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

10.06.2019 1563 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
04.05.2026

Bulgaria's Kyustendil cherry crop severely affected by frost for second consecutive year

Frosts have caused critical damage to cherry orchards in the Kyustendil region of Bulgaria for the second consecutive spring, with producers reporting near-total crop losses. 

04.05.2026

Vietnam - MoF moves to expand farm insurance support and eligibility

The Ministry of Finance has proposed sharply increasing agricultural insurance premium subsidies to up to 95 per cent and widening the pool of eligible beneficiaries to better share risks with producers, stabilise farm incomes, and strengthen climate resilience.

04.05.2026

Bangladesh - One lakh hectares of rice fields go underwater in haor regions

What should have been a vibrant harvest season in the country’s haor belt across seven districts has instead turned into widespread devastation. 

04.05.2026

Philippines - P150-M insurance buffer vs El Niño but PCIC limits coverage to irrigated farms

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) in Western Visayas has set aside P150 million in drought insurance as El Niño conditions intensify, with officials warning that the region is already nearing “critical” risk levels that could threaten thousands of farmers in the coming cropping season.

04.05.2026

Indian banana crops damaged across 809 hectares in Tamil Nadu

Strong winds and heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu have damaged banana crops across districts, including Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore, and Salem.

04.05.2026

Poland reports up to 100% fruit crop losses after late April frosts

Fruit growers in Poland are assessing losses after late April frosts damaged crops across multiple regions, with eastern areas most affected and stone fruit production under pressure.

03.05.2026

Vietnam - Aid for agricultural insurance premiums proposed to rise

The Ministry of Finance has proposed increasing support for agricultural insurance premiums and expanding eligible beneficiaries in a move aimed at encouraging greater participation by farmers and agricultural organisations.

03.05.2026

USA - MDARD Awards Over $3.2 Million Through Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant Program

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced more than $3.2 million of grants to 10 Michigan entities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant Program.