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

10.06.2019 2036 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
09.11.2026

USA - Modernizing crop insurance to strengthen agricultural resilience

American agriculture stands at a turning point. Increasingly severe weather and water risks are driving billions in losses — more than $20 billion in 2024 alone — increasing farmers’ financial exposure and an urgent need for more adaptive insurance solutions. 

09.11.2026

Afghanistan - Greenhouse expansion raises concerns over soil, environmental damage

While greenhouses help boost agricultural production and meet market demand, experts warn that the excessive or unbalanced use of chemical fertilisers, water shortages and improper disposal of agricultural plastics can damage soil fertility and the environment.

09.11.2026

USA - Illinois Launches Cover Crop Insurance Savings Program for 2027

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is offering its insurance discount program for cover crops for the eighth year.

09.11.2026

Brazil - Interest rates and credit top agribusiness concerns

Participants call for fiscal adjustment, agricultural insurance, and policies aimed at the sector.

09.11.2026

USA - Revenue Protection crop insurance with harvest option see higher price guarantees in 2026

Prices remain below estimated break-even levels, underscoring the importance of crop insurance as farmers manage elevated production costs and tight margins heading into 2027. 

09.11.2026

Spanish kaki supply could be compromised by CO₂ gas shortages

In the coming days, the supply of Spanish kakis could be compromised due to a shortage of CO₂ gas, a key component in the deastringency process that makes the fruit marketable.

08.11.2026

Tanzania Secures $997,000 AfDB Grant to Expand Climate Insurance for Farmers

The project, titled “Bridging the Agricultural Risk Protection Gap to Scale Climate Smart Insurance,” is expected to benefit 300,000 farmers across 15 regions of Tanzania.

08.11.2026

India - Pune’s Crop Insurance Test Begins as Drought Cuts Kharif Yields

Pune’s crop insurance system is now facing a significant test after crop-cutting experiments recorded a 20-22% decline in soybean productivity and a 15% fall in maize production during a drought-affected kharif season.