Forget the April showers for now. Instead spring is bringing some unseasonably warm weather to the Valley. The mercury rose abruptly over the last few days and the early spring heat is fueling mixed emotions among Valley farmers.
The heat is on across the Valley. In just the last 4 days, there's been a 20 degree spike, with a high of 70 on Saturday and 90 on Tuesday.
Clovis resident Jerry Renna says, "It's terrible, just terrible."
But not all that unexpected following this year's weather whirlwind.
Renna says, "We barely got a fall. We didn't get a winter and we're supposed to have spring. Our bodies just aren't acclimating quickly enough."
Neither are many fruits and vegetables.
Fresno County grower Keith Nilmeier says, "The trees feel the effects just like you and I do. So, it says wait a minute and it starts doing many things. It starts sending out feeder roots looking for water."
The ups and downs; warm winters and early spring heat are causing crop confusion. The fruit on a row of Nilmeier's peach trees vary in size. Some are normal and some are very small; all effects of an early bloom, and a potential problem for Neilmeier who could lose a portion of his crop.
"My concern is I think that all of this little fruit is going to dry up and fall off anyway," says Nilmeier.
Across town at a Clovis strawberry farm, the heat is welcomed.
Strawberry farmer Daniel Saeteurn says, "90 for today is okay for strawberries because they're not getting too ripe"
Saeteurn says the hot spring sun not only makes for sweeter strawberries but for a longer season. His family's strawberry stand opened two weeks earlier than normal.
"It's been good for business and it's been good all around. So far, so good," says Saeteurn.
Growers anticipate most crops, including stone fruit, will also harvest 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal this year.
The heat is on across the Valley. In just the last 4 days, there's been a 20 degree spike, with a high of 70 on Saturday and 90 on Tuesday.
Clovis resident Jerry Renna says, "It's terrible, just terrible."
But not all that unexpected following this year's weather whirlwind.
Renna says, "We barely got a fall. We didn't get a winter and we're supposed to have spring. Our bodies just aren't acclimating quickly enough."
Neither are many fruits and vegetables.
Fresno County grower Keith Nilmeier says, "The trees feel the effects just like you and I do. So, it says wait a minute and it starts doing many things. It starts sending out feeder roots looking for water."
The ups and downs; warm winters and early spring heat are causing crop confusion. The fruit on a row of Nilmeier's peach trees vary in size. Some are normal and some are very small; all effects of an early bloom, and a potential problem for Neilmeier who could lose a portion of his crop.
"My concern is I think that all of this little fruit is going to dry up and fall off anyway," says Nilmeier.
Across town at a Clovis strawberry farm, the heat is welcomed.
Strawberry farmer Daniel Saeteurn says, "90 for today is okay for strawberries because they're not getting too ripe"
Saeteurn says the hot spring sun not only makes for sweeter strawberries but for a longer season. His family's strawberry stand opened two weeks earlier than normal.
"It's been good for business and it's been good all around. So far, so good," says Saeteurn.
Growers anticipate most crops, including stone fruit, will also harvest 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal this year.