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This was supposed to have been the year that Kate Grimm, a part-time nurse practitioner, could consider retirement.

But a freeze that hit Ohio in early April changed things for Grimm and her husband Andy, who operate an apple orchard in Washington County.

"When the freeze was over, the trees looked like they had literally been burned where they stood," she said.

Grimm said the couple has experienced a 100 percent loss on their 7,000 apple trees, which last year yielded 3,400 bushels of fruit.

So Grimm will have to keep her job, and Andy, who had retired from the Air Force, will look for work off of the farm. While there will be no harvest this year, the couple still must spend thousands of dollars on inputs to keep the trees healthy for 2008. Grimm also points out that the orchard had recently established six wholesale markets.

"I worry a little bit about them forgetting about us," she said.

Making this even more challenging is that the Grimms, who started their orchard from scratch nine years ago, are unable to carry commercial crop insurance. That's because insurers require farm records for at least three years of full production.

"We won't be in our full production capacity for another two to three years," Grimm said. She added that a federal program only pays out on 50 percent of a lost crop at a rate of $7 per bushel. Grimm sells her apples for $20 to $40 per bushel depending on the variety.

The Grimms are not alone. Many fruit and vegetable growers were hit hard by the frost, and it is often difficult for them to obtain crop insurance, according to Adam Sharp, OFBF senior director of national and regulatory affairs.

Sharp said growers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office to report damage, if they haven't already. The county FSA will send reports to the state office to determine how widespread the damage is. The amount of damage will be assessed over the summer.

"Ohio Farm Bureau is trying to get a handle on the extent of the damage as well, and we are working with legislators and the U.S Department of Agriculture to determine the best course of action," Sharp said. "In addition, one of the things OFBF is supporting in the next farm bill are improved risk management tools for fruit and vegetable growers."

If the USDA declares a disaster, it will likely occur after harvest, and growers typically have eight months to apply for assistance, Sharp said.

"The typical recourse for USDA is to offer low-interest loans," he said. He added that if a disaster is declared in a specific county, growers in adjacent counties are also eligible for assistance.

Grimm said she has been in contact with Ohio Congressmen Zack Space, D-Dover, and Charles Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, about the need for assistance.

"We have no recourse unless the federal government would come through and offer some relief funds," she said.

Caption: Withered apple blossoms hang from a branch at Grimm's Green Acres in Washington County. This is the result of what some are calling the worst frost damage to hit Ohio in 50 years. Photo by Kate Grimm