New York Ag Connection - Long Island Buds are Swelling

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Long Island Buds are Swelling
New York Ag Connection - 04/23/2019

Fair week for field work: New York averaged 3.5 days suitable for field work.

Temperatures were somewhat seasonal ranging from cooler in some areas and warmer in others. Rain made fieldwork a challenge in some places, nonetheless, manure spreading and plowing continued to make progress.

The winter planted crops were reported as doing fairly well.

Long Island vineyards saw buds swell.

Reporters are from Extension Service (Ext), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Conservation District (CD), farmers, commodity specialists, or other knowledgeable individuals.

Broome County; Maria Heath: Ground still very wet. Heavy rain throughout the week. Grasses greening up nicely.

Cayuga County; Colleen Cargile, FSA: There was very nice weather this past week which resulted in quite a bit of spring tillage getting done along with some earlier planted crops getting in the ground such as oats, spring hay seedings, etc. However, most of the county did get quite a bit of rain Friday and Saturday, which will put field work on hold for at least a few days.

Chemung/Cortland/Tioga/Tompkins counties; Janice Degni: Alfalfa on the gravel soil noticeably broke dormancy on 4/17. Temperatures during the week were somewhat warm and immediately after a rain on 4/18, everything greened up. Lawns went from dull to bright green. Hay fields were noticeably green and early trees and shrubs like willow and shad were budding out. Hay seeding and oats planting continues. Manure applications and tillage on dryer ground continues. Early sweet corn as well as some field corn was planted by the most courageous with thousands of acreage yet to plant. Top dress for hay field was well underway. Field work continues between showers when necessary and possible.

Cortland/Tompkins counties; Jennifer Doty: Manure spreading and plowing has continued, grass is greening.

Delaware County; Mariane Kiraly, Cornell Cooperative Extension: Continued heavy rains stalled fieldwork. Warmer weather helped the fields green up but they are soaking after 2.5 inches of rain.

Madison County; Jessica Pylman: Three days of scattered rain showers with the remaining days breezy and mild. We saw a few more fields being plowed up but just as many fields with water still sitting on them. Winter planted crops look pretty good overall.

Ontario County; Joann Rogers, County Executive Director FSA: Ontario County started off the beginning of the week wet and cold but had some warm up towards the end of the week. Manure spreading and spring tillage continued on fields that were dry enough. Producers are still evaluating the condition of wheat and hay from this winter.

Oswego County; Ellen deMey: Very little progress has been made due to the cooler temperatures and moisture. The ground is still very wet and field work has yet to begin.

Rensselaer/Saratoga/Warren/Washington counties; David Holck, USDA-Farm Service Agency: We are in a weather pattern where we seem to get rain every 2 or 3 days. So far this month, we have had 4.29 inches of rain compared to the normal of 1.95 inches. Manure spreading is ongoing, but it has been too wet to do much tillage. A little sweet corn has been planted under plastic on light soils.

Schuyler/Seneca counties; Kathy Mastellar, CED, Seneca/Schuyler FSA: Weather has still been cool with limited sunshine. Little progress on field work.

Suffolk County; Alice V Wise: Buds are swelling in Long Island vineyards. Bud break will take place in the near future.

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