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Despite low capture numbers for oriental fruit moths in pheromone-baited field lures, some Michigan growers have been finding considerable OFM activity, such as this shoot damage in a Michigan orchard in 2017. (Courtesy David Jones/Michigan State University Extension)

Moth myth explained

March 14, 2019
Measuring only about 2 mm long, the black stem borer is a type of weevil native to Eastern Asia. Sara Villani, apple pathology specialist at North Carolina State Extension, has found this weevil in trees experiencing rapid apple decline (RAD) and, with North Carolina State University entomologist Jim Walgenbach, is studying how it and related weevils may be connected to RAD. (Courtesy Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)

Boring into study of beetles and rapid apple decline

March 14, 2019

New pesticide application method a shot in the bark

March 7, 2019
Photos courtesy Sara Villani/NCSU Bitter rot is broken down into two main types in the Eastern United States. The type shown here in a Rome Beauty is more common in the Northeast and Midwest. Typical features include sunken lesions that are marked with small pimple-like structures (acervuli) that are filled with salmon- to orange-colored spores. (Courtesy Sara Villani/NCSU)

Bitter rot spotting in Northeast and Midwest

February 27, 2019
An example of San Jose scale (Diaspidiotus perniciosus). (Courtesy USDA Agricultural Research Service)

San Jose scale scuffle in Michigan

February 26, 2019
Michigan State University Extension tree fruit educator David Jones, right, leads a grower class in 2017. After fire blight became an issue in many Michigan apple orchards in 2018, Jones and a statewide team began searching for the cause of the outbreak. Jones focused on West Central Michigan and whether streptomycin resistance may have played a role. (Courtesy David Jones/MSU Extension)

Midwest faces strep-resistant fire blight

February 21, 2019
In this two-leader system, these fourth-leaf Honeycrisp trees were created by selecting two side shoots from above the bench graft, or winter graft, on each. They were grafted in the winter, then planted in place in the spring. (Courtesy Phil Schwallier/Michigan State University)

Multileader systems: Growing vs. grafting

January 31, 2019
Michigan State University tree fruit educator Phil Schwallier is assessing high-density orchards at the Clarksville Research Center in Clarksville, Michigan, to evaluate super spindle, two-leader, three-leader and tall spindle systems on five apple varieties. 2018 marked the first time he allowed the 4-year-old trees to fruit. Shown here are two-leader Gala trees in first crop, fourth leaf in September 2018. (Courtesy Phil Schwallier/Michigan State University)

Multileader trees leading the way in production

January 31, 2019

Picking up the pace of picking apples

January 29, 2019
Despite their high up-front cost, high tunnels (shown here) can be a good investment for sweet cherry growers in Michigan and New York, according to a Cornell University study. (Courtesy Greg Lang, Michigan State University)

High praise for growing under high tunnels

January 22, 2019