Weather - Freeze
July 16, 2012
Print
EmailThe following 2012 resources are aimed at helping people respond to freeze conditions. To jump to a specific section, click the links below:
- Planning ahead for freezes
- Protecting with sprinklers
- Assessing freeze damage
- Crop insurance, disaster loans and alternative incomes
- 2012 Weather
- Dealing with stress
- Air moving fans for improved air drainage - Using ground-based fans to increase the movement of cold air past obstructions and constrictions in natural drainage paths can decrease the likelihood of freeze injury during spring freezes.
- Analyzing and improving your farm's air drainage - Improving your farm's air drainage can pay benefits when spring frosts come.
- Moist, weed-free soil retains more heat - Modifying the soil to capture and retain more hear is a way growers can reduce spring freeze injury. Weed-free soil retains more heat than freshly cultivated or unmoved sites and a few degrees may make a difference this spring.
- Protect blueberries from spring freezes by using sprinklers- Many blueberry growers use sprinkler systems to protect blueberry flowers from spring freezes. A fact sheet for growers is posted at the Michigan Blueberry Facts website.
- Using sprinklers to protect plants from spring freezes - Irrigation sprinklers can be used to protect plants from freezing when the expected lows are just below freezing. Irrigation when the low is below the temperature you can protect to will result in severe damage.
- Freeze damage depends on tree fruits stage of development - Damage from freezes depends on the development state of the fruit crop. These tables allow you to quickly asses the risk of your tree fruit crops.
- Critical Spring Temperatures for Tree Fruit Dud Development Stages - Table with photos.
- Critical Spring Temperatures for Tree Fruit Bud Development Stages - Table.
- Drought and fruit freeze resources available for download:
- 24 Month Cash flow excel spreadsheet by Roger Betz
- Balance Sheet with schedules and excel spreadsheet by Roger Betz
- Fruit Farm production cashflow projector spreadsheet by Penn State Univ. edited by Stan Moore
- Fruit farm business analysis workbook
Crop insurance, disaster loans and alternative incomes
- Fruit farms have risk management deadline November 20 - Fruit farms need to take action before the Nov. 20 deadline to enroll in 2013 crop insurance program.
- Fruit and vegetable farms reminded of November 20 crop and disaster insurance deadline - Michigan State University Extension urges fruit growers to carefully evaluate the costs and potential benefits of some type of crop insurance for their farms.
- Fruit farms need to act soon before enrollment deadlines expire - Fruit farms are reminded of the deadline for enrolling in one of the Crop Insurance or Noninsured Crop Disaster Programs with the Farm Service Agency.
- Fruit farms consider crop insurance options to manage risk - Fruit farms can now learn more about crop insurance as a risk management tool in an online video.
- Fruit Farm financial summary tool to prep for disaster loans - Farm financial business summary and analysis forms are now available for farms to download.
- What fruit growers need to know about the Michigan Agricultural Disaster Loan -This new program creates short term, low interest loans for qualified borrowers.
- Wisely managed woodlots offer farmers viable income opportunities - Learn how to conduct a successful timber sale as an alternative source of income while maintaining fruit crop woodlots in a healthy condition for future harvests.
- Michigan Agricultural Loan Program of 2012 includes ag business - The Michigan Disaster Loan Program, while being promoted as assistance for fruit growers, includes processors and agricultural retailers.
- Fruit growers faced with oil and gas decisions: Part 1 - A weather disaster couples with an offer to lease mineral rights can provide tempting immediate cash flow, are there potential long term considerations to know before signing an oil and gas lease?
- With a backward spring, Mother Nature pitches a change-up after a fastball - With a warm March followed by a cold April, 2012 is shaping up to be the worst year for the Michigan fruit industry since 1945 or earlier.
- Early spring for Michigan fruit - Summer-like weather in March caused rapid fruit development in Michigan.
- Climate change impacts Michigan blueberry industry - Climate change has been on the news for several years with detractors and supporters providing conflicting opinions on the causes behind the global warming phenomenon. Whatever the cause, climate change is here and it’s affecting Michigan’s fruit industry.
- Learn the symptoms of depression to determine if you’re more than just stressed - Stress is a part of life but many factors can trigger depression. Knowing the symptoms may help you get back on track.
Drought also impacted fruit in 2012. See our Drought Resources.
