College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – July 23, 2019

  Published on July 23, 2019
  Sweet cherry harvest is underway and tart cherry harvest will begin later this week. Spotted wing Drosophila numbers have increased exponentially over the last week.

• Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 4, 2021

  Published on May 4, 2021
  Tart cherry bloom is beginning, and cooler weather is forecast to return.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – May 19, 2015

  Published on May 19, 2015
  Very cool conditions will hold insect pests back this week. Blueberries and strawberries are blooming.

• Northwest Michigan fruit update – July 30, 2019

  Published on July 30, 2019
  Sweet and tart cherry harvest is underway in northwest Michigan.

• East Michigan fruit update – July 10, 2018

  Published on July 10, 2018
  We have had unusually high apple maggot trap catch in the last week. Dry soils are common across the region, causing wilting in all fruit crops.

• Michigan spotted wing Drosophila report for August 6, 2014

  Published on August 7, 2014
  Spotted wing Drosophila numbers are up from last week and are now being detected statewide. Protect susceptible crops where SWD is detected.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 24, 2014

  Published on June 24, 2014
  Strawberry harvest is winding down. Cherry harvest has begun.

• First spotted wing Drosophila flies of 2014 detected in MSU Extension monitoring network

  Published on June 23, 2014
  Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) traps should be deployed already and growers need to protect ripening or ripe berries against this pest.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – April 26, 2022

  Published on April 26, 2022
  The region accumulated growing degree days over the weekend with the warmup, but cold temperatures are back for the remainder of the week.

• Regional reports on Michigan fruit – August 7, 2012

  Published on August 7, 2012
  MSU Extension educators’ pest and fruit updates for Michigan.

• Southeast Michigan fruit regional report – August 12, 2014

  Published on August 12, 2014
  Strong apple maggot catch on red sphere traps finally arrives for most apple growers, and spotted wing Drosophila trap catch continues to rise in raspberry and blueberry plantings.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – August 6, 2013

  Published on August 6, 2013
  Tart cherry harvest continues in northwest Michigan, and cool weather has helped keep good quality fruit.

• Michigan spotted wing Drosophila report for July 8, 2016

  Published on July 8, 2016
  Numbers are up throughout the network this week; susceptible crops need to be protected.

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  New tart cherry cost of production study available now

  Published on December 13, 2022
  The newest tart cherry cost of production study is the most recent version since 2015. This version includes updated management costs with spotted wing Drosophila, earlier leaf spot controls and increased fertilizer prices in recent years.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – June 17, 2025

  Published on June 17, 2025
  Apple size increased by 8 mm since last week, and some growers are still thinning apples. Growers are estimating tart and sweet cherry crops following cold damage in late April.

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  Monitoring for spotted wing Drosophila larvae in cherries before entering processing facility

  Published on June 28, 2016
  Guidelines for inspectors to detect fruit infested with spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) larvae at the receiving station or prior to entering the processing facility.

• How hot? How dry? Enviro-weather tools help answer these questions

  Published on July 10, 2012
  Fruit and vegetable growers can use MSU’s Enviro-weather tools to quickly compare seasonal heat (degree-day) and moisture (precipitation) accumulations with previous years and “normal” years.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – July 14, 2020

  Published on July 14, 2020
  Summer fruit harvest is continuing. The brief rains and cool weather was a welcome break, but heat and humidity will return.

• Grand Rapids area tree fruit update - April 9, 2024

  Published on April 9, 2024
  Apple scab season is here!

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  What are radiation freezes?

  Published on March 2, 2015
  Low temperatures often depend on atmospheric conditions and the local topography. Calm conditions allow the temperatures to drop quickly after the sun goes down. You can track freezes with MSU’s Enviro-weather.