A2B-Lancaslar Fanning, Saturday. April 30.1994
Peach Crop Near Total Loss Statewide
At one of the Penn State test plots at Hollabaugh Bros.
Orchard, the only blooms seen the past week were at the
snow line. The several feet of snow acted as a cover and
protected some buds, according to Bill Kleiner, fruit
specialist.
Growers can also examine information about the new
Canadian winter-hardy peach varieties now under testing at
Penn State. But research is still out on how well the trees
can tolerate severe cold. Here, Kleiner inspects the Harken
variety.
Paachaa “Just arsnt as (cold) hardy has applas,” said Klalnar. “Paachaa Just cant
taka that tamparatura.” A paach bud w|s dastroyad by tha savara wlntar.
(Continued from Pago A 1) .
to various fruit me research stu
dies. recorded a temperature of
minus' 18 degrees in mid-January
this year. .Some growers, accord
ing to Kleiner, reported tempera
tures down to minus 30 in spots.
‘ ‘ Depending on where you were
in the county, it just wiped the
whole crop out,” he said.
At one of the Penn State test
plots at Hollabaugh Bros. Orchard,
the only blooms seen the past week
were at the snow line. The several
feet of snow acted as a cover and
protected some buds.
“We’ve seen a few on some
sites, some trees, mostly on the
buds that were protected by the
snow,” said Kleiner.
At another site, cold and ice
stress has caused limbs to break,
resulting in canker formation.
For many growers, it will
involve some tough decision
making regarding harvest of the
crop, where bloom is sporadic at
best.
Also, seasonal workers who
help harvest the peach crop will
have to reschedule, although the
apple bloom is moving along
quickly and, if the weather and
other factors are right, there is
hope for a good harvest
Some damage was reported by
growers on apple trees (particular
ly the Red Delicious variety), and
sweet cherries might have been
affected. But those affects were no
where near as severe as the losses
growers face to peach orchards.
Some growers in Adams County
have particularly large-size peach
operations, according to Scott M.
Slaybaugh, who operates Sunny
Hill Orchards in Biglerville. Slay
baugh, president of the Adams
County Fruit Growers Associa
tion, said that, out of a total of 190
acres, about 8.9 percent of his
orchards are in stone fruit produc
tion, including peaches, nectar
ines, apricots, and also plums and
sweet cherries.
Slaybaugh said the losses “real
ly got to hurt.
“It would be the same for a lot
of us if this would happen to
apples, but they’re a lot tougher,”
he said. The cold, he said, has
"hurt a few of the apples, but not
bad."
Slaybaugh said that some of his
Gold Delicious applies have also
been affected, but doesn’t know
whether cold weather is to blame
or if it is just an “off year.” But
cold temperatures can affect the
peaches or any fruit
severely.
“I would think it can eventually
get cold enough for anything,”
said Slaybaugh.
The cherry crop could have been
severely affected by the cold temp
eratures, something that wearies
Slaybaugh and other growers. “I
think it’s hurt the cherries a little,’ ’
he said. “I think it’s hurt the cher
ries more than we realize.”
Kleiner and Slaybaugh both
agreed that is too early to be able to
tell exactly how the damages will
At another she, cold and ice
break, resulting in cytospora
Scott Slaybaugh, praaidant of the Adams County Fruit
Growara Association, said that, out of a total of 190 acras,
about 8.9 percent of hla orchards are In stone fruit produc
tion, including peaches, nectarines, apricots, and also
plums and sweet cherries. Slaybaugh plants Rome Beauty
on M-7 root stock.
affect the apple industry.
Peaches “just aren’t as (cold)
hardy has apples,” said Kleiner.
“Peaches just can’t take that
temperature.”
A combination of climate and
genetic factors make some types of
fruit more vulnerable to deeply
cold temperatures. Apple trees can
withstand temperatures to minus
30. according to the fruit specialist
For now, growers may have to
take the loss.
(Turn to Pago A 29)
stress has caused limbs to
canker formation.