Southeast Michigan fruit update- June 17, 2025
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EmailStrawberry harvest continues, first raspberry harvest.
Welcome to the 11th 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 was cooler than normal, but we expect those conditions to change quickly. Growers in the region continue harvesting strawberries, and the first raspberries are being picked. Sweet cherries are ripening and harvest is expected to start as soon as next week in the warmer parts of the region. There is potential for storms on Wednesday, June 18, with rainy and cloudy conditions lasting through Friday. Sunday onward we will move into hot weather.
We’re getting close to the end of our weekly integrated pest management (IPM) updates, which are scheduled through the end of June. Our weekly IPM updates are separated into two meetings: a small fruit meeting for southern Michigan on Tuesday evenings (register for small fruit IPM meetings) and a statewide tree fruit IPM update on Wednesdays at noon (register for tree fruit IPM meetings). It is a good opportunity to hear from experts, ask questions and receive restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits. See the latest 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
We are seeing June drop, fruit set and some sizing up apples around the region. Although most scab spores have been released, our RimPro models are still showing some spores. I am not ready to call the end of primary scab season.
Blueberries
We are seeing fruit expansion in blueberries. Bloom has finished.
Brambles
Harvest has started in the earliest of raspberry cultivars, Prelude. Blackberries continue to flower and fall raspberry shoots continue to lengthen.
Cherries
We are seeing coloration in sweet and tart cherries. Harvest is expected in sweet cherries as early as next week.
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Grapes
We are seeing bloom in table grapes, juice grapes and hybrid wine grapes around the region.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in the region are expanding with no evidence of pit hardening yet.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding, with pears observed in Britton at 35 mm diameter. Adult pear psylla has been reported in the region.
Plums
Shiro plums observed in Romeo were at pit hardening while Italian plums at the same site still had soft pits.
Strawberries
Harvest continues throughout the region.
Insect conditions
Pollinators are still active in some fruit crops! This 2024 article on pollinator stewardship during bloom in tree fruit and the 2021 guide for pollinator stewardship in blueberries are particularly relevant at this time.
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 aphids are climbing in the region, though damage hasn’t been extensive.
Codling moth: Codling moth counts are still high, especially in conventional blocks, with many sites hitting threshold with three sustained catches. Additional larvicidal products can start being used at 500-650 GDD50 after biofix (May 9 for Romeo) with egg hatch completing around 650 GDD50 See this article for best management practices.
European apple sawfly: Some damage has been reported regionally.
Grape berry moth: Counts have climbed at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. They have been caught in southeast Michigan. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts are low but starting to climb again in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed in Macomb County. Larvae are maturing and the new generation of egg laying has begun.
Plum curculio: Catches continue, though numbers are low as adult migration is coming to a close.
Red banded leaf roller: Catches are down to low numbers in southeast Michigan.
San Jose scale: Crawlers have been spotted in the region and can be targeted in a cover spray
Spotted wing drosophila: Females have been caught in southeast Michigan cherry orchards.
Control periods have passed for black stem borer, mites, first generation oriental fruit moth and rosy apple aphid.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: The rain event June 18-19 brings some risk for scab, with this likely being the final spore release for the season. Very little scab has been reported regionally. RimPro models indicate we are not quite at the end of primary scab season, though spore counts have dropped greatly.
Black knot: There is still time to prune out and burn black knot in plums and sour cherries. Fungicides may be used for limited control to supplement pruning and sanitation efforts.
Brown rot: Fungicides may used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit.
Cherry leaf spot: There is a moderate forecasted risk for cherry leaf spot from June 18-20. See this 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 for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. Some risk is anticipated June 19-20. See this article for grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
Grape downy mildew: Some risk is anticipated June 18-20.
Mummy berry: We are still in the season for mummy berry infections. See E2846 for control methods.
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. You can start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. Anticipated risk is high to severe in the next week from June 20-25
Powdery mildew of grape: Severe risk anticipated June 18-19 and 22-25.
Seasonal weather update
In the last weeks southeast Michigan has seen on average of 6 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 0.2 inches of precipitation. We are about 2 inches ahead of the five-year average in amount and 14 hours of rainfall ahead of the average.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- June 16, 2025, issued June 16, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 9.0 | 183 | 8.2 | 176 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 11.8 | 194 | 8.9 | 173 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 10.8 | 201 | 8.3 | 170 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 9.8 | 167 | 7.9 | 175 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 10.8 | 201 | 8.7 | 180 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 8.8 | 172 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 12.1 | 215 | 8.8 | 173 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 9.9 | 181 | 7.9 | 164 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 10.9 | 194 | 7.2 | 181 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 7.3 | 169 | 7.7 | 164 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 6.0 | 216 | 7.2 | 164 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 12.4 | 189 | 7.5 | 162 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 10.6 | 173 | 8.0 | 168 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 8.2 | 157 | 7.4 | 191 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 9.9 | 186.6 | 8.0 | 172.4 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed June 9 and June 16, 2025; issued June 16, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 9-Jun | 16-Jun | Difference | 9-Jun | 16-Jun | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.9 | 9.0 | 0.1 | 176 | 183 | 7.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 11.3 | 11.8 | 0.5 | 183 | 194 | 11.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 10.5 | 10.8 | 0.3 | 192 | 201 | 9.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 9.8 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 165 | 167 | 2.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 10.7 | 10.8 | 0.0 | 200 | 201 | 1.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 8.7 | 8.8 | 0.2 | 166 | 172 | 6.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 11.7 | 12.1 | 0.4 | 198 | 215 | 17.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 9.5 | 9.9 | 0.4 | 178 | 181 | 3.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 10.8 | 10.9 | 0.1 | 191 | 194 | 3.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 7.2 | 7.3 | 0.1 | 162 | 169 | 7.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 5.6 | 6.0 | 0.4 | 208 | 216 | 8.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 11.9 | 12.4 | 0.5 | 186 | 189 | 3.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 10.6 | 10.6 | 0.0 | 170 | 173 | 3.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 8.1 | 8.2 | 0.1 | 153 | 157 | 4.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 9.7 | 9.9 | 0.2 | 180.6 | 186.6 | 6.0 |
In the short term, we are expecting rainy and stormy conditions through the end of the week followed by hot and humid conditions from the weekend into next week. High temperatures will range from the 70s to the 90s with lows from the 60s to 70s.
In the medium term, we are expecting both temperatures and precipitation to be above normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region, our growing degree day numbers have dropped below the four-year average. In the last week, we gained between 93-111 growing degree days base 50, with the average accumulation being 103. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-June 16, 2025 Forecast from June 17-June 23, 2025; issued June 16, 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) | 1144 | 1197 | 1368 | 936 | 994 | 1139 | 633 | 705 | 801 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 1329 | 1362 | 1557 | 1101 | 1143 | 1309 | 770 | 826 | 942 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1200 | 1250 | 1420 | 985 | 1043 | 1184 | 672 | 747 | 836 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1042 | 1149 | 1246 | 842 | 950 | 1025 | 562 | 667 | 711 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1234 | 1290 | 1458 | 1018 | 7080 | 1221 | 704 | 779 | 872 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1125 | 1220 | 1341 | 922 | 1019 | 1117 | 634 | 732 | 795 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1214 | 1292 | 1440 | 1000 | 1084 | 1205 | 692 | 787 | 862 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1195 | 1291 | 1415 | 983 | 1083 | 1183 | 681 | 784 | 845 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1144 | 1207 | 1353 | 938 | 1006 | 1127 | 641 | 720 | 795 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 987 | 1106 | 1197 | 797 | 915 | 986 | 532 | 945 | 686 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 976 | 1109 | 1177 | 785 | 917 | 966 | 522 | 648 | 668 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1149 | 1265 | 1366 | 941 | 1060 | 1137 | 641 | 761 | 802 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1133 | 1209 | 1351 | 923 | 1003 | 1121 | 623 | 710 | 785 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1050 | 1148 | 1254 | 851 | 953 | 1033 | 571 | 677 | 719 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1137 | 1221 | 1353 | 930 | 1446 | 1125 | 634 | 749 | 794 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed June 9 and June 16, 2025; issued June 16, 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 |
| 9-Jun | 16-Jun | Difference | 9-Jun | 16-Jun | Difference | 9-Jun | 16-Jun | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 984 | 1144 | 160.0 | 796 | 936 | 140.0 | 528 | 633 | 105.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 1161 | 1329 | 168.0 | 955 | 1101 | 146.0 | 659 | 770 | 111.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1040 | 1200 | 160.0 | 845 | 985 | 140.0 | 567 | 672 | 105.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 892 | 1042 | 150.0 | 713 | 842 | 129.0 | 469 | 562 | 93.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1069 | 1234 | 165.0 | 874 | 1018 | 144.0 | 595 | 704 | 109.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 963 | 1125 | 162.0 | 781 | 922 | 141.0 | 529 | 634 | 105.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1053 | 1214 | 161.0 | 860 | 1000 | 140.0 | 587 | 692 | 105.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1032 | 1195 | 163.0 | 841 | 983 | 142.0 | 574 | 681 | 107.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 988 | 1144 | 156.0 | 804 | 938 | 134.0 | 541 | 641 | 100.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 838 | 987 | 149.0 | 669 | 797 | 128.0 | 439 | 532 | 93.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 825 | 976 | 151.0 | 655 | 785 | 130.0 | 427 | 522 | 95.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 985 | 1149 | 164.0 | 797 | 941 | 144.0 | 533 | 641 | 108.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 974 | 1133 | 159.0 | 786 | 923 | 137.0 | 520 | 623 | 103.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 892 | 1050 | 158.0 | 713 | 851 | 138.0 | 469 | 571 | 102.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 978 | 1137 | 159 | 792 | 930 | 138 | 531 | 634 | 103 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's weekly agricultural weather forecast reports here.
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.
