Apple growers in Wisconsin are reporting variable yields in 2025, with some regions experiencing reduced crops while others report good production.
In northeast Wisconsin, farmers such as 97-year-old Harlyn Fisher have seen lighter yields. "The McIntosh apples were really early this year. I might get eight bushels. Last year, the trees were just loaded. It's not a good year this year," Fisher said.
Amaya Atucha, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted in her scouting report that, "After a cold winter caused potential damage to apple trees, cool spring temperatures led to delayed and slower pollination, resulting in smaller crops in some orchards in Northeast Wisconsin."
Rasmussen's Apple Acres near Oshkosh announced it would only open for one week due to "another so-so season and lack of rain." The Little Farmer orchard in Malone also reported reduced yields. Manager Jen Bergen said, "The apples are OK. It's not a huge bumper crop, but it's not a disaster either."
Other orchards recorded even sharper declines. Arden Schroeder of Schroeder's Orchard near Neenah said he expects only 15 bushels of Zestar! compared with more than 100 bushels last year. "Some have blamed it on the goofy weather or lack of pollination, but this is terrible," Schroeder said. "We're still waiting for our later varieties like Fuji and Honeycrisp, so there's still some hope yet."
At Appleland Farm Market near Fredonia, owner Jacob Bares reported an average crop. "Our early varieties like Ginger Golds were lighter (harvest-wise). Then we had those three days in mid-June that reached the mid-90s, which also caused the trees to thin a little more," he said. Later varieties, including Honeycrisp, Zestar!, Pink Lady, and Evercrisp, are now performing better.
By contrast, orchards in western Wisconsin report stronger yields. Allen Teach of Sunrise Orchards in Gays Mills said, "We here at Gays Mills have avoided any of the big, massive rains that we're kind of famous for here, and it's been nearly an ideal growing season. We had a big push of colder air here, which has really helped the apple crop get nice and red."
Rock Ridge Orchard near Edgar reported later ripening due to wildfire smoke during the summer, but described its crop as good across its 12,000 trees and 30 varieties.
Dick Bauer of Bauer's Apple Shed near Hortonville said, "We've got a pretty good crop. Some of the trees are loaded, and there's not a lot on others. But that's par for the course."
Source: Wisconsin State Farmer