Southeast Michigan fruit update – July 8, 2025
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EmailCherry and raspberry harvest continues while blueberries start.
Welcome to the 14th in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2025 season. Throughout the season these updates will include information about the weather in the past week and the upcoming week, a fruit-by-fruit guide to current conditions with appropriate pest and disease updates, and other relevant observations.
General observations
The last week has been hot with moderate rainfall, and we expect the mugginess to continue. Temperatures in the next week are expected to stay in the 80s with a chance for storms Wednesday, July 9, and over the weekend. Growers in the region continue harvesting sweet cherries, tart cherries and raspberries. We’ve seen harvests of the first blueberries and peaches this season (Rich May, a very early cultivar). Strawberry harvest has largely concluded.
Our weekly integrated pest management updates have wrapped up. You can watch recordings of the fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings are held) at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Fruit is expanding and growers should be between the fourth and fifth cover sprays for the season. While we have passed primary scab season, there is severe risk for powdery mildew infections all week.
Blueberries
Farms in the region are doing their first spot picks of ripe blueberries for early varieties. The main concern now is spotted wing drosophila.
Brambles
Harvest of summer raspberries continues while blackberries are at fruit set. Black raspberry harvest has started. Fall raspberries are starting to flower at some location, with some already showing fruit.
Cherries
Harvest continues in both sweet and tart cherries.
Grapes
Many grapes are at berry touch. Fruit set seems good. Grape powdery mildew risk is high this week.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches are at the stage of expansion after pit hardening. Very early cultivars like Rich May are being harvested.
Pears
Pears are expanding and have passed June drop, with pears in Hartland at 50 millimeters (mm) in diameter. Adult pear psylla has been reported.
Plums
Shiro and Italian plums in Romeo were expanding post-pit hardening.
Strawberries
Harvest has largely wrapped up. Yield was spotty, with some farms having a normal yield and others with low yield. Renovation should proceed as soon after harvest as possible. You can read this 2023 article on strawberry renovation.
Insect conditions
More in-depth information can be found by watching the latest weekly fruit meetings on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings).
Aphids: Green apple aphid and woolly apple aphid are present but seem to be under control. Woolly apple aphids are primarily on trunks but are starting to move to terminals.
Codling moth: Counts are coming back up after a dip in southeast Michigan catches, but staying stable in Fennville. Some codling moth stings have been observed regionally. We have passed the point to use larvicidal products. See this article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts are down in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Obliquebanded leafroller: Catches are down, with counts mostly below 20 in southeast Michigan. Not much damage has been observed.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and are dropping at the Trevor Nichols Research Center. Some areas are still between generations while the second generation has started in others.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed regionally along with some damage. Egg hatch continues.
Plum curculio: Catches have stopped as adult migration closes.
San Jose scale: Crawlers have mostly waxed up, meaning that larvicidal sprays will no longer be effective.
Spotted wing drosophila: Females have been caught in southeast Michigan cherry orchards. The hot and humid conditions are likely to encourage their growth. If you have susceptible crops you should assess fruit for larvae.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Models indicate no remaining spores and the end of primary scab season. Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Brown rot: Fungicides may be used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit (some plums and early peaches at this point).
Cherry leaf spot: We do not anticipate risk for additional cherry leaf spot infections this week. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Strikes have been reported in southeast Michigan in orchards with susceptible varieties and a history of fire blight, but these seem to be isolated.
Grape black rot: Control usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week.
Phomopsis: In blueberries, the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: Some powdery mildew has already been reported in the region, though treatments seem to have been effective at keeping it under control. Anticipated risk is high to severe in the next week from July 8-14.
Powdery mildew of grape: Severe risk anticipated July 8-14.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average of 4 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 0.4 inches of precipitation. We are about 2.4 inches ahead of the five-year average in amount and 17 hours of rainfall ahead of the average.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- July 7, 2025, issued July 7, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 12.3 | 214 | 11.4 | 211 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 13.2 | 211 | 11.1 | 199 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 12.8 | 228 | 11.3 | 203 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 13.7 | 197 | 10.5 | 208 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 13.3 | 266 | 11.6 | 212 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 11.4 | 201 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 13.3 | 226 | 11.4 | 201 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 11.8 | 213 | 10.2 | 195 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 14.5 | 226 | 10.5 | 215 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 10.8 | 209 | 10.4 | 192 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 12.9 | 261 | 9.1 | 189 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 15.7 | 224 | 10.0 | 190 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 15.0 | 205 | 12.0 | 203 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 12.5 | 197 | 9.2 | 220 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 13.1 | 219.9 | 10.7 | 202.9 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed July 1 and July 7, 2025; issued July 17, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | ||
| Station (County) | 1-Jul | 7-Jul | Difference | 1-Jul | 7-Jul | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 11.9 | 12.3 | 0.4 | 212 | 214 | 2.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 13.1 | 13.2 | 0.1 | 208 | 211 | 3.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 12.3 | 12.8 | 0.6 | 226 | 228 | 2.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 13.5 | 13.7 | 0.2 | 196 | 197 | 1.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 12.9 | 13.3 | 0.4 | 265 | 266 | 1.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 10.9 | 11.4 | 0.5 | 195 | 201 | 6.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 13.3 | 13.3 | 0.0 | 226 | 226 | 0.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 11.4 | 11.8 | 0.4 | 209 | 213 | 4.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 14.2 | 14.5 | 0.3 | 222 | 226 | 4.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 10.1 | 10.8 | 0.6 | 201 | 209 | 8.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 12.5 | 12.9 | 0.4 | 248 | 261 | 13.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 14.8 | 15.7 | 0.9 | 221 | 224 | 3.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 14.6 | 15.0 | 0.5 | 202 | 205 | 3.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 12.1 | 12.5 | 0.4 | 190 | 197 | 7.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 12.7 | 13.1 | 0.4 | 215.8 | 219.9 | 4.1 |
In the short term, we are expecting hot and humid conditions with scattered storms on Wednesday and over the weekend. High temperatures will stay in the upper 80s to low 90s with lows staying in the mid-60s.
In the medium term, we are expecting above normal temperatures and precipitation to be normal to slightly above normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near to above normal.
Around the region, our growing degree day numbers have remained close to the four-year average. In the last week we gained an average of 150 growing degree days at base 50 in the region. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-July 7, 2025 Forecast from July 8-July 13, 2025; issued July 7, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 1840 | 1790 | 2069 | 1569 | 1524 | 1777 | 1161 | 1132 | 1334 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2062 | 1994 | 2295 | 1772 | 1712 | 1984 | 1335 | 1292 | 1512 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1917 | 1854 | 2137 | 1638 | 1583 | 1837 | 1221 | 1185 | 1384 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1699 | 1714 | 1910 | 1435 | 1452 | 1626 | 1051 | 1067 | 1206 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1952 | 1905 | 2176 | 1673 | 1632 | 1876 | 1254 | 1227 | 1422 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1820 | 1824 | 2037 | 1554 | 1560 | 1750 | 1162 | 1169 | 1323 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1953 | 1916 | 2184 | 1676 | 1645 | 1886 | 1263 | 1245 | 1483 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1917 | 1916 | 2137 | 1642 | 1646 | 1841 | 1235 | 1242 | 1399 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1816 | 1786 | 1816 | 1548 | 1523 | 1548 | 1146 | 1135 | 1146 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1646 | 1678 | 1858 | 1393 | 1424 | 1584 | 1023 | 1051 | 1179 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1620 | 1691 | 1836 | 1367 | 1437 | 1562 | 999 | 1064 | 1159 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1844 | 1873 | 2058 | 1572 | 1605 | 1765 | 1168 | 1203 | 1325 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1827 | 1805 | 2052 | 1555 | 1537 | 1759 | 1150 | 1139 | 1318 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1719 | 1719 | 1926 | 1457 | 1463 | 1643 | 1073 | 1086 | 1224 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1831 | 1819 | 2035 | 1561 | 1553 | 1746 | 1160 | 1160 | 1315 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed July 1 and July 7, 2025; issued July 7, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F |
| 1-Jul | 7-Jul | Difference | 1-Jul | 7-Jul | Difference | 1-Jul | 7-Jul | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 1637 | 1840 | 203.0 | 1383 | 1569 | 186.0 | 1006 | 1161 | 155.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 1857 | 2062 | 205.0 | 1585 | 1772 | 187.0 | 1179 | 1335 | 156.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1716 | 1917 | 201.0 | 1456 | 1638 | 182.0 | 1068 | 1221 | 153.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1506 | 1699 | 193.0 | 1260 | 1435 | 175.0 | 906 | 1051 | 145.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1743 | 1952 | 209.0 | 1483 | 1673 | 190.0 | 1093 | 1254 | 161.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1625 | 1820 | 195.0 | 1377 | 1554 | 177.0 | 1014 | 1162 | 148.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1749 | 1953 | 204.0 | 1490 | 1676 | 186.0 | 1107 | 1263 | 156.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1711 | 1917 | 206.0 | 1454 | 1642 | 188.0 | 1077 | 1235 | 158.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1623 | 1816 | 193.0 | 1372 | 1548 | 176.0 | 1000 | 1146 | 146.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1460 | 1646 | 186.0 | 1225 | 1393 | 168.0 | 885 | 1023 | 138.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1433 | 1620 | 187.0 | 1198 | 1367 | 169.0 | 860 | 999 | 139.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1647 | 1844 | 197.0 | 1393 | 1572 | 179.0 | 1019 | 1168 | 149.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1624 | 1827 | 203.0 | 1370 | 1555 | 185.0 | 994 | 1150 | 156.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1527 | 1719 | 192.0 | 1283 | 1457 | 174.0 | 928 | 1073 | 145.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1633 | 1831 | 198 | 1381 | 1561 | 180 | 1010 | 1160 | 150 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's weekly agricultural weather forecast reports.
More information and reports on normal weather conditions and departures from normal can be found on the NOAA Climate Prediction Center website, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals website, NOAA Climate Normals Quick Access Page (which may be searched by region), and Midwest Regional Climate Center website.
