Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Fruit growers worry drought will hurt 2008 cherry crop
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Door County fruit growers say last year’s drought combined with an unusually large crop could result in fewer cherries this year.
Richard Weidman of the University of Wisconsin Peninsular Research Station says early signs show 25 percent to 50 percent fewer buds on cherry trees there.
Weidman says trees were weakened last year when an unusually large crop coincided with a drought. The lack of moisture also made it harder for trees to get nutrients during the winter.
Jim Seaquist’s family has about 700 acres of cherries. He says there’s definitely some damage but it’s too soon to tell how much. Seaquist says tart Montmorency cherries seemed to have survived better than sweet cherries.
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