Blueberries

So what do fruit growers do in a slow year?

East of the Mississippi, tree fruit farmers agree: This year’s a tough one. Whether or not you believe in global warming or climate change or Russian roulette, the fact is a super-warm March plus a... more »

MBG hires new CEO

MBG Marketing, a Grand Junction, Mich., based blueberry marketing cooperative, announced that Robert E. Hawk has been selected as its new CEO/President, effective August 1. Previously, Hawk has worked in a variety of production and... more »

Cornell looking for names for two new grape varieties

Cornell scientists are asking the public for names for two new wine grape varieties that will be released from their breeding program in 2013.The two latest varieties from grape breeder Bruce Reischinclude a cold-hardy white... more »

Minnesota ag report shows profitability of specialty crops

he Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) released a new report detailing the financial performance of nine types of specialty crops in Minnesota.The report Minnesota Specialty Crop Farm Performance 2008-2011 includes enterprise data for apples, blueberries,... more »

Michigan blueberry farmer struggles to find enough pickers

Antonio Leduc doesn’t understand why Michigan is offering emergency housing assistance to migrant farm workers this summer.He has plenty of work available picking blueberries at his farm in Paw Paw, yet the state is offering... more »

New label helps Michigan blueberry growers fight SWD

On July 10, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Resource Development released a Section 18 label for Gowan’s Malathion 8F for use against spotted wing drosophila in blueberries.The label provides a use rate up to... more »

Eastern apples, cherries hit hard; Western fruit avoids disaster

Record-breaking warm temperatures in March, followed by a series of freezes, savaged Michigan’s tree fruit crops this spring, along with crops in other Eastern states. Western states, however, fared better. Speakers went over the numbers... more »

Growers need crop insurance to be more transparent

Fruit growers don’t tend to be big fans of federal crop insurance, said Mark Seetin, director of regulatory and industry affairs for the U.S. Apple Association. “If you ask 100 farmers, ‘Raise your hand if... more »