Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma
By ANUK Staff
04.11.13
A few stone fruit growing regions in the North and South Western U.S. are feeling the complications of recent freezing temperatures. Farmers in Palisade, Colorado woke to freezing temperatures Wednesday that left many fruit trees vulnerable. They are counting their losses with the hope to salvage a good harvest, according to KJCT8.
The report said "Frost is our biggest single risk factor in growing fruit in western Colorado," as noted by Bruce Talbott of Talbott Farms in Palisade. Talbott believes 10% to 20% of his crop has been lost after assessments.
There may have been significant damage to apricots, Rich Lady peaches and cherries. Other peach varieties may have gotten lucky as well as apple and pear trees which develop later in the season.
Ice has also taken its toll on trees and flowers in some regions of Kansas. Tuesday and Wednesday nights brought in ice storms. Areas that include Wichita, Hutchinson, and Kingman, Harper and Anthony were hit by the storm.
Peach trees were in bloom when the storm hit and were more threatened by a forecasted low temperature of 26 overnight Wednesday than by the ice, reports in The Wichita Eagle, state. A peach tree in full bloom can experience 10 percent damage at 27 degrees, and 90 percent damage at 24 degrees, Rebecca McMahon, notes in the report.
McMahon reported that crowns of lettuce crops that were covered in ice should survive, though the current leaves could be a loss.
A late freeze in Oklahoma may affect crops. Temperatures dipped below freezing for a second consecutive night in many parts of the state on Wednesday. Growers feared the weather's impact on Oklahoma peach and wheat crops, according to NewsOK.com.
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