Michigan vegetable crop report – September 3, 2025

Benjamin Phillips<benp@msu.edu>, Benjamin Werling<werlingb@msu.edu>, Chris Galbraith<galbra53@msu.edu>, Salta Mambetova<mambetov@msu.edu>, Lyndon Kelley<kelleyl@msu.edu>, Mary Hausbeck<hausbec1@msu.edu>, Zsofia Szendrei<szendrei@msu.edu>, Zachary Hayden<haydenza@msu.edu>, Daniel Brainard<brainar9@msu.edu>, Jeffrey Andresen<andresen@msu.edu>, Vicki Morrone<sorrone@msu.edu>, Keith Mason<masonk@msu.edu>, Jaime Willbur<willbur1@msu.edu>, Jan Byrne<byrnejm@msu.edu>, Brenden Kelley<kelle162@msu.edu> and Erin Hill<hiller12@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - September 04, 2025

Cooler weather slowed crop growth as pumpkin harvest begins, with reports of disease and pest pressure in carrots, brassicas and sweet corn. This is the final Michigan vegetable crop report of the season.

Pumpkins resting on a mulch of terminated cereal rye in a field. — Pumpkins (variety Kratos) resting on a mulch of cereal rye that was terminated in late May. The cover crop residue can lead to cleaner fruit with pumpkins lying on the mulch instead of bare soil. Photo by Chris Galbraith, MSU Extension.

Weather

For the past week, temperatures were 6-11 degrees Fahrenheit below normal. Precipitation ranged from 0.1-1 inches depending on location. Degree day totals are behind normal in the central Upper Peninsula and up to two weeks ahead in the Lower Peninsula. Many annual crops may finish earlier than normal due to degree day surpluses, and senescence may happen faster too where soils are dry.

Check out Jeff Andresen’s weekly weather forecast:

Showers and thunderstorms spreading northwest to southeast across the state Wednesday, Sept. 3. Cloudy and much cooler with scattered showers possible Thursday through Saturday. Cool and dry Sunday through early next week.
Precipitation totaling less than 0.5 inches to up to 1.5 inches in northern Michigan.
High temperatures from the 70s to low 80s Tuesday, falling to the 50s and 60s by Thursday through this weekend. Lows generally in the 50s Wednesday falling to the 30s and 40s by Friday.
Medium range outlooks call for below normal mean temperatures during the next week followed by a warming trend by mid-month. Precipitation totals are forecast to remain at near to below normal levels.

Upcoming webinar series on immigration issues for farmers

Farm owners, managers and ag professionals are invited to attend the Immigration Essentials for Farm Employers Webinar Series this September. This free three-part event is designed to help agricultural employers confidently navigate immigration enforcement and workforce documentation.

See more information in the link below:

Immigration Essentials for Farm Employers Webinar Series

Michigan State University Extension seeks input from pesticide applicators and agribusiness on new EPA regulations

An increasing number of pesticide labels require applicators to use the Bulletins Live! Two system to check for additional use limitations designed to protect endangered species and their habitats. Anyone applying agricultural pesticides, certified or not, should be aware of upcoming changes to pesticide labels across the United States. To best support pesticide applicators during the implementation of these new regulations, Michigan State University Extension is asking Michigan residents involved in agricultural pesticide regulation, sales or application to complete this brief survey:

Start Survey

Crop updates

Asparagus

The cooler weather halted disease severity value (DSV) accumulation at six sensors Michigan State University Extension is monitoring in Oceana and Mason counties, with 0-4 DSVs accumulating between Aug. 27-Sept. 2. A fungicide application would have been indicated for Monday, Sept. 2, if nothing had been applied since Aug. 11-19 (assuming a 15 DSV interval).

Carrots

White mold and Alternaria have been observed on carrots.

The cooler weather halted DSV accumulation at two sensors Michigan State University (MSU) Extension is monitoring in Oceana County, with 2-3 DSVs accumulating between Aug. 27-Sept. 2. A fungicide application would have been indicated for Monday, Sept. 2, if nothing had been applied since Aug. 14-16 (assuming a 15 DSV interval).

Close-up of a small, round, light tan apothecium fungus emerging from soil among dried plant stems. — Apothecium (mushroom-like structure) of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum emerging from the soil in a carrot field. This fungal pathogen causes white mold disease in carrots and in various other crops. Photo by Salta Mambetova, MSU Extension.

Cucurbits

Pumpkin harvest has started, and though this is our last report of the season, we have some guidance for pumpkins in the final stretch. Wildlife damage is being seen in pumpkins. Powdery mildew is also occurring in pumpkins. Striped cucumber beetles are still active. Low yields in some specialty cucumbers have been reported due to lack of female flowers, possibly resulting from higher temperatures earlier this season. Phytophthora has been reported on pumpkin and winter squash fruit.

Field of watermelons with dark green fruit scattered among sprawling vines, bordered by a dirt path under partly cloudy skies. — The dark green watermelons stand out amongst vibrant foliage, showing a healthy and productive crop. Photo by Salta Mambetova, MSU Extension.

Brassicas and greens

Alternaria has been reported on broccoli and cauliflower. Aphids are still present in some brassica fields. Caterpillar activity is still being observed, including in the cupping newer leaves of young cabbage.

Fruiting vegetables

High tunnel tomatoes are being topped to halt vegetative growth and ripen fruit. Plans are being made to remove summer fruiting crops and plant fall vegetables in hoophouses.

Sweet corn

Corn smut is being reported. This disease of sweet corn tends to appear on plants that have been damaged in some way which allows for pathogen entry and infection through the wound site.

Corn earworm captures were lower this week but variable. In some locations, numbers still justified treatment. To our south, captures were variable in a trap network maintained by Purdue University .Insect Forecast predicts little to no risk of additional migration through Sept. 8. Note, fall armyworm is a different pest that can bother corn this time of year.

When earworm numbers are lower, and it is cool, especially tight intervals are less critical. Lower moth counts mean less pressure, and cool weather means silks are growing slower (so there are less unprotected silks emerging each day). Customer tolerance for damage plays a role in adjusting intervals though, too!

When to stop spraying? You could consider ceasing spray programs when most ears have brown silks.

Corn earworm captures. Total in trap for week¹ (avg # per night²):

Week	Saginaw Co.³	Oceana Co.⁴	Ottawa Co.⁴	Monroe Co.³	Genesee Co.³	Lapeer Co.³	Lapeer Co.³
6/30	-	42 (7.0)	265 (33.1)	-	-	-	-
7/7	3 (0.4)	122 (17.4)	30 (6.0)	-	-	-	-
7/16	6 (0.9)	76 (10.9)	4 (0.6)	6 (0.86)	2 (0.3)	9 (1.3)	2 (0.3)
7/23	0 (0.0)	13 (1.9)	1 (0.1)	-	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
7/30	1 (0.1)	4 (0.6)	21 (4.2)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	(0.0)
8/6	0 (0.0)	2 (0.3)	4 (0.8)⁵	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
8/13	1 (0.1)	148 (16.4)	789 (78.9)	8 (1)	52 (7.4)	0 (0.0)	4 (0.6)
8/20	11 (1.6)	204 (40.8)	730 (146.0)	-	122 (17.4)	0 (0.0)	2 (0.3)
8/27	7 (1)	538 (53.8)	410 (82.0)	-	22 (3.1)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
9/3	-	4 (0.8)	147 (16.3)	4 (0.6)	-	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)

¹Total number collected since last trap check; ²The total number divided by the number of nights since the last trap check; ³Cloth Heliothis traps track trends but catch less moths overall; ⁴Wire Harstack traps capture more moths. ⁵Trap fell over so catches may be low.

Produce Food Safety On-Farm Readiness Reviews

Schedule an On-Farm Readiness Review today for a two-hour educational visit that takes place during the harvest season and is meant to be casual and low stress. Everything discussed during an On-Farm Readiness Review is confidential and focuses on ways to reduce risks in relation to produce safety. There is no pressure to take our advice either, we are just here to support you in your produce safety efforts.

Events

September 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Hart Pumpkin Variety Open House, West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center, 5185 N. Oceana Dr, Hart, MI 49420
September 11, 10 a.m., Immigration Essentials for Farm Employers Webinar Series - ICE Insight
September 18, 10 a.m., Immigration Essentials for Farm Employers Webinar Series - I-9 Compliance: Self Audits and Readiness
September 25, 10 a.m., Immigration Essentials for Farm Employers Webinar Series - U.S. Immigration Policy: Past Present, and Future Proposals
October 11, 1-3 p.m., Farm Field Day with Fisheye Farm
October 21, 12-1 p.m., What are Your Farm Certification Goals? - TOPP Online Webinar
October 28, 12-1 p.m., Organic Market Premium - How Much Can I Expect to Get for My Products? - TOPP Online Webinar
November 4, 12-1 p.m., How to Make Money in Organic Farming - TOPP Online Webinar
December 9-11, Great Lakes Expo

This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

MSU Extension Vegetables