BURLINGTON, Vt. — Farmers across northern New England are assessing frost damage following two nights of freezing temperatures. And more cold weather is on tap tonight.

Temperatures early Tuesday dropped to as low as 22 degrees in Vermont and the 28 recorded in Burlington was one degree above the record low for May 10. In Maine and New Hampshire, the temperature dipped below freezing, as well.

That has spelled trouble for apple and blueberry growers.

David Yarborough, the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension blueberry expert, says he found extensive damage to low-lying blueberry fields.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension says orchardists will lose 10 to 15 percent of a crop at 28 degrees. At 25 degrees, 90 percent of the crop will be lost.
 


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