Early bloom could lead to crop loss

ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Fifth-generation fruit farmer Donald Rasch saw something on Thursday he's never seen before -- leaves budding on apple trees in mid-March.

That, experts say, could lead to disaster for the fruit-growing industry in Michigan.

"I would love to see a snowstorm right now," said Rasch, who farms 450 acres of mostly apple trees in the area known as the Ridge in northwest Kent County.
 
Record-setting high temperatures this week have pushed fruit trees nearly a month ahead of schedule, and that could lead to trouble if the warm spell is followed by a freeze.

Meteorologists say this part of the state has never made it through April and May without a freeze.

"We're not the people to talk to when it's 80 degrees out. It's enjoyable, but I know what the consequences are," said Rasch.

Only old-timers around the area can remember a warm spring like this one in 1945. A freeze later wiped out the entire crop.

Then, in 2010, an early spring followed by a freeze wiped out about half the crop, said Michigan State University Extension's Amy Irish-Brown, who specializes in fruit and berry crops.

The stakes are high. The apple crop alone is worth $100 million in Michigan. Michigan farmers also produce millions in other crops, such as cherries, blueberries, peaches and apricots. And the agriculture industry pays out millions in wages to farm hands and produce pickers.

If crops are lost, produce prices in the store will increase.
 
"Farmers are, on one hand, the ultimate gambler and, on the other hand, the perfect optimist," said Amy Irish-Brown of the MSU Extension. "But you can see it behind their eyes a little bit: They're worried."

Rasch said he's never seen green tips on the trees so early. At this rate, he said, the trees could bloom in early April.

"If we have bloom in April, we could have a very killing frost. Frost is our biggest fear right now," said Rasch. This could take all the orchards if we have a bad freeze."
 
Rasch hopes now for snow -- or at least a sudden cool down.
 
"We need to have some snowcover. It would cool down the ground and it would delay everything," said Rasch.
 
Storm Team 8 said a freeze is likely before the spring is over. Farmers, in the meantime, say they are at the mercy of nature.