College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• 

  West central apple maturity report – September 21, 2022

  Published on September 21, 2022
  Gala and Honeycrisp are being harvested this week in the West central region. Jonagold and Empire are moving closer to maturity.

• 

  Grand Rapids area apple maturity report – October 15, 2025

  Published on October 15, 2025
  Harvest of late-season apple varieties is beginning at some locations this week. Apple harvest is wrapping up for some commercial growers across the region.

• 

  West central Michigan tree fruit update – April 19, 2022

  Published on April 19, 2022
  Winter is still lingering with a mix of rain and snowfall over the past week. Most buds remain swollen or are beginning to show side green, but a warmup this weekend will likely push growth.

• West Michigan tree fruit regional report – September 2, 2014

  Published on September 2, 2014
  Insects are behind crop development stage this summer.

• 

  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – May 27, 2014

  Published on May 27, 2014
  Plum curculio egglaying should be starting. Blueberries are full bloom across the region and winter injury becomes easier to see as affected plants show poor growth.

• 

  West central Michigan tree fruit update – July 9, 2024

  Published on July 9, 2024
  Tart cherry harvest is in full swing. Harvest of early summer peaches may start at the end of the week.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – July 5, 2016

  Published on July 5, 2016
  Cherry harvest is underway, and rain is needed to help fruit size.

• 

  Southwest Michigan fruit update – July 9, 2019

  Published on July 9, 2019
  Summer fruit harvest is well underway with blueberries, cherries and raspberries.

• 

  Northwest Michigan apple maturity report – September 16, 2025

  Published on September 16, 2025
  Growers are starting to harvest McIntosh and Honeycrisp are moving along quickly. Many growers are waiting on color to start Honeycrisp harvest.

• 

  Early start to the growing season means early start to disease control in fruit crops

  Published on February 27, 2017
  Warm weather has fruit crops growing. Now is the time for dormant sprays to control early diseases in stone fruit (peaches, plums and cherries), blueberries and raspberries.

• 

  Kaz Christian presents some of her Master’s research at 4th edition of “Ignite Talks MSU”

  Published on February 26, 2025
  Horticulture MS student, Kaz Christian, is chosen to present her research on Malus coronaria (Sweet Crabapple), a crop wild relative native to Michigan.

• 

  Eastern Michigan labor meetings for produce growers and dairies

  Published on January 31, 2017
  Labor was a limiting factor for producers in 2016.

• Dealing with water for irrigating

  Published on February 3, 2012
  The insurance of maintaining a produce crop with irrigation can be all but eliminated if the water being used contaminates the produce with food-borne illness. Here are a few considerations when implementing irrigation practices.

• West central Michigan apple maturity report – Sept. 12, 2018

  Published on September 12, 2018
  Updates on maturity status of Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Early Fuji, Jonathan, Jonagold and Empire.

• Healthy soils provide foundation for healthy food production

  Published on April 12, 2016
  Farmers will discover what makes a healthy soil and management practices for healthy soils at Agriculture Innovation Day on Aug. 24, 2016, in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

• 

  West central Michigan tree fruit update – July 9, 2025

  Published on July 9, 2025
  Tart cherry harvest has begun in west central Michigan.

• 

  Southwest Michigan apple maturity report – Oct. 10, 2018

  Published on October 10, 2018
  Red Delicious and Golden Delicious harvest is still ongoing in southwest Michigan.

• Grand Rapids area apple maturity report – Sept. 18, 2019

  Published on September 18, 2019
  First harvest of early blocks of Honeycrisp and Gala will begin soon.

• Crop response to daylength and its role in fertilizer applications

  Published on March 30, 2015
  Photoperiodism is the term given to a plant’s ability to respond to changing daylength. Knowing how your crop responds to daylength should influence how you apply fertilizer, especially nitrogen.

• 

  Millennials in agriculture — Part 1

  Published on November 22, 2017
  Millennials are expected to make farming more efficient and profitable by relying more on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.