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| Fruit Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletter | |||||||
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| Vol. 23, No. 12, June 24, 2008 |
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In this issue |
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| Dogwood borer control in apples The dogwood borer can be a problem in Michigan apple orchards. Dogwood borer adults emerge in mid-June and begin laying eggs over a four to six week period. Initially the dogwood borer larvae feed inside burr knots (adventitious roots) which can develop on the exposed above ground portion of clonal rootstocks. Feeding in the burr knot does little damage to the tree, but feeding can continue below the bark where it is much more destructive and may eventually girdle the tree. Burr knots are aggregations of partially developed root initials that usually occur in clusters at or below the graft union. Reddish frass on the surface of a burr knot is a visible sign of infestation. Burr knots are fibrous and permit entry of some insecticides such that larvae are readily exposed to a lethal dose while still within the plant tissue. The larvae can be controlled with trunk applications of Lorsban 4E at a rate of 1.5 quarts per 100 gallons of water. The larvae can also be controlled with trunk applications of Lorsban 50 WP at the rate of three pounds per 100 gallons, or Lorsban 75 WG at two pounds per 100 gallons of water. This must be applied directly to the trunk from a distance of no more than four feet using low volume handgun or shielded spray equipment. Do not allow spray to contact foliage or fruit. A single spray timed for the peak egg hatch in late June to mid-July will provide good control. A new insecticide from the neonictinoid class, Assail 30SG, is now labeled for dogwood borer control. It should be applied at eight ounces per acre after moth emergence, to coincide with dogwood borer egg laying, followed by a second trunk spray 14 - 21 days later. |
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| Managing cherry leaf spot in poor spraying weather With an almost constant barrage of wind and rain, getting into the orchards has been difficult to say the least. When managing cherry leaf spot, conventional wisdom has shown that protectant management strategies that keep leaves protected during infection periods are the most effective treatments. The key to controlling cherry leaf spot is to minimize infection and disease spread early in the season in order to help the trees retain leaves until later into the fall. Unfortunately, it has been almost impossible for growers to get their sprays on when necessary. Due to the weather, there have also been a lot of questions regarding how often to apply fungicides, how long the fungicides are providing protection when exposed to rain and what to apply if an application was missed. The fungicides Gem (strobilurin) and Pristine (strobilurin and boscalid) are excellent options for application at the first cover timing. These products are often used at first cover because they control both cherry leaf spot and powdery mildew. Both fungicides are rain fast within two hours and move locally within leaves. This means that if you applied a strobilurin two hours before rainfall then the leaves are protected despite the rain. If you are applying a strobilurin on alternate rows then the spray interval should be tightened by two to three days, as long as the rainy warm weather continues. If a spray was missed because of high winds or rain, there is little compelling evidence that post infection treatments are effective. The best shot at getting any back action against cherry leaf spot is a full cover of Syllit FL (27 oz), tank mixed with Captan (3-4 lb). This should be followed by an application of Pristine or copper (1.2 lbs. metallic copper per acre) for the next cover. The cool weather this season has provided a good opportunity to try copper on farms where phytotoxicity has been an issue. |
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| High density apple orchard tour
The High Density Apple Orchard tour will be held on Thursday, July 10 from 1:00 PM. to 7:00 PM. Please RSVP by July 1 to: Donna at (800)-767-1345, Fax: 616-693-2317 or email: stewar28@msu.edu. |
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| Strawberry black root rot and renovation meeting When: July 10, 2008 – 6:00 to 8:00PM Where: DeLange’s Redberry Farm, 5723 Port Sheldon Road, Hudsonville, Michigan Topics: Dr’s Annemiek Schilder and Jim Hancock of MSU have been working on trying to piece together the strawberry black root rot complex or puzzle over the last few years. Dr. Schilder established some plotwork at this farm that she feels shows some real promise in understanding the nature of this devastating strawberry disease, and some possible strategies for reducing its severity in the future. At this same meeting, we will also review the strawberry renovation practices, including weed control, fertilization, bed width, etc. This will not necessarily be a farm tour, but a chance to look at some interesting plotwork and talk about renovation. We also will look at fall red raspberries. A number of our MSU Small Fruit Specialist Team members will be present for the meeting. Directions to the farm: -From Hudsonville: Three miles west of Hudsonville on Port Sheldon Road, ¼ mile west of 56th Avenue. -From Holland: North on US-31 to Port Sheldon Road, east about 10 miles to farm. |
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| Blueberry IPM Twilight meeting When: Tuesday, June 24, 6:00 – 8:00PM Where: Carini Farms, 15309 Port Sheldon Road, West Olive, MI (west of US-31) What: Timely updates for control of pre-harvest diseases, insects and weeds. This is a free meeting with a light dinner served at 6:00PM. Spray credits available for attending. Hope to see you there! For more information, contact Paul Jenkins at: jenki132@msu.edu; or 517-432-7751. |
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| NW Grape IPM Update “First Friday” meeting When: Friday, July 11, 3:00 – 5:00PM Where: Larry Mawby’s vineyard, S. Elm Valley Road What: Annemiek Schilder will lead a discussion on grape pathology issues. For more information, contact Paul Jenkins at: jenki132@msu.edu; or 517-432-7751. |
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| Regional reports 1 -- Southwest Mark Longstroth Bill Shane Weather Last week’s weather was cool and dry with highs generally near 70°F, and lows near 50°F. A few showers passed through the region on Saturday, leaving little rain and some light hail. Soils are becoming dry. We expect warmer temperatures later in the week with highs rising into the 80s and lows near 50°F. Our GDD totals are now about three or four days behind 2007.
Tree fruit Deer browsing continues. Insect activity has remained high. Leafroller larvae are feeding in some orchards. Tarnished plant bug feeding damage has been reported in apples and peaches. Adult rose chafer and Japanese beetles are continuing to emerge. Aphid numbers are building. We are catching lesser peach tree borer. Trunk sprays or pheromone disruption are recommended for borer control. Apricots are 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Peaches are about 1.5 inches in diameter. Pit hardening has not yet begun. Powdery mildew and bacterial spot, but not peach scab, have been reported. Most curled leaves caused by green peach aphids are empty indicating that they are migrating out of the orchard and control is no longer needed. Sweet cherries are showing red color and birds are a problem. Early varieties are being harvested. General harvest of early varieties should begin late this week. The cool dry weather has suppressed brown rot infection. Brown rot requires warm, wet conditions, five to six hours of wetness at 70°F and growers should be prepared to protect against this disease at harvest. Rains Sunday were cherry leaf spot infections in some areas. Tart cherries are coloring. Most fruit are straw colored and ethephon sprays will be applied soon. Recent rains were a cherry leaf spot infection. Few cherry leaf spot symptoms have been reported. An eastern cherry fruit fly was caught this week in Berrien County. Plums are almost an inch in diameter and the pits are hard. Shoot growth has stopped and growers no longer need to protect against black knot. Plum trees also need to be protected from the peach tree borers. Growers should scout for white apple leafhopper. Apples are 1.5 inches in diameter. Some varieties such as Red Delicious and Empire have a light crop. Apple scab symptoms can be found so growers with active scab should continue to protect against scab infection. Soon, waxy fruit will be resistant to scab. Fire blight infections are larger and easier to find, but overall is relatively light for the region. There is little oozing due to the dry conditions. Trap catch for codling moth remains high. We are now about midway through egg hatch. Obliquebanded leafroller adults were trapped June 9 and egg hatch should be soon. Spotted tentiform leafminer trap catch is rising, indicating the beginning of the second generation. White apple leafhoppers are scarce. European red mites are moving about. San Jose scale adults are flying. Sprays for San Jose scale crawler should be targeted for the end of the week. Green aphid populations are climbing. Young trees should receive sprays to kill potato leafhoppers. Pears are about an inch in diameter and the crop looks good. Small fruit Blueberries are beginning to color. Harvest of early varieties in the south should begin in a little over a week. Cranberry fruitworm egg hatch is ending. Fruitworm feeding damage is easy to find in most fields. Look for shriveled blueberries in the clusters of green fruit. Cherry fruitworm only attack single fruit while cranberry fruitworm will move to other fruit in the cluster. Preharvest fungicide sprays should target alternaria and anthracnose. Blueberry maggot traps should be out. Grapes are “BB” sized. Shatter continues. Rose chafer numbers are declining, but they can still be found feeding on late blooming clusters of the secondary and tertiary buds. Grape leafhopper can be found in many vineyards. Insecticides to control grape berry moth should be included in the post bloom fungicide sprays. Grape berry moth trap catches are up and larvae can be found feeding in the fruit clusters. Wine grapes need to be protected from potato leafhoppers. Fungicides in the immediate post bloom period should target all four major fruit diseases; powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot and phomopsis. So far, phomopsis is the only disease that is easy to find in vineyards. Wine grape growers also need to apply sprays to control botrytis bunch and berry rot. Strawberry harvest is ending in some areas begun. Warm temperatures and dry conditions following the rains of June 5-7, have moved the crop rapidly. Fruit size and quality are excellent. Cool conditions should extend the season. Leather rot and sap beetles can be found in some fields. Raspberry and blackberry bloom is ending. Some fruiting canes are looking weak due to winter injury. Plants on sandy ground are showing signs of drought stress. Growers should be scouting for Japanese beetles, raspberry sawfly larvae and leafroller larvae. Raspberry sawflies eat the leaves between the veins, so look for small green bristled worms under the leaves. Leafrollers curl and web the leaves together. Raspberry cane borers are laying eggs; look for wilting shoot tips and a ring of parallel girdles at the base of the wilting. The egg is laid between the girdles. Primocanes in fall bearing raspberries are 18 to 24 inches tall. Cranberries are nearing full bloom. Upcoming meetings The next Monday Fruit Update meeting will be Monday, June 30 at the Fruit Acres Farm in Berrien County. The annual Viticulture Day at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center will be July 30. The cost is $20 before July 18 and $25 after July 18. A registration form is available at the Van Buren County MSUE Website; http://web1.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/vitregform.pdf. |
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| 2 -- Southeast Bob Tritten Weather Cooler weather has been a welcomed relief for strawberry growers and for the start of sweet cherry harvest. While many areas of east Michigan have had rain showers a number of days over the last week, the showers have not amounted to much. The exception has been a few isolated areas where rainfall was very heavy. Several of the weather stations have recorded rainfall five or six of the last seven days, however, not very much in the rain gauge. Soil moisture is generally on the dry side. Some isolated hail has been reported with these slow moving thundershowers. Our season remains normal in terms of degree day totals, and is a bit ahead in terms of beginning of harvest, such as sweet cherries. Southeast Michigan growing degree day totals for March 1 to June 23
Tree fruit Apples continue to size nicely with most being in the range of 1.25 inches to 1.375-inches in diameter. Apple drop from frost and freeze injury as well as thinning is pretty well wrapped up across the region, however there continues to be a small percentage of large apples that have continued to drop. This may continue for the rest of the season. For the most part we have a fair crop of apples across the region; however the crop seems to be getting shorter all the time. The old saying that “a short crop gets shorter” seems to be true this year. Apple maggot traps have been set for a few weeks; however I have not had any catches. I would expect to see it in the next week to ten days. Codling moth trap catches have generally come down across the region. I continue to see codling moth trap catch even in pheromone disrupted blocks; this is a concern to me. I have seen a few fruit scars from codling moth injury. Oriental fruit moth trap catches are also down across the region, and I see a few larvae in apple terminals. There are a few obliquebanded leafroller larvae; however their numbers are fairly low. Potato leafhopper adults are still common across the region; however the numbers are also fairly low. I am also starting to see a few white apple leafhopper nymphs. Most of the aphid populations are now on the decline. European red mite numbers remain low at most farms across the region due to a high number of predators. I am starting to see a few apple rust mites. There are good numbers of predators at many farms across the region. Over the last week or so, I have seen high numbers of small predator wasps. As I reported in last week’s CAT Alert, we are now into secondary apple scab season, as primary ended on June 16. I continue to see a fair number of apple scab lesions across the district, mostly on leaves, but a few farms have it on fruit as well. The apple scab lesions appear to be burned out. There continues to be a few new fireblight strikes around the region, however numbers are generally low. Many blocks have powdery mildew in its susceptible varieties. Pears are currently at around 1.125 inch to 1.25-inch in diameter. A few farms remain with high numbers of pear psylla adults, eggs and nymphs. Most farms have removed suckers which will reduce populations and break the lifecycle. I am starting to see a little bit of Fabraea leaf spot in pears. Peaches continue to have a wide spectrum of fruit sizes with most of the larger fruit being at 1.25-inch to 1.50-inch. We are nearing pit hardening. Growers are aggressively thinning peaches. Oriental fruit moth trap catches are down, as I reported in the apple section. Tarnished plant bug numbers remain generally low across the region; however I can find them in most blocks of peaches. A bit of peach wart is starting to show up, as is powdery mildew. As I reported last week, X-disease symptoms are also scattered across the region. Bacterial canker symptoms are also starting to be seen in peach. Sweet cherry harvest is underway for early varieties at most farms across the region. Fruit has continued to color nicely and fruit also has continued to size, with most fruit measuring 21 mm to 24 mm in size. Cherry fruit fly trap catch has been more widespread over the last week. Based on levels that I have seen, I would encourage growers to do a good job of checking their traps on a daily basis, and if they find trap catches then control measures are going to need to be taken during harvest. Bird feeding is starting to be seen in sweets. Tart cherries have colored a great deal over the last week, and have picked up a bit of size with many measuring 13 mm to 16 mm in size. I continue to see a bit of fruit drop continuing, as well as fruit finish problems. Bacterial canker oozing has been seen at many farms. Some cherry leaf spot disease is starting to be seen. Plums continue to size, with most being close to one inch in diameter. Plum curculio activity has dropped back. I have not seen any signs of black rot. Small fruit Strawberry harvest is now on the downhill side at most farms across the region. Farms to the south have had about a three and a half week season thus far, and should be finishing off here late this week or over the weekend. Slugs have been a major problem at several farms across the region over the past week. Leather rot continues to be seen at a few farms across the region, as does anthracnose. Keep an eye on potato leafhopper populations on newly planted strawberries. Newly planted strawberries continue to runner well. Raspberries are sizing well, and I expect to see the beginning of harvest of early maturing summer red varieties in about ten days or so. Fall red raspberries are around 24 inches in length. Raspberries sawfly feeding activity seems to be on the decline again this week. Blueberries have continued to size fairly well with the largest fruit measuring 14 mm to 16 mm in size. Now is the time to set blueberry maggot traps. In traps that I set last week, I have not yet seen any blueberry maggot catch. |
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| 3 -- Grand Rapids Area Phil Schwallier Amy Irish-Brown Carlos Garcia-Salazar Weather Degree day accumulations at the Sparta weather station continue to be right at average. Fruit drop has stopped for the most part, but could continue throughout the summer in lighter levels. Overall, it’s looking like there is about 50 percent of an apple crop in the Grand Rapids area due to the effects of the freezing temperatures throughout this spring, on top of the dry summer in 2007. Red Delicious and Empire seem to be the most affected. Some trauma blight is being seen, but in very isolated amounts, it was most likely caused by the high winds and rain storms in the June 7- 8 storms. Hourly wetness at the various weather stations in the Grand Rapids area are indicating that we are getting close to the timing when summer diseases will start to express themselves, so adding fungicides in the tank in the next week or so will be important to help prevent this. The weather forecast is calling for several days with chances of rain at the end of this week and into the weekend – along with high humidity levels. This potential wetting pattern will most likely get summer diseases started, so cover sprays ahead of the rains would be advised. Tree fruit No new egg laying scars from plum curculio have been found in the Grand Rapids area. Activity from this insect should be over for all tree fruits for this season, but are a few reports from other areas of the state where they are still active. Additional newly laid European red mite eggs can be found. New nymphs have been found as well. Continue to monitor mites closely. A regional biofix for codling moth has been set for the Grand Rapids area for May 24. We’ve gathered 450 degree days base 50 since that biofix. Peak egg hatch is most likely happening right now, so cover sprays are very crucial at this time, and should be maintained for at least another two to three weeks to provide the best control of first generation. Obliquebanded leafroller are flying. A regional biofix was set for the region for June 14. We have accumulated just over 200 degree days base 42 since that date, which should put us at peak adult flight. Early egg hatch will probably start about a week from now or around July 1, if forecasted temperatures hold up. A regional biofix for Oriental fruit moth has been set on May 8. We have accumulated 722 degree days base 45 since that biofix, so Oriental fruit moth egg hatch should be declining as first generation activity ends in about a week or so. Green apple aphids are starting to be found in light numbers on terminals. Beneficial predators are not being seen in these populations very readily yet. Continue to monitor. Small fruit Blueberries are developing very fast and thanks to the rains from the past weeks, the fruit is sizing very well. There are a few problems related to weather including pest and disease management and fertilization. In many fields that were flooded, pest and disease control had to be delayed until the ground was in good condition to drive the equipment. In some cases, large commercial farms required the use of aerial applications to spray fields where the soil was too wet to drive the ground equipment. This created a difficult situation for small producers that rely on crop dusters for pest control, because aerial application providers gave preference to large producers. So far, we are seeing that in fields where applications were delayed, for any reason, cranberry fruit damage could reach up to one percent. It is important to mention that fields that were applied after the flooding with Intrepid or Confirm may not have the same level of control that those that used Guthion. Guthion is more effective in controlling fruitworms even though they are already inside the fruit. Another situation resulting from past weather conditions is the presence of disease. Phomopsis canker and twig blight is widely spread in all counties, but is more problematic in fields that were affected by freeze/frost events. If untreated, phomopsis infected canes may become a serious problem later on, especially during the summer when high temperatures could enhance the impact of the disease and kill or collapse entire bushes. Therefore, it is advisable to keep a good control program against this disease including pruning and removing of all infected wood in the field. Also, the Shoestring virus is more prevalent this season than during the previous one. Low temperatures that prevailed during spring time allowed the expression of the symptoms in most infected plants, especially in old Jersey fields and fields planted with Elliott. In these fields, symptoms of Shoestring infection are evident. Thus, at this time aphid control is of particular importance to prevent further dispersal of the disease. Also, in new plantings, it is recommended to remove all infected plants to prevent the dispersal of the Shoestring virus. The blueberry harvest continued in North Carolina, Mississippi, California and New Jersey. However, most blueberries in the market are from North Carolina and New Jersey. During the past five days blueberry prices in terminal markets of Chicago and Detroit fluctuated from $19.00 to $27 per flat (12 1-pt cups w/lids). |
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| 4 -- West Central Mira Danilovich Weather and crop development This past week has been quite uneventful compared to the week before. Temperatures were cooler, staying mainly in the 60s and low to mid- 70s for highs, and into the 40s and low 50s for the lows. There were few rain events totaling only a few hundredths of an inch throughout the area. Soil moisture is satisfactory. Crops are sizing well. Cherries are changing color. Apples are approaching an inch in diameter and so are the peaches. Plums are 22 mm in diameter. The USDA has set the estimate for the cherry crop of northwest Michigan at 75 million pounds, west central Michigan at 40 million pounds and southwest Michigan at 20 million pounds. The USDA has not yet released the apple crop estimate. MACMA has estimated the apple crop to be about 14.5 million bushels or about 24 percent less than the 5-year average. West Central Michigan growing degree day totals from March 1, as if Sunday, June 22
The most recent wetting events resulted in a light apple scab infection period for the Ludington area only. The same wetting event produced low cherry leaf spot infections in Hart and Ludington areas. Fireblight and shoot blight are showing up in many blocks throughout the area, as a result of the previous week’s stormy weather. Nectria shoot blight could be found in Rome blocks. Bacterial canker and bacterial leaf spot symptoms in cherries, plums, peaches and apricots are easily spotted throughout the area. Brown rot and European brown rot are starting to appear now that the cherries are starting to change their color.
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| 5 -- Northwest Nikki Rothwell Duke Elsner Erin Lizotte Rob Sirrine Growing degree day accumulations at NWMHRS
Last year, the overall Michigan crop was 195.5 million pounds, and northwest Michigan picked out at 134 million pounds. We are currently looking at the smallest crop since 2002 in Michigan and nationwide. The national tart cherry crop estimate for 2008 is 177.3 million pounds, and last year, we picked 249.2 million pounds of tart cherries. |
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Weather news The upper air trough that has been controlling our pattern for the past several days is beginning to move to the east, allowing warmer temperatures to move into the region beginning in the middle of this week. The warmer temperatures should persist until late this weekend when a slight cooling over the state should occur. Rain can be expected in the region late on Wednesday, June 25, into Thursday morning with rainfall amounts approaching half an inch in some areas. |
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