MSU Extension Nursery & Christmas Trees

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  Bands from Weir’s cushion rust visible on infected spruce needles

  Published on April 15, 2021
  Yellow spots or bands are visible on infected Serbian and Colorado blue spruce needles. Weir’s cushion rust can cause discoloration and pre-mature needle loss.

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  Target stem mothers to control balsam twig aphids in Christmas trees

  Published on April 9, 2021
  Targeting the stem mothers is the key to preventing curling and distortion of new growth caused by balsam twig aphid.

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  Cooley and eastern spruce gall adelgids: Small pests that equal big problems

  Published on April 9, 2021
  These tiny insects are difficult to find but can easily be identified by the shoot galls they cause. If galls were abundant last year and an insecticide is needed, it can be applied in spring when the overwintering immature females are still exposed.

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  All hands needed to protect wild bee pollinators

  Published on April 8, 2021
  New research expands understanding that collaboration among farmers, consumers, policymakers and researchers is needed to support pollination by wild bees and honey bees across agricultural landscapes.

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  Plant identification? There’s an app for that—actually several!

  Published on April 2, 2021
  Plant identification apps for smart phones have seen significant improvements over the past several years, offering the opportunity to take a photo and get an instant identification in many cases.

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  Prepare your scouting plan for your Christmas trees

  Published on March 31, 2021
  Spring has sprung and it is time to start scouting your Christmas trees and prepare your integrated pest management (IPM) plan for the year.

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  Changes in the nursery and Christmas tree inspection programs

  Published on March 26, 2021
  Changes in the pine shoot beetle federal quarantine and improvements to the MDARD inspection program that may affect nursery and Christmas tree growers.

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  Getting ready for those early insects in Christmas tree and nursery fields

  Published on March 18, 2021
  It’s never too early to begin scouting your trees and fields for early season pests, such as Zimmerman pine moth and white pine weevil.

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  Farms with no employees can still benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program

  Published on March 7, 2021
  Self-employed farmers can apply for PPP loan funds based on their 2020 gross income. Application deadline is March 31.

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  Utility companies offer incentives for energy-efficient lighting

  Published on February 24, 2021
  Check with your utility provider to see if there are rebates or incentives to install energy-efficient lighting.