College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Codling moth is back with a vengeance in 2014

  Published on June 3, 2014
  Recent trap data suggests that codling moth populations will be heavy, and management action will be required.

• Specialty crop and minor-use pesticide prioritization at the 2013 IR-4 Food Use Workshop

  Published on October 16, 2013
  Participants identified the most important research projects for the 2014 IR-4 food-use research program during the 2013 IR-4 Food Use Workshop in Albuquerque, N.M.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 11, 2017

  Published on April 11, 2017
  Bloom opened in apricots and plums during the warm weekend. Avoid spraying open bloom during the middle of the day. Insecticides should not be used during bloom.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – April 19, 2016

  Published on April 19, 2016
  Fruit buds have burst and leaves and flowers are emerging quickly. Growers have protectant sprays on before the rains later this week.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – August 12, 2014

  Published on August 12, 2014
  Soils are very dry in southwest Michigan and spotted wing Drosophila numbers are up sharply.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 30, 2015

  Published on June 30, 2015
  Sweet cherry harvest is underway with an excellent crop expected. Raspberry and blueberry harvest is just beginning.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – May 6, 2025

  Published on May 6, 2025
  Many fruits are blooming. Pollination season is here.

• Growing ideas for farming in northwest Michigan

  Published on November 8, 2013
  Young farmers from northwest Michigan visited farms on the Fruit Ridge last week.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 6, 2025

  Published on May 6, 2025
  The cool spring has been replaced by a few warm days that moved plant development along. We are at white bud in sweet cherry varieties. We had a cold night April 30, and growers are assessing if the low temperatures resulted in damage.

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  When seconds count: Respectfully share the road during fall harvest

  Published on October 3, 2017
  Speed and reaction time are two major factors in safely navigating country roads during fall.

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  Trevor Nichols Research Center hosts final 2025 field day

  Published on September 30, 2025
  On Sept. 25, the Trevor Nichols Research Center hosted the final field day of the 2025 season, where faculty and staff shared research and strategies on managing fruit crop pests and diseases.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – July 19, 2022

  Published on July 19, 2022
  Hot, dry weather for the remainder of July.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – August 23, 2022

  Published on August 23, 2022
  Conditions this week were mostly clear and near or slightly warmer than normal.

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  Pollinator protection programs and resources from Michigan State University Extension

  Published on February 21, 2025
  Supporting pollinator health in Michigan through education and outreach.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – May 24, 2022

  Published on May 24, 2022
  After a record-setting warm week, expect a return to cooler than normal conditions.

• Michigan brown marmorated stink bug report for September 29, 2014

  Published on September 30, 2014
  More activity was reported this week, but except for a few hotspots, trap catches remain very low. More reports of aggregations on commercial and residential buildings are coming in from urban and suburban sites across Lower Michigan.

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  Southeast Michigan fruit update - April 15, 2025

  Published on April 15, 2025
  Not much movement since last week. First scab sprays are being applied.

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  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.

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  West central Michigan tree fruit update – June 19, 2024

  Published on June 20, 2024
  Tart cherries are turning from straw colored to red, and sweet cherry harvest may begin at the end of the week for early varieties.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – June 10, 2025

  Published on June 10, 2025
  Sweet cherries are sizing, and there are plum curculio stings on the fruitlets. First cherry leaf spot lesions have been observed in unsprayed blocks. There are reports of isolated hail on June 10.