The recent warm weather in Michigan has been enjoyable, but it’s causing concern for the state’s fruit farmers.
They worry that the early warmth could trigger premature budding, which could seriously harm their crops if a late frost follows.
Michigan has around 850 family-run apple orchards covering 38,000 acres. All of these could be at risk if the weather takes a sudden cold turn.
“It could be devastating if the buds start to open too soon,” said Jim Flore, an apple farmer. “Once the bud begins to emerge, it loses the protective covering and becomes very vulnerable.”
Unseasonably warm weather can cause fruit trees to bloom early, but if a frost hits afterward, the buds could be damaged or even destroyed. Experts say this pattern is becoming more common.
“We’ve been seeing these early warm spells more often, but the last frost date hasn’t changed much,” said William Baird, Chair of the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University.
However, trees won’t bud after just one warm day. Several consecutive days of warmth are needed to trigger early budding.
“If it’s just a couple of warm days, it’s not a big concern,” said Greg Lang, a former MSU professor. “But if we have a week of continuous temperatures in the 70s, the trees will start to react quickly.”
Under normal conditions, trees bloom later in the season.
“We like to see flowering in late April to early May,” Lang added.
Currently, Flore says his crops are mostly safe, but that could change if the warm weather continues for a few more weeks.
“They’re still fairly dormant now, but I’m starting to see a little green. If we get some warm days, the buds will advance,” Flore said.
If the buds develop too early and a frost hits afterward, it could spell disaster for Michigan’s fruit crops.
Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.