  +0.36    3    2.34  -1.24    7
Chicopee/Westov  1.14  +0.30    2    1.80  -1.41    8
Worcester        1.25  +0.34    2    2.56  -0.91    8
Worthington      2.06  +1.15    2    2.75  -0.98    7
 
RHODE_ISLAND
Providence       0.56  -0.28    2    1.39  -1.92    6
Woonsocket       1.22  +0.31    2    2.64  -1.00    7
 
CONNECTICUT
Bakersville      1.34  +0.45    2    2.68  -0.66    7
Bridgeport/Siko  2.07  +1.37    2    2.65  -0.25    6
Hartford/Bradle  1.11  +0.22    2    1.95  -1.39    6
Norfolk          1.66  +0.61    2    3.02  -1.12    9
Norwich          2.50  +1.59    2    3.08  -0.50    6
Thomaston_Dam    1.27  +0.29    4    2.59  -1.28    9
Willimantic      1.14  +0.23    2    2.00  -1.57    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 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 toward the end of the week helped some crops - was
too late for others. Field corn looks better. Third
cutting of hay is good. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland:
Harvesting sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, summer
squash and cukes. Some getting ready to harvest silage
corn. Showers Thursday and Monday were welcome. Most
completed tobacco harvest. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham:
Alas, rain, glorious rain arrived with 2 plus inches in
most parts of the county. Crop field events well attended
with corn seed type postings lending an Iowa cornbelt feel
to local silage areas. Dairy  meeting, large crowd
concerned with Milk Income Loss Contract and sharing
information about good production. Peaches are sweet and
range from small to fist size. Sweet corn over mature due
to hot weather - still selling well. Nancy Welsh/Karen
Lockman (FSA), New Haven: Three days of rain helped crops.
We received varying amounts  of rain around the two
counties. Producers are chopping corn. Peaches are big and
juicy.

MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Growers
harvesting a few potatoes primarily for  processing. Also,
harvesting grain. Working on harvesting equipment.
Starting to apply vine desiccants. Drought conditions
continue. This will definitely have an adverse effect on
potato yields. Grain yields are about average. Rain at
this time will do little to improve yields with the
exception of some late maturing varieties. Pam Hickey
(Ext), Central Aroostook: Grain harvest still in progress.
Vine dessicants are being applied, some potatoes being
harvested. Steve London (Ext), Southern Aroostook:
Potatoes on normal spray schedule. Some early varieties
being  harvested. Grain harvesting going on. No rain this
week, potatoes showing stress from drought. Albert Dow
(NRCS), Piscataquis: Very dry. Little growth. Frost in
places September 1. Temperature dropped about 10 degrees
the last hour or so before sunrise. Donna Lamb (Ext),
Piscataquis: Fields are very dry. Corn on well drained
soils is showing a lot of drought stress. Had a few
isolated showers in the county, but nothing of
significance. Janet King (FSA), Somerset: Everything is
very dry. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Sales of fresh
produce at roadside stands starting to slow down.
Blueberries are done. Fall work to begin soon. Another
week without rain. Fire danger is high. Silage corn is
wilted, with poor ear development. David Yarborough (Ext),
Washington: Wild Blueberries: Crop harvest finished this
week. Cool evening  temperatures improved crop quality.
Fruit size very large. Mid-coast fields are very dry with
patches of dead plants. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin:
Another dry week with one day giving us a little sip. Many
of the silage corn folks are chopping. The crops are brown
and will get no more growth. Others are hanging in there
and hoping that the crop matures a little more and gains
more feed value. The other crops seem to be ok. Some
market garden producers have told us that squash and
pumpkins aren't doing well. The wet spring stunted or
destroyed their growth. The season is coming to an end.
One farmer today mentioned that soon he'll be watching for
the frost. Brrr! Not yet. Parker Rand (FSA),
Cumberland/York: Irrigated summer vegetables and apples
are being harvested, most other crops are drying up and
turning brown. Rain would be welcomed, but it will come
too late for most crops. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin:
FIRST FROST!!! This was not good news for pumpkin and
squash growers in lower elevations. Apple harvest is under
way. Silage corn should be harvested early because of
drought. Some ears are smaller than usual. Laura Rand
(FSA), Oxford: Cooler weather has set in and the nights
have dropped down as low as the 30's in the valleys. Soil
is very dry and the dust is flying in the fields. Oats are
harvested and a light crop has been reported. Second crop
hay reported to be light also. Rain received overnight,
however not enough to get the soil damp.

MASSACHUSETTS - Paul Russell (FSA), Southeast
Massachusetts: Much needed rain arrived over the weekend.
Too little too late for the crops, but it will provide
cranberry growers some badly needed water for frost
protection and harvest. Vegetable growers are winding down
a very disappointing season. All crops were poor due to
drought and heat and consumers did not shop farm stands
during the extended hot spell. Shellfish growers continue
to enjoy solid growth in both quahogs and oysters, however
the market continues to be soft. Kip Graham (FSA),
Worcester: Fall crops are looking better after this rain,
but if we get any more rain, the pumpkins may begin to
rot. The rain was a welcomed sight. There was a late set
for some fruit... lost some pumpkins in the previous heat.
Bugs are beginning to invade the sweet corn. Using
insecticide to keep them in control. The fall crops are
looking better at this time. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth:
Cranberries: Much welcomed rain fell on Thursday and
Monday, totaling 2-3 inches in most places. This will help
the later varieties size up. It will help water supplies,
but we need much more water. White berry harvest will
begin this week. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: Rain fell all
day yesterday, for the first time since the beginning of
June. Some farmers starting to chop silage. Quality varies
greatly. Still harvesting all crops at this time. Pumpkins
and winter squash will be short this year. John Devine
(FSA), Franklin: Scattered showers and cooler temperatures
allowed for a nice week for harvesting late-summer and
fall crops. Most dairy farms are cutting hay and getting
ready to harvest corn silage. The majority of these farms
are reporting that grain and forage yields should be good
in spite of the drought. The apple harvest is also
starting now. This year's crop is lighter than normal with
growers reporting frost rings on some acreage. Ted
Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Three days of
excellent soaking rains will help all fall crops and newly
established fall cover crops. Producers started harvesting
corn silage, winter squash, pumpkins, onions, and Indian
corn. Vegetable growers continue scouting for insects and
diseases, especially with the cool, damp weather arriving.
Tobacco harvest concluded. Gary Guida, Worcester: Did it
have to rain on Labor Day? Busy weekend at farm stand with
corn, tomatoes, and mum sales. Rain has definitely helped
pumpkins and remaining sweet corn, but was too late for
other crops in the field. Army worms starting to appear in
corn. Renovated strawberry field starting to show signs of
life and growth. The big surprise this weekend - perennial
plant sales continue!

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Some sweet
corn unable to be harvested due to drought damage.
Vegetable crops being irrigated. Pumpkin and early apple
harvests have begun. Sale of fall mums underway. Pastures
very dry in most places. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Much
cooler weather and a little moisture, feels like fall!
Pumpkins and winter squash suffering from heavy deer
damage. Mums are moving out of garden centers due to loss
of flowers to drought. Cinch bugs and Tomato Horn worms
are rampant. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Pleasant
weather most of the week - finally a good soaking rain all
day Thursday. Third cut haylage is just about finished.
Still working on third cut or remaining second cut for dry
hay. Field corn looks good, early dough stage, and farmers
are starting to get corn choppers ready for harvesting in
a week or two. Late planted field corn still in blister or
early milk stage. Sweet corn, tomatoes, melons, and a wide
variety of other produce still available at farmers'
markets and stands. Harvest of early apple varieties
continues; the recent rain is expected to help later
varieties achieve better size. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos:
Generally a warm, dry week for the Lancaster Fair. Cool
nights, one night approaching possible frost. A little
rain, about typical for this time of year. Corn ears
beginning to fill out. Some nice second cut hay being put
up. Sweet corn fairly abundant as well as other summer
veggies. Blueberries about done. Late summer variety
raspberries ripening. Tom Buob (Ext), Grafton: Gearing up
for corn harvest and finishing up third cut. Some fourth
cut being harvested. Still quite dry despite showers.
George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Peach, plum,
and fall raspberry harvest continued. Highbush blueberry
harvest is winding down. Starting to finishing up Paula
red apple harvest. Apple growers continue to move bins
into orchards, getting ready for McIntosh apple harvest.
Vegetables: Harvesting wide array of summer vegetables,
and starting to harvest some fall vegetables like winter
squash and pumpkins. Farmers kept busy monitoring pest
pressures and spraying pesticides for insects and diseases
if needed. Discing down crop residue on harvested fields.
Field Crops: Continued cutting hayfields for dry hay and
haylage. Farmers making new forage seedings. Some farmers
starting to gear up for corn silage harvest and some
farmers have already started. Weather: Drought conditions
continued throughout the county until we had nice all-day
showers occurring on Thursday - gave some relief along
with cooler weather. David Seavey (Ext), Merrimack: Apple
harvest underway. Early spring freeze has reduced the size
of the apple crop. Warm season vegetables being harvested.
Orchards finished mowing. Dry conditions prevail. A few
spot showers were helpful. Regrowth of hay crop is poor.
Some sweet corn and field corn on sandy river bottom soils
were lost to drought. Pam Marvin (FSA), Sullivan: A nice
week with cool temperatures and a few days of rain.
Certainly helped all crops, especially silage corn and
hayfields. Corn harvesting in some spots will be starting
soon. Fourth cutting of haylage is looking good. Harvested
sweet corn fields being cut and plowed under. Late summer
fruits and vegetables can still be found at some roadside
stands. The start of the pumpkin season is just around the
corner. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: Last week was cool
and we had much needed rain showers by the weekend. The
showers are a great help for the pastures and third cut
hay. Corn, field vegetables and field cut flowers will
also benefit from the showers. Vegetable growers continued
to harvest different vegetables. The fruit growers
continued to harvest peaches and also continued to monitor
for apple maggots and to do the final spraying if
necessary. Garden centers and nurseries hope that the rain
showers will improve their businesses for the fall
planting.

RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Harvesting
sweet corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and some third cut hay.
Cabbage doing well considering the tough start. Pumpkins,
winter squash and gourds doing well, starting to harvest
some. Roadside stands looking great. Marilu Soileau (FSA),
All Counties: Dusty fields made for dirty work up until
early Saturday morning when showers began to fall.
Thankfully, the afternoon cleared in time to keep sales
brisk at roadside farm stands. Apples are coming in now.
The price of retail sweet corn fell dramatically this
week. Freshly dug potatoes are selling well. The rain
continued Saturday night and into Sunday with periods of
rainless cloud conditions. Predictions of more rain are in
the forecast. Let's hope it comes soon in the form of
overnight showers so as not to impede the many chores that
await our producers!

VERMONT - John St. Onge (FSA), Lamoille: Dry conditions
still persist with no soaking rains in sight for the
northern part of the state. Cooler, partly cloudy weather
and morning fog has helped to mitigate the dry conditions.
A few farmers have started opening up their cornfields by
chopping around the edges. Looks like harvest for corn
silage may start a little early this year. Bill Snow
(Ext), Orange: Only a little rain during the week, which
was better than none at all. Some hay and haylage harvest,
but otherwise a slow week. Corn in this area is in milk
stage, but different stages in different areas. Lynette
Hamilton (FSA), Windham: We had rain all day Thursday and
into Friday we received 2 inches in Vernon VT. Apple
growers are reporting that they are having a good season
on trees that were not hit by frost last spring. Some
field corn is being harvested because of the dry weather.
Alfalfa is being cut for the third time with good
production. George Cook (Ext), Lamoille: One day of rainy
weather, although not enough to do any good. Fields
showing signs of drought stress, corn leaves curling.
Early color showing up in some trees; another indicator of
drought stress. Hay, silage going in, some early corn
chopping beginning. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Some hay
harvest, some manure on hay stubble. Getting ready to
start corn harvest this week, is still mostly immature
corn. Grass growth still stopped, very dry soil. Alfalfa
came through ok, summer seedings of hay coming up with
uniform stands. Richard Noel, Franklin/Grand Isle: Getting
very dry up here! Corn starting to roll and some on light
soils has turned brown. Grass not growing at all at this
point. Only where there is some stored up moisture.
Legumes doing well. All sorts of field work going on.
Farmers can travel anywhere, even over the ruts they made
in June! Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Another dry
week. This was driest August on record in St. Johnsbury.
Working on second and third cut hay. Starting to think
about chopping corn. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Sprayed
potatoes last time for blight. Seeding fields to rye soon
after picking. Enough moisture so rye germinating is good.
Tomatoes finally gave up their green and we are starting
to pick best crops of peppers in a long time. A real nice
gentle 3/8 inches of rain. Rained all day, so did a good
job. Picked produce for commercial exhibit at Rutland
fair, a tradition with us for many years. Most vegetables
in good shape, but vine crops still not mature. Feels like
Fall and Fair in the air. Have a happy week.

Reporters are from: Extension Service (Ext), Farm Service
Agency(FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Services
(NRCS), or other knowledgeable individuals.

AUGUST 2002 CROP WEATHER SUMMARY: Dry weather and high
heat prevailed in New England for the majority of August,
similar to conditions during August 2001. Where irrigation
was not available, the lack of rain had a negative impact
on many different field crops, fruits and vegetables.
Condition of the second and third crops of hay slowly
declined as the dry month wore on. Silage corn leaves were
curling and growth was stunted as growers geared up for
harvest.  Potato harvest was active in Rhode Island and
Massachusetts during August, at or ahead of normal.  No
major problems from disease had surfaced as Maine potato
growers prepared for harvest, but the crop was expected to
produce low yields due to the lack of moisture during
growth.  Maine oat and barley harvest was behind normal as
of the 25th, but the crops were rated in excellent to good
condition. The harvest of shade and broadleaf tobacco was
close to being wrapped up by the end of the month. Both
crops were rated in good to fair condition; acreage and
yield losses were anticipated from an outbreak of blue
mold disease.  Peach harvest was active during August, and
apple and pear harvests were gaining momentum at month's
end. Pear condition remained very poor throughout the
month, damaged by unfavorable conditions during the
spring.  Maine's wild blueberry harvest was complete by
month's end, with a smaller than average crop expected;
bushes were damaged during last year's dry weather, and
cool, wet conditions during pollination this year did not
improve matters. Cranberries in Massachusetts were also
struggling from the dry conditions. The berries were
smaller than average in most locations; farmers held back
from irrigating as much as they dared, in order to reserve
water to protect berries during the upcoming frost season. 

Contact Information

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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

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