Fruits

Think twice before using 2,4-D in grape-growing areas

2,4-D is a common and useful active ingredient in many herbicide products used to kill broadleaf plants without harming grasses, especially in lawns and pastures. 2,4-D is available in two forms, an ester and an... more »

Penn State: Tree fruit diseases to manage during May

May is the battleground month for disease management: growers need to be on alert for apple scab, fire blight, powdery mildew, rust, cherry leaf spot, brown rot and bacterial spot infection conditions. Here is what... more »

MSU tips for better blueberry weed control

Blueberry growers have several long-residual herbicides available for use in first-year and established plantings. Complete weed control is critical the first year to ensure high survival rates and quick establishment. Weed competition or herbicide injury... more »

Harsh winter destroys many concord grape vines in New York

The frigid winter weather has destroyed a portion of the concord grape crop in Chautauqua County. Temperatures routinely hit below 25 degrees in the area this winter.Many local grape farms are tucked away in the... more »

Cranberry marketing order up for vote

USDA announced April 22 that cranberry producers will vote from May 1-26, 2015, on whether to continue their federal marketing order.According to a news release, the marketing order requires that a continuance referendum be held... more »

Use Precision Cropload Management tools to target apple crop load

Chemical thinning is the most difficult annual grower practice, yet the most important. Too little thinning will produce a crop of small fruit and poor return bloom. Over-thinning will produce a crop of large apples... more »

CPS donates crop protection products to MSU

Crop Production Services has donated $3,000 worth of fungicide and adjuvant products to Michigan State University (MSU), a donation made in conjunction with the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission.The donation – 25 30-pound bags of Roper... more »

Rain-resistant coating cuts cherry cracking in half

A tissue-thin, food-grade film developed at Oregon State University (OSU) acts like a raincoat for sweet cherries, cutting rain-related cracking of the fruit in half and potentially saving a whole season’s crop.The stretchy spray-on biofilm,... more »