BOX ELDER COUNTY (ABC 4 News) - It wasn’t that there was too much rain. It’s just that it wouldn’t stop long enough for farmers and growers to do what they needed to do. That meant the first cut of hay molded in the field too soaked to be baled. And the spray applied to protect fruit trees just washed away.
At many of the orchards along Box Elder County’s famous fruit way, Coryneum blight has taken hold on the trees. In Fred Barker’s groves, it’s estimated that half of the young peaches and most of the apricots have the blight. Barker said, “It’s damaged to the point that you won’t be able to sell it.”
They spray to control the blight once in the fall after the leaves have dropped off and again in the spring. But this year’s spring spraying didn’t take. “This year with all the moisture we had and the temperatures, it just got away from us. Not much we could have done,” said Barker.
And what does Coryneum blight do? USU extension agent Mike Pace explains this particular type of fungus does not destroy the fruit; it just makes it look ugly. In today’s market place appearance is everything. Barker says they will still have a good harvest this year, but it will not be the bumper crop that some might expect. Because of the blight, some of the fruit will be dropped to the ground and left at harvest time.
As for the hay, 3rd generation farmer Travis Nelson of Tremonton spent all day Wednesday getting the 1st cut baled and out of the field. It sat molding in rows for more than 3 weeks during the rains. Nelson said, “If it was put up like it was supposed to be, it would be green, but now it’s black.” A good crop of hay could bring as much as $180 for a ton bale. Now, he’ll be lucky to get $50 per bale.
What’s more, the 2nd cut will not yield as much because the heavy, wet rows of cut hay kept the plants underneath from growing. As he baled, he revealed dirt and short, cut stalks amid rows of green alfalfa hay. The 2nd cut will also be delayed at least a couple weeks. Even so, Nelson hopes to get in at least three more good cuts before the end of the season.
