FruitNet Weekly Report | Publications | Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station

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Jim Nugent
District Horticulturist

Nikki Rothwell
District Fruit IPM Agent

Bill Klein
Farm Mgr, NWMHRS

Duke Elsner
Agricultural & Regional Viticulture Agent

Jim Bardenhagen
Leelanau Extension Director

June 27, 2006

Growing Degree Day Accumulations as of June 26 at the NWMHRS

Year	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	16yr. Avg.
GDD42	1381	1380	1070	1144	1026	1202.4
GDD50	801	835	568	627	598	697.0

WEATHER

Temperatures were fairly normal this past week with highs in the '70's. Rainfall varied in the region, but amounts were generally low. Rainfall at the NWMHRS totaled 0.1 inches for the week, bringing the total precipitation for the month of June to 1.7 inches. Base 42 degree day accumulation is the same as this date in 2005.

GROWTH STAGES at NWMHRS (6/26/06; 8:00 a.m.)

Apple: Mac: 45 mm fruit, Red delicious: 37 mm fruit

Pear: Bartlett: 22 mm fruit

Sweet Cherry: Hedelfingen: 19 mm fruit, Gold: 18 mm fruit

Tart Cherry: Montmorency: 17 mm fruit; Balaton: 15 mm fruit

Apricot: 35mm fruit

Plum: NY 12: 22 mm fruit

Grapes: Chardonnay: Bloom

Tree Fruit

Apples: Most orchards are looking pretty clean in terms of scab, despite regular rainfall this season. We have biofixed for oblique banded leaf roller on Monday, June 19^th. Again this week we caught an average of 27.5 moths per trap in cherry, while apple traps at the NWMHRS only caught an average of 1.5 moths per trap. Oriental fruit moth and codling moth trap counts are down. Red sticky spheres are in the orchard, but no apple maggot adults have been caught.

Cherry: Cherry leaf spot symptoms can be found in most orchards at this time, and powdery mildew is showing up on inner branches as well as some terminal branches. Brown rot is starting to show up in sweet blocks around the region. We are observing heavy leaf drop from cherry yellows virus this season. We have picked up a few new plum curculio stings in a minimally sprayed block. American plum borer and lesser peach tree borer counts are down at the NWMHRS, but we are still catching an average of 5 greater peach tree borer adults per trap. Using the new method of high trapping for cherry fruit fly, we picked up four traps completely covered in our "Entomology" (aka unsprayed) block. Harvest of early dark sweets for the local fresh market is getting underway in warmer areas of NW Michigan.

Small Fruit

Strawberries: Berry size has been below normal this year, and harvest is expected to wrap up with below average yields.

Grapes: Bloom is finishing up for most cultivars; fruit set looks good at the NWMHRS. Powdery mildew continues to be very high in most sites. Potato leafhopper numbers are up significantly, with many nymphs present now. Treatment has been needed in many vineyards. Rose chafer numbers have increased slightly in the last week, but this insect should be nearing the end of its activity soon. Grape growers should be on the lookout for Japanese beetle in their vineyards, especially in Leelanau County. This insect was found in Leelanau County for the first time last summer. It can be a serious foliage feeder in vineyards. There is a similar looking native beetle called the false Japanese beetle, which will also feed on grape leaves. These are typically not numerous and are rarely a concern.

Seasonal Evaporation & Precipitation
Beginning May 1, 2006, at NWMHRS

Date	Rainfall/wk at NWMHRS (in.)	Rainfall minus 75% of Evaporation	Evap/week (in.)	75% of Evap/week
5/2	0.00	-1.05	1.40	1.05
5/9	0.03	-1.12	1.53	1.15
5/16	2.02	1.51	0.68	0.51
5/23	0.61	-0.21	1.09	0.82
5/30	0.40	-0.68	1.44	1.08
6/6	0.05	-1.17	1.62	1.22
6/13	1.08	0.01	1.43	1.07
6/20	0.51	-0.93	1.92	1.44
6/27	0.10	-0.81	1.21	0.91

Totals	4.80	-4.44	12.32	9.24

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, 2006

Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this site to:
Bill Klein, kleinw@msu.edu

Last Revised: 6-27-06