Extended drought conditions across Maine have led to major crop losses for apple and blueberry growers, with industry leaders estimating damages in the tens of millions of dollars.
Lisa Hanscom, co-owner of Welch Farm in Roque Bluffs and chair of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, said rainfall earlier in the season disrupted pollination, followed by a flash drought during harvest that damaged fruit. "So I ended up raking only four acres, that was all I could rake before they were no longer there," she said. "The bushes were already turning red, the blueberries were already falling, and we ended up losing 28 acres (11 hectares) that we could not rake."
According to commission executive director Eric Venturini, the state's wild blueberry sector recorded around US$30 million in losses this year due to the drought. He said the financial strain affects both growers and processors, who have faced several years of declining prices and rising production costs. Venturini also noted that most small producers lack crop insurance, as existing policies are not designed for small-scale operations.
Apple producers experienced similar difficulties. Sam Ricker, owner of Ricker Hill Orchards in Turner and president of the Maine Pomological Society, said the state typically produces 800,000 to 1 million bushels of apples annually. "This year we are kind of guessing that the whole state's down about 600,000 bushels," Ricker said. "If you look at an average return of about US$17 a bushel, that's about US$10 million."
In response, Maine Senator Susan Collins has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend emergency financial assistance to affected farmers. "Without help, Maine's wild blueberry and apple growers risk losing their acreage, and those losses will hurt rural communities across the state," Collins wrote in her letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
While recent rainfall has eased some drought conditions, more than 42% of Maine remains in extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Source: Maine Public
