Southeast Michigan fruit update – August 5, 2025
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EmailRed Haven harvest, early apples and veraison in grapes.
Welcome to the 18th 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 once again hot and relatively dry with patches of heavy rain. We expect temperatures to increase by the end of the week with highs in the upper 80s. There will be some potential for storms and showers early next week but we are expecting dry conditions. Growers in the region are moving into main peach varieties like Red Haven and continue picking blueberries and raspberries. Some grape varieties have gone through veraison while others are just moving into their color change.
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 somewhere between their sixth and seventh cover spray for the season. There is severe risk for powdery mildew infections all week. Risk for secondary scab is low. The apple maturity prediction table is below and reports on maturity will begin in the coming weeks. A separate prediction for late Fuji versus early Fuji was added to the table.
Normal and 2025 peak harvest dates for varieties for the southeast Michigan area:
|
Variety |
Normal |
Predicted |
Last Year |
|
Paulared |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Zestar |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Gingergold |
23-Aug |
19-Aug |
9-Aug |
|
Gala |
8-Sep |
4-Sep |
24-Aug |
|
McIntosh |
13-Sep |
9-Sep |
26-Aug |
|
Honeycrisp |
16-Sep |
12-Sep |
29-Aug |
|
Empire |
20-Sep |
17-Sep |
7-Sep |
|
Jonathan |
23-Sep |
22-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Jonagold |
23-Sep |
20-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Early Fuji |
25-Sep |
22-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Golden Delicious |
29-Sep |
26-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Red Delicious |
1-Oct |
29-Sep |
17-Sep |
|
Idared |
6-Oct |
2-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Rome |
11-Oct |
7-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Late Fuji |
22-Oct |
18-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Braeburn |
23-Oct |
19-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Goldrush |
31-Oct |
27-Oct |
15-Oct |
Blueberries
Farms in the region are in the middle to late end of blueberry harvest. Some growers in southwest Michigan are already at the end of their picks. The main concern now is spotted wing drosophila.
Brambles
Harvest of fall raspberries has commenced at some farms while blackberries continue to be spot picked. Black raspberry harvest continues. Sun scald and sunburn are major concerns in raspberry this time of year. This can be mitigated by irrigating or using a product like kaolin clay.
Cherries
Harvest has concluded.
Grapes
Veraison has been seen around the region, with some early coloring varieties like Marquette already at full color. Grape berry moth trap counts remain low in Lenawee and Macomb counties. Powdery mildew infection risk is high throughout the week of Aug. 5-12. Black rot and downy mildew risk remain low this week.
Peaches and nectarines
Red Haven harvest has started.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding and starting to show some color.
Plums
Harvest continues in many plum varieties. Shiro and Methley plums have been picked in the region while Italian plums are taking on color.
Strawberries
Harvest has concluded. 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 with woolly apple aphids moving to terminals.
Apple maggot: Catches have been reported on baited red balls for roughly four weeks, though numbers in southeast Michigan have declined. Catches at Fennville have again climbed very quickly. Many growers included treatments in their most recent sprays.
Codling moth: Counts remain high in southeast Michigan and are at threshold for treatment in many orchards. Some codling moth stings have been observed regionally. See this 2024 article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Obliquebanded leafroller: 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 at Trevor Nichols Research Center.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed regionally along with some damage.
Rust mites: Bronzing damage has been seen.
San Jose scale: Crawlers have waxed up, meaning that larvicidal sprays will no longer be effective. Counts of males continue climbing at Fennville.
Spotted wing drosophila: Females have been caught in southeast Michigan cherry orchards and raspberry patches. The hot and humid conditions are likely to encourage their growth. Assess fruit for larvae if you have susceptible crops.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Black rot in apple: Light infections have been seen around the region on fruit and leaves.
Brown rot: Fungicides may used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit.
Cherry leaf spot: We do not anticipate risk for additional cherry leaf spot infections this week. 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 usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week.
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 Aug. 5-12.
Powdery mildew of grape: Severe risk anticipated all week from Aug. 5-12.
Sooty blotch and fly speck: Trace amounts seen around the region.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average nearly 9 hours of rain accumulating to about 0.5 inches of precipitation. We are about 1.3 inches ahead of the five-year average in amount and 7 hours of rainfall ahead of the average.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- August 4, 2025, issued August 4, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 14.4 | 253 | 16.2 | 251 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 16.2 | 248 | 14.6 | 238 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 14.9 | 260 | 15.1 | 241 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 17.1 | 237 | 14.1 | 251 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 16.1 | 295 | 15.5 | 246 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 13.0 | 225 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 15.2 | 258 | 15.1 | 242 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.9 | 233 | 13.4 | 230 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 19.0 | 255 | 14.5 | 258 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 12.3 | 236 | 13.7 | 230 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.9 | 290 | 12.2 | 234 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 18.3 | 245 | 13.9 | 222 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 19.8 | 237 | 16.4 | 242 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.9 | 218 | 13.2 | 264 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 15.8 | 249.3 | 14.5 | 242.2 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed July 28 and August 4, 2025; issued August 4, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 28-Jul | 4-Aug | Difference | 28-Jul | 4-Aug | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 14.0 | 14.4 | 0.4 | 238 | 253 | 15.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 15.1 | 16.2 | 1.1 | 235 | 248 | 13.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 14.4 | 14.9 | 0.6 | 247 | 260 | 13.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 16.9 | 17.1 | 0.2 | 229 | 237 | 8.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.1 | 16.1 | 0.9 | 284 | 295 | 11.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 12.5 | 13.0 | 0.5 | 216 | 225 | 9.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 14.4 | 15.2 | 0.8 | 246 | 258 | 12.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.2 | 13.9 | 0.6 | 225 | 233 | 8.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 18.0 | 19.0 | 1.0 | 246 | 255 | 9.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 11.9 | 12.3 | 0.4 | 230 | 236 | 6.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.7 | 15.9 | 0.1 | 287 | 290 | 3.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 18.1 | 18.3 | 0.2 | 241 | 245 | 4.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 19.4 | 19.8 | 0.4 | 228 | 237 | 9.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.9 | 14.9 | 0.0 | 217 | 218 | 1.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 15.3 | 15.8 | 0.5 | 240.6 | 249.3 | 8.6 |
In the short term, we are expecting fair and warm conditions with some potential for showers and storms early next week. Temperatures will rise into the upper 80s by Friday, Aug. 8, while lows will drop into the low 60s.
In the medium term, we are expecting above normal temperatures and precipitation to be a little above normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for temperature to be above normal and precipitation to be near 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 139 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-August 4, 2025 Forecast from August 5-10, 2025; issued August 4, 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) | 2667 | 2595 | 2905 | 2312 | 2245 | 2529 | 1764 | 1713 | 1946 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2933 | 2835 | 3158 | 2559 | 2468 | 2763 | 1982 | 1909 | 2152 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2754 | 2651 | 3014 | 2391 | 2296 | 2634 | 1834 | 1758 | 2052 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2438 | 2483 | 2661 | 2090 | 2137 | 2293 | 1567 | 1613 | 1734 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2825 | 2745 | 3066 | 2463 | 2388 | 2682 | 1903 | 1843 | 2088 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2647 | 2616 | 2885 | 2297 | 2268 | 2514 | 1765 | 1737 | 1947 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2803 | 2739 | 3027 | 2442 | 2385 | 2645 | 1891 | 1844 | 2059 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2778 | 2732 | 3014 | 2419 | 2378 | 2634 | 1872 | 1834 | 2052 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2629 | 2577 | 2859 | 2276 | 2230 | 2486 | 1736 | 1703 | 1910 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2417 | 2428 | 2651 | 2080 | 2090 | 2293 | 1572 | 1578 | 1749 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2415 | 2471 | 2649 | 2078 | 2133 | 2290 | 1571 | 1620 | 1749 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2664 | 2676 | 2900 | 2308 | 2323 | 2523 | 1764 | 1782 | 1944 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2669 | 2624 | 2900 | 2313 | 2272 | 2523 | 1767 | 1743 | 1942 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2537 | 2509 | 2765 | 2191 | 2169 | 2398 | 1667 | 1652 | 1839 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2655 | 2620 | 2890 | 2301 | 2270 | 2515 | 1761 | 1738 | 1940 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed July 28 and August 4, 2025; issued August 4, 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 |
| 28-Jul | 4-Aug | Difference | 28-Jul | 4-Aug | Difference | 28-Jul | 4-Aug | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 2474 | 2667 | 193.0 | 2139 | 2312 | 173.0 | 1627 | 1764 | 137.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2732 | 2933 | 201.0 | 2379 | 2559 | 180.0 | 1837 | 1982 | 145.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2561 | 2754 | 193.0 | 2219 | 2391 | 172.0 | 1697 | 1834 | 137.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2265 | 2438 | 173.0 | 1939 | 2090 | 151.0 | 1450 | 1567 | 117.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2619 | 2825 | 206.0 | 2277 | 2463 | 186.0 | 1753 | 1903 | 150.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2448 | 2647 | 199.0 | 2119 | 2297 | 178.0 | 1622 | 1765 | 143.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2606 | 2803 | 197.0 | 2267 | 2442 | 175.0 | 1749 | 1891 | 142.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2574 | 2778 | 204.0 | 2237 | 2419 | 182.0 | 1724 | 1872 | 148.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2436 | 2629 | 193.0 | 2104 | 2276 | 172.0 | 1598 | 1736 | 138.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2232 | 2417 | 185.0 | 1916 | 2080 | 164.0 | 1442 | 1572 | 130.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2227 | 2415 | 188.0 | 1910 | 2078 | 168.0 | 1439 | 1571 | 132.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2471 | 2664 | 193.0 | 2136 | 2308 | 172.0 | 1627 | 1764 | 137.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2469 | 2669 | 200.0 | 2133 | 2313 | 180.0 | 1623 | 1767 | 144.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2338 | 2537 | 199.0 | 2013 | 2191 | 178.0 | 1524 | 1667 | 143.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2461 | 2655 | 195 | 2128 | 2301 | 174 | 1622 | 1761 | 139 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's biweekly 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.
