College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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  Monitoring for spotted wing Drosophila larvae in cherries before entering processing facility

  Published on June 28, 2016
  Guidelines for inspectors to detect fruit infested with spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) larvae at the receiving station or prior to entering the processing facility.

• How hot? How dry? Enviro-weather tools help answer these questions

  Published on July 10, 2012
  Fruit and vegetable growers can use MSU’s Enviro-weather tools to quickly compare seasonal heat (degree-day) and moisture (precipitation) accumulations with previous years and “normal” years.

• Grand Rapids area tree fruit update - April 9, 2024

  Published on April 9, 2024
  Apple scab season is here!

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – Sept. 1, 2020

  Published on September 1, 2020
  Fall harvest is progressing well. Brown marmorated stink bug numbers are increasing.

• Freeze 2012: Under what circumstances would it be profitable to harvest tart cherries?

  Published on June 14, 2012
  Tart cherry growers should analyze the most profitable strategy for each orchard situation to determine if the crop is worth harvesting or not.

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  Why are my apples blooming during fall?

  Published on October 16, 2015
  Stresses such as drought, which causes growth to stop and start, can confuse woody perennials and cause out of sync bloom.

• Southeast Michigan fruit regional report – April 28, 2015

  Published on April 28, 2015
  Persistent cool temperatures have slowed fruit crop development and freezing temperatures last Friday morning were close to doing damage to fruit flower buds.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 11, 2023

  Published on April 11, 2023
  And we’re off! The first crop blooms of the year have been seen. Apricots have started blooming. Other stone fruit are not far behind, especially with the warm weather forecast this week.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 21, 2016

  Published on June 21, 2016
  Sweet cherry harvest has begun. Scattered hail storms have caused some damage.

• West Michigan tree fruit update – May 23, 2017

  Published on May 23, 2017
  Post-petal fall in tree fruits brings many pests to consider.

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  Freezing temperatures likely across Michigan

  Published on May 7, 2020
  Cold outbreak brings prolonged freeze risk.

• Potential sources of labor: Are these in your future plans?

  Published on February 29, 2016
  Farms should think about different strategies to fill their labor needs in 2016 and beyond. Consider any and all of these options and strategies to obtain needed workers in the future.

• Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation supports young growers to attend conference

  Published on January 29, 2014
  The Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Foundation and Cherry Republic are helping four young growers from northwest Michigan attend the 2014 International Tree Fruit Association meeting in British Columbia.

• Codling moth back to normal in 2015

  Published on May 28, 2015
  Current pheromone trapline data suggests codling moth populations and pest pressure will be normal this summer.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – July 26, 2022

  Published on July 26, 2022
  Rainfall last weekend and cooler conditions this week gave growers a much-needed break. Expect a return to hot, dry weather beginning this weekend.

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  East Michigan fruit update – May 19, 2020

  Published on May 19, 2020
  The region experienced another major freeze event resulting in additional damage to flower buds in most tree fruits. Substantial rains brought two heavy apple scab infection periods and very wet soils. There are many black blossoms in strawberry fields.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 19, 2022

  Published on April 19, 2022
  Bloom has begun in apricots. More blooming crops are expected by the end of the week.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – May 10, 2016

  Published on May 10, 2016
  Sweet cherries are blooming across the region, and honey bee hives have been strong and active for pollination so far.

• What is evapotranspiration and why it matters

  Published on July 25, 2012
  Under drought conditions, plants may not be able to extract water fast enough to keep up with evapotranspiration.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 2, 2015

  Published on June 2, 2015
  Growers are assessing sweet cherries, tart cherries and apples for damage from the May 20 frost.