May 7, 2021

Michigan Apple Committee announces 2021 research funding

The Michigan Apple Committee board approved funding for 2021 industry research projects at its March board meeting. Research funding is a part of MAC’s mission to serve Michigan’s apple growers.

“Members of the MAC Board of Directors select growers to serve on the research subcommittee,” said Diane Smith, executive director of MAC. “The subcommittee analyzes all the submitted research proposals and recommends funding to the board.”

MAC’s research priorities are set to support Michigan apple growers and industry success. MAC looks for projects that improve profitability and production, develop new markets and products and identify consumer trends and facts. MAC wishes to support innovative research that helps achieve MAC’s mission by enhancing the reputation of Michigan Apples.

“MAC accepts proposals from many different research institutions and centers of excellence,” said Smith. “We are fortunate to have a world-class agricultural instruction right in our back yard with Michigan State University, and there is also a great deal of collaboration between institutions and colleagues.”

For 2021, the board approved $239,121 in funding for 13 projects. Research topics varied from pest management to varietal research to planting technology. For the complete list of projects, see below.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world.

For more information, visit here.

MAC Funded Research:

Randolph Beaudry

Apple Ripening After DCA Storage: Assessing the Risk of Flavor Loss……………..….. $25,203

Bitter Pit Characterization, Prediction and Mitigation in Honeycrisp…………..………… $21,307

Sushila Chaudhari

Advancing Sustainability in Apple Orchards with Site-Specific Weed Management….… $15,000

Todd  Einhorn

New Thinning Strategies to Improve Apple Profitability and Predictability………….….. $43,387

Optimizing Tree Quality for Early Orchard Establishment……………………….……… $14,914

Evaluation of Multi Leader Training Systems……………………………………………. $15,856

Larry Gut

Management of Codling Moth Using Sterile Insect Releases……………………………. $19,000

Amy Irish-Brown

Apple Maturity Manipulation-Use of PGRs and Other Products…………………………. $10,125

William Shane

Coordinated Evaluation of Apple Germplasm for the Fresh and Processing Industries…… $12,000

George Sundin

Fungicide Resistance Screening in the Apple Scab Pathogen Venturia Inaequalis,

and Continued Work on Shoot Blight Management…………………………………….. $25,000

Marianna Szucs

Biological Control of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Southwestern MI………,…….… $7,658

Julianna Wilson

BMSB Monitoring and Research in Apple Orchards…………………………………….. $10,000

John Wise

Rainfastness of Fungicides for Disease Control in Apples………………………………. $19,671