State NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY CROP WEATHER Week ending date 9/25/05 Issue NH-CW3704 Volume 25, Number 22 (issued weekly on the Internet, May - October) September 26, 2005 - 4 pm -- Agricultural Summary-- A GREAT WEEK FOR HARVEST GENERAL CONDITIONS: For the week ending September 25, 2005, there were 6.1 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was rated 5% very short, 18% short, 76% adequate, 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 5% very short, 16% short, 77% adequate, 2% surplus. Pasture condition was rated 6% very poor, 11% poor, 48% fair, 29% good and 6% excellent. Warm conditions dominated the six-state region until a cool front arrived over the weekend. On Monday, clear skies moved in; however, light rain fell on Tuesday. By Wednesday, the skies became clear again and remained so until Saturday. On Sunday, cloudy conditions returned and brought some late evening showers. Farmers are hoping that the recent rains provide enough moisture to enhance third cutting of haylage. The weather provided ideal conditions for PYO apples and other fruits. Farm stands were full of mums, pumpkins and an array of fruits and vegetables. Major farm activities included baling hay, chopping corn silage, chopping grass, harvesting an array of fruits and vegetables, monitoring crops for pests and diseases, spraying fungicides and pesticides, spreading manure, and weeding. SOIL MOISTURE ACROSS NEW ENGLAND --------------------------------------------- Soil Rating This Week Last Week Last Year -- Percent -- Very Short 5 6 0 Short 18 28 6 Adequate 76 65 84 Surplus 1 1 10 Subsoil Moisture Very Short 5 7 0 Short 16 25 5 Adequate 77 67 87 Surplus 2 1 8 --------------------------------------------- -- Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crops Report FRUIT: It was a great week to pick fruits and berries. Cranberry harvest continued at a slow pace. The recent lack of rain has caused a small berry size and some growers expect less of a crop then previously estimated. Another week should help improve the quality and color of the berries. Peach harvest prospered with a week of warm weather. Crop condition was rated good to fair in the region as picking was winding down. Apple harvest reached the mid point of the season at week's end. Apple sizes varied throughout the region, below average to average in CT, average to below average in ME, and average elsewhere. Harvest of most early apple varieties has finished, however, McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, and Macoun are left to be picked. Orchardists also reported some apple dropping. Pear harvest was in full swing and crop condition was rated fair in New England. VEGETABLES: Cooler weather slowed vegetable harvest in some areas; however the mixture of warm and cool temperatures allowed growers to stay busy picking crops. Sweet corn harvest was near completion at week's end and condition was rated good to excellent and good to fair elsewhere. Producers were still harvesting beans, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cucumbers, greens, kale, lettuce, melons, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, snap beans, summer squash, tomatoes, and winter squash. Growers were also busy discing, cleaning and planting cover crops on harvested fields. Some farmers were also chopping corn stalks from sweet corn fields that were already picked. FIELD CROPS: Farmers were busy with field work as they prepared for this week's wet weather due to remnants of Rita. The warm days provided ideal conditions for shade tobacco growers to wrap up harvest and curing. Farmers continued chopping corn silage as harvest reached the half-way point. Farmers are hoping that the recent rains will enhance grass re-growth to improve second and third cutting yields. Second cutting of hay should finish in the next couple of weeks if weather permits. Third cutting of hay remains uncertain for some farmers due to recent conditions; however almost three quarters of the harvest is completed. Maine barley and oats conditions have changed in recent weeks due to unfavorable weather. Barley condition was rated fair and oats were good to fair, compared to good to excellent for both crops two weeks ago. Potato harvest in Maine was in full swing and growers were busy with field work over the weekend. The weather provided great conditions for harvest of potatoes in Massachusetts. More rain is needed in Rhode Island to aid in potato harvest and to improve conditions. -- Crop Progress Tables FIELD CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ---------------------------------------------------- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Avg Condition ---------------------------------------------------- -- Percent Harvested -- Barley, ME 90 95 90 Fair Oats, ME 85 85 85 Good/Fair Potatoes Maine 10 30 30 Good/Fair Mass. 65 70 60 Good Rhode Isl. 75 95 85 Fair/Good Sweet Corn 95 95 95 Good/Fair Field Corn 50 35 40 Good/Excellent Tobacco Shade 100 100 100 Good Dry hay, 2nd cut 90 95 95 Good Dry hay, 3rd cut 70 70 75 Good/Fair ---------------------------------------------------- FRUIT CROP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ----------------------------------------------------- --Percent Harvested-- Crop 2005 2004 5-yr Fruit Condition Avg Size ----------------------------------------------------- Apples 50 55 50 Avg Good/Fair Peaches 95 95 95 Avg Good/Fair Pears 65 70 55 Avg/B.Avg Fair Cranberries, MA 5 <5 10 Avg/B.Avg Good ----------------------------------------------------- -- Weather Summary For the Period: Monday September 19, 2005 To: Sunday September 25, 2005 AIR TEMPERATURES PRECIPITATION STATE LO HI AVG DFN LO HI -- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ME 29 82 58 +4 0.00 0.98 NH 27 85 60 +6 0.00 0.52 VT 31 83 60 +6 0.00 0.82 MA 32 85 65 +6 0.00 0.24 RI 39 83 67 +7 0.00 0.14 CT 37 86 66 +6 0.00 0.06 ------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -- Weather Information Table For the Period: Monday September 19, 2005 To: Sunday September 25, 2005 AIR CUM SINCE MAR 1 TEMPERATURE GROWING DEGREE DAYS ----------- BASE-50F BASE-60F STATION LO HI AVG DFN TOT DFN TOT DFN ------- -- -- -- -- --- ---- --- ---- MAINE Albion 35 78 59 +2 1907 -169 787 +1 Allagash 29 71 50 -1 1423 +98 474 +151 Augusta_State_A 41 81 62 +6 2203 +198 1017 +273 Bangor_Intl_Arp 36 78 61 +5 2151 +322 947 +325 Barnard 33 76 57 +4 1793 +231 687 +235 Bath 38 80 59 +3 1907 +24 767 +107 Bethel 35 79 59 +4 1971 +169 811 +215 Brassua_Dam 36 73 56 +5 1585 +291 560 +250 Brunswick_ME 39 80 61 +4 2041 +158 900 +240 Caribou_Municip 32 71 54 +3 1738 +312 665 +287 Corinna 35 80 60 +6 1974 +257 824 +284 Danforth 34 73 56 +3 1732 +69 647 +122 Dover-Foxcroft 33 77 57 +5 1667 +105 582 +130 Durham 38 76 59 +1 1932 -207 790 -49 East_Hiram 36 78 59 +4 1934 +140 790 +200 Eustis 29 73 53 +3 1496 +241 498 +215 Frenchville 36 70 53 +3 1715 +390 662 +339 Gray 38 81 63 +7 2237 +380 1053 +416 Greenville_ME 40 72 57 +4 1743 +168 664 +201 Guilford 32 77 58 +6 1803 +241 715 +263 Hollis 33 81 60 +6 2011 +296 867 +335 Houlton 30 72 54 +3 1741 +251 677 +253 Kennebunkport 37 80 59 -1 1844 -433 728 -205 Livermore_Falls 32 82 59 +6 2009 +478 874 +445 Moosehead 32 72 55 +4 1534 +240 512 +202 New_Sharon 33 81 59 +7 1978 +447 849 +420 Patten 34 70 53 +2 1629 +139 588 +164 Portage 33 72 53 +2 1696 +270 638 +260 Portland_ME 40 81 63 +7 2192 +335 1011 +374 Rangeley 35 75 57 +6 1600 +378 553 +289 Sebec_Lake 38 74 57 +5 1767 +192 661 +198 Vanceboro 34 73 56 +2 1715 +115 626 +148 Waterville 39 81 61 +4 2072 -4 912 +126 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 32 80 59 +3 2083 +76 919 +180 Benton 38 78 59 +5 1947 +300 799 +323 Berlin_AG 37 78 58 +5 1961 +308 806 +309 Bethlehem 33 80 58 +4 1948 +304 803 +327 Concord 36 84 63 +7 2460 +453 1199 +460 Diamond_Pond 33 72 54 +4 1466 +367 480 +275 First_Conn_Lake 30 73 54 +5 1440 +341 452 +247 Greenville 40 84 64 +9 2542 +725 1271 +686 Keene_AP 37 82 62 +4 2450 +197 1183 +274 Lakeport 44 82 64 +9 2475 +606 1216 +571 Marlow 35 81 59 +3 2172 +132 973 +228 Mount_Washingto 27 53 44 +6 369 +308 15 +15 North_Conway 36 80 60 +6 2172 +317 973 +340 Otter_Brook_Lk 39 81 61 +3 2260 +7 1022 +113 Plymouth 35 80 59 +6 2004 +378 840 +363 Rochester 38 85 62 +4 2260 +100 1048 +202 Weare 40 82 62 +5 2261 +221 1039 +294 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 37 77 59 +5 2042 +291 857 +306 Bethel 37 80 60 +6 2165 +502 964 +460 Burlington_Intl 40 81 63 +7 2630 +495 1334 +495 East_Haven 31 80 58 +7 1937 +571 792 +455 Island_Pond 32 77 58 +6 1882 +526 764 +439 Montpelier 36 78 60 +6 2226 +550 1010 +498 Morrisville_AG 34 79 58 +5 1920 +249 789 +273 Mount_Mansfield 36 64 52 +6 1172 +463 267 +201 Northfield 35 80 59 +7 2060 +537 880 +458 Pownal 39 79 60 +5 2243 +486 978 +426 Rochester 38 80 60 +6 2163 +500 959 +455 Rutland_AG 39 82 62 +5 2347 +122 1108 +221 Sunderland 38 80 60 +3 2248 +117 1011 +201 Sutton 36 77 57 +6 1867 +501 747 +410 Townshend_Lake 39 82 61 +4 2328 +217 1079 +262 Union_Vill_Dam 34 83 59 +2 2128 +1 939 +115 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 39 79 63 +8 2390 +572 1125 +527 Boston/Logan_In 48 85 68 +6 2763 +140 1470 +274 Greenfield 41 83 64 +5 2524 +97 1227 +194 New_Bedford 37 82 65 +3 2517 -144 1237 +6 Otis_AFB 39 81 66 +6 2710 +554 1380 +528 Plymouth 37 82 65 +6 2491 +283 1262 +371 Walpole 41 83 65 +7 2691 +478 1383 +501 West_Medway 40 82 64 +7 2531 +318 1250 +368 Chicopee/Westov 39 85 66 +4 2856 +67 1475 +158 Worcester 47 80 65 +8 2602 +536 1303 +531 Worthington 36 81 61 +5 2186 +389 946 +372 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 45 83 68 +6 2943 +442 1591 +483 Woonsocket 39 83 65 +8 2685 +505 1362 +522 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 38 79 61 -1 2411 -258 1111 -116 Bridgeport/Siko 51 85 70 +7 3052 +348 1624 +341 Hartford/Bradle 40 86 67 +7 3044 +381 1637 +415 Norfolk 44 78 62 +7 2273 +479 1003 +430 Norwich 42 84 66 +6 2837 +338 1481 +395 Thomaston_Dam 44 83 65 +7 2711 +546 1368 +538 Willimantic 39 83 65 +6 2723 +512 1366 +503 1-WEEK PRECIP 4-WEEK CUM PRECIP ------------- ----------------- TOTAL TOTAL STATION INCHES DFN DAYS INCHES DFN DAYS ------- ----- ---- --- ----- ---- --- MAINE Albion 0.13 -0.63 4 4.79 +1.73 13 Allagash 0.85 +0.01 3 3.24 -0.27 9 Augusta_State_A 0.12 -0.64 4 3.45 +0.58 14 Bangor_Intl_Arp 0.12 -0.65 5 3.99 +0.79 15 Barnard 0.14 -0.77 3 5.63 +1.99 14 Bath 0.40 -0.30 2 5.42 +2.62 11 Bethel 0.02 -0.75 1 4.51 +1.32 9 Brassua_Dam 0.47 -0.37 4 5.32 +1.92 13 Brunswick_ME 0.59 -0.11 1 6.28 +3.48 9 Caribou_Municip 0.41 -0.36 4 4.81 +1.51 11 Corinna 0.30 -0.54 3 4.90 +1.44 10 Danforth 0.25 -0.57 3 4.97 +1.53 12 Dover-Foxcroft 0.06 -0.85 1 3.85 +0.21 8 Durham 0.31 -0.39 2 2.81 +0.01 12 East_Hiram 0.24 -0.47 2 3.64 +0.71 10 Eustis 0.15 -0.55 3 5.06 +2.15 13 Frenchville 0.87 +0.03 5 4.80 +1.29 10 Gray 0.45 -0.29 1 3.59 +0.75 9 Greenville_ME 0.11 -0.80 3 6.32 +2.68 12 Guilford 0.20 -0.71 4 5.44 +1.80 14 Hollis 0.24 -0.53 2 2.48 -0.55 8 Houlton 0.21 -0.60 4 5.03 +1.58 13 Kennebunkport 0.18 -0.57 1 2.63 -0.22 9 Livermore_Falls 0.16 -0.66 1 3.07 -0.35 10 Moosehead 0.33 -0.51 4 5.63 +2.23 13 New_Sharon 0.03 -0.79 1 3.20 -0.22 11 Patten 0.20 -0.61 3 5.34 +1.89 12 Portage 0.39 -0.38 4 2.38 -0.92 9 Portland_ME 0.16 -0.58 2 2.60 -0.24 10 Rangeley 0.12 -0.58 4 4.24 +1.23 14 Sebec_Lake 0.16 -0.75 3 5.79 +2.15 13 Vanceboro 0.20 -0.71 2 4.81 +1.21 11 Waterville 0.65 -0.11 2 4.72 +1.66 11 NEW_HAMPSHIRE Barnstead 0.25 -0.38 1 2.48 -0.17 8 Benton 0.18 -0.52 2 3.85 +0.80 10 Berlin_AG 0.00 -0.71 0 3.23 +0.06 9 Bethlehem 0.28 -0.42 3 3.98 +0.86 13 Concord 0.17 -0.46 1 2.17 -0.48 9 Diamond_Pond 0.43 -0.46 3 4.85 +0.96 13 First_Conn_Lake 0.40 -0.49 4 6.36 +2.47 15 Greenville 0.00 -0.70 0 1.16 -1.83 6 Keene_AP 0.00 -0.67 0 1.55 -1.33 6 Lakeport 0.15 -0.51 1 3.15 +0.36 9 Marlow 0.06 -0.71 1 3.06 -0.07 8 Mount_Washingto 0.22 -1.43 2 7.10 +0.03 9 North_Conway 0.19 -0.58 1 5.93 +2.71 9 Otter_Brook_Lk 0.03 -0.64 1 2.99 +0.11 10 Plymouth 0.52 -0.18 1 4.10 +1.16 9 Rochester 0.22 -0.55 1 2.44 -0.55 9 Weare 0.11 -0.66 2 2.51 -0.62 10 VERMONT Ball_Mt_Lake 0.03 -0.81 1 2.45 -1.15 9 Bethel 0.25 -0.59 1 4.82 +1.20 10 Burlington_Intl 0.33 -0.39 3 4.34 +1.15 11 East_Haven 0.22 -0.54 4 5.13 +1.78 14 Island_Pond 0.17 -0.54 4 5.61 +2.31 15 Montpelier 0.09 -0.54 4 3.57 +0.79 15 Morrisville_AG 0.21 -0.56 3 4.13 +0.69 12 Mount_Mansfield 0.82 -0.54 4 6.84 +0.87 14 Northfield 0.06 -0.64 1 2.90 -0.16 9 Pownal 0.29 -0.55 2 3.69 +0.09 9 Rochester 0.40 -0.44 1 4.32 +0.70 11 Rutland_AG 0.25 -0.53 1 5.05 +1.63 9 Sunderland 0.11 -0.66 2 3.01 -0.35 9 Sutton 0.23 -0.53 4 5.46 +2.11 15 Townshend_Lake 0.04 -0.69 1 3.14 +0.00 9 Union_Vill_Dam 0.48 -0.29 1 4.04 +0.95 9 MASSACHUSETTS Ashburnham 0.02 -0.61 1 1.34 -1.39 9 Boston/Logan_In 0.01 -0.69 1 2.00 -0.88 7 Greenfield 0.21 -0.56 1 3.45 +0.25 9 New_Bedford 0.02 -0.75 1 9.87 +6.59 8 Otis_AFB 0.12 -0.68 2 5.45 +2.34 8 Plymouth 0.00 -0.93 0 8.23 +4.36 7 Walpole 0.07 -0.77 1 4.11 +0.61 9 West_Medway 0.06 -0.78 1 3.64 +0.14 9 Chicopee/Westov 0.08 -0.73 1 3.28 -0.05 8 Worcester 0.14 -0.83 1 2.88 -0.82 7 Worthington 0.04 -0.80 1 2.15 -1.31 8 RHODE_ISLAND Providence 0.14 -0.63 1 6.51 +3.22 6 Woonsocket 0.03 -0.82 1 3.95 +0.37 9 CONNECTICUT Bakersville 0.00 -0.85 0 2.79 -0.79 8 Bridgeport/Siko 0.00 -0.70 0 2.31 -0.56 7 Hartford/Bradle 0.00 -0.85 0 1.72 -1.86 8 Norfolk 0.03 -0.90 1 2.29 -1.64 9 Norwich 0.00 -0.91 0 5.08 +1.44 8 Thomaston_Dam 0.06 -0.85 2 2.81 -0.98 10 Willimantic 0.03 -0.90 1 1.64 -2.02 8 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 2005: AWIS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIShome page at www.awis.com or call toll free at1-888-798-9955. -- Other Agricultural Comments and News CONNECTICUT - Howard Rood (FSA), Fairfield/Litchfield: A lot of corn was harvested this past week. Fields are dry enough in most places to allow for an easy harvest. The crop looks very good in most places. Some later third cut hay is also being harvested. The county still hasn't had a hard frost. Jude Boucher (Ext), Tolland: Finally a little rain with the wash from Hurricane Katrina, but the soil is already dry again. Ross Eddy (FSA), Hartford/Tolland: Chopping corn for silage continues and several farmers are finished. Corn is drying down very fast and some is ready to pick. Irrigation continues on sod and veggies. Picking pumpkins, Indian corn and gourds. Tobacco is curing nicely in sheds. Frank Himmelstein (Ext), New London: Hay-Growers waiting to see if some rainfall and favorable temperatures will produce another late cutting. Field Corn-Chopping continues in the county, though many growers are finished. The typical late planted wet fields are being chopped now and look good considering the lack of additional moisture during the growing season. Marsha Jette (FSA), New London: Farmers are very concerned with dry conditions in the county. Silage corn in some areas was harvested early due to dryness of the crop. Dawn Pindell (FSA), Windham: Apples are small. A bit of rain. Corn harvest varies. Spreading manure. Hoping hay perks up for another cutting. Vegetables - some good, some not so hot. Pumpkins and mums ready. Still a bit hot as fall has officially begun. Richard Meinert (Ext), CT Cooperative: Finishing up third cutting hay, harvesting corn silage, going to fairs. What better way to spend the time? MAINE - Marvin Hedstrom, Northern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: All growers have begun harvesting potatoes. Still harvesting small grains, however the weather has not been cooperating very well. Most growers were in the fields Sunday September 25 because rains are predicted for the beginning of the week. Crops looks good, however yields are down. Some pink rot has been found in only certain varieties. Pam Hickey (Ext), Central Aroostook: Broccoli harvesting continues. Most area farmers have started to harvest their potato crop. Hopefully, the current showers will cease and harvesting will continue this week. The crop is looking excellent. Steve London, Southern Aroostook: Potatoes and small grains: Some of the farmers have started harvesting potatoes, quality looks good. Some are still doing vine kill on the later varieties. Leslie Nelson (NRCS), Piscataquis: Early varieties of apples reported to have low yields and smaller size, but later varieties seem to be average. Farmers hoping to start harvesting potatoes and chopping corn silage this week. Donna Lamb (Ext), Piscataquis: Harvest of forage corn is in full swing. Some areas of the county experienced a light frost Saturday morning. Fall is here! Gleason Gray (Ext), Penobscot: Cool nights have slowed some vegetable harvest. Moisture levels have been good for fall growth of strawberry plantings. Donald Burke (FSA), Waldo: Silage corn harvest has begun with great late summer weather all week. Winter squash, pumpkins, and fall vegetables now at local farmers markets. This is the time of year for weed control on blueberry fields. Trudy Soucy (FSA), Knox/Lincoln: Corn stalks and pumpkins for decorations are plentiful at farm stands. Many varieties of winter squash are available. Sweet corn still available but winding down. Field work on blueberry fields underway, but no burning yet. Sandy Truslow (FSA), Cumberland/York: Harvesting of silage corn has begun. Third crop of hay is almost non-existent. Pick your own apples is in full swing. Gary Raymond (FSA), Franklin: First frost hits low spots in this area. Vegetables are hustling out of the garden. Corn silage is flying into the wagons. Marcia Hall (FSA), Oxford: Oxford County producers are busy harvesting crops. Producers have reported that 2nd crop hay is lighter than first crop hay in Oxford County. Apples are being harvested and the size of some of the fruit is small. Laura Rand (FSA), Androscoggin: Silage and potatoes are being harvested with a vengeance. Cool nights and warm days. MASSACHUSETTS - Arthur Williams (FSA), Berkshire: A great dry week for harvesting silage, corn is drying down fast making good feed. All veggie crops are getting harvested and are selling. Some moisture Sunday AM, but cool. Several good fields of soybeans coming along, drying and looks good. Pumpkin losses have been reported, very low yield. Frank Caruso (Ext), Plymouth: Cranberries: Harvesting continues at a slow pace. Early varieties have had smaller crops as expected due to small berry size. Some crops are 25% less than estimates. It appears that we will not get the 1.7 million barrel estimate for the MA crop. We probably had a significant frost night from Saturday into Sunday. Color should improve dramatically this week. Quality continues to be very good to excellent. John Devine (FSA), Franklin: Heavy July rains are a pain to some and a boon to others. Many pumpkin and winter squash growers have reported yields are much lower than normal as a result of water related diseases. Other farmers are trying to sever erosion problems caused by too much rain too fast. Silage harvesters were working late this week to cut as much corn as possible. Farmers are reporting that this year's yields are "off the chart" heavy. Average silage yields in the 25-30 ton/acre are not uncommon in the Conn. River valley. So far, September has also been a great month for harvesting high quality alfalfa haylage. Ted Smiarowski, Jr. (FSA), Hampshire/Hampden: The weather was very nice last week and growers continue harvesting apples, potatoes, winter squash, and silage corn. Farmers have applied a cover crop on many of the harvested fields. Irrigation pipe and plastic mulch is also being removed from the fields of summer crops. Gary Guida, Worcester: Fall field harvest ending with last of pumpkins and winter squash arriving at farm stands. We growers however, are still busy picking sweet corn and tomatoes. Other farm activities were mowing fields, chopping sections of picked sweet corn, weeding and cultivating new strawberry fields. Fall army worm less than 1% here. Citizen demand for sweet corn still very high. Cooler weather this weekend brought apple, pumpkin, and mum sales way up. Fall raspberries this year are so sweet and large! NEW HAMPSHIRE - Amy Ouellette (Ext), Belknap: Fall sales at farm stands and garden centers are strong. All of the late season crops are now being harvested. The weather has been nice for field work but rain has not been consistent. Tina Savage (Ext), Carroll: Little or no rain, hot and humid for September. Apples and pears in full swing. Blueberries still wrapping up, turned out much better than the spring weather would have predicted. Mums and pumpkins at every farm stand and garden center. Carl Majewski (Ext), Cheshire: A little rain early in the week, with the remainder dry and sunny. Just a few ice crystals on the windshield Saturday AM after a chilly night, but no frost damage apparent anywhere. Remaining field corn is maturing rapidly; a number of farms were able to finish up, and the others are making good progress. Some spreading manure on stubble. Still plenty of vegetables in stands. Great weather for PYO apples, now into midseason varieties. Steve Turaj (Ext), Coos: Cooler weather all around, reports of scattered frosts about the county, harder frosts further north. Growing degree days just past 1800 at our Lancaster station. Corn silage chopping continues, seeing some very good yields and quality. Haylage also being harvested. Many apples, pumpkins, and winter squash at farm stands. A good crop year despite the late start. Autumn color just beginning. Steve Schmidt (FSA), Grafton: Corn harvest is almost completed. This year's crop is very good. Ear development is much better than expected. The warm fall has been a big help. George Hamilton (Ext), Hillsborough: Vegetables: Great weather and good demand for all vegetables continues. Harvesting a wide array of vegetables, including warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Harvesting cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, winter squash and pumpkins. Farmers kept busy disking, cleaning up and planting cover crops on harvested fields. Fruit: Apple harvest is in full swing with most growers concentrating on second picking of McIntosh and Gala apples, and working on Cortland and Macoun. Fruit size is good, but bruising can be a problem and some orchardists seeing some apple drop. Fall raspberries and pear harvest continued with peach and plum harvest winding down. Field Crops: Silage corn harvest in full swing along with second and third cuts of hay and haylage continues. Some manure spreading on fields taking place and cover crops were being planted in harvested fields. Nada Haddad (Ext), Rockingham: Not much rain lately; we need some. Nights are much cooler especially on Saturday evening and Sunday. Continue to harvest summer and winter squash and a whole array of vegetables, some fall raspberries, and blueberries. Apple harvest in full swing. Cleaning some vegetable fields and planting cover crops. Haying and chopping corn. Mum crop and other ornamental crops are excellent and plentiful. Geoffrey Njue (Ext), Strafford: A pleasant week for field work. Haying and haylage making continued from the second cut and some third cut. Vegetable growers harvesting an array of vegetables including sweet corn and pumpkins. Fruit growers harvesting apples, peaches and fall raspberries. Fall mums sales strong at garden centers. Greenhouse growers monitoring the growth of poinsettias, and scouting for diseases and insects and spraying where necessary. RHODE ISLAND - Karen Menezes (Ext), Newport: Same need for rain, but at this point it's just a bit late. Harvesting corn, tomatoes, hard squash, pumpkins, summer squashes, apples and raspberries. Some third cut hay and field corn being cut. Beautiful mums fill the roadside stands and lots of gourds and pumpkins to fill in any spaces. VERMONT - John St. Onge/Kim Peterson (FSA), Lamoille Corn silage harvest progressed nicely last week with very good yields being reported. Some manure being spread on harvested corn acres. Soybeans almost ready for harvest. The first frost of the season touched a few areas on Saturday morning. Dave Blodgett (NRCS), Orleans: A lot of corn was harvested this past week. Fields are dry enough in most places to allow for an easy harvest. The crop looks very good in most places. Some later third cut hay is also being harvested. The county still hasn't had a hard frost. Perley Sparrow (FSA), Windham: Good harvesting week. Some farmers have completed corn harvest. Dennis Kauppila (Ext), Caledonia: Kind of warm and dry week. Still no widespread killing frost. Many are now harvesting corn for silage, and quite pleased with yields. Grass continues to grow in damper areas, very difficult to dry now. Sherwin Williams, Rutland: Digging late potatoes, a good crop. Cutting and storing winter squash, pumpkins, and cabbage. Early seeding rye fields all green with a nice winter cover. 1.488 inches of rain. Several good showers have helped the dry land. Fall is here and the season to decorate with lots of pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks. A bright and happy time of the season! 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, send an e-mail message to listserv@newsbox.usda.gov and in the body, type subscribe usda-new-eng-crop-weather Statistician: John Miyares Stat Assistant: Deirdre Davis Deputy Director: Gerald Tillman New England Agricultural Statistics 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*********************