LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Apple Committee board approved funding for 2021 industry research projects at their March board meeting. Research funding is a part of MAC’s mission to serve Michigan’s apple growers.
“Members of the MAC Board of Directors select growers to serve on the research subcommittee,” said Diane Smith, executive director of MAC. “The subcommittee analyzes all the submitted research proposals and recommends funding to the board.”
MAC’s research priorities are set to support Michigan Apple growers and industry success. MAC looks for projects that improve profitability and production, develop new markets and products and identify consumer trends and facts. MAC wishes to support innovative research that helps achieve MAC’s mission by enhancing the reputation of Michigan Apples.
“MAC accepts proposals from many different research institutions and centers of excellence,” said Smith. “We are fortunate to have a world-class agricultural instruction right in our back yard with Michigan State University, and there is also a great deal of collaboration between institutions and colleagues.”
For 2021, the board approved $239,121 in funding for 13 projects. Research topics varied from pest management to varietal research to planting technology. For the complete list of projects, see below.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit www.MichiganApples.com.
MAC Funded Research:
Randolph Beaudry
Apple Ripening After DCA Storage: Assessing the Risk of Flavor Loss……………..….. $25,203
Bitter Pit Characterization, Prediction and Mitigation in Honeycrisp…………..………… $21,307
Sushila Chaudhari
Advancing Sustainability in Apple Orchards with Site-Specific Weed Management….… $15,000
Todd Einhorn
New Thinning Strategies to Improve Apple Profitability and Predictability………….….. $43,387
Optimizing Tree Quality for Early Orchard Establishment……………………….……… $14,914
Evaluation of Multi Leader Training Systems……………………………………………. $15,856
Larry Gut
Management of Codling Moth Using Sterile Insect Releases……………………………. $19,000
Amy Irish-Brown
Apple Maturity Manipulation-Use of PGRs and Other Products…………………………. $10,125
William Shane
Coordinated Evaluation of Apple Germplasm for the Fresh and Processing Industries…… $12,000
George Sundin
Fungicide Resistance Screening in the Apple Scab Pathogen Venturia Inaequalis,
and Continued Work on Shoot Blight Management…………………………………….. $25,000
Marianna Szucs
Biological Control of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Southwestern MI………,…….… $7,658
Julianna Wilson
BMSB Monitoring and Research in Apple Orchards…………………………………….. $10,000
John Wise
Rainfastness of Fungicides for Disease Control in Apples………………………………. $19,671
— Michigan Apple Committee
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