Today’s Ag Outlook 2-8-2021…..
Southwest Michigan fruit growers will continue to keep close eyes on the skies for the next couple of mornings while bitterly cold readings persist.
Dr. Bill Shane of the MSU Extension tells us two crops in particular can be subject to damage when temperatures reach a critical threshold. These are peaches and grapes. Shane says winter cold begins to affect peaches at minus 1 with a reading of minus 5 needed to produce significant damage to the future crop.
As far as wine grapes are concerned, merlot grapes start to feel the impact at about minus 6 with serious injury to the plants beginning to appear just a few degrees lower. He says concord grapes are heartier and should be safe until the thermometer falls to 15 below. Hopefully, that won’t be tested even in the coldest nights ahead next weekend.
Comments