College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – May 12, 2015

  Published on May 12, 2015
  Northwest Michigan fruit growers are continuing to protect for possible apple and cherry disease infections during recent wet weather.

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  New stone fruit Integrated Pest Management guide for beginners available online

  Published on June 25, 2019
  A new series of how-to fact sheets, collectively called Stone Fruit IPM for Beginners, developed for new growers and scouts of stone fruit is now available online.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – July 17, 2018

  Published on July 17, 2018
  Dry conditions continue. This week will be cooler. Blueberry harvest continues as peach and plum harvest begins.

• Southeast Michigan fruit regional report – May 21, 2013

  Published on May 21, 2013
  Fruit development moves along at a rapid pace with warm weather this past week.

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  West central Michigan tree fruit update – July 29, 2025

  Published on July 29, 2025
  Cherry harvest is finished for many growers, and early peaches and plums are being harvested.

• 2013 Bloom dates for southwest Michigan tree fruit crops

  Published on April 23, 2013
  Fruit trees will bloom later than normal in 2013 in southwest Michigan.

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  When using bird deterrents in sweet cherries makes sense

  Published on June 9, 2015
  In early varieties, small blocks and in years when sweet cherry yields are expected to be low, losses by birds are expected to be higher and protecting fruit from birds may make good economic sense.

• Increase of spotted wing Drosophila in berry crops

  Published on July 14, 2015
  Increasing spotted wing Drosophila catches highlight the need for tighter harvest intervals and excellent berry protection.

• East Michigan fruit regional report – June 28, 2016

  Published on June 28, 2016
  Soils are very dry, creating drought stress in tree and small fruits. Strawberry harvest has finished in southern parts of our region, and sweet and tart cherry and summer red raspberry harvest is getting underway.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 18, 2021

  Published on May 18, 2021
  This warm weather is accelerating crop development; tart cherries are at early petal fall and apples are at 60% bloom at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – July 25, 2022

  Published on July 25, 2022
  Growers are in the throes of tart cherry harvest. Fruit quality is holding relatively well with the recent rains and heat.

• East Michigan fruit update – Aug. 1, 2017

  Published on August 1, 2017
  Brown marmorated stink bugs are being caught in traps in apple blocks, with spotted wing Drosophila and apple maggot populations remaining high.

• West Michigan tree fruit update – Aug. 1, 2017

  Published on August 1, 2017
  The end of summer is no break for pest management in tree fruits.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – July 24, 2018

  Published on July 24, 2018
  A wet weekend eases drought worries. Expect an increase in insect activity. Summer fruit harvest continues.

• Food Safety Modernization Act exempt farms still have work to do

  Published on January 19, 2016
  Farms exempt from the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act produce rule still have to keep records to prove exemption and identify yourself at points of sale.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – June 30, 2020

  Published on June 30, 2020
  Hot and dry weather are in the forecast, which is helpful for disease control but growers will have to supplement water supply with irrigation.

• Specialty crop and minor-use pesticide research priorities set by IR-4

  Published on September 17, 2012
  At a recent workshop, participants identified the most important research projects for the 2013 IR-4 food-use research program.

• 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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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – Aug. 6, 2019

  Published on August 6, 2019
  Harvest is underway for blueberries, raspberries, peaches, plums and early varieties of apples.

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  Cherry leaf spot 101: Understanding Blumeriella jaapii biology and management

  Published on October 11, 2024
  Cherry leaf spot causes significant economic loss in Michigan each year. Management has become more complicated due to the introduction of novel fungicides and resistance issues.