Medford, Ore. — Spring has sprung and while that means beautiful weather for us to enjoy, it could also translate into a possible threat for pear crops.
For Gary Hubler, caring for his pear orchard is more than work, it’s a passion.
“Icall these my babies,” Hubler exclaims.
But with awarm winter andwhat has felt like an early spring, taking care of his trees has been tricky.
“You are never really out of the woods until all of the fruit is out of the orchard,” says Hubler.
This season has been touch and go for orchardists like Hubler.
“Our weather here can go from one extreme to the next.”
Higher temperatures have forced plantsto bloom earlier than normal. While their buds and blooms might seem right on time with the changing of the season, it might be happening too soon.
“Mother nature can be really good to us or really bad to us,” Hubler explains.
With the fast appearing buds, comes the concern of insects and diseases that could wipe out an entire field, but his biggest concern is water.
“Having enough water to get us through this drought that we have been under,” says Hubler.
He may be forced to begin irrigation a lot sooner than normal, just to insure a successful season.
“This is a commodity that must be protected,” Hubleradds.
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