State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 10/12/03 Issue NH-CW4103 Volume 23, Number 25 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) October 14, 2003 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary -- WARM, DRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL For the week ending October 12, 2003, there were 6 days available for field work across New England. Topsoil moisture was rated 0% very short, 2% short, 73% adequate, 25% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 0% very short, 3% short, 90% adequate, 7% surplus. Pasture condition was rated as 0% very poor, 16% poor, 45% fair, 29% good, 10% excellent. Mild temperatures mixed with warm, dry weather prevailed for much of the region. Vegetable harvest continued at a rapid pace. Major farm activities included: chopping haylage and making dry hay; harvesting potatoes, small grains, corn silage, apples, pears, cranberries and vegetables; finishing peach harvest; disking fields; spreading manure; applying lime; planting cover crops; monitoring fields; performing general farm maintenance. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year ----------------------------------------------- -- Percent -- Topsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 5 Short 2 3 18 Adequate 73 68 74 Surplus 25 29 3 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 0 0 9 Short 3 4 36 Adequate 90 88 55 Surplus 7 8 0 ----------------------------------------------- -- Field Crops Report -- Warm days and dry conditions allowed farmers to harvest crops at a rapid pace. The minimial rainfall allowed fields to dry out. Some farmers are thinking about a fourth cutting of hay. Silage corn harvest progressed to 80% complete. If weather conditions continue as is, harvest may be completed by weeks end. Potato harvest in Maine and Massachusetts made significant advances during the week and the dry conditions allowed Maine farmers to finish small grain harvest. -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report -- FRUIT: Peach harvest finished during the week while apple and pear harvest continued to make gains. Sales at local orchards, farm stands and farmer markets have been outstanding. Cranberry harvest climbed to 65%, slightly above last year and the five year average. VEGETABLES: Harvesting continued for brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, zucchini and other vegetables. Sweet corn harvest winding down. -- Crop Progress Tables -- FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition ------------------------------------------------------- Barley, ME 100 100 100 Good/Fair Oats, ME 99 100 99 Good/Fair Potatoes Maine 90 95 90 Good/Excellent Mass 70 80 85 Good/Fair Silage Corn 80 80 80 Good/Fair Sweet Corn 99 99 100 Good Dry Hay Second Cut 99 100 99 Good/Fair Third Cut 85 90 85 Good/Excellent --------------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND -------------------------------------------------------- -- % Harvested -- Crop 2003 2002 5-yr Avg Condition -------------------------------------------------------- Apples 85 75 80 Good/Fair Peaches 100 100 100 Good/Fair Pears 75 75 80 Good/Fair Cranberries,MA 65 60 60 Good -------------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary -- For the week ending Sunday, October 12, 2003 -------------------------------------------- AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI ---- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 23 81 49 +2 0.00 0.14 NH 17 80 50 +1 0.00 0.26 VT 26 80 50 +2 0.00 0.36 MA 26 79 54 +0 0.00 0.24 RI 32 75 56 +1 0.00 0.02 CT 28 80 54 -1 0.00 0.05 -------------------------------------------- Copyright 2003: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table -- Weather Summary For New England Agricultural Statistics Service Prepared By AWIS, Inc. For the Period: Monday October 6, 2003 To: Sunday October 12, 2003 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 28 73 48 -4 1928 -227 704 -86 Allagash 26 77 46 +2 1371 +28 408 +85 Augusta_State_A 34 74 52 +2 2236 +161 903 +157 Bangor_Intl_Arp 32 77 51 +2 2207 +319 890 +268 Barnard 30 76 50 +3 1802 +208 610 +158 Bath 28 77 51 -1 1977 +27 724 +64 Bethel 27 77 51 +2 1938 +83 681 +85 Brassua_Dam 30 77 49 +4 1578 +261 512 +202 Brunswick_ME 26 77 51 -1 2151 +201 846 +186 Caribou_Municip 28 76 48 +3 1767 +319 622 +244 Corinna 30 77 50 +3 2002 +245 737 +197 Danforth 31 77 49 +3 1833 +138 672 +147 Dover-Foxcroft 29 75 49 +2 1613 +19 506 +54 Durham 30 73 49 -4 1933 -286 747 -94 East_Hiram 26 73 47 -3 1859 +14 655 +65 Eustis 27 74 48 +3 1467 +190 459 +176 Frenchville 29 75 48 +4 1622 +279 527 +204 Gray 34 74 53 +3 2270 +348 924 +287 Greenville_ME 31 74 51 +5 1750 +142 584 +121 Guilford 27 74 47 -1 1515 -79 485 +33 Hollis 26 75 49 -1 1968 +210 723 +191 Houlton 27 76 49 +3 1843 +329 670 +246 Kennebunkport 29 72 48 -7 1932 -449 653 -288 Livermore_Falls 25 77 49 +2 1992 +430 769 +340 Moosehead 27 77 48 +3 1505 +188 470 +160 New_Sharon 26 79 50 +4 2028 +466 769 +340 Patten 31 77 49 +3 1748 +234 590 +166 Portage 32 78 50 +5 1823 +375 644 +266 Portland_ME 30 71 51 +1 2188 +266 862 +225 Rangeley 26 76 48 +4 1527 +283 467 +203 Sebec_Lake 29 76 49 +3 1790 +182 610 +147 Vanceboro 31 76 49 +1 1802 +163 624 +146 Waterville 32 76 51 +0 2102 -53 799 +9 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 25 73 49 -2 2136 +63 852 +113 Benton 28 75 50 +2 1855 +160 643 +167 Berlin_AG 28 76 50 +4 1918 +225 680 +183 Bethlehem 27 76 49 +1 1730 +43 582 +106 Concord 28 78 53 +3 2483 +410 1089 +350 Diamond_Pond 28 72 46 +3 1341 +223 388 +183 First_Conn_Lake 27 75 47 +3 1389 +271 409 +204 Greenville 20 80 51 +1 1843 -37 671 +86 Keene_AP 28 79 52 -1 2374 +33 983 +67 Lakeport 33 76 53 +4 2419 +497 1029 +384 Marlow 24 78 48 -4 1727 -388 597 -150 Mount_Washingto 17 55 37 +6 246 +185 6 +6 North_Conway 27 74 50 +2 2156 +251 849 +216 Otter_Brook_Lk 28 73 50 -3 2169 -172 833 -83 Plymouth 26 76 49 +2 1880 +216 655 +178 Rochester 28 72 50 -3 2199 -46 873 +21 Weare 29 73 50 -2 2152 +37 815 +68 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 26 73 48 -2 1909 +100 677 +126 Bethel 28 76 50 +2 2159 +441 832 +328 Burlington_Intl 32 77 54 +4 2641 +437 1174 +333 East_Haven 26 77 48 +4 1774 +380 603 +266 Island_Pond 28 78 49 +4 1781 +392 608 +283 Montpelier 28 75 50 +3 1953 +227 697 +185 Morrisville_AG 29 79 50 +3 2055 +337 794 +278 Mount_Mansfield 27 66 47 +8 971 +255 199 +133 Northfield 26 77 49 +3 1927 +365 690 +268 Pownal 30 76 52 +4 2065 +250 710 +158 Rochester 31 80 52 +4 2001 +283 706 +202 Rutland_AG 28 76 50 -3 2123 -192 801 -99 Sunderland 28 78 50 -2 1915 -296 629 -192 Sutton 27 78 50 +6 1784 +390 589 +252 Townshend_Lake 31 74 51 +1 2185 -5 833 +10 Union_Vill_Dam 28 77 51 +0 2132 -69 834 +5 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 29 75 52 +3 2295 +421 920 +322 Boston/Logan_In 41 74 57 +0 2866 +94 1367 +141 Greenfield 32 76 52 -2 2503 -38 1053 +2 New_Bedford 34 73 55 -4 2587 -238 1154 -112 Otis_AFB 36 70 56 +2 2600 +332 1188 +323 Plymouth 29 71 53 -2 2480 +166 1075 +172 Walpole 30 74 53 +1 2610 +306 1171 +277 West_Medway 29 77 53 +2 2624 +320 1173 +279 Chicopee/Westov 28 75 53 -4 2614 -318 1149 -197 Worcester 36 73 54 +3 2438 +284 1015 +231 Worthington 28 76 51 +1 1976 +109 678 +103 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 36 74 56 +1 2856 +220 1350 +217 Woonsocket 32 75 54 +3 2583 +317 1141 +295 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 29 73 49 -6 2117 -676 769 -482 Bridgeport/Siko 40 74 58 +1 2971 +102 1446 +123 Hartford/Bradle 31 76 54 -1 2891 +108 1356 +114 Norfolk 32 70 51 +2 2079 +224 742 +169 Norwich 32 80 54 -2 2784 +160 1303 +194 Thomaston_Dam 28 79 52 -2 2567 +300 1096 +250 Willimantic 30 76 53 -1 2691 +377 1222 +346 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.00 -0.84 0 5.91 +2.80 12 Allagash 0.10 -0.65 2 4.70 +1.52 10 Augusta_State_A 0.00 -0.82 0 6.30 +3.22 14 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.01 -0.69 1 5.61 +2.59 13 Barnard 0.02 -0.80 1 7.10 +3.60 13 Bath 0.00 -0.77 0 5.89 +3.00 8 Bethel 0.00 -0.82 0 5.17 +2.04 9 Brassua_Dam 0.03 -0.72 1 4.04 +0.83 10 Brunswick_ME 0.00 -0.77 0 4.68 +1.79 10 Caribou_Municip 0.04 -0.66 2 2.33 -0.63 14 Corinna 0.00 -0.77 0 5.81 +2.59 10 Danforth 0.00 -0.74 0 5.07 +1.93 11 Dover-Foxcroft 0.14 -0.68 2 4.40 +0.90 14 Durham 0.00 -0.79 0 4.82 +1.85 10 East_Hiram 0.00 -0.84 0 4.43 +1.37 12 Eustis 0.04 -0.62 1 3.92 +1.17 9 Frenchville 0.01 -0.74 1 3.20 +0.02 11 Gray 0.00 -0.80 0 5.74 +2.70 11 Greenville_ME 0.04 -0.78 2 4.13 +0.63 13 Guilford 0.08 -0.74 3 5.83 +2.33 18 Hollis 0.00 -0.84 0 4.33 +1.18 11 Houlton 0.04 -0.66 2 3.07 +0.00 14 Kennebunkport 0.10 -0.71 4 4.37 +1.31 18 Livermore_Falls 0.00 -0.84 0 4.86 +1.60 11 Moosehead 0.03 -0.72 2 5.14 +1.93 12 New_Sharon 0.00 -0.84 0 4.64 +1.38 10 Patten 0.04 -0.66 3 6.21 +3.14 17 Portage 0.02 -0.68 1 5.07 +2.11 11 Portland_ME 0.00 -0.80 0 3.71 +0.67 8 Rangeley 0.13 -0.57 1 4.31 +1.59 13 Sebec_Lake 0.03 -0.79 1 6.41 +2.91 11 Vanceboro 0.00 -0.77 0 4.86 +1.48 11 Waterville 0.00 -0.84 0 6.17 +3.06 13 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.00 -0.70 0 4.42 +1.79 16 Benton 0.00 -0.70 0 4.03 +1.23 10 Berlin_AG 0.11 -0.66 1 4.28 +1.30 9 Bethlehem 0.19 -0.51 1 3.76 +0.96 12 Concord 0.00 -0.70 0 4.12 +1.49 14 Diamond_Pond 0.17 -0.67 1 4.63 +1.18 16 First_Conn_Lake 0.07 -0.77 1 3.17 -0.28 10 Greenville 0.00 -0.77 0 5.30 +2.40 10 Keene_AP 0.00 -0.70 0 4.35 +1.63 11 Lakeport 0.00 -0.75 0 3.98 +1.19 11 Marlow 0.00 -0.80 0 4.34 +1.23 12 Mount_Washingto 0.21 -1.26 2 8.93 +2.64 15 North_Conway 0.01 -0.86 1 4.21 +0.94 12 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.26 -0.44 1 6.13 +3.41 13 Plymouth 0.00 -0.78 0 3.42 +0.47 12 Rochester 0.00 -0.89 0 6.04 +2.81 9 Weare 0.00 -0.80 0 5.21 +2.10 14 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.03 -0.79 1 5.35 +1.97 15 Bethel 0.03 -0.81 1 4.79 +1.42 14 Burlington_Intl 0.06 -0.57 1 3.61 +0.85 13 East_Haven 0.05 -0.70 2 4.36 +1.41 15 Island_Pond 0.08 -0.62 1 3.33 +0.48 15 Montpelier 0.00 -0.63 0 4.02 +1.50 13 Morrisville_AG 0.26 -0.46 3 3.44 +0.45 13 Mount_Mansfield 0.03 -1.16 1 8.48 +3.33 17 Northfield 0.00 -0.70 0 3.41 +0.57 9 Pownal 0.08 -0.74 1 5.60 +2.22 15 Rochester 0.23 -0.61 1 5.43 +2.06 11 Rutland_AG 0.00 -0.66 0 3.26 +0.31 11 Sunderland 0.13 -0.52 1 5.31 +2.41 13 Sutton 0.13 -0.62 1 4.27 +1.32 15 Townshend_Lake 0.24 -0.46 1 6.26 +3.39 14 Union_Vill_Dam 0.36 -0.34 1 3.74 +0.75 14 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.04 -0.66 1 4.79 +2.07 15 Boston/Logan_In 0.00 -0.70 0 2.03 -0.77 7 Greenfield 0.07 -0.70 1 8.17 +5.09 15 New_Bedford 0.01 -0.75 1 2.36 -0.61 11 Otis_AFB 0.10 -0.74 1 1.20 -2.07 7 Plymouth 0.09 -0.77 2 1.70 -1.95 14 Walpole 0.01 -0.83 1 2.54 -0.82 8 West_Medway 0.00 -0.84 0 3.02 -0.34 5 Chicopee/Westov 0.00 -0.77 0 8.79 +5.62 14 Worcester 0.00 -0.98 0 3.21 -0.63 11 Worthington 0.00 -0.79 0 6.76 +3.47 13 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.01 -0.77 1 1.20 -1.93 10 Woonsocket 0.00 -0.89 0 3.35 -0.11 9 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.01 -0.77 1 6.78 +3.43 12 Bridgeport/Siko 0.03 -0.62 1 2.46 -0.29 8 Hartford/Bradle 0.02 -0.76 1 8.19 +4.84 14 Norfolk 0.02 -0.82 1 7.51 +3.89 14 Norwich 0.04 -0.85 1 2.64 -0.91 8 Thomaston_Dam 0.00 -0.84 0 6.28 +2.71 12 Willimantic 0.01 -0.90 1 3.15 -0.51 12 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 2003: 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: Silage corn now being harvested is grain deficient. Pumpkin crop is poor. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Drier now than it was the whole summer. Frosted fields. Corn left is not mature but needs to get chopped; some fields no ears - no grain. Farmers are trying to buy hay and corn to make up for losses. Summer diseases apparent in apples. Pumpkin problems with wildlife, weeds and viruses. Not much growing now. Maples beginning to brighten the landscape. Nancy Welsh/Karen Vozarik (FSA), New Haven: Some producers still cutting hay. Some fields are too muddy. Apples look good. Silage corn good in some fields. MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Harvest nearly completed. Those who have more potatoes to harvest will need only a couple more days to finish. Fall tillage, rock picking and lime applications are the chores being undertaken now. Only a couple of cold mornings so frost should not have caused any damage to potatoes left in the ground. A beautiful weekend for field work. The fall foliage is at its peak, a pretty sight. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potato crop looks good so far. Albert Dow (NRCS), Piscataquis: Great weather. Harvesting was in full swing. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Just as corn silage harvest started again we got another inch of rain. Some fields will need to dry out before harvest can be finished. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Indian summer brought traffic checking spectacular fall foliage. Corn stalks and pumpkins for decorations are at roadside stands. Work on blueberry fields underway. Michael Tardy (FSA), Androscoggin: Much of the silage corn has been harvested with little trouble. Most of the corn has looked really good, with excellent yields. A few folks have told us of low yields in a few fields. Apples have been looking good, but many are on the small size. Harvest for all fall crops has been really good. Parker Rand (FSA), Cumberland/York: Most crops are nearing the end of harvest, equipment is being readied for winter. There is plenty of water around, the brooks and streams are full, the fall colors are peaking, the summer is over. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: Most crops are now harvested. Grain corn and soybeans left to go. Looks like the ground water is being replenished nicely. Beautiful days, beautiful foliage! Laura Rand (FSA), Oxford: What a glorious week! Farmers are busy getting the last fruits of harvest. Silage corn harvest being wrapped up; grain corn still standing; potatoes being harvested with a vengeance; and pumpkins and late squash appearing everywhere. The fall colors have been spectacular this season. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: It has been a real soggy harvest this year. Most folks reported both sides of average yields, but kernel is mostly little above milk stage. Grain corn producers may have a low yield. At this time in past years, most ears were hanging down and drying. About 2/3 of the cutting has been mowed but there is about a 3-hour window for drying, maybe the 4th day it will be dry and baled. Field vine crops were burned with frosts. Local orchards, farm stands and farmer's markets are doing a booming business. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Harvest continues at a fast rate. Cannot wait for color any longer. Crops continue to be disappointing. Much insect damage, more than desired fruit rot, poor color. Growers are not a happy group, for the most part. David Rose (FSA), Bristol: The season is winding down. Silage corn harvest will be completed this week if the weather remains good. Sweet corn harvest is also just about finished. The apple crop is terrific. Sales at farm stands remain good. Still making some hay. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: Crop fields have dried out this week with only a small amount of rainfall. Corn silage and potato harvest continued at a fast pace with the dryer field conditions. Many producers are reporting a very good crop of apples. Farm stands had excellent business this holiday weekend due to the gorgeous fall foliage. Gary Guida, Worcester: Busy holiday weekend as consumers out in search of the perfect pumpkin. All fall crops did really well at retail level. Monday just the perfect fall day in New England! Field work consisted of mowing/cleaning up fields and planting cover crops. Going out today to harvest cranberries (just a wild bog). Have a good week. NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Frost ended most vegetable harvests. Several varieties of apples are being picked. Fall sales of apples, cider, pumpkins, corn stalks and mums are going strong. Farmers continue with field work - spreading manure, disking, planting cover crops, etc. Most silage corn has been harvested. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Warm, dry weather allowed for some good quality 3rd and 4th cut hay to be put up . Silage corn still in the field is showing the affect of several frosts. The weather has been fantastic and grass pastures are still providing quality feed. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: Gorgeous Indian summer weather most of the week. Farms are just finishing corn chopping - whatever remains in the field looks pretty poor at this point. A few farms have started a fourth cut on grass and/or alfalfa. Manure is being spread and cover crops are being seeded on harvested corn fields. Apple harvest continues. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Harvest of corn silage continues at good pace, some lower fields along river hit by frost/freeze. A little hay still coming in, pasturing continues as possible. Local apples - including Honey Crisp now - and pumpkins, corn stalks available at local stands and markets. About peak color up here making for good holiday weekend sales from visitors. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Another excellent week for chopping corn or getting in that last cut of haylage. No rain and excellent field conditions. The pumpkin crop looks good. Apples are a little smaller according to a couple of growers. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Fruit: Pick-your-own apple operations had rainy weekend on Sunday, sales were off. Apple harvest is in full swing with most growers concentrating on strip picking McIntosh, Macoun, and Cortland. Harvesting late maturing varieties like Red Delicious, Empire, etc. Fruit size is excellent, but bruising can be a problem. Pear harvest almost completed. Vegetables: Harvesting wide array of vegetables that are left, including cool season crops like cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, lettuce, winter squash and pumpkins; warm season vegetables like sweet corn, tomatoes and peppers are done for the season. Farmers kept busy working on harvested fields by pulling plastic mulch & tomato stakes, disking fields, cleaning up fields, and planting cover crops. Field Crops: Field corn harvest in full swing; the end is in sight. Cover crops were being planted in harvested fields. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Harvesting fall raspberries, pumpkins, apples. Pick-Your-Own apple operations were very busy on Saturday and Monday. We had some light frost. Cleaning vegetable fields, liming and planting cover crops. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Plenty of field work being done with good weather to match. Field corn being chopped, haying, harvesting winter squash and vegetables of all kinds. Good cole crops coming in, roadside stands are full of mums, fruits, vegetables, ornamental corn and gourds. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille: Corn silage harvest is winding down after a great crop year. Last week's favorable weather allowed for both third and fourth cut grass harvest. Many are starting to empty their manure pits and plow corn ground. Great winter squash year with good yields and happy growers. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: Farmers should be finishing their corn harvest this week. Some farmers are still harvesting a little 3rd and 4th cut hay but most are done for the season. Last week was perfect for harvesting - warm and dry. Lynette Hamilton/Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: The last of the corn is being harvested, only shell corn left to do - still too wet to pick. Some sweet corn is still on market shelves. Pumpkins and squash are in high demand now along with onions and potatoes. Jeff Carter (Ext), Addison: Harvesting corn silage nearly complete. Some corn (<15%) being left to dry for shell corn. Alfalfa fields vigorous, especially where manure was applied recently. Hayfields - alfalfa dieback areas of fields evident where next to very slow regrowth grasses. Manure spreading on grass hay and cut corn fields. Some primary tillage - plowing. New seedings of hay are very dense and vigorous. Pasture has lots of leaf rust, tree leaves and slow regrowth. Eric Winchester (FSA) Orange/Windsor: We had a little Indian summer weather this week. The sunshine was welcomed by farmers who were having a tough time getting out onto their wet fields to chop the last of the corn and get in the last of the hay crop. The light frosts we had the past two weeks have helped to dry out the corn, which was a good deal more green than one would expect for this time of year. This past Sunday brought a little rain. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Dry, very warm week. Many farms finished chopping corn, this led to very happy farmers. Very good yields in general this year - for both hay and corn silage. Some record yields for corn. Quite a bit of bear damage reported, the thought is that this is due to this not being a big beech nut or wild apple year. Some folks trying to harvest that last bit of hay or haylage. Frost early in the week, highs later in the week in the high 70's. There did not seem to be a peak of foliage this year, but a 2 week span of quite nice color. Not much red. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Rain - 0.659 inches this week. Jack Frost finally came and brought us a great spell of weather, not only to enjoy but to get crops in for the last round up. 73 days of sweet corn without a miss. Winter rye looks good with just a small field left to seed. Main crops all harvested, dry beans pulled, and starting to husk a nice crop of popcorn. Still picking beets, carrots, cabbage and broccoli. Just about to wish folks a happy Halloween. -- 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: Dianne Johnson, Emily McAllister Stat Assistant: Wayne Colpitt Deputy Director: Joe Samson 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 ***********************