Blog Post_ July 23, 2024

Hi, everyone

Berries are ripening quickly. From weather station data, personal observations, and growers’ feedback, the ripening % is from 50% to 85%, depending on your area and field conditions. It is an early harvesting season. The earliest areas in the province are looking to begin harvest on August 1. Before that, we still have a few obstacles to address, especially Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) and Blueberry Maggot!

In this post, I will focus on:

-       Nova Scotia GDD and Soil Temperature Updates

-       Wild Blueberry GDD and Crop Stage Updates

-       SWD and Blueberry Maggot Management

 

Nova Scotia GDD and Soil Temperature Updates

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to July 22 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC Plant Physiology).

As indicated in Figure 1, this season’s growing trend continues to be ahead of the provincial averages. This information also explains why we are calling for an early harvest compared to the previous years. From Jeff Franklin’s comments: “This trend is expected to continue so we may finish July with the highest accumulated degree days on record.”

Higher than-average temperatures could contribute to higher and more stable soil temperatures. In Figure 2, the current season’s soil temperature (red line) was above the 10-year average since July. Warm soil temperatures could expedite berry ripening and insect infestations.

Figure 2. Kentville Research Station Soil Temperature

 

 

Wild Blueberry GDD and Crop Stage Updates

 

Let’s take a look at 15 weather stations’ GDD accumulations in different wild blueberry regions and their ripening status.

 

The average for all 15 stations is 1407 GDD (Figure 1). Some of the earliest areas in the Southshore, Hants, Westchester Station, Parrsboro flat, Newville Lake regions are looking around 70-85% ripening, which will be the first few areas to begin harvesting in NS. Thus, we are looking about 50-85% ripening across the province, depending on your situation. Figure 4 is a quick sheet to show last year’s ripening % and GDD numbers, which can serve as reference points to predict this year’s harvest schedule. Around 1700 GDD, crop fields could reach around 90% ripening and also be marked as the harvesting point if growers decide to.

 

Here is another quick tip if you are trying to calculate how many more days before harvesting. The average daily GDD accumulation in July is around 20 GDD, which means this time of the year we are gaining about 20 GDD daily.

 

Figure 3. Wild Blueberry GDD_ April 1 to July 23

 

The latest GDD summary is also useful for sprout fields and their management. All sprout fields in NS are looking above 90% tip die back. Please don’t forget your leaf disease management. Ideally, one application should be done pre-harvest. A second application might be required if wet conditions develop in the late summer.

 

Figure 4. Wild Blueberry Ripening % and GDDs (based on 2023 season data)

 

 

SWD and Blueberry Maggot Management

We are in a very high SWD and maggot pressures season. The key driver is the weather, and berries ripen earlier, which serve as early food sources for emerging adult insects.

Since the beginning of this spring, the soil temperatures have been above the provincial average for the most of time in this growing season, especially in March. Higher soil temperature is favored by insect eggs as they can emerge and develop early.

From field reports, we are seeing early captures and higher numbers of adults in traps. Growers are encouraged to put traps out to monitor. A lot of industry partners are working together to share their monitoring information.

An early first insecticide application might be needed in the next few days for many growers. At this point, I would encourage growers to develop a management plan. Please also double-check with your processors regarding their approved insecticide products. Please continue to monitor for the next few weeks.

 

Lastly, I want to share some information about SWD and Maggots and I hope they are helpful.

SWD- Perennia: https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/SWD-factsheet_March2020.pdf

 

SWD- UMaine: https://extension.umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/insects/210-spotted-wing-drosophila/

 

Blueberry Maggot- UMaine: https://extension.umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/insects/201-monitoring-for-the-blueberry-maggot/

 

Blueberry Maggot- NB: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/10/pdf/Agriculture/WildBlueberries-BleuetsSauvages/C230e.pdf

 

 

Have a great harvest season!

 

Hugh

  

 

 

 

BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- June 2024

(Perennia’s Wild Blueberry Production Newsletter)

 

(Photo credit: Sarah Schaefer, June 27, 2024)

 

Dear Growers,

We have been blessed with great production conditions this year. On average, fruit sets are looking good and the yield looks promising. Things are moving fast this year, so don’t be surprised if you already see ripening berries in fields before Canada Day weekend. It won’t be too long to see harvesting begin.

 

Happy Long Weekend!

Hugh Lyu

Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia

hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472

June 27, 2024

 

Table of Contents:

 

Nova Scotia Weather Update

Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Crop Development Update and Management Recommendations

Upcoming Events

 

 

Nova Scotia Weather Update

 

2024 Degree Day Accumulations- Kentville, NS

The degree day accumulations are based on the weather data from Kentville weather station, giving us an overall idea of this production season’s temperature trend in Nova Scotia.

 

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to June 24 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

-          The degree day accumulations for base 5°C plant development and base 10°C insect development are ahead of the 5- and 10-year averages (Figure 1).

-          This season’s degree days accumulation is similar to 2021.

 

2024 Spring Precipitation

From April to June, the total rainfall accumulation in the Annapolis Valley area was 125 mm, below the 25-year average precipitation of 255 mm. In other words, it was a dry season with above-average temperatures for 2024.

 

Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Crop Development Update and Management Recommendations

 

Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDD Summary_ April 1- June 27

Figure 1. GDD Summary from April 1- June 27

 

Crop fields’ wild blueberry stages and management activities to consider:

All crop fields in the province are going through the fruit development period. The majority of fields are in the early green fruit and late green fruit stages (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Wild Blueberry Fruit Stages (UMaine)

At this stage, some activities to consider for your crop fields pre-harvest:

1.     Late fungicide application for leaf disease control and berry quality improvement.

2.     Set up insect (SWD and Blueberry Maggot) traps and monitor for local pest levels.

3.     Applying insecticides as needed and recommended by processors.

4.     Weed management: spot treatment of weeds in crop fields, including spot spraying chemicals and repeated cuttings.

5.     Weed identification and documentation: July is a great time to ID weeds in wild blueberry fields as most of them are in bloom.

 

Sprout fields’ wild blueberry stages and management activities to consider:

All sprout fields are over 90% plant emergence.

At this stage, some activities to consider for your sprout fields before harvesting:

1.     Fertilizer application

2.     Fungicide applications for leaf disease control

3.     Post-emergence herbicide applications, such as Callisto and Venture L

4.     Spot spraying for weed control, including Spreading Dogbane, Purple Vetch, Goldenrods etc.

 

Upcoming Events

 

Perennia Events:

1.     Weather Station Maintenance Workshop, July 4, Kentville: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/davis-vantage-pro-2-weather-station-maintenance-workshop-kentville/edate/2024-07-04/.

2.     Understanding Alternative Nutrient Amendments- Virtual Series: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/understanding-alternative-nutrient-amendments-virtual-series/edate/2024-06-25/.

3.     Pasture Walk Series: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/pasture-walk-series/edate/2024-06-25/.

4. July 10, Wild Blueberry Growers’ Meeting: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/in-season-wild-blueberry-meeting-series-2024-production-season/edate/2024-03-27/.

 

WBPANS Events:

1.     2024 Wild Blueberry Field Day, Registration by July 5: https://nswildblueberries.com/field-day/.

 

 

PEI Wild Blueberry Field Day: July 19, 10:30 AM- 2: 00 PM:

Wild Blueberry Management Updates_ June 24, 2024

Hello, everyone

 

As we are waiting patiently for berries to turn blue, the past two days’ rain was certainly helpful in berry development. In this early week update, we will focus on weather and degree day accumulations in NS.

 

Kentville Degree Day Accumulations

 

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to June 14 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC Plant Physiology).

 

 

Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDDs_ April 1- June 24

Figure 2. GDD Summary, April 1- June 24

 

Upcoming Perennia Events

1.     Next Wild Blueberry Growers Meeting_ June 26

Registration: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/in-season-wild-blueberry-meeting-series-2024-production-season/edate/2024-03-27/.

 

2.     Perennia Pasture Walk Series: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/pasture-walk-series/edate/2024-06-25/.

3.     Understanding Alternative Nutrient Amendments- Virtual Series: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/understanding-alternative-nutrient-amendments-virtual-series/edate/2024-06-25/.

4.     Davids Vantage Pro 2 Weather Station Maintenance Workshop- Kentville: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/davis-vantage-pro-2-weather-station-maintenance-workshop-kentville/edate/2024-07-04/.

 

Wild Blueberry Management Updates_ June 12, 2024

 

 

Hello, everyone

 

In this quick mid-week update, we show some highlights from a recent wild blueberry growers meeting.

-       Kentville Degree Day Accumulations

-       NS Wild Blueberry Weather Stations GDD Accumulations

-       Spreading Dogbane Management in Wild Blueberry Fields

 

Kentville Degree Day Accumulations

 

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to June 9 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC Plant Physiology).

 

As of June 9, this year’s GDD accumulation trend in NS is still ahead of the provincial 5- and 10-year averages. Table 1 shows the difference between the 2024 and 5-year average is about 50 (433.3-385). At this time of the year, we gain about 12 GDD daily across the province. That’s about 4.2 days earlier than our normal management schedule.

Table 1. Degree day accumulations as of June 9, 2024. All data are taken from the Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station located at the Kentville Research and Development Centre. Calculations are based on a start date of March 1 and calculated using the single-sine method.

Wild Blueberry GDD Updates_ April 1- June 10

Figure 2. GDD Summary, April 1- June 10

 

Spreading Dogbane Management in Wild Blueberry Fields

Figure 3. Spreading Dogbane with flowers and leaves

 

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium L.) is a perennial plant and a troublesome weed in wild blueberry fields. In a 2017-2019 weed survey, this weed appeared in about 20% of the total wild blueberry fields in NS. Over the last few years, we have been noticing that this weed is spreading very fast and the occurrence of this plant in blueberry fields is increasing. The primary spreading method of dogbane is via horizontally growing roots which helps to form ever-expanding patches of dense shoots (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Dense Spreading Dogbane Patch in an infested wild blueberry field

 

Cutting, mowing, round up applications, and using Dicamba products (Banvel and Engenia) are all common from past conversations with growers. They have their own pros and cons. I only discuss further the industry-standard and research-based recommended management practices.

Growers can access Banvel and Engenia at the moment. Dicamba products will hurt wild blueberry plants so we only recommend spot spray the recommended products in wild blueberry fields. The initial application is recommended when dogbane patches are in the early bud stage (Figure 5). Further applications might be needed. A sticker/adjuvant is recommended to improve product efficacy and control results. Please read the product label. The below information is just some quick numbers (Figure 6) to help you to cross-check. Please also go through sections in the label including mixing instructions and spraying instructions to avoid any factors that might affect product efficacy.

Figure 5. Spreading Dogbane in Early Bud Stage

 

Figure 6. Recommended Product Rates for Spreading Dogbane Management

 

 

Have a great week!

Hugh

Wild Blueberry Management Updates_ June 10, 2024

Hello, everyone

I have received some notes from growers to inform me that this year’s yield looks promising. We have been getting all the positive growing conditions since the beginning of this production season. We have decent bloom and great flying weather for bees. Many areas in the province are in the middle of the petal fall (pinhead) stage and a small percentage of early green fruits (5-10%). Figure 1 is a good example to show the average wild blueberry crop stages in the province.

If you like to share your observations from your fields, please call or text Hugh at 902-890-0472 or email: hlyu@perennia.ca.

Have a great week.

Hugh

 

Figure 1. Wild blueberry petal fall (pin head) and early green fruits.

 

 

 

GDD Updates_ April 1- June 10

Figure 2. GDD Summary, April 1- June 10

 

Botrytis Blight Infection Report- June 10.

This year’s bloom period was significantly dryer than the 2023 season. We didn’t get any concerning spring frost during the bloom period. The botrytis infection level in crop fields was significantly lower than last year from my initial field observation. There was minimal Botrytis infection in dry fields and fields with fungicide application in proper timing, as well as sheep sorrel and goldenrod-free fields. In fields with wet conditions (including wet spots in fields, located in a wet area or close to the coastal line) and weed infestations from sheep sorrel, goldenrods, and other flowering plants, still show Botrytis infection symptoms. This is an early assessment of this year’s Botrytis blight infection.

Figure 3 is a Botrytis infection symptom photo from our research plot taken this year.

Figure 3. Botrytis Blight Infection on Wild Blueberry Blossoms from a Research Plot (Photo Credit: Sarah Schaefer).

 

 

2024 Production Updates and Seasonal Outlook for NS_ 10th Blight Line Post_ June 5

Hi, everyone. As we get closer to the mid-late bloom, we are no longer under the Monilinia Blight infection window, but there are still infection risks from Botrytis blossom blight. We can see infection symptoms caused by Monilinia Blight in crop fields now, as well as some early blooming clones with Botrytis Blight infection. In today’s post, we will talk about infection symptoms from Monilinia Blight. Also, how the season’s weather is influencing this production year’s disease infections.

This will be our last blight line post for the year! Please continue to follow the blog. More updates to come!  

 

GDD Updates_ April 1- June 4

Figure 1. GDD Summary, April 1- June 4

·       Crop field wild blueberry stages: mid to late bloom across the province. Central and Mainland fields are at the late bloom stage. Higher ground and fields in Antigonish and Cape Breton are around mid-bloom stages.

·       Sprout field plant emergence status: more than 50-60% plant emergence.

 

Monilinia Blight Infection Report for the 2024 Season (updated)

 

Initial report (May 29): May is a traditional month with a high risk of Monilinia blight infection in wild blueberry crop fields because of the right crop stage and the Maritime spring weather pattern. As most of you are aware, May was pretty dry. The Kentville weather station recorded 25 mm of rain in May and that’s below the 75 mm 10-year average in the area. Although we received some rain in the last two days, May was very likely running into a precipitation deficit in the province.

The good news is that the Monilinia blight infection risk is low. We had two provincial-wide wet periods (May 8-9 and May 16-17) according to the weather station data, but it was short and mild. Most growers apply at least 1 Monilinia blight fungicide which was very helpful.

 

Updated report (June 4): after the last few days’ field scouting and growers’ reports, the Monilinia Blight infection was low to none if fungicide applications were conducted on time.

I still noticed high levels of the disease infection in unmanaged fields (no fungicide inputs for this season or fields had low to no inputs in the past). The blowing photos were taken from a crop field on May 31. I circled Monilinia Blight infection symptoms on leaves and flowers. If you are walking around crop fields, you can try to ID them.

 

Events and Webinars

A free webinar on Pesticide Drone Application:

-       This is a free webinar to talk about pesticide drone application. Time: June 19, 1 PM Halifax time. Zoom. To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvdu6hqjksGdES3pLq80Y8qvsuWtKge2fU#/registration

 

Perennia Events:

-       In-person: Davis Vantage Pro 2 Weather Station Maintenance Workshop – Murray Siding: June 7, 2024. 1-4 PM. Information and registration: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/davis-vantage-pro-2-weather-station-maintenance-workshop-murray-siding/edate/2024-06-07/.

-       Understanding Alternative Nutrient Amendments – Virtual Series. June 25 to July 30 2024. Information and registration: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/understanding-alternative-nutrient-amendments-virtual-series/edate/2024-06-25/.

 

WBPANS Wild Blueberry Field Day: July 17, 2024, in Debert, NS. To register: https://nswildblueberries.com/field-day/.

 

 

Have a great week!

-Hugh