http://ipraudio.interlochen.org/Praying_for_frost.mp3
See audio for an interview with Farmer Frederick Dohm.
Snow accumulation is in the forecast for Northern Lower Michigan, which is typical for early April. But it's not typical to see cherry tree buds so well developed by this time of year.
One farmer on the Old Mission Peninsula says he hasn't seen anything like this since the 1940s.
He's thinking a hard frost could wipe out three-fourths of both his tart and sweet crops, and he thinks that's good news.
"We're looking for a short crop of fruit, and hope and pray that it comes up short. And I think Jack Frost will be our bed partner this year," says Frederick Dohm.
Dohm says it looks like crops could come up short in most of the American cherry growing regions, and that would drive up prices on the fruit.
In the last couple years farmers have a tough time turning a profit. Cherries don't tend to sell as well as they grow.