BLUE
FOCUS NEWSLETTER- May 2024
(Perennia’s
Wild Blueberry Production Newsletter)
Photo
Credit: Sarah Sachaefer
Dear Growers,
Welcome to the wild blueberry bloom season! What a big
change in the last two weeks in central NS where we switched from clusters of
fruit buds to almost mid-bloom in a week. According to the weather station
data, we had above-average temperatures over the previous two weeks in the province.
The provincial degree day accumulations based on Kentville station indicated
that we are ahead of 5- and 10-year averages. It is almost 2-3 days ahead of
the normal schedule. In this update, we will talk about precipitation data as
well.
Below this newsletter, you will find the regular
updates on wild blueberry production and management. Good luck with pollination
and spraying! Please make sure you protect pollinators when performing field activities.
Thank you for all the hard work from wild blueberry growers and their helpers,
as well as the beekeepers!
Hugh Lyu
Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia
hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472.
May 31, 2024
Table of Contents:
Nova
Scotia Weather
Wild
Blueberry GDD Updates and Management Recommendations
Management
Resources and Tools
Upcoming
Events
Nova
Scotia Weather
2024 Degree Day Accumulations- Kentville
The below
figure would give you an idea of how the season is progressing related to air
temperature. This is based on Kentville Research Weather Station. Thank you,
Jeff Franklin (AAFC) and Michelle Cortens for your contribution.
Figure 1: Heating
degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C)
development from March 1 to May 27 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff
Franklin (AAFC).
Table 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect
(above 10°C) development from March 1 to May 27 for the past 17 seasons.
Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).
The degree day accumulations beginning on
March 1 are ahead of the 5- and 10-year averages (Figure 1). There are about 40
GDD differences between the 5-year average and 2024. That’s about 2-3 days
ahead of the recent years’ schedule.
Cumulative
Precipitation (Kentville)
From late April to the end of this month,
we had a fairly dry season but there were still some significant wet periods
(May 8-9 and May 16-17). A dry season during the Monilinia Blight infection
season is positive thus the initial observations of Monilinia Blight infection
in NS are low.
The Kentville area received 25 mm of rain
in May compared to the 25-year average of 75 mm as of May 29. Figure 2 shows
the cumulative precipitation over the last five years and the 10-year average in
Kentville Research Station. We had some significant rainfall events in March
and early April so we have been above the 10-year average but a deficit precipitation
will likely bring it below the average.
Figure 2: Both rainfall and the rainfall equivalent
from snow at the Kentville Research Station from 2019 to 2024. Provided by Jeff
Franklin (AAFC).
Wild Blueberry GDD Updates and Management Recommendations
Here is a
summary of the most up-to-date GDD from 16 weather stations in wild blueberry
fields.
Figure 3. GDD
summary- April 1- May 31, 2024
Sprout fields:
In province-wide, we are
looking at above 50% plant emergence across the majority of sprout fields.
At this point:
- It
is very risky to apply pre-emergence herbicides to sprout fields.
- Consider
post-emergence herbicide application (Callisto, Venture L, etc.) and spot spray
- Consider
granular fertilizer application
- Consider
sulfur application (soil pH management)
- Please
monitor insect pests, such as flea beetle, blueberry thrips, and leaf beetles. Figure
4 shows flea beetle infestation in a sprout field in early June. If damage is
observed, growers should consider insecticide application if it is early or
consider fertilizer application in damaged spots to help plants to re-grow.
Figure 4. Flea Beetle Infestation in
a Sprout field
Crop fields:
The majority of crop fields in NS are in the early to
mid-bloom stages. Please consider the following activities based on your own
situation:
- Placing
beehives or bumble bees in crop fields to increase pollination efficiency
- Blossom
Botrytis Blight Management
- Frost
watch
Management Resources and Tools
Perennia Online Pest Management Guide
Beginning this year, all
of the pest management guides are now available from an online tool. On the tool, you will find wild blueberries
under the small fruit pest guides section. You can search and filter the
information and/or print. To help you navigate the guide, we have developed a
brief tutorial video as well as a how to
use guide.
Upcoming Events
1.
Join us on June 7, 2024, from
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM and learn how to properly care for your Davis Vantage
Pro 2 weather station! During this in-person workshop, we’ll discuss the Davis
recommended annual maintenance steps and some common troubleshooting. We
will also cover how to access your station’s data. If you would
like to follow along with the instructions on accessing your data, please bring
a mobile device and the login information for your station, so you can access
your account. Registration: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/davis-vantage-pro-2-weather-station-maintenance-workshop-murray-siding/edate/2024-06-07/.
2. Wild
Blueberry Growers Meetings: June 12, June 26, July 10
For meeting details and registration,
please visit this link: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/in-season-wild-blueberry-meeting-series-2024-production-season/edate/2024-03-27/.
3. Free
Webinar on Pesticide Drone Application: June 19, 1 PM Halifax time; Over
Zoon. To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvdu6hqjksGdES3pLq80Y8qvsuWtKge2fU#/registration
4. WBPANS
Field Day. To register: https://nswildblueberries.com/field-day/.
