Although Iowa apple growers experienced an overall mild season with some early frost damage, Suzanne Slack, assistant professor and extension fruit crop specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, explained that some cultivars of apple are ready ahead of schedule this season due to ongoing drought conditions across the state. “For producers without irrigation on their crops, it was a bit of a stressful year. Even with irrigation, the drought has caused some apple cultivars to be ready for harvest up to three weeks early.”
She added that it can be challenging for producers depending on their harvest infrastructure, as they have less time to hire seasonal workers to assist in the harvest and must work out solutions for selling, shipping and storing their crop ahead of the usual schedule.
According to Slack, another challenge for producers that comes along with heat and drought is insect damage. Drought conditions also weaken crops’ defenses against these insects, further compounding the issue.
Source: chronicletimes.com