Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Rainy Pennsylvania Weather Limits Fieldwork

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Rainy Pennsylvania Weather Limits Fieldwork
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 06/25/2019

Pennsylvania had a fair week for field activities with an average of 3.0 days suitable for field work. State temperatures last week were reported with a low of 52°F, a high of 85°F, and an average temperature of 68°F. Rainy weather throughout the week allowed for limited fieldwork. Wet field conditions held up hay harvesting, leaving many farmers needing to catch up on first cutting.

Barley harvest is expected to start soon.

Vegetables have started being harvested and have been seen at farmer's markets in many counties.

Apples began their June drop stage with some reports of damage from recent hailstorms.

Peaches continued to see reports of excellent condition.

Field activities included spraying and preparing harvesting equipment for wheat harvest.

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.

ADAMS County, Judy A. Behney: Adams County started mornings around 70 degrees with humidity. Most mornings started with some rain showers and daytime temperatures into the 80's. We had some rainfall everyday and very sporadic as to locations and accumulations. York Springs area this week had 1.25 inches and other areas of the county had dumping rains for five minutes then the next thing you know it stopped and sunshine was out. We are still pretty wet and need several days in a row without rainfall to help producers get started on haymaking and finish up planting. Corn and soybeans continue to grow. Topdressing was happening this week in the county when conditions permitted. Some crops were planted this week however with the rain showers everyday made it interesting to get things going. Still more soybeans to get planted plus double cropping after wheat and hay still to do but those crops need harvested before can get that accomplished. Wheat and barley are ripening and coloring. Barley will be harvested here next few days and about a week till Wheat will be starting to be harvested. Hay continues to be a challenge to get made with the weather conditions but some producers mow a little and are getting some made in smaller acres because of weather timeframe before the next rains. Some hay and small grains are lodged due to the rains so makes things harder to harvest when that has happened. Apples are in June drop and some damage from earlier hail is apparent. Yields and quality issues will be for apples due to hail, rainy weather and diseases etc. Peaches are looking pretty good. Vegetables are being harvested and available at farmers markets throughout the county or at local fruit stands. Overall the producers are being kept busy with whatever the weather allows them to do as far as fieldwork trying to get things harvested or planted or maintained once planted.

ADAMS/FRANKLIN counties, Thomas Kerr: Good week for making hay. Combining barley for grain is well underway. Yields normal. Corn is growing well. Fruit still looks like a normal crop. Peaches are going to be good and plentiful.

CENTRE County, Dick A. Decker: Another wet week, good for growing crops but field work is limited. Signs of nitrogen leaching.

COLUMBIA County, John O Yocum Bad week for field work. Corn height 7" to 28".

DAUPHIN/PERRY counties, Liz Bozak: More rain has halted field activities for the week. The weather did favor emerged corn and soybean. Summer annual weeds also have been growing rapidly with the weather. The list is rather long: yellow foxtail, yellow nutsedge, common lambsquarters, pigweed, Eastern black nightshade, common ragweed, giant ragweed, and Virginia copperleaf to name a few. Two year old poison hemlock plants are now in full bloom. The flowering poison hemlock is about four to six feet tall with white umbrella-shaped blossoms and reddish-purple spots on the stems. This plant is frequently mistaken with wild carrot, wild parsnip, or yarrow. If you need help with identification, contact your local Extension office (Dauphin 717 921 8803, Perry 717 582 5150). Bean leaf beetle and slug activity in soybeans remains low.

JUNIATA/SNYDER counties, William C. Sheaffer: Another week of heavy rainfall that limited the field activities. Due to the heavy rainfall there are area that are showing signs of too much rain. Field activities were limited to spraying and preparing harvesting equipment for wheat harvest.

LACKAWANNA County, Eric Johnson: Another rainy week put hay harvest at a standstill. After a dry weekend, farmers are hoping for a warm, dry week to catch up on first cutting and give their corn a much needed boost.

LANCASTER County, Jeff Graybill: Rainfall varied across the county with several areas very wet, while some areas in the southern and eastern end receiving only a few tenth's of an inch. Barley harvest is underway while some wheat fields may be fit this week. Pumpkin, vegetable and tobacco planting is finally finishing up. In general crops look good considering the wet weather. Early planted soybeans are flowering while the early corn is above waist height.

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