Help inform orchard pollination management! New survey seeks input from Michigan tree fruit growers

Jen Roedel<zavalnit@msu.edu> and Julianna Wilson<jkwilson@msu.edu>, Michigan State University, Department of Entomology - May 27, 2026

The Michigan State University Tree Fruit Entomology Lab wants to know how Michigan tree fruit growers are managing pollination in their orchards.

Close-up of a honey bee collecting nectar from an open white apple blossom. — Honey bee (Apis mellifera) collecting nectar from open apple blossom. Photo by Robert Schneider.

Michigan State University’s Tree Fruit Entomology Lab is seeking information from Michigan tree fruit (apple and cherry) growers about honey bee and bumble bee stocking densities used for orchard pollination.

These results will be used to evaluate current practices around using managed bees to achieve adequate fruit set in apple and cherry orchards. It will also inform future research and Extension efforts evaluating pollination management in high density orchards. In the future, researchers hope to create decision making tools utilizing individualized farm variables, such as the size of orchards and surrounding natural habitat, to inform managed bee stocking density recommendations for growers.

If you are a Michigan apple or cherry grower utilizing managed pollinators:

Take our survey

For more information or questions about the orchard pollination survey, contact Jen Roedel at zavalnit@msu.edu or Julianna Wilson at jkwilson@msu.edu.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).