Cherries
Fruit Crop Guesstimate scheduled for June 22
The 61st Annual Fruit Crop Guesstimate, sponsored by the Michigan Frozen Food Packers Association, will be held June 22, 2:30 p.m., at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Guesstimate provides a forum... 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 »
ReTain increases sweet cherry yields
In recent years, many growers have started to use ReTain in their sweet cherry blocks to increase fruit set and ultimately increase their yields. ReTain is a plant growth regulator that has been shown to... more »
Options for European brown rot control in cherries
The fungal disease European brown rot, caused by Monilinia laxa, is a concern during bloom time in Michigan tart cherries because this pathogen can infect flowers and cause blossom blight. The varieties Balaton and Meteor... more »
RosBREED prioritizes disease resistance
The focus of RosBREED 2, a program to produce better-tasting fruit that resists storage problems and other challenges, is disease resistance. A $10-million, five-year grant from USDA is driving the wide-ranging national fruit-breeding project. The... more »
SWD survey seeks grower responses
A new survey is seeking responses from growers regarding spotted wing drosophila (SWD) management. The survey is part of the "Sustainable Spotted Wind Dosophila Management for U.S. Fruit Crops" project, funded by the USDA National... more »
Southwest Michigan fruit regional report
With warmer weather, fruit tree buds are swelling. Growers should apply early-season sprays. Winter 2016 The 2016 winter was mild compared with 2014 and 2015. Temperatures during the 2016 winter dropped to around zero or slightly... more »
Partnership will develop novel cherry varieties
Phytelligence, a platform agricultural biotechnology company, has entered into a service agreement with TNV, a Tip Top Orchards licensed company, to aid in the development and growth of new cherry varieties. Development will use Phytelligence's genetic... more »