BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- June 2026

 

 

Hello everyone,

As we move into mid-summer and the post-pollination stage, blueberry fields are showing encouraging signs, with promising green fruit set across many regions. Everyone is excited about the upcoming harvest season, but we still need to be patient for a few more weeks as the fruit continues to develop. Let’s trust Mother Nature and hope for adequate heat and moisture to support a good crop year.

We had a great field day in Upper Onslow this week and were pleased to hear many positive stories and the optimism producers continue to hold. At the same time, we are still seeing carryover effects from last year's drought. Both sprout and crop fields continue to perform abnormally in many areas, with uneven crop development, delayed emergence, lower stem densities, and shorter stems.

As summer progresses, we hope to see continued improvements in plant health and crop development. Ongoing field monitoring and timely management remain critical to maintaining crop productivity and protecting yield potential as we move toward the August harvest season.

Enjoy your summer!

Hugh Lyu

Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia

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

June 26, 2026

Table of Contents: 

June Wild Blueberry Production Highlights

Weather Updates

Upcoming Events

 

 

 

June Wild Blueberry Production Highlights

 

June was both a challenging and encouraging month for Nova Scotia's wild blueberry industry. Across the province, crop fields progressed through a prolonged and uneven pollination season, largely influenced by the carryover effects of the 2025 drought and varying levels of plant health.

A Prolonged Pollination Season

The 2026 pollination season has been extended, with fields exhibiting multiple blooming stages. Uneven plant vigour and delayed crop development resulted in bloom periods ranging from early to late stages across different regions. Despite the prolonged flowering period and ongoing concerns about crop health, weather conditions during bloom were generally favourable for bee activity and pollination.

Frost Damage and Crop Impacts

June began with excellent early bloom development in many healthy fields. However, two significant frost events affected several early-blooming regions of the province. Frost injury caused flower and fruit damage, reducing yield potential in some fields and increasing the risk of blight infections in damaged tissue. The severity of injury varied considerably depending on field location, plant health, and bloom stage during the frost events.

Fruiting Field Development

Although crop conditions remain variable, many average and moderately drought-impacted fields continue to perform normally and are showing promising yield potential. In many Mainland production areas, sizeable and desirable green fruit has already been set, providing optimism for the upcoming harvest season.

In severely drought-impacted fields, plant health has improved with renewed vegetative growth and continued progression through normal growth stages. However, crop development in these areas remains delayed compared with healthier regions.

Sprout Field Conditions

Sprout fields have reached approximately 80–90% plant emergence across the province. However, development remains slower than normal, with reduced plant density and shorter stem growth observed in many fields. These conditions are likely a lingering effect of the 2025 drought and continue to warrant close monitoring throughout the growing season.

Improving Crop Health

Warmer temperatures and improved moisture conditions throughout June have stimulated more active plant growth. Weekly improvements in crop health have been observed across the province, particularly in drought-affected areas where renewed vegetative growth has improved overall field appearance and vigour.

As the season moves into July, patience remains essential. Crop potential varies considerably among regions and fields, but the combination of improving plant health, favourable pollination conditions, and encouraging fruit set in many areas provides optimism for the remainder of the 2026 growing season. Continued field monitoring and timely management will be critical to maintaining crop productivity as we move toward harvest.

 

 

Weather Updates

 

In this section, we provide regular weather updates to help growers track seasonal progress and support field management decisions. Key parameters reviewed include growing degree day (GDD) accumulation, seasonal precipitation trends, and current drought conditions across Nova Scotia, along with highlights from the latest National Agroclimatic Risk Report published on June 16, 2026.

 

1.    Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDD Summary (April 1- June 25)

 

Since April 1, growing degree day (GDD) accumulation has reached approximately 800–900 GDD across mainland production areas (Figure 1). These heat unit accumulations have supported active plant growth and crop development throughout June.

In later-developing fields and in the Cape Breton region, crop fields are approaching the end of bloom and the completion of this year's pollination season. Most sprout fields have reached approximately 80–90% plant emergence, although emergence and stem development remain variable among regions due to the lingering effects of the 2025 drought. Over the next several weeks, crop fields will continue progressing through the fruit development stages, including green fruit, blush, red fruit, and ripening.

Figure 1. Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDD Summary (April 1- June 25)

 

 

2. Seasonal Perception Trends

 

Before June 22, only a few scattered showers had been received across much of Nova Scotia, making June appear to be shaping up as a drier-than-normal month. The Kentville weather station, for example, recorded less than half of its average monthly precipitation by late June (Figure 2).

However, rainfall events from June 23–24 brought variable but significant amounts of precipitation across the province, providing much-needed moisture to many production regions. Additional rainfall is forecast over the coming days.

These recent and anticipated rainfall events are encouraging and should help improve soil moisture conditions in dry areas while providing more consistent moisture to support blueberry fruit development, fruit sizing, and overall crop health as the season progresses.

 

 

Figure 2. 2026 Precipitation vs. Regional Historical Averages from the Kentville Research Weather Station.

 

 

3. Current Drought Conditions

 

In May, drought conditions improved across most agricultural regions in Atlantic Canada. By the end of the month, approximately 21% of the country’s agricultural landscape was classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) or under drought conditions (Figure 3).

Precipitation during May was highly variable across the Atlantic region. Well-above-normal precipitation was recorded in portions of all Atlantic provinces, contributing to localized improvements in soil moisture and surface conditions. However, below-normal monthly precipitation persisted in southern Nova Scotia, limiting recovery in some production areas.

Despite these mixed conditions, drought impacts continue to ease compared to last year’s exceptional drought severity. At the end of May, portions of all Atlantic provinces were still experiencing either Abnormally Dry (D0) or Moderate Drought (D1) conditions.

In Nova Scotia, Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions were primarily observed in Cumberland and several southern counties, where moisture deficits remain more pronounced and continue to influence early-season crop development and field variability.

Figure 3. Canadian Drought Monitor, Conditions as of May 31, 2026.

 

4. National Agroclimatic Risk Report Highlights

 

The National Agroclimatic Risk Report, published on June 16, 2026, provides timely information on regional agroclimate conditions, risks, and impacts across Canada, with several key highlights relevant to Atlantic Canada and the summer forecast.

Cooler temperatures and unsettled weather conditions this spring delayed seeding across much of Canada. At the same time, significant winter snowfall combined with above-normal spring precipitation has contributed to improved water recharge across many regions. In particular, eastern Prince Edward Island, northern New Brunswick, and central Newfoundland received approximately 120–200% of normal precipitation in May. In some of these areas, excess moisture has limited field access and delayed field operations.

Over the past 30 days, however, below-average precipitation was recorded in southern Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick, contributing to more variable moisture conditions across the region.

Despite broader moisture recovery across the region, impacts from last year’s drought remain evident in parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Some river levels remain below desirable thresholds, and ongoing challenges include poor forage and crop establishment, tree decline, reduced berry yields, and continued feed concerns.

Looking ahead, above-normal temperatures relative to 1991–2020 averages are forecast across Canada over the next four weeks, which may accelerate crop development but also increase evapotranspiration demand depending on localized moisture availability.

 

Upcoming Events

 

1.      July Wild Blueberry Grower Meeting; Wednesday, July 8, 8:30 AM- 9:30.

Please register through this link: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/july-wild-blueberry-grower-meeting/edate/2026-07-08/.

 

Feature guest speakers:

 

§  SWD Talk by Matthew Peill, Integrated Pest Management Specialist, Perennia

§  Sprout Year Nutrient Input by Jessica D'Entremont, NutriAg

 

 

 

2026 Production Updates and Seasonal Outlook for NS_ 10th Blight Line Post_ June 15

Figure 1. Post- Pollination and Green Fruit Stages

 

Good afternoon, everyone,

We are experiencing a very long and protracted bloom and pollination season due to uneven bloom development both within fields and across production regions. Some early fields received commercial bees as early as the week of May 18–22, and we are still observing white-blooming patches that require pollination.

The best way to describe the 2026 bloom season is that flowering is occurring in multiple stages. This may be a consequence of last year's drought, which resulted in differences in plant health, fruit bud size, and nutrient reserves. Please continue to monitor your blueberry fields closely, as this is a good time to assess crop stage, blight infection, and overall yield potential. Many fields could still benefit from another week or more of strong pollination activity.

 

Monilinia Blight Infection Updates

We have been observing higher levels of Monilinia blight infection associated with the continued emergence of F2 stages, which are also appearing unevenly, similar to bloom development. In addition, input concerns (none or single application) and limited spray windows appear to have reduced the effectiveness of fungicide application, leaving some susceptible bud stages unprotected over the extended infection period.

 

Botrytis Blight Infection Updates

With the prolonged bloom season, concerns about Botrytis blossom blight have increased because flowers remain susceptible for a longer period. However, most of the damage symptoms observed to date have been associated with Monilinia blight. I have observed some Botrytis infection symptoms, primarily in very dense canopies and only affecting a small number of flowers (Figures 2 and 3).

The extended bloom period may also influence disease development and delay the appearance of post-infection symptoms. We will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as additional information becomes available.

 

Have a great week!

Hugh

June 15, 2026

 

 

 

Figures 2 and 3. Botrytis Blossom Blight Infections

 

Table 1. Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDDs Updates

 

 

 

 

2026 Production Updates and Seasonal Outlook for NS_ 9th Blight Line Post_ June 8

Figure 1. Blooming Wild Blueberry Field

 

Good afternoon, everyone,

The photo above (Figure 1) likely provides an accurate snapshot of the current stage of the blueberry crop and the most critical activity in Nova Scotia's wild blueberry fields: the bloom and pollination season.

The key crop-year management activities are now wrapping up as fields rapidly progress into the late-bloom and petal-fall stages. This period also marks the appearance of key disease symptoms, allowing for a better assessment of this year's pest pressure and a more accurate prediction of 2026 crop potential.

We have been observing Monilinia blight symptoms since early June. Although infection windows were limited and the susceptible crop stage was relatively short, symptoms continue to be found in crop fields across multiple production regions. Missed or delayed fungicide applications may be contributing factors to the increased incidence observed this year. Please see the photos below, which show typical Monilinia blight symptoms at this time of year (Figures 3-5).

To date, I have not observed any Botrytis blossom blight infections; however, Septoria leaf spot has been identified in several late-bloom and petal-fall fields near Truro (Figure 6).

Most sprout fields across the province have reached 60–70% plant emergence or higher. Plant emergence and development are generally progressing normally despite concerns about the impacts of last year's drought on the current cycle. Growers are encouraged to continue granular fertilizer applications and post-emergence herbicide treatments, including Callisto, Venture L, Poast, and Clethodim products, where permitted by their processors.

Lastly, please save the date for July's virtual wild blueberry production update meeting. Additional details and registration information are available on the event page: July Wild Blueberry Grower Meeting.

 

Have a great week!

Hugh

June 8, 2026

 

Figure 2. July Wild Blueberry Grower Meeting

 

 

Figure 3. Monilina Blight Infection on Flowers

Figure 4. Monilina Blight Infection on Flowers

 

 

 

Figure 5. Monilinia Blight Infection on Flowers

 

 

 

 

Figure 6. Septoria Leaf Spot

 

 

 

Table 1. Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDDs Updates

 

 

 

 

2026 Production Updates and Seasonal Outlook for NS_ 8th Blight Line Post_ June 2

Hi everyone,

After last week's unseasonably cold and wet weather, we are finally expecting several favourable days this week that should significantly improve pollination conditions. This year's bloom and pollination period appears to be longer than in recent seasons, when pollination was often compressed into a one- to two-week window. Uneven bud development resulting from last year's drought stress, combined with this spring's weather patterns, has contributed to a more extended bloom period across many fields.

Most fields are currently in mid- to full bloom. This week will be particularly important, as many flowers that remained unopened during last week's rainy weather are now opening and will require favourable pollination conditions to maximize berry set and fruit quality.

In addition to pollination, growers should continue to monitor two other important challenges during the bloom period: frost events and disease management, particularly Botrytis Blight and Septoria Leaf Spot.

Please review the crop updates below regarding upcoming management priorities and post-frost evaluations.

 

Crop Fields’ Upcoming Management

 

Monilinia Blight (Mummy Berry Disease) Infection Symptoms

·         The primary infection period for Monilinia blight was relatively short this season due to rapid crop development through the F2 stage, combined with dry and windy field conditions during the key infection window.

·         Many growers applied a single blight fungicide application, which should provide sufficient control under the disease pressure experienced in 2026.

·         Symptoms resulting from primary infections caused by ascospores are now beginning to appear on fully expanded leaves and, in some cases, on unopened flower clusters.

·         This week and the coming weeks provide an excellent opportunity to scout fields for Monilinia blight symptoms while conducting other field activities.

·         Infected shoots typically exhibit blighted leaves that become brown and wilted. 

·         Identifying infected areas now can help assess disease incidence and evaluate the effectiveness of this season's disease management program.

 

 

Bloom-Period Disease Management

• The two most important diseases affecting wild blueberry production during bloom are Botrytis Blossom Blight (Grey Mould) and Septoria Leaf Spot.
• Timely fungicide applications during the bloom period are effective in reducing disease infection and protecting yield potential.
• If you have not yet applied a bloom-period fungicide but are planning to do so, consider making the application as soon as field and weather conditions permit.
• The warmer temperatures forecast later this week, combined with recent and expected moisture, are favourable for Botrytis Blossom Blight infection. These conditions can also promote the release and dispersal of Septoria spores (conidia), which are spread by rain splash and prolonged leaf wetness.
• Fields with a history of Botrytis Blossom Blight or Septoria Leaf Spot should be monitored closely throughout bloom, particularly following extended periods of wet weather.
• Maintaining adequate disease protection during bloom is important for minimizing flower infection, preserving fruit set, and supporting berry yield and quality later in the season.

 

 

2026 Frost Events and Damage Assessment

 

Over the past two weeks, we have experienced two significant frost events across many wild blueberry production regions. Both events lasted multiple days (May 22–24 and May 31–June 2), and frost injury to open blooms has since been observed and reported from several areas of the province.

At this stage of crop development, frost injury can sometimes be mistaken for symptoms of Monilinia blight. However, there are several key differences. Frost damage typically affects most or all flower clusters on an individual stem, particularly when flowers are fully open and exposed during freezing temperatures. In contrast, Monilinia blight infections are often limited to a single flower cluster or shoot, while neighbouring clusters on the same stem remain healthy.

The severity of frost injury is also closely related to flower development. Closed or partially opened flower clusters generally have greater tolerance to freezing temperatures and often sustain less damage than fully open blooms.

Growers are encouraged to conduct post-frost assessments over the coming days as symptoms become more visible. Evaluating the extent and distribution of flower injury will help determine potential impacts on fruit set and yield.

These frost events pose another significant challenge for the 2026 crop, adding to existing concerns about the 2025 drought, pollination conditions and disease management. The overall impact on wild blueberry production and provincial yield potential will become clearer as bloom progresses and fruit set begins.

 

 

 

Table 1. Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDDs Updates

 

 

 

 

BLUE FOCUS NEWSLETTER- May 2026

 

Hello everyone,

The wild blueberry bloom and pollination season has arrived across the province, bringing one of the most vibrant and exciting times of the year in our crop fields as pollinators return in full activity. The month began with cool, wet conditions, shifted quickly into a period of hot and dry weather in mid-May, and is now ending with a prolonged stretch of rain and soggy field conditions.

At this point, moisture is welcome in many areas of the province; however, over the next two to three weeks, maintaining a balance between adequate soil moisture and favourable flying conditions for bees will become increasingly important for successful pollination. Frequent temperature swings and rapidly changing weather patterns have also accelerated crop development in some regions, with noticeable changes in blueberry growth stages occurring within only a few days.

The combination of rapid crop development and highly variable weather has created challenges for field operations and management scheduling this spring. Careful monitoring of bloom progression, pollinator activity, and field conditions will remain essential during this critical production window.

Wishing everyone a productive and successful pollination season. Take a moment to enjoy the colours, activity, and sounds of the bloom season in your fields.

 

Hugh Lyu

Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia

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

May 29, 2026

Table of Contents: 

May Wild Blueberry Production Highlights

Weather Updates

Upcoming Events

 

 

May Wild Blueberry Production Highlights

 

After a slow start to crop development in April, improved moisture and warmer temperatures accelerated wild blueberry growth throughout May. Over the last two months, much of the attention across the province has focused on assessing the impacts of last year’s drought on the 2026 crop, managing Monilinia Blight, and completing herbicide applications in sprout fields.

Crop stage development continues to serve as the foundation for field management planning. While the 2026 season initially appeared delayed, current observations suggest crop development is running approximately 1 to 1.5 weeks behind the 2025 season. For many growers, this timing is more consistent with traditional production schedules. However, one notable trend this spring has been the relatively uniform crop development across production regions. Unlike in previous years, when crop stages often varied significantly across regions, many areas are now reaching critical management stages in a much shorter timeframe, increasing pressure on scheduling field operations.

 

Drought Impacts on the 2026 Crop

Assessment of drought impacts on the 2026 crop began in late March through stem sampling in major wild blueberry production regions. Evaluations focused on stem height, fruit bud number and size, crop health, and overall yield potential.

Key observations include:

• Drought conditions during the 2025 sprout year, particularly from July through September, significantly affected wild blueberry growth and fruit bud development. This period is critical for fruit bud initiation and development.
• Drought severity varied considerably depending on precipitation levels, soil moisture availability, and soil properties. Areas with sandy soils and low organic matter experienced the greatest impacts, including reduced stem growth, fewer fruit buds, and smaller bud sizes, indicating lower nutrient reserves available for spring development.
• Uneven crop development is now being observed both within fields and among regions. Fields that received more rainfall and retained soil moisture more effectively generally show average to normal crop development. However, even in otherwise healthy fields, isolated drought-stressed patches remain visible and continue to resemble conditions seen in more severely affected areas.
• The drought created substantial regional variability in crop potential across the province, making overall yield predictions more difficult at this stage of the season.
• While many areas currently show average crop appearance and bloom progression, some severely impacted fields continue to face management challenges and concerns regarding input decisions for the remainder of the season.

 

Crop Field and Management Updates

• Spring bud break progressed slowly early in the season. However, several consecutive days of warm temperatures combined with adequate rainfall in early May rapidly accelerated crop development. In some areas, fields advanced from F1 to early F2 stages (30–40% F2) within only two days.
• Dry and warm weather conditions during the Monilinia Blight infection period resulted in a relatively short infection window of approximately one week in most Mainland areas. Based on weather conditions and field observations, a single fungicide application appeared sufficient in many areas this season.
• Following the warm mid-May period, several frost events occurred between May 22 and 24. Minor frost injury was reported in some early flowering fields, particularly in the Oxford, Debert/Belmont, and parts of the Pictou regions. Overall damage levels appeared limited, although affected fields may still experience localized bloom injury and some yield reduction.

Sprout Field and Management Updates

• Sprout field emergence followed a similar pattern to crop fields, with rapid plant emergence occurring after the early May rainfall and warmer temperatures. This created additional scheduling challenges as herbicide applications overlapped with blight management activities in crop fields.
• Most growers were able to complete pre-emergence herbicide applications before widespread plant emergence occurred.
• Current sprout field emergence appears normal across most production regions, helping reduce earlier concerns regarding potential drought impacts on sprout development. At present, most areas are reporting greater than 50% plant emergence.

 

Weather Updates

 

In this section, we provide regular weather updates to help growers track seasonal progress and support field management decisions. Key parameters reviewed include growing degree day (GDD) accumulation, seasonal precipitation trends, and current drought conditions across Nova Scotia.

 

1.    Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDD Summary (April 1- May 28)

 

Figure 1 summarizes the growing degree days accumulated between April 1 and May 28 from selected wild blueberry weather stations across the province. Over the last two months, most mainland production regions have accumulated close to or more than 400 GDDs. This accumulation level is an important seasonal benchmark in both crop and sprout fields, as it is typically associated with mid- to full-bloom stages in crop fields and more than 50% plant emergence in sprout fields for next year’s crop.

As we move into June and the warmer summer months, daily GDD accumulation rates are expected to increase significantly, often reaching 20-25 GDDs or more per day. As a result, growers should expect rapid progression through crop stages and accelerated plant development over the coming weeks.

Figure 1. Wild Blueberry Weather Station GDD Summary (April 1- May 28)

 

 

2. Seasonal Perception Trends

 

Precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels remain a major focus during the 2026 production season in Nova Scotia. Since the beginning of the year, much of the province has experienced persistent dry conditions, ranging from Abnormally Dry to Moderate and Severe Drought classifications.

Although March precipitation was above normal in several areas and provided some temporary relief, many regions still received below-average precipitation overall in April (Figure 2). Data from the Kentville Research Weather Station compares current-year precipitation levels to long-term regional averages. As illustrated in the graph, April precipitation remained below average, indicating limited improvement in soil moisture recovery heading into the growing season.

May weather conditions have been more variable, with alternating rainy and dry periods throughout the month. Overall, conditions have become noticeably wetter, particularly during the final week of May. Additional precipitation during this period has been beneficial for improving soil moisture conditions and reducing dryness concerns across many production regions. A more complete seasonal assessment will be available once final May precipitation data are compiled.

 

 

Figure 2. 2026 Precipitation vs. Regional Historical Averages from the Kentville Research Weather Station.

 

 

3. Current Drought Conditions

 

The latest Canadian Drought Monitor update (April 30, 2026) reported that many regions across Canada received normal to well-above-normal precipitation during April. However, in Nova Scotia, below-normal precipitation in parts of the province contributed to the continued expansion of drought in several areas.

Despite March and April precipitation events, significant drought improvement was limited across much of the province. The encouraging development is that early May rainfall, combined with the widespread precipitation in the final week of May, has improved soil moisture and reduced some drought-stress concerns.

 

According to the April 2026 Canadian Drought Assessment Report:

“Across Nova Scotia, drought changes were mixed, with central areas seeing improvement and the reduction of Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions. Southern and northern regions experienced an expansion of Moderate Drought (D1), consistent with below normal precipitation.”

Figure 3. Canadian Drought Monitor, Conditions as of April 30, 2026.

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

1.      Wild Blueberry Virtual Grower Meetings- June and July

 

o   June 3 and June 17 Event page and registration link: https://www.perennia.ca/eventer/wild-blueberries-virtual-grower-meetings-2026/edate/2026-04-08/.

 

§  June 3, 2026. 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM

 

§  June 17, 2026. 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM

 

 

o   Wednesday, July 8, 8:30 AM- 9:30 AM. This event and its registration will be available soon. Please save this time. We will feature 2 guest speakers on two important topics:

 

§  SWD Talk by Matthew Peill, Integrated Pest Management Specialist, Perennia

§  Sprout Year Nutrient Input by Jessica D'Entremont, NutriAg

 

 

2.      WBPANS Field Day- June 24, 2026, Upper Onslow, NS

This year’s wild blueberry field day will be at the River Breeze Farm, 699 Onslow Road, Upper Onslow, NS.