USA - Peach harvest in southwestern Michigan nearly wiped out by last winter’s polar vortex

10.06.2019 1527 views

The polar vortex that enveloped much of the Midwest early this year has nearly wiped out the peach crop in southwestern Michigan.

And it’s not just peaches, which Michigan is known for. Some of the region’s apricot, plum and apple crops also might be affected after the blast of polar air plummeted temperatures to minus 20 degrees in late January around the state.

Bill Shane, a tree fruit specialist at Michigan State University, says Michigan’s southwestern counties will suffer millions of dollars in losses from damage to fruit crops. The polar vortex also might have shortened the lifespan of trees that were severely damaged, according to Shane.

Bill Teichman recently inspected his peach trees at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm, a 500-acre orchard in Eau Claire, Michigan, and found deep, vertical cracks in some of their trunks. Others were bleeding sap. Some were hardly able to produce leaves, Teichman said.

He said he doubts that his peach trees will be able to produce fruit at all this year and that he already can tell that several need to be replaced.

A peach tree in Eau Claire, Michigan, that was badly damaged by last winter’s polar vortex.
A peach tree in Eau Claire, Michigan, that was badly damaged by last winter’s polar vortex.
AP

He also found that some of his apple varieties aren’t bearing fruit, either. He hopes to help cover his losses through an insurance claim.

His farm is still recovering from a late cold snap in 2012 that killed the farm’s peach trees.

“We’ve lost our peach crop twice in the past seven years,” he said.

Ben Smith, who manages Hinkelman Farms in Benton Harbor, Michigan, said some of the farm’s grape varieties were killed. It could take a couple of years before it can get its grapes back to full production, according to Smith.

Source - https://chicago.suntimes.com
23.04.2026

Canada - Agricorp pays out more than $253 million after challenging 2025 season with soybeans recording the biggest losses

As of mid April, Ontario farmers claimed more than $253 million in Agricorp production insurance for the 2025 season, more than double the $115 million claimed a year earlier. 

23.04.2026

USA - Cold damages Michigan apples, peaches and cherries, MSUE say losses uneven

Michigan State University Extension educators are expecting widespread but highly variable fruit damage across the state following this weekend’s low temperatures.

23.04.2026

Super Typhoon Sinlaku crop loss assessment begins to help Guam farmers, ranchers

A preliminary damage assessment of crop, livestock, and farm property losses sustained during Super Typhoon Sinlaku has started, which could help affected farmers and ranchers receive compensation to help them recover from the storm.

23.04.2026

Georgia - The Rural Development Agency implements the state agroinsurance program with an increased budget

In 2026, the budget of the state agroinsurance program amounts to 17 million GEL, which is 2 million GEL more compared to the previous year. 

23.04.2026

Nigeria - FG Pays ₦396.7m Insurance Claims to 43,000 Farmers

The Federal Government has disbursed a total of ₦396.7 million in insurance claims to over 43,000 smallholder farmers impacted by climate-related losses, in what officials describe as a strategic step toward strengthening Nigeria’s food system resilience and protecting vulnerable agricultural livelihoods.

23.04.2026

Nepal - Govt urged to adopt agroecology

The Alliance of Agriculture for Food has called on the government to revise its recently published national commitment document, advocating a transition to an environmentally friendly agricultural system based on agroecology.

22.04.2026

Bangladesh - PM rolls out master plans for 'smart agriculture'

Technology-driven modern farming is in sight in Bangladesh as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Wednesday unveiled a set of master plans to implement "smart agriculture" initiatives for boosting agricultural production, diversifying farm products and addressing climate-change impacts.

22.04.2026

USA - Capital Farm Credit acquires Ag Crop Insurance Agency

In an effort to provide the best risk protection for ag producers in the High Plains region of Texas, Capital Farm Credit has acquired Ag Crop Insurance Agency.