North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

Since we are finally able to spray our copper today and I can't prune trees, I have nothing else better to do than to get caught up on my computer work.  I have been in the process of building a web site for orchardkeepers since I don't have the time to keep up with my blog.  A web site doesn't have to be updated daily! I just uploaded a Critical Spring Temperature chart that you can find at http://www.orchardkeeper.com/pdffiles/SpringFrostDamageThresholds.pdf  In light of the weather we have been having, I have found it to be a critical tool to evaluate potential damage.  Hope you find it useful!

 

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
http://www.revivalhymn.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Thomas Olenio

To: 'North American Fruit Explorers'

Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 11:46 AM

Subject: [NAFEX] Freeze news...

Hello All,

Newspaper articles are starting to report on the freeze damage.  Does anyone know if there is an online map of the US that lays out the freeze damaged areas?  There is little if any damage where I am in Ontario (about 2 hours north of the border).  Later, Tom

---

http://www.examiner.com/a655769~Growers_report_some_freeze_damage_to_fruit_trees_but_not_severe.html

Growers report some freeze damage to fruit trees but not severe

“WENATCHEE, Wash. (Map, News) - Eastern Washington fruit growers and their crews worked well into the wee hours to prevent damage from a serious spring freeze and largely succeeded, an industry official said.

Temperatures dropped into the teens in parts of northcentral Washington early Tuesday as growers fired up smudge pots and switched on propeller-like fans. Some sprayed their trees with water, insulating buds beneath a layer of ice at 32 degrees.”…

=======

http://www.tmnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6458&Itemid=43

Eyeing the Damage

Southern Indiana: …”Byers said all his pears and blackberries are gone, but he still has cherries, apples and peaches near the tops of the trees.

“There’s nothing we can do but wait and see,” he explained. “It will probably be a couple of weeks before we’ll really know what to expect.”

Melton, owner of Melton’s Orchard and Country Market in Bloomington, said the frigid weather probably wiped out his crop for this growing season.

“I seriously doubt we’ll have any peaches at all this year,” he reported. “I mean they just look pitiful. The leaves are wilted, and I just don’t see any hope.”…