College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – May 12, 2015

  Published on May 12, 2015
  Apple bloom is ending, blueberry bloom has begun and overall fruit crops look good.

• Fertilizing frost-damaged fruit crops

  Published on April 30, 2012
  Should you adjust your fertilizer program to account for few fruit? Many Michigan fruit crop levels will be low this year due to frost injury and poor pollination. Consider this information if you haven’t fertilized or applied only a portion of fertilizer.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – June 7, 2022

  Published on June 7, 2022
  Tree fruit is continuing fruit sizing, with most apples between 15-20 mm and stone fruit 20-2 5mm. Cooler conditions last week and expected this week.

• Cherry leaf spot: A damaging fungal pathogen of tart cherries

  Published on May 26, 2009
  

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  Mite management in tree fruits under hot and dry weather conditions

  Published on June 13, 2023
  There are many options available for mite control in fruit crops.

• Southeast Michigan fruit regional report – May 14, 2013

  Published on May 14, 2013
  Freeze injury from the May 13 cold snap is being seen in tree and small fruits by some southeast Michigan fruit growers.

• East Michigan fruit update – July 9, 2019

  Published on July 9, 2019
  Soils have quickly gone from too wet all spring and early summer to now dry. Harvest of many fruit crops is underway, including sweet cherries, saskatoons, summer red raspberries, tart cherries and black raspberries.

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  East Michigan fruit update – June 16, 2020

  Published on June 16, 2020
  Strawberry harvest has begun with strong consumer demand for ready picked and pick your own berries. Even with some rain over the last week, many areas have slipped into drought conditions.

• East Michigan fruit update – July 16, 2019

  Published on July 16, 2019
  Soils remain dry across most of the region. Harvest continues for many fruit crops. A few blueberry farms have opened for picking and several farms are starting to pick a few of the bud berries on fall red raspberries.

• Michigan spotted wing Drosophila report for August 25, 2015

  Published on August 26, 2015
  High pressure from spotted wing Drosophila continues. Susceptible crops must be protected or risk infestation.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – June 6, 2017

  Published on June 6, 2017
  Soils are drying rapidly as plants use soil water for growth. Growers should be irrigating.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – July 25, 2023

  Published on July 25, 2023
  Insects and diseases are active in area fruit crops.

• Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources event to focus on soil health

  Published on January 12, 2016
  Michigan State University will host its first Agriculture Innovation Day: Focus on Soils on Aug. 24, 2016, at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

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  MSU Extension’s Nikki Rothwell named 2025 Cherry Industry Person of the Year

  Published on July 17, 2025
  MSU Extension’s Nikki Rothwell was named the 2025 Cherry Industry Person of the Year at the National Cherry Festival for her leadership in research, grower outreach and advocacy, and for her lasting impact on Michigan’s cherry industry.

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  Don't miss out on Michigan cherries

  Published on July 19, 2016
  July is cherry month and the crop is abundant this year in spite of recent storms.

• Michigan’s Right To Farm celebrates 30 years

  Published on October 5, 2011
  The Right to Farm Act affects everyone. A wide variety of crop and livestock production strengthens our farm economy and helps to enhance the natural environment.

• Winter injury in sweet cherry in northwest Michigan, 2008

  Published on May 20, 2008
  

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – Aug. 17, 2022

  Published on August 17, 2022
  Abundant rainfall slows some pests and enhances others.

• How to minimize costs in frost-damaged cherry orchards

  Published on May 7, 2012
  Growers that have frosted cherry orchards can use the following strategies to reduce input costs.

• East Michigan fruit update – June 19, 2018

  Published on June 19, 2018
  Primary apple scab season comes to an end with weekend rains. Strawberry harvest continues for most growers, but some farms have struggled to maintain berry quality.