Danger bells ringing for hazelnuts: Yield loss may occur

With spring-like weather in the middle of winter, hazelnut catkins have begun to appear. In Ordu, where the highest amount of hazelnut production in Turkey takes place, it is stated that if air temperatures continue in this manner, snow that may fall in the coming months of February and March, combined with agricultural frost, could lead to serious damage and yield loss.

“Hazelnut trees need to experience a chilling period of between 350 and 1,000 hours”

Arslan Soydan, a board member of the Union of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture, stated that they are currently heading toward a dangerous process, saying, “Hopefully, we are expecting snow these days. The hazelnut tree and its branches need to experience a chilling period of approximately 350 to 1,000 hours. That chilling period is a time when activity in the hazelnut stops. Therefore, if it snows, it would be positive for the hazelnut branches, catkins, and buds to be under a snow cover in terms of protection from the soil and pests. There is a serious need for snowfall right now,” he said.

“Serious yield losses may occur”

Stating that hazelnut branches that wake up early, fooled by the warm weather, are in danger against potential agricultural frost in February and March, Soydan expressed that there has not been enough beneficial snowfall in the Black Sea Region so far, adding, “There was a small amount of snowfall in the high altitudes; on the contrary, the warm weather continues. We have experienced in past years that this warm weather causes the hazelnut to wake up early, and subsequently, there is serious damage and yield loss due to agricultural frost,” he said.