Apples
Pest highlight: Dogwood borer (Article)
Apple maggot development
Grapes
Learn the anatomy of a grapevine (Video)
Training young grapevines (Article)
Honeyberries
Netting honeyberries/haskap (Article: UW Extension video)
General fruit
Spotted wing drosophila
Minnesota drought map update
UMN fruit crop reporting tool
Apples
Pest highlight: Dogwood borer
Images: Top left: Dogwood adults stuck to a sticky trap that was baited with dogwood borer pheromone lure.
Dogwood borers (Synanthedon scitula), also known as clear wing moths, are a pest that are native to eastern North America. Apple trees are one of their hosts, especially in high density orchards with dwarf trees. Dogwood borer adult populations have emerged and trapped in an orchard in SE Minnesota.
To learn more about dogwood borer and how to manage this pest, check out this week’s article below:
Article: Dogwood borer infestation in SE Minnesota apple orchard
Apple maggot development update
Based on degree day accumulation data from June 9ot emergence is likely to begin in some regions in southern Minnesota. Growers should begin checking apple maggot traps to monitor for populations.
To learn more about this model, check out last week’s Fruit Update article here.
For more information on apple maggot management, refer to our previous article, “Preparing for apple maggot management in 2026 (organic and conventional practices)”
Grapes
Video: Learn the anatomy of a grapevine
Growing grapes can seem complicated with terms like canes, cordons, spurs, and nodes being discussed. But grapevines are biologically simple plants, and understanding these terms can help relieve you of any intimidation you might previously have had. Check out the UMN Extension video posted on the UMN Small Farms YouTube channel discussing the anatomy of a grapevine.
Video: Grapevine Anatomy (6 minutes long)
How to train young grapevines: Establishing trunks, cordons, and spurs (infographic included)
Grapevines require more intensive training than other fruit crops, and they have great flexibility to adapt to various training systems and trellis designs. This week's article on training young, establishing grapevines introduces considerations for training systems and trellis requirements, walks through year-by-year steps for training, and includes an infographic diagram to help you visualize the process.
Article: How to train young grapevines: Establishing trunks, cordons, and spurs (infographic included)
Honeyberries
Video - Netting honeyberries/haskap (UW Extension video)
Birds are one of the primary causes of crop loss for haskap/honeyberry production. Cedar waxwings are one of the most common species to damage the berries, often pecking them without fully consuming the fruit. Netting is an effective way to prevent bird damage, which can be installed directly over the row, or along the perimeter of the orchard.
The University of Wisconsin Extension recently released a video demonstrating over-the-row netting installation that uses T-bar with wooden supports to allow the netting to drape over the rows without adhering to the shrubs. The netting was secured to irrigation tubing filled with water along the row on the ground to anchor it in place.
Video: Netting the honeyberries at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station
General fruit
Spotted wing drosophila
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD; Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive fruit fly that has become a major fruit pest. It tends to impact raspberries (also known as spotted wing candy), blackberries, blueberries, and table grapes, but can also affect honeyberries. When infestations occur without preparation or monitoring, the consequences can be devastating to fruit quality. Learn more about SWD in this week’s article below.
Article: Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) management in the Upper Midwest
Minnesota drought map update
This summer, I’m tracking the progression of drought conditions throughout Minnesota using maps provided by the US Drought Monitor. The most recent data released from this shows abnormally dry conditions are continuing to spread into northwest Minnesota, with severe drought in north central regions, moderate drought developing in parts of southeastern Minnesota, and severe drought developing in the southwest border. To learn more about the drought intensity classification model, visit this link with further explanation on calculations and meaning.
UMN Extension Fruit Crop Reporting Tool
Are you seeing any pests, disease, or nutrient deficiency symptoms you’d like to report or have help identifying? Have a question about anything else going on at your fruit farm?
Feel free to share observations about diseases, pest management, or other production aspects using our new UMN Extension Fruit Crop Observation Report tool. If you have a question you want addressed in a future update article, you can include that in your report.
Thank you to our farm and ag professional partners for contributions to the UMN Fruit Update series. Non-credited photos in this article were either taken by Madeline Wimmer or within the UMN Extension system.
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