Podcast tracking phenology across the country
If there’s one message that was repeated from Pennsylvania to New York to Washington to Michigan in the latest episode of the SPARC Orchard Roundup, it is to pay attention to variability. From upper 70s degrees in April to freeze extending 6 or 7 hours and multiple nights, different regions have seen it all. Damage to buds also varies, from location to location, depending on elevation, north to south variations, and what varieties you are growing. Paying attention to this variability can help inform crop load management.
For more details on timing, freeze damage and variability across the country, find and follow the SPARC Orchard Roundup podcast on Spotify, Apple, Podcast Index, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, or Listen Notes.
Virtual Orchard Meetup webinar series in June
The team is again partnering with our Canadian colleagues to host the 2026 International Orchard Meetup Series, following on our previous meetup in February. Now we will go deeper into tools available to help you prepare for, track and manage climate stress in your orchards.
Managing Climate Stress in Fruit Production: Sun Injury, Ripening Disorders, and Post-Harvest Quality in North American Orchards.
- JUNE 11, 2026 4:00-5:30 pm PT: Physiological Impacts, Forecasting, and Monitoring Tools
- JUNE 18, 2026 4:00-5:30 pm PT: Mitigation Strategies, Timing, and Tradeoffs
- JUNE 25, 2026 4:00-5:30 pm PT: Managing Fruit After Heat Exposure: Maturity, Storage, and Disorders
Register at the following link (opens in a new window)
Each meetup will include short presentations to start, followed by open conversation between growers, presenters and other participants, so please come ready to ask about the issues you are dealing with. Look forward to seeing you at the meetups!
Contact
Sonia A. Hall
Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University
sonia.hall@wsu.edu
509-293-8797
Funding and acknowledgements
The SPARC Orchard Roundup and this article are supported by the USDA NIFA – Specialty Crop Research Initiative project “Preparing U.S. Pome Fruit Production for Extreme Temperatures in a Changing Climate” (2024-51181-43289; Accession #1032988)
