A Season of Extremes: Weather's Impact on the Valley's Agriculture Industry
Over the past six months, the Shenandoah Valley has faced extreme weather events that have significantly impacted its agricultural sector. Each occurrence has compounded the challenges faced by farmers and producers.
By Grant Coleman
Published: Oct. 31, 2026 at 2:53 AM GMT+1 | Updated: 23 hours ago
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HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The past six months have brought three major weather disasters to the Valley, starting with a late spring freeze in late spring.
Late Spring Freeze
The late spring freeze, likely the costliest of the three events, caused substantial damage to Virginia's agricultural community, particularly to apples, wine grapes, and peaches.
Mary Godinez, owner of Cross Keys Farm, primarily grows apples and other produce. She described the impact:
“We had two weeks of about 85, 90 degree weather, and then in one night, in about a six-hour period, we went down to 28 degrees.”
The USDA estimated a 48% loss across Virginia’s apple crops, affecting many producers like Ben Showalter from Showalter’s Orchard & Greenhouse in Timberville. While some fruit at higher elevations survived, producers at lower elevations suffered significant losses.
Stephanie Pence, from Brix & Columns Vineyard, shared her experience:
“We lost about 80% of our crop, so it’s been very devastating this spring.”
Even chestnuts, a less common crop, weren't spared, with three major producers in Virginia reporting total losses, including Daniel Jefferson from East Rockingham Chestnuts in Rockingham County.
Summer Storms and Flooding
The summer brought severe storms and flooding, further complicating the recovery process.
Fall Storms and Crop Damage
As if the previous events weren't enough, fall brought more challenges with storms and high winds causing additional crop damage.
The cumulative effect of these extreme weather events has been profound, leaving many in the agricultural community struggling to recover and adapt.