Madeline Wimmer- UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator This fruit update contains information about… Apples - cider apple production. Grapes - growth stage updates and herbicide damage on grapes. Raspberries - growth stage updates. 2024 Japanese beetle trends and research updates. Minnesota Department of Agriculture IPM Fruit Update sign up form. Apples Images: A small capture of the diverse number of apple cultivars used for cider production at Keepsake Cidery’s orchard, including Centennial Crabapple (upper left), Ellis Bitter (upper right), and Foxwhelp (lower left), located near Northfield, Minnesota (Zone 5a). What constitutes a cider apple? How cider apples are classified is somewhat subjective based on the goals of a cider maker. Some traditional cider apple cultivars originate from regions historically known for their cider production, such as the United Kingdom and France. But what makes apples like Dabinette or Ellis Bitter different from something like a Honeycrisp apple?
Authors: Marissa Schuh and Natalie Hoidal General Notes Some areas continue to get heavy rainfall, other parts of the state are drying out. The NOAA forecast for August is calling for a slight chance of above normal temperatures, and a normal amount of rain . Plants on some farms, and maybe in every farm’s low spots, are struggling. The below picture from Purdue University highlights how different crops are affected by waterlogging. The crops on the left side were submerged in water for three days, while the three on the right were grown in optimal conditions. Waterlogging in vegetable crops. Photo: Wenjing Guan, Purdue University. Crop Updates Bean : Harvest continues. I have gotten pictures of some leaves with yellowing and scorched edges. A potential culprit is leafhoppers, particularly potato leafhopper. This leafhopper makes it’s way up to Minnesota each summer, and uses it’s straw-like mouthpart to feed on plant juices. While they don’t spread disease, their feeding produces