TRAVERSE CITY -- Spring is in the air, even if it's still a week away on the calendar.
A rapid, early March warm-up across northern Michigan means local growers and producers will get an early start on the upcoming agricultural season. But they don't want too much of a good thing, as 50-degree temperatures and fast-melting snow could push their fruits and crops along quicker than they'd like.
"It's scary to fruit growers," said Erwin "Duke" Elsner of Grand Traverse County's Extension office.
In today's Business section, area farmers and weather experts talk about the mild winter and early spring, and how early March's lamb-like weather could impact agriculture this year.
