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 |
August 25, 2009
GROWING DEGREE DAY ACCUMULATIONS AS OF August 24th AT THE NWMHRS
Year |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
19yr. Avg. |
GDD42 |
2542 |
2761 |
3136 |
3134 |
3168 |
2463 |
2826.7 |
GDD50 |
1568 | 1793 | 2100 | 2082 | 2151 | 1489 | 1843.3 |
Growth Stages at NWMHRS (8/24/09- 4:30 p.m.)
Apple: McIntosh – 69 mm fruit
Yellow Delicious – 61 mm fruit
Gala – 57 mm fruit
Red Delicious – 64 mm fruit
Pear: Bartlett: 46 mm fruit
Plum: 37 mm fruit
Grapes: Green fruit
Weather Report
We have seen some sun and warmer temperatures in recent days. However, our overall degree day accumulations remain behind our 19-year average. This season, we have accumulated 2542 GDD base 42 and 1567 GDD base 50, and both numbers are about 275 GDD behind the average. We have also had ample rainfall so far this August, where we have accumulated 3.88 inches of rain. More rain in the form of thunderstorms is predicted for the remainder of the week.
Crop Report
Apricots have been harvested here at the station, and pears are still sizing—46mm-58mm. We have also harvested all sweet and tart cherries. Unbelievably, growers in Northport are still harvesting Balatons and a few Montmorency blocks. However, most cherry harvest is winding down. As of week 7, northwest Michigan harvested 154.5 million pounds, which are more cherries than the USDA estimate of 150 million pounds. Many plums are still green, and the grapes are at green fruit. There are concerns in the winegrape community about ripening winegrapes this season. Peach harvest has started, and Red Havens are coming off the tree. Some very early apple varieties can be found at the fruit stands, and McIntosh are at 69mm, Gala are 57mm in size, and Red Delicious is 64mm here at the station.
Pest Report
Apple: We caught no apple maggot for the third week in a row. Spotted tentiform leafminer emergence has slowed this week with an average of 60/trap as opposed to the 100+ trap catches over the past month. Codling moth numbers remain low with no moths in the traps this week. Obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR) emergence continues at a low level with an average of 2 per trap in apple sites. Oriental fruit moth are averaging 20 per trap. Susceptible apple varieties are showing significant apple scab infections with fruit scab not uncommon around the region.
Cherry: Obliquebanded leafroller remain scarce this week with an average of 4 moths per trap. Lesser peachtree borer numbers remain low with an average of 9 per trap. Greater peachtree borer emerged at higher numbers this week with an average of 28 moths/trap and American plum borer averaged 6 moths per trap. Cherry fruit fly emergence slowed this week with trap catches between 7-64. Much of the region’s weather stations have recorded a long wetting period associate with a rain system in the region on the 20th. The long span of the wetting period triggered a high cherry leaf spot infection potential. Cherry leaf spot symptoms are visible and intense in treated and untreated tarts around the region. Post harvest applications of chlorothanlonil are recommended under high pressure. Post harvest applications have been shown to push the date of defoliation back allowing trees to properly reallocate carbohydrates to the root system.
Winegrapes: Grapes continue to grow, and most area vineyards are at green fruit developmentally. Grape berry moth pressure seems low around the region, with none of our scouted vineyards trapping moths this week and no evidence of larval infestation in clusters. Based on a biofix of wild grape bloom on June 19th, the grape berry moth model has accumulated 1,266 DD42 of the 1,620 DD42 that may be the timing of egg laying for the current generation. We are seeing a little powdery mildew on clusters and growers should be on the lookout for symptoms as conditions have been favorable for disease development. Potato leafhopper pressure is variable with some trap sites catching many adults, nymph activity appears to have dropped this week. Phylloxera symptoms are intensifying in infected vines and lecanium scale nymphs are being blown in from surrounding windbreak trees.
APPLE SCAB FUNGICIDE SENSITIVITY SCREENING 2009
Erin Lizotte, District IFP/IPM Educator
The NWMHRS, in collaboration with the Michigan State University Tree Fruit Pathology lab will be screening apple scab samples from northwest Michigan for sterol inhibitor and strobilurin sensitivity. We are looking to screen 30-50 sites and need to collect 50 leaves with active, brown scab lesions. If you have a site with symptoms, we can collect the sample or you can bring the sample to the Research Station or call to request that we collect a sample for you. To collect a sample yourself, collect 50 leaves from as many trees as possible and store in a paper bag in the refrigerator until you can deliver them. They may be stored together in one bag. A brief history of the use of sterol inhibitors and strobilurins for the orchard along with your contact information is greatly appreciated. For more information, please contact Erin Lizotte at (231) 946-1510.
UPDATE ON THE NEW FARM (Farmer Assistance and Resource Management) Program
Rob Sirrine, CED, Leelanau County
Reminder We have officially extended the application deadline for the New FARM Program until September 15, 2009. We hope you will have time to apply to participate in the young farmer leadership program--now known as the New FARM (Farmer Assistance and Resource Management) Program. We have received several applications and still have room for plenty more. We intend to kick-off the Program series in late October. Unfortunately, we did not receive USDA funding for the program, but we do have other funding pending.
The $500 tuition fee has been changed to $250/year to ease the financial burden for emerging farmers. We do not want the cost of the program to prevent anyone from applying, so please contact Nikki, Erin, or I with questions or concerns.
The New FARM Program is an extensive commitment but well worth it! Please visit our website at www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort and click the “New FARM Program Application” link. The final program agenda will be presented at the October Kick-off Meeting at the Kettunen Center and will include four overnight trips and nine monthly evening educational sessions over a two-year period.
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/
Weekly CIAB Raw Product Report
http://www.cherryboard.org/Production2009.htm
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: 8-25-09