Crop Protection

Field trials confirm efficacy of Delegate WG insecticide

Field trials conducted by Cornell University in 2015 reinforce the effective control of Delegate WG insecticide in combating troublesome pome fruit pests. Whether sprayed alone or tank-mixed, the study shows that Delegate provides consistent control... more »

Pruning key in managing blueberry stem gall wasp

Blueberry stem gall wasp is native to eastern North America, where it can infest new and actively-growing blueberry stems during bloom. It can be found in lowbush and highbush blueberries, and in managed and unmanaged... more »

How to control black knot in Michigan

Black knot (Apiosporina morbosa), is a striking disease and a major disease of plum trees in Michigan. Black knot appears on the woody parts of the tree including twigs, limbs and sometimes the trunks. Black... more »

Growers can continue Belt insecticide use

Michigan State University Extension has received recent calls about using the insecticide Belt in tree fruits. This insecticide is legal to be sold and used according to the Belt label. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency... more »

Checking for fruitworms can help guide decisions in blueberry IPM

Cherry fruitworm emergence has started in southwest Michigan, and the first cranberry fruitworm moths are also being caught in a few sites. This highlights that it will soon be time for protecting the newly forming... more »

Penn State Extension seeks volunteers in controlling spotted lanternfly

Penn State Extension is recruiting property owners to trap and destroy the spotted lanternfly in the quarantined areas of Berks, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery Counties. To participate, volunteers must own property with the preferred host... more »

Spring climate trends changing in the Northeast

You might have noticed spring-like weather in the Northeast is arriving earlier than usual. There is reliable evidence from many studies that conditions in the Northeast and upper Midwest have become warmer and wetter in... more »

Northwest Michigan growers planting at higher densities

Northwest Michigan’s fruit industry is in transition. Wine grapes have been booming, but after two brutal winters and two failed crops in a row the region’s tourist-magnet wineries aren’t as certain about the future of their... more »