Despite recent rainfall, much of Maine continues to see overall precipitation deficits that are causing reductions in soil moisture, stream flows, and groundwater levels. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows about 20% of the state in abnormal dryness, and about 55% in moderate drought. Precipitation deficits are generally largest across the southwestern quarter of the state. For example, the accumulated rainfall in Portland since May 1^st is about 6 inches below normal. In contrast, rainfall across Aroostook County and the northernmost parts of Penobscot and Piscataquis counties has been near or above normal with some areas having accumulation surpluses. For summary maps and additional information visit the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard.

The most recent 10-day forecast shows increasing temperature and humidity over the next few days with some potential for rainfall mid-week. However, the current guidance shows this precipitation steered mostly toward the north, suggesting that dryness could worsen over areas that are already impacted, especially has high temperatures increase evaporation. Daytime highs for the southern half of the state are forecast to be in the mid to high 80s, while morning lows are forecast to be in the low to mid 60s. Temperatures are forecast to be a few degrees cooler in the northern climate division and along the coast. Readers are encouraged to view local weather forecasts at weather.gov.

The NOAA/National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook (issued July 14, valid July 22–28) shows above normal temperature and near normal precipitation. The 1-month outlook for July (issued June 30) shows a lean toward above normal temperature and equal chance of above or below normal precipitation.

Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Climate

Change Institute, Cooperative Extension University of Maine. Have any

climate/weather questions related to agriculture? Send Sean an e-mail at

birkel@maine.edu

The storm last Wednesday evening was expected to carry in spored of Downy Mildew of Cucurbits. The identified strain only infects cucumbers and melons, so winter squash and pumpkins should be safe. Be sure to be scouting your crops. Preventative spray applications are much more effective than curative.

The first noticed symptoms of cucurbit downy mildew are often angular yellow leaf spots, which are angular because they are constrained by leaf veins. Corresponding dark lesions, and sometimes spores, are seen on the bottom of the leaf as the disease develops. This website from Cornell links to many photos for comparison and has lots of information.

The Cornell Climate Smart Farming online toolkit is designed to help farmers from the Northeast US improve their productivity and resiliency in the face of a changing climate. These decision support tools are used when making informed decisions about production systems based on location-specific climate data, weather forecasts, and future outlooks. Tools include calculators for Growing Degree Days for predicting pest and disease arrival, Soil Water Deficit, Winter Cover Crop Planting Dates, Etc.

The Water Deficit Calculator is particularly relevant for all farm types in Maine these days. By entering your location, soil type (level of water holding capacity), crop type, and irrigation history (last date), the tool uses localized weather data to predict the extent of crop deficit and plant stress. Check it out here.

While you harvest garlic is the perfect time to be on the lookout for leek moth. First found in Maine in 2017 in Jackman, leek moth larvae can cause significant damage to onions, garlic and leeks. Take a look at these resources for pictures of damage and management recommendations.

Leek Moth Identification and Management Guide, Cornell University

Leek Moth – A Pest of Onion Crops. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs

Leek Moth, Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project

Specialty crop (which include all fruits and vegetables) producers can now benefit from greater flexibility to use their own

records to meet crop insurance reporting requirements. USDA-RMA announced revisions that will make it easier for

specialty crop producers and other producers who sell through direct marketing outlets to obtain Federal Crop Insurance,

report their annual production, and file a loss claim.

Changes include:

• A new marketing certification that allows producers to self-certify if they will not have disinterested third-party records

(verifiable records that showed the name of the buyer, which direct marketers have never maintained) when required, and

enables them to use their own supporting production records. This will benefit direct marketers since they generally do

not have disinterested third-party records.

• Allowing producers to use their own records, thereby limiting the need for Approved Insurance Providers (AIP’s) to

require preharvest appraisals as a supporting record.

Before these changes, RMA generally required disinterested third-party records and AIP’s may have conducted preharvest

appraisals to support productions records. These updates also improve transparency in a producer’s policy by adding

production reporting definitions, listing the 30-day appeal deadline for good farming practice determinations, clarifying

where a producer can find information in the policy, and updating terminology to be consistent across the policy.

FMI: https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Topics/Specialty-Crops

To read more about this change, visit the official announcement on the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Farmers can always call the FarmAid Crisis Line during their operating hours Monday through Friday, 9am to 10pm ET at 1.800.FARMAID (1.800.327.6243). FarmAid staff are there to listen and direct you to any further assistance you may need. Farmers can fill out the online request for assistance form and a representative from FarmAid’s HotLine team will be in touch.

Have you checked out the podcast Cultivating Resilience, from Cultivemos (Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Northeast)? It is the podcast “where farm-care starts with self-care”. Episode 5: Warning Signs and How to Help released on Wednesday, July 13th. 

A simple application form will assess eligibility for the program.

The Waldo County Extension office will TEMPORARILY be located at the ...

The Washington County Extension office has a NEW PERMANENT home at the...

Agri-Mark’s Sustainable Farms Committee (SFC) is hosting a webinar on Nutritional Strategies for Reducing Methane, next Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. EDT. Dr. Andre Brito, Associate Professor of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems at University of New Hampshire, will present and Agri-Mark SFC Co-chair Beth Hodge will facilitate the conversation. This webinar is free and open to all that are interested.

 

Dr. Brito has spent the last few years feeding cows seaweed in various forms. What he and his team have found is that by adding even a small amount of seaweed into a cow's diet, they can reduce the amount of methane cows produce by up to 20%. Dr. Brito will share his findings, including the effects of feeding seaweed on milk production, feed efficiency, methane emissions and the cost benefits with webinar attendees, as well as answer questions.

 

Register Online at: https://tinyurl.com/mr2kpnza

 

The webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants after the live event.