Cherry farmers in Berrien and Van Buren could receive federal disaster aid

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is asking the state for disaster assistance for sweet cherry growers in nine counties, including Berrien and Van Buren.

Whitmer wrote in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this month that unpredictable weather has affected production this year. MSU Extension fruit specialist Bill Shane tells us that southwest Michigan growers weren't hit as hard as those in the northwest, but still lost about 30% of the crop.

“We did have some problems with some diseases,” Shane said. “We had hail in some production areas, but it was mainly due to the low temperatures on January 15th, and the result was that the fruit beetles just didn't make it.”

Shane says the large insect population has also made the cherries susceptible to disease. He says the spotted wing drosophila, which he describes as the fruit fly's nasty cousin, is the problem.

“Because it was early this year, the spotted wing drosophila population was quite high, and that exacerbates the problem because when there's a small opening in the fruit, various diseases can more easily get in and cause problems. So it's kind of a double whammy.”

If the governor's disaster request is approved, Shane said farmers could expect low-interest loans to help them reposition themselves for next year.

Shane adds that southwest Michigan's grape and peach crops have been more damaged by this year's weather. He says grapes in Van Buren County were nearly wiped out.