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

10.06.2019 1868 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
01.09.2026

South Africa - Grain SA calls for affordable crop insurance as dry weather threatens Swartland wheat

Severe rainfall shortages threatening the Swartland wheat crop have highlighted the need for government support to make crop insurance affordable for dryland producers.

01.09.2026

USA - Florida farms face nation’s highest disaster loss rate

Natural disasters destroy billions of dollars in U.S. agricultural production each year. From drought and wildfires in the West to hail in the Midwest and hurricanes in the Southeast, farms lose an average of $5.1 billion in crops and livestock annually, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

01.09.2026

Luxembourg small farmer struggles with effects of high temperatures on crops

High temperatures over the summer caused an increase of certain pests harmful to vegetables.

01.09.2026

Nearly 8,000 acres of crops damaged due to dry weather in Sri Lanka

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the estimated crop damage caused so far by the prevailing extreme dry weather conditions is nearly 8,000 acres of farmland belonging to around 7,000 farmers.

01.09.2026

Cyprus - Storm damage recorded in 183 homes as crop losses assessed

Damage to 183 homes, mainly in the Nicosia district, has been recorded following the severe weather that hit Cyprus last Saturday, the interior ministry said on Monday.

01.09.2026

USA - New USDA initiative aims to spur cattle herd rebuilding with insurance, conservation program grazing changes

New insurance options, emergency grazing authorities on Grassland Conservation Reserve Program acres, and guaranteed loans for regional meat processors are among the elements of a package unveiled by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Monday to encourage producers to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd. 

30.08.2026

Serbia's Drought Halves Crop Yields, Few Farms Insured

Drought in July and August 2026 cut yields by more than half in parts of Serbia, but only 15 percent of farmland is insured. A corn policy costs about 4,500 dinars per hectare.

30.08.2026

India - Maharashtra Approves ₹23.33 Crore Aid For 17,245 Farmers Hit By Crop Damage

The Maharashtra government has sanctioned ₹23.33 crore in relief for 17,245 farmers whose crops were damaged by floods, excessive rainfall, cyclones and hailstorms.