Northern Michigan FruitNet 2009
Weekly Update
NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station
| Nikki Rothwell District Horticulturist |
Erin Lizotte District Fruit IPM/IFP Agent |
Bill Klein Farm Mgr, NWMHRS |
| Duke Elsner Agricultural & Regional Viticulture Agent |
May 12, 2009
GROWING DEGREE DAY ACCUMULATIONS AS OF May 11th AT THE NWMHRS
Year |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
19yr. Avg. |
GDD42 |
308 |
328 |
420 |
481 |
390 |
285 |
339.8 |
GDD50 |
129 |
149 |
193 |
230 |
180 |
114 |
155.3 |
Growth Stages at NWMHRS (5/11/09-
11:30 am)
Apple: McIntosh & Red Delicious – Pink
Gala – Tight cluster
Yellow Delicious – Early pink
Pear:
Sweet Cherry: Hedelfingen: Full bloom
Napoleon: Full bloom
Gold: 80% Bloom
Tart Cherry: 15% Bloom
Balaton: 1st Bloom
Apricot: Late petal fall
Grapes: Bud swell
Weather
For the
past two nights, we have seen some cold temperatures throughout the
region. On Sunday night, we recorded
temperatures down into the high 20’s and low 30’s. The lowest temperature recorded on MAWN was
24.1°F at the
Elk Rapids site. This location also
recorded the lowest temperature on Monday night with 29.4°F. When communicating with growers
around the area, certain blocks had extremely low temperatures. For instance, a grower just north of
We have
seen crop damage in both apple and sweet cherry. Sweets are in full bloom in the southern
reaches of the region, and many of the flowers were damaged by the Sunday night
freeze. At this time, the damage is
variable throughout the region. Apples
are in tight cluster to pink depending on variety – reports of lost king bloom
is evident in many orchards.
At this
time, we have accumulated 308 GDD base 42 and 129 GDD base 50. These accumulations are only slightly behind
where we were last year at this time. We
are almost right on a 19-year average as well. Like every else around the state, we are extremely dry. We have received almost no rainfall since the
first of May, and growers are hoping for the anticipated rain on Wednesday.
Crop Report
Despite
the cool temperatures, things seem to be progressing. Pears are at white bud to 1st bloom. Again apples are at varying
stages: pink in Macs and Red Delicious,
while Galas are at tight cluster and Golden Delicious are at early pink.
Apple - Spotted tentiform leafminer flight
continues at the NWMHRS (~ 75 adults per trap), Oriental fruit moth traps were empty
this week, compared with one moth caught during the first weekend in May (we
will have to wait until we achieve sustained catch for biofix). Eastern
tent caterpillar webbing and larvae are visible throughout the region at
higher levels than commonly seen in many of the fruit blocks. Under high pressure Eastern tent caterpillar
can be a pest of apple and may require management this season. Small oblique-banded
leafroller larvae are out and feeding, and European red mite nymphs have been observed. A high level of green fruitworm bud damage has been reported from regional crop
consultants in apples.
As we move
through the week, rain is in the forecast and based on a biofix of 4/25 (McIntosh
green tip), apple tissue should be kept covered with scab ascospores maturing
quickly and 20% spore discharge is forecasted by 5/18. As we approach bloom, growers should keep a
close watch on the fire blight model and be prepared to make streptomycin
applications when the epiphytic infection potential exceeds 100, rain is
forecast, and blooms are open.
Cherry - In
cherry we are catching green fruitworm in
the Station trap line, with an average of 22 moths per trap. Climbing
cutworm damage has also been reported in a young tart cherry orchard. Applications for European brown rot should be applied with two sprays at white bud
and one two weeks later on susceptible varieties (Balaton, Meteor, and
occasionally Montmorency). American brown rot blossom sprays
should be going on with recommendations for application at 10-20% bloom. Rovral should be used in order to limit the
number of back-to-back sterol inhibitor applications for resistance
management. We want to preserve SI’s for brown rot
infection closer to harvest. Despite its
cost, Rovral should be part of a brown rot program this season. Growers should be vigilant this year due to
the high infection levels experienced in sweet cherries during the 2008
season. Infection at white bud is rare,
but early treatment may be necessary where a large number of brown-rot infected
fruit are present from the previous season and we have prolonged periods of
warm (above 60°F), wet weather. If these
conditions occur in unprotected orchards, use a maximum application of Indar
24-48 hours after the beginning of wet weather and continue at 2-4 day intervals
while wet, rainy weather continues through bloom. The first plum curculio was caught in a Leelanau tart cherry orchard. Despite cool temperatures, they are on the
move.
Grape - The
grape trap lines are out at four sites
around the northwest region. We will
be looking for potato leafhopper and grape berry moth over the coming weeks. Delayed dormant fungicide applications (at or before bud break) can kill
fungi and insects that overwinter on the plant. Dormant applications of lime sulfur, copper, or sulfur directly to the
cordon will reduce the inoculum of Phomopsis, powdery mildew, black rot,
anthracnose, and mites. Liquid sulfur
formulations tend to work better than powdered sulfur. Do not apply lime sulfur to green tissue, and
be sure to check varietal susceptibility to fungicides on page 130 of the
Michigan Fruit Management Guide.
For an
updated version of the pest report during the week, call (231)947-3063.
We will again be scouting the region for pest and diseases
of winegrape during the 2009 season. This newsletter includes relevant horticultural and management
information throughout the season based on current, regional conditions. To sign up for the report, e-mail Steve
VanTimmeren at vantimm2@msu.edu.
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
Insect and disease predictive information is available at:
http://www.enviroweather.msu.edu/home.asp
http://www.agweather.geo.msu.edu/agwx/forecasts/fcst.asp?fileid=fous46ktvc
http://www.cherries.msu.edu/
Fruit CAT Alert Reports
http://www.ipmnews.msu.edu/fruit/
This issue and past issues of the weekly FruitNet report are posted on our website at: http://www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort/faxnet.htm
ACTUAL
AND PREDICTED DEGREE-DAY
ACCUMULATIONS
SINCE MARCH 1, 2009
Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this site
to:
Bill Klein, kleinw@msu.edu
Last Revised: 5-12-09
