As cherries begin to blossom in spring, it’s a good time to learn the risks and threats to the crop.
Cherry trees grow to produce a fruit that can be either sweet or sour. According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, the United States produced $788 million worth of sweet cherries and $90.8 million tart cherries in 2016.
As a fruit, cherries are used to create a wide range of products for consumers to enjoy. However, humans aren’t the only fans of cherry flavor. When growing cherries, it is crucial to be aware of the risks posed to cherry crops.
Predators
Various species are a threat to cherry crops. The sweet or tart fruit can provide great flavor and nutrition to many predators. Birds especially enjoy the fruit and often seek out cherry trees as they begin to harvest during the summer months. Most mammals are after the fruit itself, some examples include bears, deer and squirrels.
Predators of cherry trees include:
- Birds
- Insects
- Mammals
Insects can also pose a threat to cherry plants. Some species invade the bark or stem of the plant, some eat the plant itself and others may feast on the leaves.
However, there are other natural risks outside of hungry creatures that a farmer should take into account.
Nature
When growing crops, risks from nature are common factors. Depending on geography, there can be differing threats. With time and experience, it will be known what risks can be recurring in your area. Some natural factors to be aware of include:
- Weather
- Roots
- Fungi & Diseases
Weather is a common threat to crops. Heavy rainfall, snow or hail can be damaging to cherry crops. Too much rainfall can also cause rotting roots if the plant is grown in poorly draining, heavy soil.
There are various diseases that can take over cherry plants. These can be either fungal, viral or bacterial. It’s important to learn about those commonly found in your region in order to spot them and treat them as needed.
How To Protect Your Cherry Crops
There are different methods to combating these risks depending on the issue. To protect from predators, there are many distractions you can place in your crop field such as:
- Reflective tape
- Sound deterrents
- Decoys/scarecrow
- Other food
- Netting
- Liquid bird repellent
However, it is more difficult to safeguard your cherries against weather threats. Other natural risks including fungi and disease require further education to be able to identify what’s happening to the plants. Most diseases have a corresponding treatment to aid the problem.
How Avian Can Help
With birds being a major risk to cherry crops, Avian Control is here to help. Our EPA-registered liquid bird repellent can protect your crops from these predators.
Avian Control doesn’t interfere with the growth, appearance or taste of cherries. It’s designed to repel all types of nuisance birds for up to 14 days and is available at a bargain price! Shop today or contact us at 888.868.1982 for more information.
Risks Posed to Cherry Crops and How Avian Control Can Help