BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- Spring 2026

BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- Spring 2026

(Perennia’s Wild Blueberry Production Newsletter)

 

 

Hello everyone,

 

Following a typical Maritime winter in Nova Scotia, it is encouraging to see blueberry fields well covered with snow during the coldest months. This level of snow cover is beneficial during the blueberry dormancy period and supports overall plant health.

As we move through the winter–spring transition, blueberry plants are beginning to break dormancy and prepare for the upcoming growing season. Ahead of the new season, we are pleased to share a series of updates and resources to support your blueberry management efforts, including the new Wild Blueberry Management Tool and upcoming industry events.

Lastly, we wish you all a productive and successful 2026 blueberry season!

 

Hugh Lyu

Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia

hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472.

March 26, 2026

 

Table of Contents: 

Wild Blueberry Management Tool Introduction

Upcoming Events

 

 

Wild Blueberry Management Tool Introduction

 

NEW! Wild Blueberry Management Tool. Check it out! https://www.farmdatatools.perennia.ca/

On March 23, Perennia launched a new wild blueberry management tool as part of the Farm Data Tools platform. This innovative tool is designed to support wild blueberry field management by providing timely, field-specific information to help producers make informed decisions.

 

What features are available in this tool?

 

Four Key Features of the Wild Blueberry Management Tool

The Wild Blueberry Management Tool provides timely in-season and historical field data to support informed decision-making in wild blueberry production. The platform includes four main features:

 

1. Crop-Year Disease Management

The tool integrates disease monitoring models to support proactive disease management during the growing season. Currently, two disease monitoring models are available:

• Monilinia Blight (Mummy Berry)
• Botrytis Blossom Blight (Gray Mould)

Monilinia Blight

Botrytis Blight

 

The disease monitoring system is automatically activated when susceptible crop stages are reached. Producers receive email notifications indicating disease infection risk levels, along with a seven-day forecast to assist with timely management decisions.

 

2. Wild Blueberry Crop Stage Monitoring Using Growing Degree Day (GDD) Models

To establish a monitoring field, users select:

• an on-farm weather station, and
• a forecast station from the nearest Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station network.

Both stations provide daily air temperature data. The system automatically calculates daily Growing Degree Days (GDD) and cumulative GDD totals (April 1 – October 31), which are displayed in summary tables.

Producers can use cumulative GDD values to track blueberry growth stages based on locally recommended GDD models. Users have access to both forecasted and historical GDD summaries, enabling accurate, up-to-date crop-stage monitoring.

 

3. Field Environmental Condition Monitoring

Once a monitoring field is established, producers can view real-time field weather conditions and monitor the operational status of their weather station—both essential for reliable model calculations.

The Current Conditions table displays updated field weather parameters from the selected on-farm weather station, including:

• Air temperature
• Rainfall
• Wind conditions
• Relative humidity
• Station operational status

Users are encouraged to use the Report function if any issues with the monitored station are identified.

 

4. Field Records Management

The platform allows users to download both current and historical field data in Excel format. These records support documentation, seasonal analysis, and long-term field management planning.

 

 

How to Get Started with the Wild Blueberry Management Tool

 

The following step-by-step guide will help you set up your account, business, and monitoring fields so you can begin using the tool effectively.

 

Step 1: Create a MyPerennia Account

To access Farm Data Tools, users must first create a free MyPerennia account.

If you do not already have an account, please follow the instructions provided in the account setup factsheet:

MyPerennia Account Creation Guide:
https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FDT-Account-CreationREVISEDV4.pdf

 

Step 2: Create Your Business, Farms, and Monitoring Fields

This step allows users to organize their operation by setting up a business profile, adding farms, and creating multiple monitoring fields within each farm.

This is a critical step because you will select:

• an on-farm weather station, and
• a forecast station from the nearest Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station network.

Weather data from these stations supports automated calculations, crop-stage monitoring, and disease infection risk estimates generated by the available models.

 

A. Create Your Business

1. Select the gear icon (Settings) located at the bottom-left of the toolbar.
2. Click the Create Business icon.
3. Enter your business address in the dialogue box.

Once your business is created, you can:

• add members, and
• create farm locations using the “+” button in the Farm Locations table.

 

B. Add Farms

Within your business profile, you may create multiple farms to represent different production locations.

(Example: One business may include several farms managed under the same operation.)

 

 

C. Create Monitoring Fields

After creating a farm:

1. Expand the farm by clicking the yellow-highlighted expansion symbol.
2. Select the “+” icon to add a field (in blue).
3. Name the field and select:
• an on-farm weather station, and
• a forecast station.

Each farm can include multiple monitoring fields, allowing users to track different production areas independently.

 

 

D. Access the Wild Blueberry Management Tool

After completing setup:

1. Refresh your web page.
2. Select the Wild Blueberry Management Tool by clicking the blueberry logo located on the left-hand toolbar.

 

Joining an Existing Business

If you are joining an existing operation:

1. Select “I have a code.”
2. Enter the access code provided by the business owner within Farm Data Tools.

 

 

Resources for the Tool

 

To help users understand and use the tool effectively, we have developed a dedicated resource page. This page introduces the Wild Blueberry Management Tool, along with supporting materials to help interpret data and inform management decisions. Resources include background information on Growing Degree Days, Monilinia Blight, and Botrytis Blossom Blight. A short YouTube video is also available to provide a quick overview of the tool and its key features.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.docs.perennia.ca/farmDataTools/blueberryManagement.

 

Upcoming Events

 

 

1.      Cavendish Lowbush Blueberry Virtual Meeting, April 1, 2026.

See details below. You need to register to receive the online link. Click here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVP_buWiTwj-WmEHRvlmNlgSkV8CDTSG8DF9kkOMgkMaEh6g/viewform

 

 

 

2.      Maritime Wild Blueberry Conference, April 10- 11, 2026. In- Person, Moncton, NB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.      Perennia: Wild Blueberries Virtual Grower Meetings 2026.

 

Here is the link to more information about this event and registration:

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/wild-blueberries-virtual-grower-meetings-2026/edate/2026-04-08/

 

 

 

4.      Perennia Virtual Session: Online Pest Guides Updates. Tentative date: April 21, 12-1 PM (online). 1 Pesticide Point available! More details and registration information will be shared once available. Please mark your calendar if interested.

 

5.      Need more pesticide points? Pesticide Recertification Training Courses.

 

 

6.      WBPANS 2026 Wild Blueberry Field Day, SAVE THE DATE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wild Blueberry Events and Industry Webinars

 

Hello, everyone

Happy 2026!

We just went through a cold December and a couple of freezing-cold early-new-year days. The good news is that it will be like spring in the next few days! Also, it is good to see the blueberry fields covered in snow, and the plants should be well dormant under this weather. Let’s hope they continue to be protected and reserve all their energy for 2026’s good crop.

Here is a summary list of events that might interest you. Many of them are virtual, and some of them may offer pesticide points. Please take a look below and mark your calendar for an active learning winter!

-            Cumberland County Federation of Agriculture, Wild Blueberry meeting in Parrsboro, Jan 29, in- person.

-            University of Maine, 2026 Wild Blueberry Spring Conference, Feb 7, virtual option is available.

-            Truro Agromart, Growing Connections, Virtual Information Sessions, Feb 10 and 11 (pesticide points available)

-            Maritime Wild Blueberry Conference, April 10 and 11, in-person, Moncton.

-            Perennia Winter Events: Getting into the Weeds virtual webinars.

-            Need more pesticide points? Please contact Marbicon Inc./ Jim Jotcham.

The wild blueberry blog's event page and calendar summarise industry events. Please take a look:

https://www.novascotiawildblueberryblog.com/p/events.html. 

Have a great winter!

Hugh

902-890-0472; hlyu@perennia.ca.

January 7, 2026.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumberland County Federation of Agriculture Wild Blueberry meeting in Parrsboro, Jan 29, in-person.

 

Here is the registration link, and the event details are on the poster below: https://forms.office.com/r/46rXEhiGjg. 

 

 

University of Maine, 2026 Wild Blueberry Spring Conference, Feb 7, virtual option is available.

 

Please visit this link to see event details and registration: https://extension.umaine.edu/blueberries/2025/12/02/2026-spring-conference/.

 

 

 

 

Truro Agromart, Growing Connections, Virtual Information Sessions, Feb 10 and 11 (pesticide points available)

 

-           

 

 

 

 

 

Maritime Wild Blueberry Conference, April 10 and 11, in-person, Moncton.

 

More details to come. Please contact your local wild blueberry associations for information.

 

 

Perennia Winter Events: Getting into the Weeds virtual webinars.

 

 

Getting into the Weeds 2026:  

Jan 12, Jan 20, and more to come!

https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/gettingintotheweeds2026/edate/2026-01-12/.

We are excited to share that we are hosting the seventh year of our seminar series, Getting into the Weeds in 2026: From Cost to Confidence! Join our Perennia Specialists during six virtual sessions as we dive deeper into the conversation on farm business management and cost of production! 

 

 

 

Need more pesticide points? Please contact Marbicon Inc./ Jim Jotcham.

 

 

Marbicon Inc. / Jim Jotcham is now offering in-person pesticide applicator courses.

 

Exam preparation courses (with 5.0 points available for T2664):

Jan 12 Mon – Berwick – Berwick Legion Hall, 232 Main St.

Jan 15 Thurs – Truro – Colchester Legion Stadium Lounge, 14 Lorne St.

Feb 2 Mon – New Germany – Anglican Church Hall, 5311 Highway 10 New Germany.

Recertification workshops (with 5.0 points available for T2669):

Jan 13 Tues – Berwick – Berwick Legion Hall, 232 Main St.

Jan 16 Fri – Truro – Colchester Legion Stadium Lounge, 14 Lorne St.

Feb 3 Tues – New Germany – Anglican Church Hall, 5311 Highway 10 New Germany.

Additional courses (TBA) will be offered this spring.

 

Email/call Jim ( marbicon@eastlink.ca ) or 902-538-7101 for more information or to pre-register.

 

Jim Jotcham,  Marbicon Inc.

4287 Brooklyn St.,  Somerset, NS  B0P 1E0

marbicon@eastlink.ca

Cell/Text (902) 679-9964

 

Fall Wild Blueberry Growers Virtual Meeting_ Oct 15 @8:30-9:30AM

Good afternoon,

It is fall season in Nova Scotia! This year’s fall colors arrived earlier because of the dry conditions. As we wrap up a disappointing blueberry season, please remember that those plants will grow back next year and be fresh in a new two-year cycle! Blueberry fields are full of hope and growth.

We will have the fall virtual growers meeting on October 15 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Please register to receive the Zoom link. During the meeting, I hope to update you on this year’s crop and what we learned from it. I also like to talk about sprout fields, which are impacted in various degrees depending on where you are.

Join us for a morning coffee/tea chat!

Event details and registration link: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/fall-wild-blueberry-growers-virtual-meeting/edate/2025-10-15/.

Enjoy fall weather!

Hugh

 

WBPANS Update on Challenging Harvest Season

 WBPANS sent out an update regarding the challenges we are facing in this harvest season. We want to make sure all growers receive this message: 

If growers have not started harvesting, they should strongly consider it, immediately. 

Crop and lack of moisture:

 

We are seeing crops down across the province, with a few limited exceptions. The hot dry conditions are resulting in small fruit that is not weighing well in the tote. Some fields, on course soils have gone past recovery with leaves turning red and fruit shattering. We are seeing yields regressing daily everywhere.  If growers have not started harvesting, they should strongly consider it, immediately. While there are a few fields that are yielding well, most fields are ranging from 30% down to not being worth harvesting (not enough fruit to cover harvest costs).

 

Maine, NB and PEI are all experiencing the same things, with varying degrees of severity.

                Maine is having a poor crop overall

                NB is very dry and has some severe harvesting restrictions

                PEI has just begun harvest over the last week, but yields are lower than expected.

Quebec still has a decent crop, but it appears to be slightly below an average crop for them.

 

The total wild blueberry crop will be much less than expected. We were expecting a crop over 300 million pounds. The total crop will be well less than 300 million.

 

Caution while harvesting

 

Things are tinder dry, please take all reasonable precautions.  If a major fire starts in one of our production regions, risk to property and life is high.

 

Government discussions:

 

WBPANS has been in discussion with NSDA.  We will be meeting with them regularly looking for ways to support the industry through this. There are no firm solutions yet but we will be working with our federal and provincial partners.

 

Markets appear healthy

 

It appears demand in Europe is high and solid in other markets as well.

 

Price

 

We are expecting to hear about an initial price from our within the next couple days.

 

Reach out

 

If there are any questions, please reach out.

 

The Debert office is closed this week, but I can be reached via my cell phone or email.

 

Peter Burgess

 

Peter Burgess MSc, PAg

Executive Director

Wild Blueberry Producers Association of Nova Scotia

PO Box 119    168 Dakota Road

Debert, Nova Scotia  B0M 1G0

Cell: 902-899-6253

Tel: 902-662-3306

Email:  peter@nswildblueberries.com

Web:  www.nswildblueberries.com

BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- July 2025

 BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- July 2025

(Perennia’s Wild Blueberry Production Newsletter)

 

Hi, everyone

The wild blueberry harvest season is fast approaching in Nova Scotia. Berries are ripening and turning blue. We were fortunate to receive a decent amount of rain at the beginning of this week, which was very helpful. I encourage growers to continue to monitor SWD and Blueberry Maggots in crop fields to assist with insecticide application pre-harvesting. In sprout fields, some important leaf diseases, including leaf rust, start to impact blueberry plants after the rain. Please see more details in the content below.

I wish all of you a successful and pleasant harvest season!

Hugh

 

 

Hugh Lyu

Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia

hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472

July 25, 2025

 

Table of Contents:

 

GDD Updates (April 1- July 24)

Rainfall Reports (July 1- July 22)

SWD and Blueberry Maggot Management Information

Leaf Disease Management in Sprout Fields

 

 

GDD Updates (April 1- July 24)

 

Below are the latest GDD updates from several wild blueberry weather stations.

 

 

Figures 1 and 2. GDD accumulations from April 1 to July 24 on selected weather stations.

 

We are fast approaching 80-90% ripening in crop fields, which means harvesting will begin very soon for early fields in the central part of Nova Scotia. This is a critical time for balanced moisture in crop fields for the berries’ development. In the next section, we report several stations’ total precipitation from July 1 to July 22.

 

Rainfall Reports (July 1- July 22)

 

Over the period, most blueberry regions would receive at least one inch of rain, particularly from the two rain events occurring on July 18 and July 22 (Figures 3 and 4).

Figure 3. Rainfall daily totals from Cape Breton Mesonet (mm), July 18

 

 

 

 

Figure 4. Rainfall daily totals from Cape Breton Mesonet (mm), July 22

 

There is sufficient moisture for berry development in most regions, but as shown above, some areas in Cumerland could benefit from a little more moisture.

 

 

SWD and Blueberry Maggot Management Information

 

As berries ripen, we must observe SWD and Blueberry Maggot populations for optimum spraying schedules. I want to show trapping photos and a few quick points regarding monitoring and spraying for both insects.

We encourage growers to set up monitoring traps for their areas. Although different types of traps could be used, we generally see two types of traps in wild blueberry fields at this time of year.

Figure 5 is a yellow sticky trap that helps monitor blueberry maggots (Blueberry Fruit Fly), and Figure 6 is a red solo cup that attracts SWD flies.

Figure 5 (top) Yellow sticky trap for blueberry maggot, and Figure 6 (bottom) red solo cup for SWD.

For more details about both insects’ biology, monitoring and management, growers can use two resources to learn about SWD and Blueberry Maggot:

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

-        Blueberry Maggot, University of Maine: https://extension.umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/insects/201-monitoring-for-the-blueberry-maggot/#:~:text=The%20blueberry%20maggot%2C%20or%20blueberry,is%20dependent%20upon%20soil%20temperature.

Growers should check traps regularly and identify the populations of interest insects. Figure 7 is an example of a yellow sticky trap with blueberry maggots.  

Figure 7. A yellow sticky trap with blueberry maggots.

Since SWD flies are smaller and harder to see, a magnifier could help identify them. Figure 8 is a screenshot from the factsheet published by Perennia. Growers should look for the male with red eyes and a single spot on the top of each wing.

Figure 8. SWD Management Information.

 

Leaf Disease Management in Sprout Fields

While growers prepare for harvesting, examining your sprout fields’ plant health and preparing for fungicide application as needed would be beneficial. We are in the middle of summer, and the unpredictable weather could increase leaf disease infections from Septoria leaf spot and Leaf rust. The graph below shows three key leaf diseases that could impact wild blueberry plant health and fruit bud development in our region (Figure 9). 

Figure 9. Three wild blueberry leaf diseases and their infection timelines

Perennia’s Online Pest Management Guide can help growers narrow down registered products for interested diseases: https://www.perennia.ca/onlinepestmanagementguide/. Please check with your buyers and processors for final chemical lists.