THE GREAT LAKES FRUIT GROWERS NEWS

June, 1998 - Storm of the century rips Westcentral Michigan's fruit belt

"The storm of the century" ripped through the westcentral Michigan fruit belt in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31 causing $40 million in damages and lost revenue for growers.

"This was the first time it was hard to come to work," said Sparta fruit grower John Beuschel who lost 5,000 trees and the top of his CA storage. "I've had hail and other things hurt my crops before, but I've got to deal with this problem next year too."

The storm produced winds of up to 140-miles an hour destroying 60,000 trees and injuring another 60,000 along with destroying 50 barns in the "Ridge" area north of Grand Rapids.

The tree losses alone are estimated at $5 million and potential income losses for a five-year period waiting for a new plantings could reach $35 million, said Phil Schwallier, Michigan State University Extension district horticulture marketing agent.

The storm effected nearly every fruit grower in the westcentral region of Michigan. Rob Steffens of Steffens' Orchard lost an entire 10-acre block of seven-year-old Jonagolds on M26 rootstocks on his Grand Rapids farm.

"The entire field was nearly bare and the trees looked like tumbleweeds," he said. "I hope I never see anything like this again."

Steffens also lost 40 full-grown trees on M106 rootstocks which were plucked out of the ground. Other losses include a 100-year-old barn, a vacant trailer and 600 bulk boxes which were blown over and smashed. His CA room now has several holes from flying limbs and barn pieces, some of which were sticking several feet inside the storage.

The entire region was out of power for up to six days leaving packing house and CA storages without electricity. Most of the fruit in storages wasn't hurt because it was one block of cold fruit and can withstand several days without refrigeration, Schwallier said.

The damage won't significantly reduce Michigan's apple crop, but the financial repercussions will last many years.

"People who aren't in agriculture keep asking me why I worry because they think insurance will take care of it," Beuschel said. "We don't have insurance for this type of thing."

On Monday, June 8 Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Dan Wyant and Christine White, state director for Farm Service Agency in Michigan, toured the damaged agricultural areas. They started out the day by holding a question and answer session at Beuschel's storage.

The more than 100 growers were told there is federal money available for tree removal and replanting under the TAP program. There is also low interest loans for crop losses if banks won't loan the money to the operations. Federal disaster assistance may be available if there is a 30% loss to the crop in the county or the county is subjectively declared a disaster area, White said. She also suggested growers get private insurance to cover crop losses.

Growers responded by telling White private insurance is too expensive and the crop losses may not reach 30%, but the long-term effect could be devastating.

Growers also wanted to know why federal disaster programs don't cover long-term losses to destruction of perennial crops like apples and why the only way they could get a loan was if no one else would give them credit.

"I'll be the first to admit that once you go through all the hassle of filling out the paperwork and then get the check you wonder if it's worth the hassle," White said. "But something is better than nothing and it's all I have to offer you."

Wyant pointed out that crop disaster programs were set up for row crops and growers should try to lobby to change the system.

Ken Nye, director of Michigan Farm Bureau's Commodity and Environmental Division said the storm drove home the point that alternative crop insurance and risk management tools are needed for fruit growers.

"The need for risk management is painfully obvious to these fruit producers," Nye said. "Currently there is no form of insurance readily available to protect against tree loss."

Nye said Michigan Farm Bureau has been advocating a pilot crop insurance program which would provide revenue protection to fruit producers. Five Michigan counties are targeted to participate in the program beginning next year. Producers would have the option of purchasing insurance theater would guarantee them a selected level of income protection, regardless of whether it's a crop loss or poor prices.

Blueberry crop

The wind storm isn't the only weather pattern that adversely effected Michigan's fruit crop. Blueberry and grape growers in Van Buren and Allegan counties in southwest Michigan suffered extensive frost damage the first week of June. Some areas reported temperatures as low as 22 F on June 4 and low temperatures the rest of the week were near freezing several days after.

"We'll see more damage as temperatures warm up," said Dave Trinka, MBG Marketing's director of horticulture. "It will take temperatures in the 70s and 80s to see the full extent of the damage."

In addition to the frost damage, a persistent lack of rainfall continues to stress the tender growth of developing fruit. Growers who don't irrigate are at even more risk, Trinka said.