By Becky Wiepz and Dan Kielar
Alert! High Spotted Wing Drosophila trap counts and confirmed presence in sweet cherry fruit
Station Updates
- We are beyond the effective window for chemical thinners in apples. After fruit surpass 20mm, hand thinning is the only effective tool for cropload management.
- Cherries continue to ripen and are now moderately vulnerable to SWD throughout the county.
- Station staff are currently working on wildlife abatement in all perennial crops.
UW Madison/Extension Updates
- Prepare Your Fruit Crops for This Weekend’s Heat and Humidity
- Black Rot and Downy Mildew Alert: Diagnosis and Management After Recent Rains in Wisconsin Vineyards
- Wisconsin Fruit Crop Scouting Report: June 18, 2025
- UW-Madison/Extension Insect Diagnostic Lab Update – June 19, 2025
Historic Growing Degree Day Comparison
Date 6/30 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 20-year avg. |
Base 50 | 813 | 684.5 | 770.5 | 799.5 | 702.5 | 730 |
Recent Weather at Peninsular Ag Research Station
Date | Max Temp(℉) | Min Temp(℉) | Max Wind Gust(mph) | Daily Rain Total(in) |
---|---|---|---|---|
6/24 | 73.9 | 58.5 | 14.5 | 0.08 |
6/25 | 68.9 | 56.3 | 13.9 | 0.15 |
6/26 | 65.1 | 56.7 | 16.1 | 1.10 |
6/27 | 81.5 | 59.9 | 32.9 | 0.02 |
6/28 | 74.3 | 61.0 | 13.4 | 0.0 |
6/29 | 78.4 | 61.9 | 17.2 | 1.06 |
6/30 | 83.7 | 62.4 | 12.8 | 0.01 |
If you’d like to see weather data for your area, visit https://wisconet.wisc.edu/
Apples
Growth Stage: Fruitlets above 20mm
Seasonal Update: To encourage return bloom next year, low level NAA applications should be applied 5-6 weeks after full bloom and again 7-10 days later.
Pest | Southern Door | Central Door | Northern Door | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tarnished Plant Bug | Present | Present | Present | Light pressure continues |
Codling Moth | Adults Caught | Adults Caught | Adults Caught | Flight continues *see caption below |
Oriental Fruit Moth | Adults Caught | Adults Caught | Adults Caught | Flight Continues |
Plum Curculio | May be complete | |||
Peach Tree Borer | First Catch |
Disease | Southern Door | Central Door | Northern Door | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Apple Scab | High Risk | High Risk | High Risk | Primary spore dispersal is nearly done. Check Apple Scab models on NEWA to time spray applications. |
Fire Blight | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk | Orchards should be monitored for shoot blight and strikes should be removed promptly, cutting 12-18 inches past the end of the canker. |
Powdery Mildew | Some Strikes Noted | More pressure with hot and humid weather in the forecast. |
Cherries
Growth Stage: Fruit is beginning to color
Seasonal Update: Fungicide should be applied before rain events as new leaves continue to expand. To check the rainfastness of your insecticide, visit this article from MSU and check your products accordingly.
Pest | Southern Door | Central Door | Northern Door | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spotted Wing Drosophila | High trap counts | High trap counts | High Trap Counts | Egg laying cannot occur until fruit is vulnerable. Fruit throughout the county is at moderate to high risk. |
Cherry Fruit Fly | No Catch | No Catch | No Catch | Traps were placed last week, so far no adults present. |
Disease | Southern Door | Central Door | Northern Door | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cherry Leaf Spot | High Risk | High Risk | High Risk | Risk increases with leaf area expansion and rain events |
Powdery Mildew |
GRAPES
Growth Stage: E-L Growth Stage 27,
Seasonal Update: Fungicides should be applied before berry touch to protect your fruit through harvest.
Pest | Southern Door | Central Door | Northern Door | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japanese Beetles | None Caught at this time |
Disease | Station | Notes |
---|---|---|
Grape Phomopsis | small amounts observed | Early season fungal control is critical at this time to prevent diseases like Phomopsis from spreading to economically damaging levels. |
Phylloxera | None observed | monitor plants for galls on leaf undersides |