Southeast Michigan fruit update – July 14, 2026
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EmailBlueberry and raspberry harvest continues while peach harvest is starting.
Welcome to the 16th in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2026 season. Throughout the season these updates will include information about the weather in the past week and the upcoming week, a fruit-by-fruit guide to current conditions with appropriate pest and disease updates, and other relevant observations.
General observations
In the last week, southeast Michigan experienced continued high heat, humidity and rain. We are expecting the next week to be warm, with the heat index climbing into the 100s. Temperatures should drop into the 80s by the weekend and further next week. Please read this recent MSU Extension article on heat stress.
Blueberry harvest is reaching its peak while summer raspberries are starting to wind down. Many early peach varieties have been picked but we’re not quite at the main varieties. Cherry harvest has largely concluded. Growers continue to renovate strawberries.
Powdery mildew is again the biggest disease risk this week and spotted wing drosophila is, of course, a concern in berry crops. At this point in the season for apples, we are continuing the normal pattern of summer cover sprays. Japanese beetle populations are climbing and starting to consume leaves in the region. Read this new MSU Extension article on controlling Japanese beetle.
Our weekly video IPM updates have concluded for the season. See the recordings of the weekly fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space, including the final June 23 meeting.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples: Apples in the region are sizing up, with considerable variation in diameter depending on region and cultivar. We are in the main pattern of summer cover sprays. Early apple cultivars like Lodi and Yellow Transparent are being harvested.
Blueberries: The main harvest season continues. Spotted wing drosophila and fruit rot management are priorities.
Brambles: Harvest is starting to wind down in summer raspberries and black raspberries. Some initial blackberry harvest may get started in the next week. Flowers are just starting to open in fall raspberries.
Cherries: Harvest has wrapped up in both sweet and tart cherries at farms that decided to harvest this year. Unharvested fruit can be a reservoir for spotted wing drosophila (SWD), so if you have other crops that are susceptible to SWD, like blueberries and brambles, you may want to remove them.
Grapes: Grapes are sizing up, with tight-clustered varieties at bunch closure.
Peaches and nectarines: Harvest of early cultivars continues. We are still a couple weeks away from harvest of main cultivars like Red Haven.
New bulletin: “Best Practices for Peach Orchards with Reduced Crop Load”
Pears: Pears are sizing up in the region. Local scouts have continued to report sightings of pear psylla adults in orchards.
Plums: Japanese style plums are starting to color, with Early Golden plums already being harvested. European plums have passed the pit hardening phase and are starting to size up again.
Strawberries: Harvest is done in the region. Thrips damage was extensive in certain parts of the state. Many areas have also seen frost damage, resulting in lower crops at some farms. Some growers have started renovating their fields for next year. You can read more at this article on renovation. Most tank mixes are safe and effective when allowed by the label, but some combinations (e.g. 2,4-D with a graminicide or a fast-acting contact herbicide with glyphosate) can result in reduced effectiveness. Check your labels for tank-mix restrictions and crop safety.
Insect conditions
More in-depth information can be found by watching the latest weekly fruit meetings on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings).
New MSU article: “Don't trust the calendar: Why trapping matters during unusual weather”
New MSU fact sheet: Managing Ambrosia Beetles in Apples
Aphids: Woolly apple aphid populations in apple are moving towards terminals.
Apple maggot: First catch was reported in southeast Michigan three weeks ago with some additional catches this week. None have been reported in Fennville, yet.
Blueberry maggot: Counts are down again this week in Fennville.
Borers: Similar catch to last week of greater peachtree borer and a decrease in lesser peachtree borer have been reported in Fennville.
Cherry fruit fly: Counts were down in Fennville and southeast Michigan. As cherry harvest is done, some traps are being removed.
Cranberry fruit worm: Counts at Fennville are stable and low.
Codling moth: Adult catches are down regionally. We are likely between generations.
Grape berry moth: Growers observed wild grape bloom the first week of June, which is the biofix for grape berry moth. Counts at Fennville are up again from last week to this week.
Japanese beetle: Counts have been climbing regionally. Kaolin clay can be a deterrent and perimeter sprays can also be effective for keeping them under control.
Mites: With hot and dry conditions the last couple weeks, mite populations have climbed. European red mites and rust mites are starting to cause some bronzing in orchards. Two spotted spider mites have started webbing in spots that have existing populations.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts have risen at sites in southeast Michigan, indicating that we may be starting the next generation. Counts are down in Fennville.
Pear psylla: Increased adult and nymph activity has been observed in orchards again.
San Jose scale: We are seeing waxed up scales in the region, meaning that the control window has shut.
Spotted lanternfly: Look for nymphs in parts of the state that have documented populations (Detroit, Monroe County, Oakland County).
Spotted wing drosophila: Consistent counts in traps in southeast Michigan and down in Fennville. This pest often prefers fruit to the traps, so low trap counts do not necessarily mean low risk in fruit.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: The RimPro model for Romeo indicates that primary scab season is over. From this point on growers with existing scab infections should focus on controlling secondary scab. We do not anticipate risk this week.
Cherry leaf spot: We do not anticipate risk this week. See this 2024 article on cherry leaf spot management.
European brown rot: Stone fruits are susceptible to infection around three weeks after shuck split and again three weeks before harvest through the harvest period. We do not expect risk this week.
Fire blight: Since we have moved out of bloom there is low risk in apples and pears, however if there is hail damage, growers should spray for fire blight.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black is most important immediately pre-bloom and during bloom. There is not much risk for black rot this week and grape bloom is mostly done. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154. We do not anticipate risk this week.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk this week.
Grape powdery mildew: We are expecting severe risk for the entire week.
Phomopsis: In blueberries, the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: You can start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. We are expecting severe risk for the entire week.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen an average of 4.5 hours of rain accumulating to 0.5 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- July 14, 2026, issued July 14, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 16.2 | 219 | 12.6 | 226 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 18.4 | 211 | 12.8 | 215 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 16.6 | 228 | 13.2 | 221 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 16.4 | 242 | 13.1 | 223 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.3 | 223 | 13.7 | 235 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 16.3 | 199 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.8 | 229 | 12.8 | 220 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 18.2 | 223 | 11.7 | 210 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 15.1 | 234 | 13.1 | 231 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 17.9 | 231 | 11.7 | 210 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.8 | 239 | 10.9 | 217 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 16.8 | 214 | 12.4 | 209 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 16.7 | 214 | 14.5 | 219 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.4 | 210 | 11.3 | 230 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 16.5 | 222.6 | 12.6 | 220.5 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed July 7 and July 14, 2026; issued July 14, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 7-Jul | 14-Jul | Difference | 7-Jul | 14-Jul | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 15.9 | 16.2 | 0.3 | 216 | 219 | 3.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 16.8 | 18.4 | 1.7 | 205 | 211 | 6.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 16.2 | 16.6 | 0.4 | 225 | 228 | 3.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 16.0 | 16.4 | 0.4 | 240 | 242 | 2.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.2 | 15.3 | 0.0 | 221 | 223 | 2.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 16.1 | 16.3 | 0.3 | 195 | 199 | 4.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.4 | 16.8 | 0.4 | 225 | 229 | 4.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 17.7 | 18.2 | 0.5 | 217 | 223 | 6.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 14.9 | 15.1 | 0.2 | 229 | 234 | 5.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 17.1 | 17.9 | 0.8 | 221 | 231 | 10.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.3 | 15.8 | 0.6 | 231 | 239 | 8.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 16.0 | 16.8 | 0.8 | 211 | 214 | 3.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 16.4 | 16.7 | 0.3 | 211 | 214 | 3.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.3 | 14.4 | 0.1 | 206 | 210 | 4.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 16.0 | 16.5 | 0.5 | 218.1 | 222.6 | 4.5 |
In the short term, we are expecting the next week to be hot, with temperatures climbing into the 90s and a heat index in the 100s. Some showers are possible over the weekend. Temperatures will drop to the mid-upper 80s over the weekend and low 80s next week. Overnight lows will be staying in the 70s most of the week and then dropping to the 60s.
In the medium term, we are expecting a break in heat later in July with below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.
Our regional average growing degree day (GDD) accumulation for the season are about seven days ahead of the long-term normals and about equal with the five-year average. In the last week we accumulated on average 217 GDD at 42 F, 199 GDD at 45 F, and 164 GDD at 50 F (see table below). Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-July 14, 2026 Forecast from July 15-21, 2026; issued July 14, 2026 | |||||||||
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 2096 | 1996 | 2358 | 1798 | 1708 | 2039 | 1349 | 1278 | 1555 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2371 | 2219 | 2633 | 2050 | 1914 | 2291 | 1559 | 1455 | 1765 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2179 | 2064 | 2438 | 1874 | 1771 | 2112 | 1410 | 1334 | 1613 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1927 | 1893 | 2170 | 1644 | 1610 | 1866 | 1222 | 1191 | 1409 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2205 | 2117 | 2466 | 1905 | 1822 | 2145 | 1449 | 1379 | 1654 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2014 | 2013 | 2265 | 1728 | 1728 | 1958 | 1294 | 1301 | 1489 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2276 | 2129 | 2541 | 1969 | 1836 | 2213 | 1503 | 1398 | 1712 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2166 | 2113 | 2421 | 1870 | 1820 | 2105 | 1420 | 1381 | 1619 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2071 | 1983 | 2320 | 1782 | 1698 | 2010 | 1346 | 1273 | 1539 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1826 | 1847 | 2072 | 1549 | 1573 | 1775 | 1139 | 1166 | 1329 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1867 | 1862 | 2121 | 1592 | 1586 | 1826 | 1179 | 1179 | 1377 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2091 | 2059 | 2341 | 1800 | 1769 | 2030 | 1361 | 1332 | 1555 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2111 | 2008 | 2364 | 1815 | 1718 | 2046 | 1367 | 1284 | 1564 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1963 | 1907 | 2207 | 1682 | 1628 | 1905 | 1259 | 1215 | 1447 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2083 | 2015 | 2337 | 1790 | 1727 | 2023 | 1347 | 1298 | 1545 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed July 7 and July 14, 2026; issued July 14, 2026 | |||||||||
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F |
| 7-Jul | 14-Jul | Difference | 7-Jul | 14-Jul | Difference | 7-Jul | 14-Jul | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 1869 | 2096 | 227.0 | 1592 | 1798 | 206.0 | 1178 | 1349 | 171.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2138 | 2371 | 233.0 | 1838 | 2050 | 212.0 | 1382 | 1559 | 177.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1965 | 2179 | 214.0 | 1680 | 1874 | 194.0 | 1251 | 1410 | 159.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1717 | 1927 | 210.0 | 1456 | 1644 | 188.0 | 1068 | 1222 | 154.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1974 | 2205 | 231.0 | 1695 | 1905 | 210.0 | 1274 | 1449 | 175.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1799 | 2014 | 215.0 | 1534 | 1728 | 194.0 | 1135 | 1294 | 159.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2045 | 2276 | 231.0 | 1758 | 1969 | 211.0 | 1327 | 1503 | 176.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1973 | 2166 | 193.0 | 1663 | 1870 | 207.0 | 1247 | 1420 | 173.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1852 | 2071 | 219.0 | 1584 | 1782 | 198.0 | 1183 | 1346 | 163.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1627 | 1826 | 199.0 | 1371 | 1549 | 178.0 | 996 | 1139 | 143.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1661 | 1867 | 206.0 | 1407 | 1592 | 185.0 | 1029 | 1179 | 150.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1875 | 2091 | 216.0 | 1605 | 1800 | 195.0 | 1201 | 1361 | 160.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1882 | 2111 | 229.0 | 1606 | 1815 | 209.0 | 1193 | 1367 | 174.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1743 | 1963 | 220.0 | 1483 | 1682 | 199.0 | 1095 | 1259 | 164.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1866 | 2083 | 217 | 1591 | 1790 | 199 | 1183 | 1347 | 164 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's weekly agricultural weather forecast reports
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.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (grant no 2024-70006-43569) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
