Fruits

Stabenow pushes House to pass farm bill

The U.S. Senate passed its version of the 2012 Farm Bill last month. Now, it’s up to the House of Representatives. Hopefully, House leaders will overcome the “partisan posturing” of an election year and do... more »

Fewer cherry farms in Michigan

There were 450 Michigan farms growing tart cherries in 2011, down from 540 in 2006 and 615 in 2000, according to recent reports from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.Despite the shrinking number of farms, the... more »

Feds OK help for fruit growers hammered by weather

The federal government Monday declared Michigan a disaster area because of damage to fruit crops from erratic spring weather, making growers eligible to seek low-interest loans.Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, said USDA had granted... more »

New York apple crop takes a significant hit

Ken Nice has been growing fruit for 50 years and he’s never seen such bare branches on his apple trees during the growing season.“There are some trees with nothing on them,” said Nice, a Knowlesville... more »

Caring for trees in a no/low crop season

Trees that aren’t producing a harvestable crop this season still need care and maintenance. Disease Growers need to protect their trees against fire blight and be on the lookout for anything else that might damage... more »

Eastern apples, cherries hit hard; Western fruit avoids disaster

Record-breaking warm temperatures in March, followed by a series of freezes, savaged Michigan’s tree fruit crops this spring, along with crops in other Eastern states. Western states, however, fared better. Speakers went over the numbers... more »

Bill Shoemaker retiring from University of Illinois

When Bill Shoemaker was finishing his degree at the University of Illinois, he intended to become a full-time grower. His instructors, however, pushed him to apply for a job that had come open. He applied... more »

Growers need crop insurance to be more transparent

Fruit growers don’t tend to be big fans of federal crop insurance, said Mark Seetin, director of regulatory and industry affairs for the U.S. Apple Association. “If you ask 100 farmers, ‘Raise your hand if... more »