Fruit farmers in Michigan are facing challenges due to recent warm weather patterns. The state, known for its 850 family-run apple orchards spanning approximately 15,378 hectares, is at risk if weather conditions shift unfavorably.
Jim Flore, an apple farmer, states, "It could be very devastating if they've started to begin blooming, so as soon as the bud starts to come out, it doesn't have that protective shield of the covering around the bud, so then it becomes very vulnerable."
Early blossoming induced by unseasonably warm weather, followed by a late frost, can result in widespread bud mortality. William Baird, Chairperson of the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, notes, "What's happened over time is that we do see these earlier and earlier warming ups, yet the frost date, the last frost date really hasn't moved that much."
Greg Lang, a former MSU professor, adds, "The longer this warm period lasts, the more of a concern it is a couple of days. We're probably fine, but a week of continuous warm temperatures, particularly into the seventies, then we figure those trees are gonna start moving quickly."
Normally, trees are expected to bud in late April to early May. Lang notes, "Love to see flowering occur in late April to early May, possibly in that later period."
Currently, Flore reports his crops remain mostly dormant, but warns, "These are still quite dormant, but look, there's a little bit of green, so if we get some really warm days, this will advance." If buds advance before the last frost, it could pose a threat to the crops.
Source: WLNS