BLUE
FOCUS NEWSLETTER- May 2023
(Perennia’s
Wild Blueberry Production Newsletter)
(This
field is in Halfway River, Cumberland, Nova Scotia)
Dear Growers,
As the season progresses, we are fast
approaching bloom and pollination season. We are still under a critical time
for Monilinia blight infection, but after this long weekend, most of the fields
should be safe from monilinia blight, except for fields in Cape Breton and some
traditional late fields which just enter 40-50% F2. Please start talking to
your bee suppliers and arrange your delivery schedule. It is looking like we
are going to have another early bloom season, similar to 2022. More details are
listed below. Another thing to watch is botrytis blossom blight.
Sprout fields in Cape Breton still
have a few days for growers to safely apply pre-emergence herbicides. For all
of the other fields in NS, the safe window to apply spring herbicides was passed.
If you still want to apply pre-emergence herbicides, please contact me and we
can look at individual cases.
Have a great long weekend!
Hugh Lyu
Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia
hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472.
May 19, 2023
Table of Contents:
Nova Scotia Wild
Blueberry Production Update
Upcoming Management Recommendations
Insect Traps
New Nova Scotia
Government Programs
Available Resources
Upcoming Events
NS Wild Blueberry
Production Update
- Weather and Environmental Factors
Updates
Soil temperatures:
From Jan 1 to May 15, we only had a few days in
January and February when soil temperatures were below the 10-year average.
There were a few days in the first week of May when soil temperatures were below
average, but it started to pick up and it is well lined with the 2022 season
soil temperature trend. We might be in another early bloom season.
(Jeff
Franklin, AAFC Kentville)
Precipitation:
It was a dry April for sure! We only got 20 mm of rain
out of the monthly average of 74 mm in the Kentville station. Most wild
blueberry production regions were under abnormally dry and moderate drought
conditions as of April 30.
Below, is a graph showing this year’s and last three
years’ precipitation amounts compared to the 10-year average in the Kentville station.
(Jeff
Franklin, AAFC Kentville)
Since none of the fields are in full bloom and bees
are not out in the fields yet, it is not a concern for wild blueberry
production during a dry April. However, we need rain once we start pollination.
Moisture is needed to help with nectar flow!
-
NS Wild Blueberry Development Update
Here is a quick summary of crop development in
different regions and production years.
Sprout fields:
Sprout fields in Cape Breton still
have a few days for growers to safely apply pre-emergence herbicides. For all
of the other fields in NS, the safe window to apply spring herbicides was
passed. If you still want to apply pre-emergence herbicides, please contact me
and we can look at individual cases.
Crop fields:
Here is a picture of the crop (bud
and bloom) development stage in different regions.