Fruit
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If you have been following the news, you can’t help but notice all of the stories about the wildfires out west. You may be wondering how grape growers there are doing. Here is a recent story from one Oregon grape grower about what they are seeing this year and how changing climate over time has…
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If you like bubbly wine, then you may be interested in this article from Forbes.com on this year’s champagne harvest. According to the report, the annual Champagne harvest began August 17, two weeks sooner than last year following a summer of drought. The summer was also warmer than usual, which contributed to the rapid ripening…
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The Valdosta Daily Times posted a story this week about the state of the pecan harvest this year. It has taken some major hits in the past few years due to Irma in 2017 and Michael in 2018, and many growers are still recovering from those damaging storms. The dry conditions have caused a few…
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We’ve had a lot of scattered severe weather over the summer, and with that comes not only strong winds and lightning but some hail, with sizes ranging from a quarter inch to tennis-ball sized. As you can imagine, if the hail hits your crops, especially at a sensitive time in development, it can destroy an…
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Tropical Storm Isaias crossed Puerto Rico last week on its long path from the eastern Atlantic through the Northeast US, bringing strong winds and heavy rains which contributed to landslides and power outages. The island, which is still recovering from Hurricane Maria in 2017, experienced significant losses in several crops, including bananas, plantains, and coffee.…
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Apples require relatively cool weather, so there are large parts of the Southeast where they don’t grow effectively. In Georgia, apples are grown commercially mainly in the northeast, where cooler temperatures make it easier to grow them. As the climate continued to get warmer, producers are worried about the long-term viability of growing apples as…
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A story this week in Yale Climate Connections discusses how some French wine growers are planting their vines next to trees to help keep temperatures more moderate, which will extend the ability of French varietals to grow in areas that are warming up due to climate change. Because most growers cannot move their vineyards, they…