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Apple crop on rebound after potentially disastrous summer
United States
Saturday 15 November 2008
The 2008 apple harvest is wrapping up in Niagara County with mixed results. Some farmers’ output was severely hurt by frost and hail earlier this year, while others are reporting strong, and possibly strongest-ever, growing seasons.
Bob Hall, owner of Hall Apple Farm on Ruhlmann Road, counts himself among the unlucky this year. On top of a damaging April freeze, he said, his orchard was hard-hit by multiple summer hail storms. Consequently, about half of his 5,000 bushel average output was wrecked.
“We took a 50 percent hit. Most of the other half is going to processing,” Hall said. “It’s always hit and miss with this business.”
Eight miles away in Gasport, Alan Buhr, whose New Royal Farms has nearly one-tenth of Niagara County’s total apple acreage, reports one of his best years ever. The harvest is done and output — about 240,000 bushels — is about 15 percent higher this year than in 2007.
Buhr said the bounty comes despite hail damage done on 30 percent of his fields.
“The truth of the matter is this is one of the best years we’ve ever had,” Buhr said. “We’ve had good demand, good supply, and that works for us. I’m only speaking for myself, though; I know there are many growers out there who’d like to forget (this year).”
Erratic weather is having an impact on apples statewide. According to the latest federal forecast, in early October, it appeared the New York apple crop would be down 8 percent compared with last year because of storms and overly wet conditions that hampered growth and harvesting.
That forecast was actually much improved over a July assessment by New York Apple Association anticipating a 25 percent decline in year-over-year production. East of Niagara County, reported hail damage was far more extensive, according to NYAA President Jim Allen.
Bob Hall, owner of Hall Apple Farm on Ruhlmann Road, counts himself among the unlucky this year. On top of a damaging April freeze, he said, his orchard was hard-hit by multiple summer hail storms. Consequently, about half of his 5,000 bushel average output was wrecked.
“We took a 50 percent hit. Most of the other half is going to processing,” Hall said. “It’s always hit and miss with this business.”
Eight miles away in Gasport, Alan Buhr, whose New Royal Farms has nearly one-tenth of Niagara County’s total apple acreage, reports one of his best years ever. The harvest is done and output — about 240,000 bushels — is about 15 percent higher this year than in 2007.
Buhr said the bounty comes despite hail damage done on 30 percent of his fields.
“The truth of the matter is this is one of the best years we’ve ever had,” Buhr said. “We’ve had good demand, good supply, and that works for us. I’m only speaking for myself, though; I know there are many growers out there who’d like to forget (this year).”
Erratic weather is having an impact on apples statewide. According to the latest federal forecast, in early October, it appeared the New York apple crop would be down 8 percent compared with last year because of storms and overly wet conditions that hampered growth and harvesting.
That forecast was actually much improved over a July assessment by New York Apple Association anticipating a 25 percent decline in year-over-year production. East of Niagara County, reported hail damage was far more extensive, according to NYAA President Jim Allen.
