Fall freeze means dead Ore. fruit trees in spring

MILTON-FREEWATER, Ore. (AP) — A deep freeze that came early in the Milton-Freewater area of Eastern Oregon last fall is killing off fruit trees this spring.

The East Oregonian reports that temperatures on Nov. 23 dropped to as low as minus 15 degrees. That’s early for such low readings.

Now, farmers are beginning to see whole orchards dead, and they’re scrambling to replant.

This week, the Umatilla County commissioners declared a state of emergency for fruit growers in the Milton-Freewater area.

The paper reports that federal farm agencies are predicting crop losses this year of as much as 80 percent in cherries, 40 percent in prunes and plums and 30 percent in apples and wine grapes.

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Information from: East Oregonian, http://www.eastoregonian.info