Madison, WI-
By ANUK Staff
2.21.13
To say 2012 has been a lackluster year for Wisconsin apples would be an understatement. Production fell 54%, meaning yields were at their lowest since 1945.
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, apple growers in Wisconsin harvested three tons less per acre last year than in 2011.
The industry is pointing to last season’s unusual weather as the culprit. A heat wave in March caused apples to bloom prematurely and the ensuing April frost killed a significant amount of blossoms. A drought followed in the summer, making conditions even worse in Wisconsin apple orchards.
The Wisconsin Apple Growers Association hopes that conditions are more seasonal in 2013 – especially in spring, to ensure that trees remain dormant until the threat of frost retreats.
