SW Michigan Fruit Update
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Southwest Michigan, 2008 Review
2008 Weather
The winter of 2007-2008 began snowy but lows were seldom much below 20F. Several mid winter thaws melted the early snow in January. A cold snap occurred in late January with lows around zero. February was cold and snowy. Temperatures were close to zero several times in the last three weeks of February. This caused some damage to fruit buds. Significant winter injury was reported in peaches, apples and sweet cherries in the central counties of the state but not in the counties located near the lakeshore. Winter snows recharged soil moisture. 2008 was the second coldest spring in the last 14 years. Growing Degree Day (GDD) accumulations began slowly and early bud development lagged behind the average of last ten years. Snow on Good Friday, March 20, the first full day of Spring, dumped 6 to 14 inches of snow in the region. All the snow and ice had melted off the lakes and ponds by the end of March.
Early April brought mild temperatures with highs near 60 and lows in the 40s allowed plants to get off to a good start. The first damaging freezes occurred on April 15, when most crops were in early bud development causing little damage. This freeze was followed by warm weather with highs in the 70s and lows around 50 allowing rapid bud growth. A freeze on Wednesday April 30, with lows in the 20 to 29 F range, caused wide spread damage but the severity of damage varied from extensive to very little. This freeze was radiation freeze similar to freezes in 2002, 2004 and 2006, so sites with good air drainage suffered less damage. Apples, grapes and sweet cherries were the hardest hit. Later freezes that were important to the north did not impact SW Michigan fruit except blueberries.
Weather during the growing season was not unusual. Soil moisture levels were good into June, but by then spotty rain resulted in drought conditions for July and August. Heavy Rains returned in September with 8 to 10 inches of rain on Sept 12-14.
Southwest Michigan Growing Degree Day Totals
|
Grapes, April 1 |
|||
Location |
GDD 42 |
GDD 45 |
GDD 50 |
GDD 50 |
4051 |
3528 |
2713 |
2703 |
|
4061 |
3540 |
2723 |
2715 |
|
SWMREC: * |
3952 |
3427 |
2609 |
2615 |
3879 |
3370 |
2581 |
2574 |
|
3730 |
3225 |
2442 |
2438 |
|
4027 |
3508 |
2688 |
2683 |
|
4079 |
3531 |
2752 |
2746 |
|
3475 |
3273 |
2486 |
2479 |
|
3712 |
3208 |
2419 |
2415 |
|
Tree fruit
Common direct pests such as Codling moth and Oriental fruit moth were generally well controlled. Many growers used spray programs including newer reduced risk materials rather than OPs. San Jose scale continues to increase in importance as a pest. We saw this pest in more orchards this year. Japanese beetles have declined in importance. For most growers Japanese beetles did not require multiple sprays in addition to the normal spray program.
Apricots were scarce in 2008 due to frost losses from the April 30 freeze, which occurred when the fruit was in the shuck. Some growers with good sites had a good crop. Bacterial spot was the major problem in 2008.
In Peaches, winter damage was light in the major peach producing area. Significant winter injury was reported in peaches apples and cherries in the central growing area of the state but not in the counties located on the lakeshore. Peaches were damaged by the April 30 freeze. Damage is generally light at good sites in the major production area of Berrien County. Early non-showy types were hit hardest. Unopened flowers were not damaged. Most varieties retained a good crop. Rusty spot (powdery mildew) and bacterial spot were common. Oriental Fruit Moth generally was controlled. Brown rot was a problem in areas that received rain just before harvest.
Sweet Cherries, also suffered a little winter damage, which appeared as hollow flower buds that had no flowers. At the time of the April 30 freeze sweet cherries were in the shuck. Damage varied from heavy to light. Better sites and later varieties suffered less damage. Bacterial canker was a problem after bloom. Both leaf and fruit symptoms were common in 2008. Alternaria fruit rots were a problem for some at harvest.
Tart Cherries were at full bloom during the April 30 freeze, but damage was generally light. Bacterial canker was a problem. Cherry leaf spot was not a significant factor before harvest. Yields were generally good and leaves were retained well into August in most orchards.
In Plums, there were no major problems. Japanese plums were reduced by the freeze. European plums were also light.
Apples are in early bloom during the April 30 freeze. Damage to apples was severe in some sites. Early and late varieties were damaged and the damage seems very variety specific. Pollination weather was very variable with very warm conditions alternating with cold and rainy Conditions. There was a very heavy June drop in apples that significantly reduced the crop. This drop occurred in both spray thinned and non-thinned varieties and blocks. Cool conditions and rain events during bloom may have reduced pollination and led to the large June drop. .
There were no major pest problems codling moth was controlled with newer materials. There were only two flights in 2008. Apple maggot, obliquebanded leafroller,white apple leafhopper, spotted tentiform leafminer and European red mites were generally controlled. Wooly apple and Green apple aphids were common and San Jose scale was a problem and many growers tried to time sprays for the late season crawlers.
Pears, did not suffer greatly for the freeze and yields and quality were good.
Small fruit
Blueberries were not greatly damaged by early Spring frost freeze events. Initial fruit set was excellent and it looked to be a banner year. Drought conditions during berry swell caused soft and small fruit for mid season varieties. The major problem for growers was the collapses of prices, which fell about 50% from last years highs. Anthracnose ripe rot was the main fruit rot problem. Leaf spots were a problem is some areas after harvest. Drought stress also revealed mineral nutrition problems such as iron and potash. Japanese beetles and blueberry maggot were generally controlled.
Grapes, some of the wood in juice grape vineyards looks weak from the large crop last year. Damage from the April 30 freeze to juice grapes was severe in some areas. Some French Hybrids were advanced enough to be hurt, but vinifera grapes suffered little damage. Insect and disease control was good for vineyards where there was a good crop. In vineyards that suffered significant losses to the spring freeze early season sprays were reduced and black rot was a problem. Powdery mildew and, downy mildew were not generally a problem. Downy mildew and phomopsis did show up late in the season. Due to the cool year harvest was delayed with Niagara harvest, scheduled for September 15, delayed a week by heavy rains on September 12-14. Quality for wine grapes was excellent. Botrytis fruit rot was relatively minor in wine grapes.
Strawberry fruit size and quality were excellent. Some growers were surprised by the early ripening and closed early because they lost their early pickings. Other took advantage of the cool conditions and enjoyed a 3-week season. Leather rot and sap beetles were a problem in some fields. Root weevils and potato leafhoppers stunted growth after renovation. Verticillium wilt and black root rot were problems that appeared later.
Raspberry and Blackberry plants showed winter damage in many areas. Yields were average but fruit quality was down for non- irrigated fields. Pests like raspberry sawfly and raspberry girdler were minor but most growers did need to treat for Japanese beetles. Fall Raspberry harvest was delayed by cool weather and the mid September rains ruined early fruit underway.
