Maine’s blueberry crop faces climate change peril

The Associated Press ^ | June 5, 2021 | By PATRICK WHITTLE

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s beloved wild blueberry fields are home to one of the most important fruit crops in New England, and scientists have found they are warming at a faster rate than the rest of the state.

The warming of the blueberry fields could imperil the berries and the farmers who tend to them because the rising temperatures have brought loss of water, according to a group of scientists who are affiliated with the University of Maine.

The scientists analyzed 40 years of data and found that the state experienced a 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.98 degrees Fahrenheit) increase in average temperature, but the blueberry fields of Down East Maine experienced an increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.34 degrees Fahrenheit).

That seemingly small difference is significant because rising temperatures could lead to water deficits that put the blueberries at risk, said Rafa Tasnim, a doctoral candidate in ecology and environmental science at UMaine and the study’s lead author. Lack of water could result in smaller crop sizes and blueberries that are less likely to survive to be harvested.

“What we are expecting is the temperature is going to increase a lot and we will not get as much rainfall in the summertime especially,” said Tasnim, who led a research team that published the study in the research journal Water earlier this year. “What that will mean for the wild blueberry plants is they will be water stressed.”

The study authors found that wild blueberry growers might need to change the way they farm to prepare for future climate change. That could include changes to strategies such as irrigation and fertilizer use.

[palmer]

The scientists analyzed 40 years of data and found that the state experienced a 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.98 degrees Fahrenheit) increase in average temperature, but the blueberry fields of Down East Maine experienced an increase of 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.34 degrees Fahrenheit).

That seemingly small difference is significant because rising temperatures could lead to water deficits that put the blueberries at risk

Two main pieces of BS. First is to use average temperature. Winters are less bitter, but blueberries are still getting the chill hours they need. Other varieties that can be grown anywhere don't need (or want) bitter cold winters. There is less summer extreme heat in Maine and while averages have increased, average temperatures do not determine rainfall.

That leads to the "could". Like most of the US, Maine is getting more rainfall, Linear precipitation trend 1895 to present:

[ArtDodger]

Where, O where, can I find my thrill, when there ain’t no more Blueberry Hill?

[4yearlurker]

Lots of blueberry farms in South Jersey......and cranberries too!

[minnesota_bound]

So the temp raised 1.98 degrees in Maine but no where else? Like water rising in one area and not the rest of the world?
Not possible in either case.

[DennisR]

Author does not know how to hyphenate. Big difference between wild blueberry grower and a wild-blueberry grower.

[woodbutcher1963]

I buy Wyman’s WILD blueberries regularly.
These are NOT cultivated blueberries people.
They grow wild in NH, ME and Canada. The berry is 1/4” or less in diameter and much sweeter.

They taste better than anything you can buy grown in other places in the world.
For those from out west, in the same way as WILD Huckleberrys.

[mythenjoseph]

I lived in Maine for over a decade....one of my favorite homes was in Brownville Junction. The reason I point out this one town is because behind this town is all unincorporated townships (Blueberry fields) ...this suggestion that WATER is a problem is laughable. Along with the snow and yearly rain and the multitude of lakes / rivers are the aquifers All of Maine is water wonderland. What a crock.

[jimfr]

That’s it, I’m converted! You don’t get between me and my blueberries.

[ClearCase_guy]

In the real world, higher temperatures result in more ocean evaporation, and more rain.

Well, you know that. And I know that. But you can't expect a Climate Scientist to know stuff like that.

[billyboy15]

I lived on Cape Cod and in NJ. In both places wild blueberries were easily found. WE had them in the woods behind our home and they spread like weeds.

This just another attempt to frighten the clueless among us.

[Ge0ffrey]

Every year is different with wild blueberries. Some years are better than others.

[Graybeard58]

We grow blueberries in Florida.

...........................................

Are they as utterly tasteless as Florida tomatoes?

[Dr. Franklin]

I buy Wyman’s WILD blueberries regularly. These are NOT cultivated blueberries people. They grow wild in NH, ME and Canada. The berry is 1/4” or less in diameter and much sweeter. They taste better than anything you can buy grown in other places in the world. For those from out west, in the same way as WILD Huckleberrys.

Much sweeter meaning the sugar is more concentrated. There are all kinds of blueberries that have been cultivated. Some have big fruit. Some have small fruit. They even have pink blueberries. They recently developed blueberries that will flower and fruit twice a summer. Wild blueberries will adapt to the environmental changes as they have for millions of years. It's nothing but alarmist propaganda. The sky isn't falling!

[healy61]

I think many have had a gut load of scientist reports.

[Paleo Pete]

OK so...

For the past 8 years we’ve seen especially harsh winters, over 100 year low temperature and snowfall records broken, especially in the northeast (where I think Maine is), Atlanta froze over and stranded thousands of cars on the interstate for the first time ever, we had an all time record breaking freeze here in Texas this winter, and I’ve seen (or read actually) reports here on FR of the first cold spell coming earlier than usual, and the last one later than usual all over the country. That happened here too, I just had to wear a jacket 2 weeks ago, mid May, first time in my life for that, I usually can put the long sleeves away around May 1st, just keep a long sleeve shirt handy for cool nights. Almost never a jacket needed past about mid April.. Last fall too, cold spell 2 weeks before Halloween, which is usually our first jacket weather of the year.

And they tell me the planet is WARMING???? How can the temps rise by .12 degrees C when everything has been colder than normal for at least 8 years? I think .12 is what I saw here...early cold spells, late spring, record low temps and they claim it’s WARMING????

Last time I saw anything over 103 in summer was late 90’s, around 1998. July 31 through August 1, 1998 was 106 to 108, I think it was 2005 we saw 105 for one day, other than that, nothing over 103. That’s WARMING???? Normal hottest day of the year for the past 30 years has been 104 or so, 105 now and then. I’ve mowed the yard with a push mower when it was 101 and 102 plenty times. In my younger days anyway...now 103 is the hottest day of the year and they claim this is WARMING???? you have to go back to 1930 to find 108 around here. I downloaded the NOAA record temps files for this area. To see 106 you have to go back to around 1960, 108 was sometime around 1930. Otherwise, you see 103 to 105 as the high for the year. Now and then a degree or two different either way.

Someone else already noted, they don’t mention any names here, just a group of scientists. In my day, scientists believed in finding out the truth, not perpetuating a political narrative. In my day scientists believed in putting their names and reputations on the line along with their theories. And they believed in calling it a theory intil it was either proven or disproven. And once it was published, every scientist’s greatest dream was to DISPROVE someone else’s working theory. That’s why some scientists are still trying to prove man can actually travel faster than the speed of light right now, Einstein said no go, light speed is our limit. Prove that theory is bunk, you’re a nobel prize winner and a household name for life.

We have blueberries growing here in Texas too, mine didn’t do much this year, late cold spell discombuberated the blooms. Only have one bush producing too, had two and one died from lack of water, planted a new one early this spring, it won’t do anything for at least another year. I was surprised it survived the freeze but it is still living and putting on leaves, I just looked at it a few days ago.

This coming weekend we have the yearly Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches. I plan to attend. They also have a good sized field where you can take a short bus ride and pick as many as you like, can’t remember what the cost is, but not expensive. I might go pick a couple of pounds. Another place right up the road about 3 or 4 miles usually has a sign up where locals can go pick blueberries, but no sign up yet this year, the late freeze may have killed off their blooms too. Or maybe too much rain, we’ve had more rain the past 2 months than we got the past 2 years. I saw a sign an hour south of here last week where you can go pick for $1.50 a pound, might make a run down there. I have a very good blueberry muffin recipe...I normally use frozen but fresh is so nice...

Why do these people think I’m stupid enough to buy into this crap? They think I can’t see what’s actually happening around me? They think I haven’t noticed the lack of 104 - 105 degree summer days? The earlier cold spells, the later ones in spring? I had to sleep with a light blanket 3 or 4 nights ago. Never in my life...Usually have windows open in late May, maybe a sheet over me...these people think I don’t SEE THIS?

Unsane...

[healy61]

My grandmother would tell us to pick enough huckleberries and she would make a pie. We got our fill of berries, and she had a peaceful afternoon as we were sent out a couple times to get enough. Thanks for mentioning huckleberries.

[Sacajaweau]

I don’t remember blueberries being a staple in my youth. My grandmother did have raspberry bushes and she canned them. Grapes and plums also came from Grandma’s garden. Don’t ever remember blueberries...even at the major farm market. I’m 77. Have never bought them.

[SamAdams76]

Good post.

I went on a camping trip last weekend up in New Hampshire. I've camped on Memorial Day weekend in years past and it was always nice weather temperature-wise. At least in the mid to high 60s even on cloudy, rainy days.

This trip, the temperature did not climb above 47 degrees the entire weekend. We huddled around the campfire pretty much all day with layers of clothing and blankets wrapped around us. Fortunately we had an ample supply of firewood.

The weather was closer to what you would expect in mid-March. If anybody around that campfire even mentioned "global warming", I think we would have pitched them right into the fire!

[Rummyfan]

The study authors found that wild blueberry growers might need to change the way they farm to prepare for future climate change. That could include changes to strategies such as irrigation and fertilizer use.

Seems like an easy solution.

[SIDENET]

I lived in Maine for over a decade....one of my favorite homes was in Brownville Junction. The reason I point out this one town is because behind this town is all unincorporated townships (Blueberry fields) ...this suggestion that WATER is a problem is laughable. Along with the snow and yearly rain and the multitude of lakes / rivers are the aquifers All of Maine is water wonderland. What a crock.

Spot on. I live in Downeast Maine (Washington County).