Crop Management
First spotted wing Drosophila detected for 2015
The Michigan State University Extension spotted wing Drosophila(SWD) monitoring network detected the first SWD in traps baited with commercial lures late last week in Berrien and Benzie counties. The Berrien County detection was from a... more »
Disease management considerations for winter-injured blueberries
With winter injury hitting blueberries hard in 2015, it is easy to contemplate giving up on some fields altogether. If you have decided to forego harvest because there is not enough fruit to justify harvesting,... more »
Rainfast characteristics of insecticides
There are several critical factors that influence impact of precipitation on a pesticide’s performance. First, is the plant-penetrative attribute of the compound. Some pesticide chemistries, like organophosphates, have limited penetrative potential in plant tissue, and... more »
When using bird deterrents in sweet cherries makes sense
Whether and how much to invest in bird management in a given year will depend on the costs of bird management versus anticipated fruit losses. Michigan tree fruit growers are not likely to forget the... more »
State audit recommends adjustments for UC Davis strawberry program
Following a six-month review of the University of California (UC) Davis Strawberry Breeding Program, the California state auditor’s office today released recommendations — including suggestions for future funding and revenue collection — for the program.“The... more »
Protect grape clusters from diseases during early fruit development
Young fruit clusters are highly susceptible to all major diseases, including downy mildew, powdery mildew, black rot, Phomopsisand anthracnose. If prolonged cool, wet weather prevails during bloom, Botrytis can also gain a foothold in clusters... more »
Michigan still adjusting to crop losses of 2012
2012 was a bad year for many fruit-producing states, but none were hit harder than Michigan. An early warm-up followed by devastating freeze events killed roughly 85 percent of the state’s apples and nearly 90... more »
Assistance in raspberry virus diagnosis offered
In recent years, an increasing number of raspberry growers have reported seeing berries that are smaller than usual, misshapen and crumbly when harvested, particularly in older fields. They may have been of such poor quality... more »
Codling moth back to normal in 2015
The catastrophic freeze of 2012 resulted in a near collapse of codling moth populations in most regions of Michigan. Codling moth (CM) populations remained suppressed through much of the 2013 growing season. Based on 2014... more »
EPA proposing temporary pesticide-free zones for honeybees
U.S. environmental regulators on Thursday proposed a rule that would create temporary pesticide-free zones to protect commercial honeybees, which are critical to food production and have been dying off at alarming rates.The restrictions are aimed... more »
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Data collection tool expands farm management
Carmel Valley winegrapes: Parsonage Village Vineyard
IFTA Yakima Valley tour provides orchard insights
IFTA recognizes tree fruit honorees
Pennsylvania recognizes fruit industry professionals
Fresh Views 40 Under 40
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