USDA releases predicted 2012 Wisconsin cranberry figures
Based on the projections and the weather during the next four to six weeks, Wisconsin will be the country’s top cranberry-producing state for the 18th consecutive year.
"Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in cranberry crop production, and this year growers expect another good crop," said Tom Lochner, executive director of WSCGA. "The warm and early spring kept growers on their toes identifying and managing pests, but the overall warm weather and a dry period when pollination was taking place contributed to a nice berry set and a good crop this year. We still have about six weeks to go until harvest begins, and a lot of things can happen in that time."
Lochner added that it has been an unusually dry growing season, but growers have been able to irrigate to compensate for the lack of rain. While many growers use water conservation practices, including systems that measure tension and pressure in the soil to know how much or little to irrigate, there still is a need for rain. Water supplies are of concern, especially with harvest and winter flooding approaching.
According to Lochner, the Wisconsin crop size is also due to growers’ continued investment in their marshes, including adding new acreage and implementing more efficient growing practices such as renovating existing marshes, planting higher-yielding, varieties of cranberries and more.
"The industry as a whole continues to focus on good growing practices and increasing marketing efforts, especially overseas, to grow demand for cranberries," Lochner added. "That is important to our leading Wisconsin fruit industry that continues to grow."
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