Climate threats to prime U.S. apple orchards

Jan 07, 2025
By Farms.com

Challenges rise in key apple growing areas

U.S. apple-producing counties, including Yakima, Kent, and Wayne, are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related challenges. A Washington State University study examined over four decades of climate data, revealing rising threats throughout apple growth stages.

Yakima County, a significant apple-producing area with over 48,800 acres, shows concerning trends in five key climate metrics. These include extreme heat days and warm nights, which can affect apple color and quality.

Deepti Singh, WSU climate scientist and study lead, emphasized, “We shouldn’t take the delicious apples we love to consume for granted.”

The research also explores cold days, chill portions, and the timing of spring frosts. Changes in these elements pose risks to apple bloom times and can increase sunburn incidents, impacting the appearance and quality of the fruit.

In response, Washington growers are implementing adaptive measures like netting and evaporative cooling to combat sunburn. A broader initiative led by WSU, funded by a substantial USDA grant, aims to mitigate climate impacts on apple and pear crops nationwide.

This holistic approach to adaptation may serve as a model for other regions, enhancing the resilience of U.S. apple orchards against a backdrop of increasing climate variability.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.