04/11/08 Cherry Season Part 2

Cherry Season Part 2. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Orchardists are keeping their eyes on the weather forecast and spending a few sleepless nights as the temperatures stay on the cool side in the state but there are more things to think about as well like the recent lack of pollinators. In other words, the honeybee. BJ Thurlby says there is another issue first. THURLBY: You know I think that is always going to be an issue but I think right now people are more concerned with this cold weather. I mean bees need it to be in that 60 degrees; 58 degrees and up range to get out of the hives and go to work. We need that warm weather if we are going to bloom; we want it to be in that range so we can get those bees out working. Because of the cooler Spring, Thurlby feels that the entire season may be pushed a bit. THURLBY: Traditional peak here in the industry is about June 25 and this cold weather has me thinking that we're going to be back in that June 27, June 28 range and some warm weather could move that back up a day or two and that's what I'm hoping for. The regional forecast is for a warming trend over the weekend in most areas which will help but the industry on the whole is behind. THURLBY: We're definitely behind in terms of where we would be in a normal year in bloom I mean our earliest blocks - more southern district oriented are starting to crack a little bit. I know some people in the Tri-Cities down along the river were at 40% bloom yesterday on their Chelan's so there's certainly some bloom going on but we could use some warm weather here in a hurry. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.