Warm Weather Worries Some Farms

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By Peter Bukowski

Story Published: Mar 9, 2010 at 7:28 PM PDT

CENTRAL WASHINGTON -- All this sunshine and warm weather may have you smiling, but it has local growers very concerned.

Our warm winter temperatures have plants and trees budding early. That would be great if temperatures stayed warm. But if temperatures fall back to normal, the cold weather could cost growers millions.

"The buds start to blast open, then all of a sudden we get a drop in the temperature and we get several nights of freeze, or a couple nights where it gets back down into the teens. If we get some Artic air blowing in and if we get a week of that, that could pretty much wipe out a crop," explains Rebecca Hunt, the owner of Sunnyslope Ranch.

Warmer weather could mean a faster growing season which would bring smaller fruit. Right now, Crops are at least 10 days ahead of schedule.

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