• Apple pith moth

    Head of adult is covered with white scales; forewings are narrow, mostly black or dark brown with white marks and usually with an irregular faint, rusty yellow line in the middle, and with two prominent black scale tufts.

  • Lesser peachtree borer

    Adult is a clear-winged, metallic-blue moth that has two or more yellow bands across the abdomen, giving it a wasp-like appearance.

  • Cherry leafminer

    The adult is a small, bronzy tan-colored moth, with a wavy darkish brown to black band at the outer third of the forewings.

  • Powdery mildew of apple and pear

    The fungus overwinters in leaf buds and sometimes flower buds. Mycelium develops rapidly on unfolding leaves and appears as white, felt-like patches or as a solid mat on the upper or undersurface of the leaf.

  • Apple mosaic virus

    Young leaves develop pale to bright cream-colored spots, blotches, bandings or patterns as they expand in the spring. These turn brown and become necrotic as they age and premature defoliation may occur when infection is severe.

  • Apple red bug

    Adult has head and thorax bright red in color with brown wings.

  • Eastern tent caterpillar

    The adult is reddish brown with two white, transverse-parallel bands. Masses of shiny black eggs are laid in a ring around twigs. Larvae have long silky hairs on their body and a yellow line on their back.

  • Snowy tree cricket

    Adult somewhat resembles a field cricket, but is pale green in color and has a longer, more slender body and smaller head. Antennae are much longer than the body; males have stiff veins in their flat wings.

  • Integrated Pest Management Academy

    The Desire to Learn Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Academy is an interactive, online program designed to provide a comprehensive and convenient online learning experience. Current topics include an introduction to IPM, plant science, soils 101, natural enemies, conserving pollinators, Enviroweather and scouting.

  • Pesticide Applicator Training

    This course is designed for those who are studying to take the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)Exam or for those who need a refresher on safe pesticide handling. The course material follows the National Pesticide Core Manual. Those who complete the course can receive 12 RUP credits.

  • Pollinator Protection for Pesticide Applicators

    This self-paced, online course about pollinators is directed toward pesticide applicators with a focus on crops pollinated by honey bees.

  • Preschool-Grade 1

    Tollgate Farm and Education Center offers a variety of programs for children in preschool, kindergarten, or first grade to explore the seasons at the farm!

  • What is IPM and How do you do it?

    Published on March 21, 2022

    Learn more about integrated pest management and how to implement IPM practices on your farm.

  • Bernard Zandstra

    Bernard Zandstra is conducting research at Michigan State University's Clarksville Research Center to help farmers keep their apple orchards weed free.

  • Bee Integrated: Bees and Pesticides

    Published on March 2, 2022

    In this Bee Integrated video, farmer Mike Van Agtmael describes how integrated pest management and good communication with his beekeeper, Jim Hilton, keeps bees healthy and pollination productive. Beekeeper Jamie Ostrowski describes a "perfect storm" that harmed some of her bees—and how she and Matt Jansen of Green Thumb Blueberries collaborate to protect her hives.

  • Digging in: How to pick and prepare a site for a fruit planting

    Published on February 28, 2022

    Join Emily Lavely to learn more about how to pick the best location and prepare it for planting fruit.

  • The Why and How for Training, Pruning, and Crop Management in Small Fruit and Tree Fruit

    Published on February 2, 2022

    Learn more about the reasons for training and pruning, as well as examples on how to train, prune and manage the crop in small fruit and tree fruit

  • Insurance Talk With Phil and Corey - 2025 Updates to Apple and Cherry Insurance

    Published on October 11, 2024

    Learn about the latest updates to apple and cherry crop insurance programs for the 2025 season.

  • Spotted wing drosophila insecticide efficacy and management programs

    Published on February 6, 2020

    Dr. Larry Gut of the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University talks about insecticide efficacy and management programs for spotted wing drosophila in cherries.

  • Christopher Gottschalk

    Christopher Gottschalk with MSU's Plant Breeding, Genetics and Technology, is researching a red-flesh and cultivar breeding project in apples.

College Information

Students & Families

Resources

Reports & Publications