College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – August 18, 2015

  Published on August 18, 2015
  Peach harvest is beginning, berry crop harvest is underway and growers are protecting fruit from spotted wing Drosophila as populations continue to rise in the northwest.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – May 12, 2020

  Published on May 12, 2020
  Tree growth is very slow and cold temperatures are on the horizon.

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  Southeast Michigan fruit update – April 11, 2023

  Published on April 11, 2023
  Emergence from dormancy in a wet spring.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – Aug. 13, 2019

  Published on August 13, 2019
  Tart cherry harvest is winding down and apple pest activity has picked up.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – May 5, 2020

  Published on May 5, 2020
  A warm weekend moved tree fruit quickly along. Cherries, peaches, pears and plums are blooming.

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  The relationship between plant disease management and pollinator conservation

  Published on October 15, 2020
  What does disease management have to do with pollinators?

• Michigan spotted wing Drosophila report for July 29, 2014

  Published on July 29, 2014
  Spotted wing Drosophila numbers remain steady in southwest Michigan, still low in other areas; protect susceptible crops where they are detected.

• Fungicide efficacy update for cherry leaf spot management

  Published on May 10, 2016
  A review of 2015 cherry leaf spot infection and fungicide efficacy for management in 2016.

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  Pesticide course offered for private and commercial pesticide applicators

  Published on November 17, 2020
  New online course for restricted use pesticide applicators offering 12 credits.

• Michigan spotted wing Drosophila report for June 28, 2016

  Published on June 28, 2016
  Traps are detecting spotted wing Drosophila throughout the network; susceptible crops need to be protected.

• East Michigan fruit update – May 22, 2018

  Published on May 22, 2018
  Apple bloom continues across the region, leaving fire blight risk high. Strawberries are in full bloom, beginning of harvest will be much later than normal.

• Lime sulfur sprays can improve spring disease control

  Published on April 6, 2011
  Early sprays of lime sulfur reduce disease inoculum in spring

• Some tips for planting fruit trees

  Published on April 13, 2011
  A few basic steps at planting time can impact longevity and performance of an orchard.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 25, 2021

  Published on May 25, 2021
  The recent warm weather has moved fruit crops along; sweet cherries are sizing, tart cherries are coming out of the shuck and apples range from petal fall to 3-4 millimeters.

• East Michigan fruit update – June 9, 2020

  Published on June 9, 2020
  Warmer temperatures brought a good amount of new growth in all fruit crops and rapid rise of growing degree day totals. Strawberry harvest will begin later this week at some farms. Soils continue to dry quickly.

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  MSU Distinguished Professor awarded $1 million to address apple, sweet cherry diseases

  Published on February 10, 2025
  Dr. George Sundin receives funding from USDA-NIFA to explore bacteriophage as a tool for preventing fire blight, bacterial canker in Michigan fruit trees

• East Michigan fruit update – Aug. 20, 2019

  Published on August 20, 2019
  Red haven peach and fall red raspberry harvest is in full swing. Most fruit farms are experiencing dry soils with some growers seeing signs of drought stress in tree and small fruits planted this spring.

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  Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – August 2, 2016

  Published on August 2, 2016
  Spotted wing Drosophila numbers rose drastically in the last week. In apples, codling moth management is underway and a few apple maggots have emerged.

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  East Michigan fruit update – June 30, 2020

  Published on June 30, 2020
  Strawberry harvest has finished at most farms. Summer red raspberry, sweet cherry and saskatoon harvest is getting started. A few areas received good precipitation last weekend, but drought conditions continue in most areas.

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  How will climate change impact the food system? (Part 1)

  Published on August 7, 2017
  An exploration of how climate change may impact food system sectors on local, regional and global scales