Water

Spring freezes leave small crop, more questions

An early spring followed by freeze events in March and April did significant damage to fruit crops in the Midwest and East. As of May, the industry was still waiting to see how much fruit... more »

Virginia farm relies on ‘huge’ CSA program

If you’re going to run a CSA, it helps to do it in the richest county in the country. The Community Supported Agriculture program is the “bread and butter” of Great Country Farms, said Jaclyn... more »

Michigan plans to step up inspections of migrant worker living conditions

The state plans to spend an extra $400,000 next year to check up on the living conditions of Michigan's 22,000 migrant farm workers.Gov. Rick Snyder's 2013 budget -- now being finalized by the Legislature --... more »

Spring running hot and cold for fruit growers

States across the Midwest and East Coast experienced warmer-than-average temperatures in March. On average, temperatures were 15˚ F to 20˚ F warmer than normal for the month, said Tom Moore, coordinating meteorologist of Global Forecast... more »

Ice can save your blueberries during a freeze

When the mercury drops below freezing, blueberry growers may want to try turning on the sprinklers, said Mark Longstroth, a small fruit Extension educator with Michigan State University (MSU). Like other plants, blueberries responded to... more »

Ice can save your blueberries during a freeze

When the mercury drops below freezing, blueberry growers may want to try turning on the sprinklers, said Mark Longstroth, a small fruit Extension educator with Michigan State University (MSU).Like other plants, blueberries responded to the... more »

Apples: How to know what to plant

If you’re not planting and replanting your orchards on a continual basis, you’re setting yourself up for trouble. Terence Robinson, a professor at Cornell University, recommended a high-density planting system at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit &... more »

Painting tree trunks protects against rodents, borers

Painting fruit tree trunks with white latex paint can prevent the bark from splitting and cracking off. Splitting can happen when the tree is exposed to freezing evening temperatures, followed by a daytime thawing. The... more »

New York farm still recovering from Hurricane Irene

Richard Ball, the farm's owner, talked about the hurricane and its aftermath in January, during The 2012 Empire State Fruit & Vegetable Expo in Syracuse, N.Y. Ball's grows about 200 acres of vegetables and small... more »

Earliest grape insects ever this spring

The early heat of 2012 has pushed insect development ahead rapidly, just like the vines, and so scouting should start in vineyards to help ensure vines are protected from insect damage if needed.I saw my... more »