Using a biofix of April 23 for Oriental fruit moth for Berrien County, the degree day accumulation base 45 F as of April 30 is 95. Brown rot and cherry leafspot are diseases of concern now, especially with rain at the current high temperatures. Plum curculio is expected to be a potential problem on tart and sweet cherries after shuck split. For sweet cherries, we still see good to very good crop potential. Brown rot control is needed now and plum curculio control at shuck split.
European plums are at petal fall while Japanese plums are in the shuck.
Black knot and brown rot spray programs should be underway. Some limb dieback noted due to mid-winter damage. Apple bloom in early sites began approximately April 28 in Berrien County. 65 F since April 26 is 254 as of the evening of April 30. This accumulation is over the threshold of 200 degree hours base 65 F where the model predicts that fireblight bacteria are common on open flowers.