College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – June 29, 2021

  Published on June 29, 2021
  Extensive rainfall over the past week replenished soil moisture deficits, but a return to warm, dry weather is expected.

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  First spotted wing Drosophila weekly report for 2017

  Published on June 6, 2017
  Some traps in the network are already capturing SWD flies at low levels. Monitor for this pest when crops are starting to become susceptible.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 13, 2021

  Published on April 13, 2021
  Many tree fruits are blooming. Small fruits are leafing out.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 7, 2016

  Published on June 7, 2016
  Fruit are beginning to size, and northwest Michigan has an excellent crop of sweet and tart cherries. Apples are also setting well.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – Aug. 25, 2020

  Published on August 25, 2020
  Dry weather is slowing development and causing small fruit for most crops but is helping increase sugar content in peaches and grapes.

• Kids back on the farm? Sign them up for the 2014 Integrated Pest Management Academy

  Published on January 9, 2014
  Do you have a farm employee who could brush up on their pest management skills? Register now to ensure their spot at this pioneering workshop designed to serve specialty crop, field crop and landscape professionals.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – Aug. 11, 2020

  Published on August 11, 2020
  A derecho blew across the region leaving damage in its wake. Relatively minor damage to fruit plantings. Some fruit, trees and limbs down in orchards and blueberry fields, and some broken trellis posts in grape vineyards.

• Probability of a hard frost or freeze in the spring for some southwest Michigan fruit sites

  Published on April 30, 2013
  A late spring can be a blessing in disguise. Late growth may mean fruit growers will avoid spring freeze injury.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 2, 2015

  Published on June 2, 2015
  Time to focus on post-bloom insects that attack fruit.

• 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.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – August 12, 2014

  Published on August 12, 2014
  The average number of spotted wing Drosophila captured in the northwest region has been slowly increasing since the first detection at the end of June.

• 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.

• Northwest Michigan fruit update – August 7, 2017

  Published on August 7, 2018
  Cherry harvest is winding down, and quality remains quite high despite the hot conditions. Apples are coloring and sizing.

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  Tree fruit irrigation and fertigation workshop recap

  Published on March 31, 2014
  The MSU Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center hosted irrigation and fertigation specialist Denise Nielsen to discuss water and nutrient management in orchards.

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  What can fruit growers do if a freeze is coming?

  Published on May 5, 2020
  You cannot fight Mother Nature, but when frost or freeze conditions occur in fruit orchards, vineyards and fields, growers can work to minimize the potential damage.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 10, 2022

  Published on May 10, 2022
  Weather has made a turn from cooler and wetter than normal to up to 20 degrees above normal temperatures. This warm weather will speed up crop development; watch for pop up rains and new green tissue that needs to be covered for diseases.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – May 11, 2021

  Published on May 11, 2021
  Cool weather and scattered frosts have kept fruit growers scrambling, but only a little damage has been reported.

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  A long wetting period could be the start of cherry leaf spot infections for 2020

  Published on May 19, 2020
  With the recent wet weather and opening stomata, tart cherry growers should be planning ahead for leaf spot infections.