Southeast Michigan fruit update – July 15, 2025
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EmailBlueberry and raspberry harvests continue while early peaches and apples come to market.
Welcome to the 15th in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2025 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
The last week was a lot like the week before: hot with moderate rainfall. We expect a brief cool down with some wet weather at the end of the week, with temperatures rising moving into next week. Temperatures in the next week are expected to stay in the 80s with the chance for storms Wednesday and Thursday. Growers in the region are getting to the end of cherries, while blueberries and raspberries ramp up. We’ve seen our earliest apples (Yellow Transparent) as well as early peaches.
Our weekly integrated pest management updates wrapped up in June. You can watch recordings of the fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Fruit is expanding and growers should be around their fifth cover spray for the season. While we have passed primary scab season, there is severe risk for powdery mildew infections all week.
Blueberries
Farms in the region are in the middle of early blueberry varieties. The main concern at this time of the season is spotted wing drosophila.
Brambles
Harvest of summer raspberries continues while blackberries are at fruit set. Black raspberry harvest has started. Fall raspberries are starting to flower at some location, with some already showing fruit.
Cherries
Harvest continues but is slowing down in both sweet and tart cherries in the region.
Grapes
Many grapes in the region are at bunch closure. Fruit set seems good. There is severe powdery mildew risk this week from July 16-18 and again July 21-22. There is some risk for downy mildew and black rot conidi infections July 17-18.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in the region are at the stage of expansion after pit hardening. Some are starting to take on color and early cultivars are already being harvested.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding and have passed June drop, with pears observed in Hartland at 50 millimeters (mm) diameter. Adult pear psylla has been reported in the region.
Plums
Shiro and Italian plums observed in Romeo were expanding post pit hardening.
Strawberries
Harvest has largely wrapped up in the region. Yield was spotty, with some farms having a normal yield and others with low yield. Renovation should proceed as soon after harvest as possible. You can read this 2023 article on strawberry renovation.
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).
Aphids: Green apple aphid and woolly apple aphids are present but seem to be under control in the region, with woolly apple aphids primarily on trunks but starting to move to terminals.
Apple maggot: Catches have been reported on baited red balls for a couple weeks. Catches at Fennville have climbed very quickly.
Codling moth: Codling moth counts remain relatively low in southeast Michigan and are declining in Fennville. Some codling moth stings have been observed regionally. In the region we have passed the point to use larvicidal products. See this article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts are down in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Oblique banded leaf roller: Catches are down, with counts mostly below five in southeast Michigan and Fennville. Not much damage has been observed.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and continue dropping at the Trevor Nichols Research Center.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed regionally along with some damage. Egg hatch is just about finished.
Plum curculio: Catches have mostly stopped with the end of adult migration.
San Jose scale: Crawlers have mostly waxed up, meaning that larvicidal sprays will no longer be effective. Counts of males are climbing at Fennville.
Spotted wing drosophila: Females have been caught in southeast Michigan cherry orchards. The hot and humid conditions are likely to encourage their growth. If you have susceptible crops, you should assess fruit for larvae.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Models indicate no remaining spores and the end of primary scab season. Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Brown rot: Fungicides may used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit (some plums and early peaches at this point).
Cherry leaf spot: We anticipate risk for additional cherry leaf spot infections this week on July 18. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Strikes have been reported in southeast Michigan in orchards with susceptible varieties and a history of fire blight, but these seem to be isolated.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1 inch shoot length. We anticipate some risk for new infections July 17-18. See this 2014 article for
grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
Grape downy mildew: We anticipate some risk for new infections July 17-18.
Phomopsis: In blueberries, the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: Some powdery mildew has already been reported in the region, though treatments seem to have been effective at keeping it under control. Anticipated risk is high to severe in the next week from July 15-21.
Powdery mildew of grape: Severe risk anticipated from July 15-18 and July 21-22.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average of 10 hours of rain accumulating to nearly 1 inch of precipitation. We are about 2.3 inches ahead of the five-year average in amount and 11 hours of rainfall ahead of the average.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- July 15, 2025, issued July 15, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 12.8 | 227 | 12.6 | 226 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 14.1 | 220 | 12.5 | 214 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 13.5 | 238 | 13.1 | 217 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 15.8 | 217 | 12.6 | 225 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.0 | 280 | 13.4 | 224 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 11.7 | 206 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 13.4 | 232 | 12.7 | 218 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 12.7 | 218 | 11.4 | 209 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 15.8 | 235 | 12.6 | 231 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 11.4 | 218 | 12.0 | 209 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 13.2 | 270 | 10.4 | 205 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 16.4 | 232 | 11.4 | 204 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 16.8 | 218 | 14.0 | 220 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 13.3 | 206 | 11.1 | 237 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 14.0 | 229.8 | 12.3 | 218.4 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed July 7 and July 15, 2025; issued July 15, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 7-Jul | 15-Jul | Difference | 7-Jul | 15-Jul | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 12.3 | 12.8 | 0.5 | 214 | 227 | 13.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 13.2 | 14.1 | 0.9 | 211 | 220 | 9.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 12.8 | 13.5 | 0.7 | 228 | 238 | 10.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 13.7 | 15.8 | 2.1 | 197 | 217 | 20.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 13.3 | 15.0 | 1.6 | 266 | 280 | 14.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 11.4 | 11.7 | 0.3 | 201 | 206 | 5.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 13.3 | 13.4 | 0.1 | 226 | 232 | 6.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 11.8 | 12.7 | 0.9 | 213 | 218 | 5.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 14.5 | 15.8 | 1.3 | 226 | 235 | 9.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 10.8 | 11.4 | 0.6 | 209 | 218 | 9.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 12.9 | 13.2 | 0.3 | 261 | 270 | 9.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 15.7 | 16.4 | 0.6 | 224 | 232 | 8.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 15.0 | 16.8 | 1.7 | 205 | 218 | 13.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 12.5 | 13.3 | 0.8 | 197 | 206 | 9.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 13.1 | 14.0 | 0.9 | 219.9 | 229.8 | 9.9 |
In the short term we are expecting hot and humid conditions with potential for storms on Wednesday and showers over the weekend. High temperatures will mostly stay in the low to mid-80s to low 90s with lows mostly staying in the mid-60s.
In the medium term we are expecting above normal temperatures and precipitation to be normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near to above normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have remained close to the four-year average. In the last week we gained an average of 179 growing degree days at base 50 in the region. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-July 15, 2025 Forecast from July 16-July 21, 2025; issued July 15, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 2080 | 2013 | 2303 | 1785 | 1723 | 1986 | 1337 | 1291 | 1504 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2322 | 2232 | 2548 | 2008 | 1925 | 2212 | 1531 | 1465 | 1701 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2162 | 2076 | 2382 | 1859 | 1782 | 2058 | 1401 | 1343 | 1565 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1931 | 1919 | 2139 | 1644 | 1633 | 1831 | 1219 | 1209 | 1371 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2203 | 2135 | 2421 | 1900 | 1838 | 2097 | 1441 | 1393 | 1603 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2059 | 2038 | 2270 | 1769 | 1750 | 1959 | 1337 | 1319 | 1492 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2202 | 2148 | 2431 | 1901 | 1854 | 2109 | 1449 | 1413 | 1621 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2169 | 2137 | 2383 | 1871 | 1842 | 2063 | 1423 | 1399 | 1581 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2057 | 2001 | 2266 | 1764 | 1714 | 1952 | 1322 | 1287 | 1475 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1868 | 1876 | 2074 | 1591 | 1599 | 1776 | 1181 | 1186 | 1331 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1853 | 1900 | 2069 | 1575 | 1622 | 1770 | 1168 | 1209 | 1327 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2085 | 2090 | 2296 | 1789 | 1798 | 1979 | 1344 | 1356 | 1500 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2081 | 2029 | 2300 | 1784 | 1736 | 1982 | 1339 | 1299 | 1502 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1966 | 1930 | 2174 | 1680 | 1649 | 1866 | 1255 | 1232 | 1407 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2074 | 2037 | 2290 | 1780 | 1748 | 1974 | 1339 | 1314 | 1499 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed July 7 and July 15, 2025; issued July 15, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15-Jul | Difference | 7-Jul | 15-Jul | Difference | 7-Jul | 15-Jul | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 1840 | 2080 | 240.0 | 1569 | 1785 | 216.0 | 1161 | 1337 | 176.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2062 | 2322 | 260.0 | 1772 | 2008 | 236.0 | 1335 | 1531 | 196.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1917 | 2162 | 245.0 | 1638 | 1859 | 221.0 | 1221 | 1401 | 180.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 1699 | 1931 | 232.0 | 1435 | 1644 | 209.0 | 1051 | 1219 | 168.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1952 | 2203 | 251.0 | 1673 | 1900 | 227.0 | 1254 | 1441 | 187.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 1820 | 2059 | 239.0 | 1554 | 1769 | 215.0 | 1162 | 1337 | 175.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1953 | 2202 | 249.0 | 1676 | 1901 | 225.0 | 1263 | 1449 | 186.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1917 | 2169 | 252.0 | 1642 | 1871 | 229.0 | 1235 | 1423 | 188.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 1816 | 2057 | 241.0 | 1548 | 1764 | 216.0 | 1146 | 1322 | 176.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 1646 | 1868 | 222.0 | 1393 | 1591 | 198.0 | 1023 | 1181 | 158.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 1620 | 1853 | 233.0 | 1367 | 1575 | 208.0 | 999 | 1168 | 169.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 1844 | 2085 | 241.0 | 1572 | 1789 | 217.0 | 1168 | 1344 | 176.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 1827 | 2081 | 254.0 | 1555 | 1784 | 229.0 | 1150 | 1339 | 189.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 1719 | 1966 | 247.0 | 1457 | 1680 | 223.0 | 1073 | 1255 | 182.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 1831 | 2074 | 243 | 1561 | 1780 | 219 | 1160 | 1339 | 179 |
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.
