By Blake Jackson
For the week ending April 6, 2025, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in New York reported that fieldwork conditions remained limited due to excess moisture.
Farmers had just 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, reflecting the impact of recent weather conditions on early spring agricultural activities.
Topsoil moisture levels were reported as 60 percent adequate and 36 percent surplus, with only 4 percent considered short and none rated very short.
Subsoil moisture conditions followed a similar trend, with 62 percent rated adequate and 30 percent surplus.
Only 8 percent of subsoil moisture was reported as short, and none was listed as very short, indicating generally favorable moisture levels for crop development once field access improves.
In terms of crop progress, apple trees had reached the green tip stage on 19 percent of orchards across the state, a significant increase compared to just 5 percent at this time last year and less than 5 percent on the five-year average.
Spring tillage operations were 14 percent complete, ahead of last year’s 6 percent progress. Oat planting had also begun, with 5 percent of the crop planted statewide, slightly ahead of typical trends for early April.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-songdech17
Categories: New York, Crops