Cherries in Michigan experience severe weather problems

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Cherries in Michigan experience severe weather problems

An educator reports that hail, strong winds and rain have damaged this year’s cherry harvest.

Nikki Rothwell of Michigan State University Extension reports that brownfield crops have experienced weather problems of various kinds in all growing areas.

“It’s just a constant onslaught of wet weather,” she says. “It seems impossible to make sure everything is covered to have quality fruit and keep insects and diseases away. It just feels like we’ve had so much rain.”

Rothwell is also coordinator of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center and says rainfall amounts there are trending higher.

“It’s not unusual to have 5 to 8 centimeters of rain now,” she says. “Lots of rain, lots of washouts and then the relative humidity is so high.”

She says there have only been five days in the centre since early April with relative humidity above 10 degrees Celsius and therefore there was widespread disease pressure.

“The weather hasn’t been kind to us and we want to make sure we get the highest quality fruit we can,” she says. “My advice is as soon as the cherry is red or ripe or you’re working with your processor, try to be ready to make sure you get the fruit off as quickly as possible.”

Rothwell said the harvest season for sour and sweet cherries will begin at least a week earlier than normal this year, and the forecast persistent rain could lead to a difficult end to the season.

AUDIO: Nikki Rothwell, Michigan State University Extension