Fruits

Michigan blueberry growers warned of early SWD detection

Spotted wing drosophila has made an early appearance in southwest Michigan blueberry fields. Carlos Garcia, Michigan State University Extension educator, issued the following notification for growers on June 24: "Today, while checking recently placed... more »

Methods to curb phytophthora root rot in northern highbush blueberry

If nitrogen is managed properly, a new study suggests that concerted use of gypsum and wide drip lines can help suppress phytophthora root rot in northern highbush blueberry and increase production in field soils where... more »

USDA urged to revise proposed changes to biotechnology regulations

Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) are among more than 100 agricultural organizations asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise their proposed changes to the nation’s biotechnology regulations.... more »

Phytelligence partners with Cornell to grow Geneva rootstocks

Phytelligence, a platform agricultural biotechnology company, has announced a collaboration with Cornell University to test, store and grow new and existing commercial Geneva rootstock varieties for future production. The agreement allows Phytelligence to increase the speed to... more »

Fungicides applied at bloom may reduce fruit set in grapes

Figure 1. Grape cluster weight at harvest in response to a single fungicide application at full bloom in Concord grapes in Michigan in 2013. Control of fungal diseases in fruit crops relies on the regular... more »

New Delegate and Entrust labels allow for one-day PHI in bushberry crops

Dow AgroSciences has released new labels for their spinosyn insecticides Delegate and Entrust used in the bushberry crop group. These labels increase growers’ flexibility when they use Delegate and Entrust for managing spotted wing Drosophilaand... more »

Line trapping: a promising method for more accurate pest monitoring

It’s easy to think of a pheromone trap as a lure, putting out a scent and waiting for insects to come rolling in. But insects aren’t sharks; they don’t sense the proverbial blood in the... more »

Alabama peach production takes major hit

Alabama's peach producers are harvesting only 10 to 30 percent of their normal crop. A lethal combination of a low number of chill hours, recent drought conditions and a late frost have stressed peach crops... more »