College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Southeast Michigan fruit regional report – June 10, 2014

  Published on June 10, 2014
  Strawberry harvest is underway at a few farms in southern Michigan and expected to begin later this week at others. Dry soils in most of the region need irrigation, especially strawberries.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – September 8, 2015

  Published on September 8, 2015
  Apple harvest is starting to take off with Gala and Honeycrisp harvest underway.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update — April 17, 2018

  Published on April 17, 2018
  A wintry blast over the weekend did not cause any damage. Plant growth is just beginning, waiting for warm temperatures to return later in April.

• East Michigan fruit update – June 11, 2019

  Published on June 11, 2019
  Strawberry harvest is expected to begin late this week or over the weekend for many farms, one of the latest harvest starts for many. Apple growers need to lookout for fire blight strikes.

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  Reports of high honey bee colony losses and how farmers and growers can support honey bees

  Published on April 1, 2025
  Several migratory beekeepers recently reported abnormally high losses of honey bee colonies, however, losses vary across operations. Farmers and growers can support honey bee health by increasing forage and reducing pesticide exposure.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – Sept. 3, 2019

  Published on September 4, 2019
  Plum, pear and apple harvest is underway.

• West central Michigan small fruit update – June 26, 2018

  Published on June 26, 2018
  Summer insect and disease management in blueberries and other small fruit is fast approaching. Cane collapse and fruit rots in blueberries and the beginning of the spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) flies arrival should be the main focus of growers’ IPM program

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 18, 2023

  Published on April 18, 2023
  Last week’s hot weather pushed all fruit crops along quickly. Next week will be closer to normal but cool weather may be a challenge for pollinating blooming crops.

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  The Protection Plan for Managed Pollinators in Michigan draft release

  Published on March 29, 2017
  Michigan has released its draft plan to protect managed pollinators from pesticide threats. This joint effort is designed to provide clear actions that can be taken to reduce pesticide exposure to bees.

• Michigan brown marmorated stink bug report for August 31, 2015

  Published on September 2, 2015
  Few brown marmorated stink bugs were caught in two monitoring network traps in Berrien County this week.

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  Crop scouting and…ticks?

  Published on June 2, 2016
  Suggestions for avoiding ticks when scouting crops in Michigan.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 6, 2025

  Published on May 6, 2025
  The cool spring has been replaced by a few warm days that moved plant development along. We are at white bud in sweet cherry varieties. We had a cold night April 30, and growers are assessing if the low temperatures resulted in damage.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – March 28, 2023

  Published on March 28, 2023
  This is the first fruit scouting report of the season.

• Michigan leads the nation in the production of blueberries and tart cherries

  Published on July 28, 2011
  In the heat of the summer, Michigan grown fruit is hard to beat.

• Controlling powdery mildew in tart cherry orchards with reduced crop

  Published on May 3, 2012
  Growers can minimize powdery mildew infections with early, well-timed applications in orchards with light crops.

• East Michigan fruit update – June 9, 2020

  Published on June 9, 2020
  Warmer temperatures brought a good amount of new growth in all fruit crops and rapid rise of growing degree day totals. Strawberry harvest will begin later this week at some farms. Soils continue to dry quickly.

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  Cherry leaf spot: Balancing the need to prevent early infections with bee safety

  Published on April 29, 2014
  Recommendations to balance a successful, early-season cherry leaf spot control and be mindful of honey bee colonies.

• East Michigan fruit regional report – July 22, 2016

  Published on July 22, 2016
  Spotted wing Drosophila trap catch and apple maggot numbers took a big jump this week. A few tenths of an inch of precipitation came to some fruit farms Thursday afternoon, while most others received none. Our drought continues across the region.

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  Netting in high-density sweet cherries reduces bird damage and spotted wing drosophila

  Published on February 20, 2025
  Over a two-year study, bird damage and SWD were reduced under nets. Netting may serve as an effective way to protect crops and reduce reliance on pesticides.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – June 2, 2020

  Published on June 2, 2020
  Warm weather brought fast development of trees and insects.