(NAFB.com) – A late-season cold snap is expected to sweep across much of the eastern U.S., raising concerns for farmers and ranchers as crops enter a critical growth period. Forecasters at AccuWeather say the chill could impact up to 230 million people, with frost and freeze risks returning to parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Northeast. Temperatures in some southern areas may run 20 to 30 degrees below average, while pockets of frost could damage early-season crops, fruit trees, and vineyards. The unusually cool pattern may linger into mid-May. “Since the growing season is well underway, a hard frost this late in the game in early May would be a big setback for farmers and gardeners,” said forecaster Chad Merrill. For U.S. agriculture, the cold threatens yield potential and could increase costs, but it also underscores the importance of risk management tools and crop insurance in protecting farm income.