Winter is still "Ripe in the Land of Oceana." There was one or more "false springs," but Old Man Winter is still around. It has been a rollercoaster event with some record-breaking highs and lows, but it's not over yet.
The heavy snowfalls are actually good for many crops, such as winter wheat and fruit trees, due to the insulating effect snow provides by maintaining dormancy. The colder than normal temperatures have had little to no effect on fruit trees. Apples and pears are the most winter hardy, with peaches and sweet and sour cherries somewhat more susceptible to cold temperatures. Tree trimming is moving along nicely despite the cold weather, with pruning crews doing a great job.
The MACMA Processing Apple Division has released their 2025 final crop estimate and reports the Michigan crop to be 4 million bushels, which is less than last year. New York is reporting a 28–29-million-bushel crop, with Washington indicating 134 million packed units. That crop is also lower with quality issues of size and color, leaving unpicked fruit on the trees. Their Honeycrisp crop is packing out lower than expected due to storage problems and bitter pit issues.
Wintertime activities on the farm include tax preparation, purchasing seed and other inputs, repairing machinery, hauling empty apple bins home and attending meetings. The March calendar is rapidly filling with meetings.
The first crop of the season is also ready. The false spring has signaled the start of maple syrup processing with trees being tapped and getting ready for boiling sap. Trees budding will signal the slowdown or the end of the season.
The approach of the spring equinox signals a new beginning on the farm, and ready or not, growers will be responding as usual, producing the most plentiful and safe supply of food, fiber and fuel in the world.
