College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

• West central Michigan tree fruit update – May 28, 2019

  Published on May 28, 2019
  Apples are approaching the end of bloom. Tart cherries are at petal fall, peaches and sweet cherries are in the shuck.

• Southeast Michigan apple maturity report – September 23, 2015

  Published on September 23, 2015
  Another picking of Honeycrisp is taking place and growers are finishing up harvest of the later maturing McIntosh strains. A few Jonagold and Jonathan blocks are being harvested, and a few growers are spot picking Golden Delicious.

• East Michigan fruit update – July 9, 2019

  Published on July 9, 2019
  Soils have quickly gone from too wet all spring and early summer to now dry. Harvest of many fruit crops is underway, including sweet cherries, saskatoons, summer red raspberries, tart cherries and black raspberries.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – June 3, 2014

  Published on June 3, 2014
  With cherries coming out of the shuck and rain in the forecast, growers are protecting from diseases and insects.

• Process exemptions within the Food Safety and Modernization Act

  Published on February 28, 2018
  Process exemptions are one of many ways fruit and vegetable growers may need to only partially comply with the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – June 5, 2018

  Published on June 5, 2018
  Cooler weather is ahead, which will reduce the recent drought stress on plants. After bloom, the focus shifts to insect and disease control to protect the fruit.

• Apple carbohydrate model thinning predictions for 2013

  Published on February 26, 2014
  A summary evaluation of how well the Malusim Model predicted thinning windows for 2013.

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  Grand Rapids area tree fruit update – July 12, 2022

  Published on July 12, 2022
  Slightly cooler and wetter conditions this week, then expect a return to warm, dry weather for the remainder of July.

• East Michigan fruit update – June 18, 2019

  Published on June 18, 2019
  Strawberry harvest is finally underway across the region. Many fruit growers received another inch or two of precipitation in the last week.

• Southeast Michigan apple maturity report – October 5, 2016

  Published on October 5, 2016
  Red Delicious harvest is underway in the south of the region and getting started to the north, with Golden Delicious being harvested in the rest of the region. Empire harvest is wrapping up.

• Northwest Michigan fruit regional report – April 1, 2014

  Published on April 1, 2014
  The northwest region has had one warm day so far this season, and we still have lots of snow in the orchards and vineyards.

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  Are homemade pesticides legal?

  Published on March 6, 2017
  Homemade solutions to crop pests are nothing new, but are they legal?

• West central Michigan apple maturity report – Oct. 3, 2018

  Published on October 3, 2018
  Updates on maturity status of Jonagold, Empire, Ambrosia, Mutsu/Crispin, Golden Delicious, Idared, Red Delicious, Rome, Winesap, Fuji and EverCrisp.

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  Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 1, 2025

  Published on April 1, 2025
  This is the first fruit scouting report of the 2025 season.

• Strobilurin resistance in the apple scab fungus in Michigan

  Published on March 31, 2009
  

• Southeast Michigan apple maturity report – October 8, 2014

  Published on October 8, 2014
  Apple varieties are not maturing in the typical order this season.

• West central Michigan apple maturity report – Oct. 11, 2017

  Published on October 11, 2017
  Harvest of the prominent apple varieties in west central Michigan will be winding down by the end of the week. The push is on to get the last of the crop into bins.

• Northwest Michigan fruit update – May 23, 2017

  Published on May 23, 2017
  Growers are considering their options for apple thinning and pest and disease management for the coming week.

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  New version of Airblast 101 sprayer handbook now available

  Published on January 12, 2021
  This new version adds more content for many air-assist sprayer types. It’s bigger, better and the electronic version is now free.

• Sourcing information on high density systems for apples

  Published on April 11, 2013
  Online videos are available for fruit growers wanting current information on development and management of apple orchards.