Why Helicopters May Hover Over New York Orchards This Week

New Yorkers might get treated to a rare sight this week: helicopters hovering over their local apple orchards. It all has to do with physics... and protecting this year's crop.

New York state is famous for its agriculture, with the apple industry being one of the biggest stars. Like all crops, apples are dependent on the weather for a successful season... but after the "apple apocalypse" of 2023, many farmers can't risk another loss.

How Helicopters Help New York Apple Orchards

Spring is off to a sputtering start this year in the Hudson Valley. Sunny stretches have been constantly interrupted by rain, snow, and hail (often on the same day), and while the generally-warm month of May is less than a week away, a frost advisory is currently in effect for many regions of New York. That's why some orchard owners are calling their favorite helicopter pilot.

New York Apple Orchards at Risk of Frost Damage

"We were thinking of our apple farmers today with the 32 degree temperatures!", began a recent post from Adams Fairacre Farms. "Sometimes they use a helicopter and heaters to keep the apple trees warm. It’s amazing to us what our farmers do to be sure everyone has apples". Here's how the "helicopter trick" works.

Using Helicopters to Fight Frost in New York Apple Orchards

Helicopters, which have been used for years in this type of operation, can act as giant fans, blowing warmer air back down to earth to counteract the freezing temperatures on the ground. Often times, the helicopters are used in conjunction with heaters or even small fires, which create even more warm air for the helicopters to disperse over the orchard (below).

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A member of the Crist family, who owns Crist Orchards in Walden, NY chimed in to share that while helicopters have been employed in the past, the orchard currently relies on 15 wind machines to circulate the colder air and disperse "cool pockets" on the farm. Freeze warnings continue overnight in the Hudson Valley until early Friday morning April 26th.