West central Michigan tree fruit update – July 29, 2025
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EmailCherry harvest is finished for many growers, and early peaches and plums are being harvested.
Weather update
The past few weeks have been hot and humid with high temperatures in the upper 80s recorded at the Michigan State University (MSU) Enviroweather station in Hart, and upper 80s to low 90s at the Sparta Enviroweather station. Rain has brought some relief to the region with a couple brief rain events over the past two weeks and a popup storm yesterday, July 28, in the west central region that brought 0.32 inches of rain in Hart.
This week, temperatures have been very hot but should cool slightly through the rest of the week with slight chances of rain. Based on the Hart Enviroweather station for July 28, current degree-day (DD) accumulation is 2,277 DD42 and 1,472 DD50. Based on the Sparta Eniroweather station for July 28, current DD accumulation is 2,542 DD42 and 1,689 DD50. Fruit continue to grow rapidly across the west central and Grand Rapids regions.
Soil conditions continue to be dry. For many growers, irrigation has been running regularly to support tree health and fruit development. Rainfall is below the five-year average across both regions this year as shown in the tables below from April 1 to July 28. Most Enviroweather stations reported less than 2 inches of rain in July for the west central and Grand Rapids regions. The Belding Enviroweather station reported more rain this year than other regions, with more rain from April 1 to July 28 compared to the five-year average.
Table 1. Rainfall totals from the rain events in July to date, total seasonal rainfall from April 1 – July 28, and five-year-average rainfall for Enviroweather stations in the west central region from April 1 – July 28.
|
Enviroweather station |
July 1-28 rainfall (in) |
Total rainfall (in) |
5-year rainfall average (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aetna/Fremont |
1.36 |
8.65 |
22.14 |
|
Benona / Shelby |
1.86 |
10.26 |
11.83 |
|
Elbridge / Hart |
2.08 |
9.54 |
12.66 |
|
Fremont |
1.89 |
10.35 |
11.00 |
|
Hart |
1.98 |
10.31 |
13.00 |
|
Ludington |
0.75 |
9.79 |
10.66 |
|
Mears |
1.23 |
10.11 |
13.69 |
|
New Era |
1.93 |
9.89 |
11.36 |
|
Reeman/Fremont-West |
2.15 |
10.63 |
12.48 |
|
Shelby-East |
2.05 |
10.14 |
12.32 |
Table 2. Rainfall totals from the rain events in July to date, total seasonal rainfall from April 1 – July 28, and five-year-average rainfall for Enviroweather stations in the Grand Rapids region from April 1 – July 28.
|
Enviroweather station |
July 1-28 rainfall (in) |
Total rainfall (in) |
5-year rainfall average (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sparta (20m tower) |
2.01 |
10.63 |
11.27 |
|
Sparta |
1.85 |
9.85 |
11.80 |
|
Alpine Twp/ Comstock Park |
1.81 |
9.81 |
11.28 |
|
Sparta - North |
1.89 |
9.52 |
12.10 |
|
Conklin/ Wright |
2.26 |
11.04 |
11.78 |
|
Kent City |
1.10 |
8.75 |
13.62 |
|
Standale/ Walker |
1.97 |
9.32 |
12.33 |
|
Belding |
3.10 |
13.05 |
11.74 |
|
Grant |
0.65 |
8.95 |
11.72 |
More information and reports on normal weather conditions and departures from normal can be found on the NOAA Climate Prediction Center website, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals website, NOAA Climate Normals Quick Access Page (which may be searched by region) and Midwest Regional Climate Center website.
Crop update
Apple varieties in the west central and Grand Rapids area are growing well. Growers are continuing to hand-thin and train trees where needed. With rain and humidity, summer diseases such as fly speck and sooty blotch should be managed. Some orchards also had primary scab infections this season, so secondary scab infections should continue to be managed. With high humidity and little rainfall, conditions are also good for powdery mildew. Scout orchard blocks to monitor for powdery mildew infection to determine if adjustments are needed to your summer spray program.
Apple maggot has been trapped in the west central area, and trap counts have been consistently high at the Trevor Nichols Research Center. Between 50-80 apple maggot adults per trap were caught over the past few weeks. Scout orchard blocks and manage this pest as needed. Aphid populations are also building in some orchards.
Summer diseases of concern are sooty blotch and flyspeck. Manage summer rots, bitter rot, black rot and white rot, particularly as fruit begin to ripen. Mummy fruit, cankers or dead wood can lead to lenticel infections during summer. Bitter rot is favored by hot, humid weather conditions in mid-late summer like we are having this season, so fungicides will be needed to protect against this pathogen.
Apricot harvest is completed.
Tart cherry and sweet cherry harvest is wrapping up for the west central region, and many growers have finished. Cherry quality was very good through harvest across the region. Monitoring spotted wing drosophila has ended for the MSU trapline now that most fruit is harvested.
There have been some cherry leaf spot infection periods over the past few weeks such as July 16, 19 and 24-25 in the Hart area. Infection risk was moderate to low. Little cherry leaf spot symptoms have occurred up until this point in the season. Continue protecting leaves for a few more weeks to ensure leaves stay healthy and remain on trees into September.
Early fresh peach varieties are being harvested this week, such as Desiree. Later varieties, such as Venture, at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center are continuing to size and growing well, even with dry conditions. Brown rot management will be needed as peaches ripen and sugars accumulate in fruit.
Pear fruitlets are growing well. Pear psylla populations have been observed across the region, and nymph feeding is causing black leaves known as psylla scorch. This type of damage is particularly common in sunny, dry conditions like we have had this season. The sticky waste excreted by nymphs, called honeydew, is also a good medium for sooty mold growth on the surface of leaves and fruit which leads to a black appearance on the pear skin.
Plum harvest began last week for early varieties. Black knot infection should be pruned out as soon as practical. Susceptibility to new infections decreases when new terminal growth stops. Brown rot should also be managed in plum as fruit ripen.
Pest and disease update
West central area
In Oceana County, only one lesser apple worm was trapped this week out of three orchard sites. Oriental fruit moth was trapped with an average of 1.5 moths per trap. No obliquebanded leafroller adults were caught. Dogwood borer counts were 1.5 adults per trap. Codling moth counts were low this week, with 1.5 moths per trap on average in Oceana County.
American plum borer and greater peachtree borer were not trapped this week at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center. Only one lesser peachtree borer per trap was counted at West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center.
Japanese beetles are still prevalent in the area. Leaf feeding has been observed on sweet cherries, peaches, plums and some in apples.
Grand Rapids area
In Sparta, codling moth was trapped at 21 moths per trap. Four oriental fruit moth were trapped, which was a sharp decline from last week. Obliquebanded leafroller adults were also observed with 16 moths per trap. Apple maggot has not been trapped.
For pest and disease management recommendations, please refer to the Michigan Fruit Management Guide for product guidelines.
For more information about regional reports, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website.
