SW Michigan Fruit Update

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Southwest Michigan Fruit Update, June 11, 2007

Mark Longstroth, Bill Shane, Greg Vlaming

Weather

Last week’s weather was variable.  Highs were in the 70s early but Thursday was hot (90F) and very windy.  A cold front moved through the region Friday and the weekend was pleasant.  There was no rain over most of the region last week.  Crop growth continues at a fast pace.  The forecast is for warmer weather with temperatures in the 80s.  Soils are beginning to dry and growers should begin irrigation on sandy soils.

Southwest Michigan Growing Degree Days (GDD) Totals March 1 through June 10, 2007				Grapes from April 1
Location	GDD 42	GDD 45	GDD 50	GDD 50
Scottdale	1369	1156	844	737
SWMREC:	1316	1105	801	703
Bainbridge:	1289	1085	786	686
Hartford:	1249	1046	751	646
Lawton	1391	1180	865	728
Grand Junction:	1370	1161	847	719
South Haven	1220	1021	734	641
Fennville:	1167	982	692	612

Insects

There are still only modest numbers of Rose Chafers, but some growers report high numbers.  Potato leafhoppers are easier to find.  San Jose Scale crawlers should be out and growers can target sprays to reduce this pest.  Aphid numbers are building

Tree fruit

Peach fruit are 1.5 inches in diameter.  We are finding Oriental fruit moth larvae feeding in the shoot tips and fruit. The second generation of Oriental fruit moths should be emerging.  Green peach aphids are causing leaf curling.

Tart cherries fruit are coloring and growers are applying ethephon.  Maintain protection for cherry leaf spot. 

Sweet cherries are coloring and harvest of early varieties has begun.  We had significant losses due to wind last week.  Birds are a significant problem.  Put out cherry fruit fly traps.

Plum fruit are about 20 mm in diameter. 

Apple fruits are 1-¼ to 1 ½ inches in diameter and the June drop is finished.  Fire blight symptoms are becoming common and some of the symptoms are from shoot blight.  Aphids and leafhoppers can spread the disease form infected tissues to healthy shoots.  Codling moth trap catches are down, but egg hatch is at its peak.  We are catching Obilquebanded leafrollers.  We Biofixed on May 28 (942 GDD42 at SWMREC).  Treatment is timed for peak egg laying at 450 GDD post biofix or peak egg hatch, 600 GDD after biofix.  This would be late this week to early next week.  The second generation of Oriental fruit moths should be emerging soon and pheromones should be renewed in traps.  European red mites number are building. Growers should treat young nonbearing trees to control potato leafhopper.

Pear fruit are 1-¼ inches in diameter.  Pear Psylla are flying. 

 

Small fruit

Blueberries have green fruit.  Shoot growth has stopped, but many shoots have begun a new flush of growth.  Fruit worms can be found feeding in the fruit.  Growers should apply fungicides to reduce anthracnose fruit rot later.  Blueberry maggot traps should be out.  Be sure to check the new Blueberry IPM Newsletter at the MSU Blueberry Site. 

Grapes: Concords are at berry shatter.  Vinifera bloom is ending.  The fruit set looks good.  Treatments for grape berry moth should have been applied.  Fungicides to control grape diseases are import in the post bloom period.  Given the dry conditions forecast for this week powdery mildew in the primary disease concern.  Growers should watch the weather and apply control material in front of the next rain.  We expect to see more rose chafers.  Check the MSU Grape website for scouting updates.

Strawberry harvest is well underway.  Sap beetles are attacking ripe fruit.  Black root rot has caused some fields to wilt.  Growers should treat young plantings to control potato leafhopper.

Raspberries: Summer raspberry have green fruit.  Leafrollers such as Redbanded leafroller are curling up the leaves.  Leaf feeding by raspberry fruitworm is tattering the leaves.  Potato leafhopper can also be found.  Japanese beetles usually emerge with the first ripe fruit. 

Cranberries are blooming.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Monday Fruit Update meeting will be Monday June 18, 5 pm, at the Fruit Acres Farm in Berrien County.  There are RUP credits available for the Monday Fruit Update meetings.

There is a Blueberry IPM meeting on Wednesday June 13 at 10 AM to Noon at Bodtke’s Main Farm on 01240 57th Street, north of Phoenix Road east of Grand Junction.  This meeting will review scouting of blueberry fields; weed, insect and disease control in the mid season before harvest. There are RUP credits available for these two Blueberry meetings.

A series of twilight grape scouting IPM meeting will start next week. The dates and locations are; June 14 at Tim Seppala's farm, east of Lawton; July 12 at Bob Dongvillo's farm, south of Scottdale; and August 19 at Lemon Creek Vineyards, west of Berrien Springs. These meetings start at 6 PM.  For more information on these meetings call Mark Longstroth at (269) 675-8313.

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