Mar 23, 2022
Michigan Apple Committee announces 2022 research funding

The Michigan Apple Committee (MAC) board approved funding for 2022 research projects on March 3.  Research is an important part of MAC’s mission.

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

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 its 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 2022, the board approved $174,126 in funding for 9 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 www.MichiganApples.com.

MAC Funded Research:

Randolph Beaudry

  Apple Ripening After DCA Storage: Assessing the Risk of Flavor Loss………………..$25,866

Todd Einhorn

  New Thinning Strategies to Improve Apple Profitability and Predictability ……………..$30,000

  Evaluation of Multi Leader Training Systems ………..…………………………..……..$10,000

Courtney Hollender

  The Biological Mechanism Behind Early and Late Apple Sports………………….……$24,773

Bill Shane

  Coordinated Evaluation of Apple Germplasm for the Fresh and Processing Industries…$10,000

George Sundin

  Shoot Blight Management with Reduced Rates of Apogee, Actigard and Coppers ….….$22,500

Anna Wallis

  Apple Crop Manipulation Using PGRs and Other Materials……………….……………$17,696

Julianna Wilson                                                                                                             

  2022 Apple Entomology Research…………………..………………….………………$13,574

John Wise

  Rainfastness of Fungicides for Disease Control in Apples…………….…………………$19,717




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