Hello, everyone
I hope you have had a chance to enjoy
the beauty of the wild blueberry fields this fall, especially in October, when
relatively dry field conditions and peak fall foliage created some beautiful
scenery across the province.
The 2026 wild blueberry season has
wrapped up with a positive production year, and the outlook for the 2027 season
is encouraging. While it is still early to assess next year's crop potential,
many sprout fields are showing healthy growth and promising fruit bud
development, providing some optimism for the upcoming production season.
In this fall edition of the
production newsletter, we highlight the 2026 crop updates, fall management
resources, and upcoming industry events.
Enjoy the remainder of the field
season, and we look forward to another wild blueberry growing season in 2027!
Hugh Lyu
Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia
hlyu@perennia.ca; 902-890-0472.
November 6, 2026
Table of Contents:
1.
2026 Crop Updates
2.
Fall Management Resources
3.
Upcoming Events
2026 Crop Updates
As the 2026 wild blueberry season wraps up and more
production information becomes available, we are providing an updated overview
of estimated yields across major commercial wild blueberry production regions (Table
1).
For Nova Scotia, the 2026 growing season brought a welcome
production recovery following the challenging drought conditions experienced in
2025. Provincial production is estimated at approximately 48 million lbs,
slightly above the five-year average. However, significant regional and
field-to-field yield variability remained evident throughout the province.
Table 1. Commercial Wild Blueberry Production Regions and Estimated
Yields, Updated November 6, 2026.
|
Production Region |
2025 Yield (million lbs) |
5-Year Average (2021–2025) (million lbs) |
2026 Estimated Yield (million lbs) |
|
Maine |
55 |
80 |
70–80 |
|
Quebec |
92 |
82 |
100–110 |
|
New Brunswick |
33 |
56 |
50–60 |
|
Prince Edward Island |
21 |
21 |
27.3 |
|
Nova Scotia |
32 |
45 |
48 |
|
Total |
233 |
284 |
Above 300 |
This season, the wild blueberry
industry is expected to reach over 300 million lbs produdctions across all commercial
production regions. This represents a substantial increase from the 233 million
lbs produced in 2025 and is above the five-year average of approximately 284
million lbs.
2026 Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Production Highlights
Nova Scotia's 2026 wild blueberry production is estimated at
approximately 48 million lbs, representing a substantial recovery from the 32
million lbs harvested in 2025. This year's production is also slightly above
the provincial five-year average of 45 million lbs (2021–2025, Table 1).
Despite concerns about the effects of the 2025 drought,
variable spring weather, and localized frost events, many production areas
experienced average to above-average yields. Nevertheless, considerable
regional and field-to-field production differences were observed throughout the
province this growing season.
Key production highlights from the 2026 season include:
-
Strong provincial production recovery: Estimated
production reached 48 million lbs, higher than the 2025 crop
and slightly above the five-year average. This improvement reflects a positive
recovery across many production areas following the challenging 2025 growing
season.
-
Significant regional and field-to-field
variability: The Cumberland–Minas Shore region experienced some of the most
challenging production conditions, with lingering drought impacts contributing
to below-average yields in several areas. In contrast, many production areas
outside Cumberland County experienced average to above-average production, with
some fields producing particularly strong crops. These differences highlight
the uneven recovery across the province.
-
Beneficial August rainfall supported fruit
development and harvest: The amount and distribution of rainfall during August
played an important role in the 2026 wild blueberry crop. Timely precipitation
helped maintain soil moisture during the final stages of fruit development,
supporting berry filling, weight gain, and overall fruit quality. Meanwhile,
the rainfall pattern, which included suitable dry periods between precipitation
events, allowed producers to continue harvesting operations across much of the
province. This balance between adequate moisture for fruit development and favorable
harvesting conditions contributed positively to the 2026 production season.
Fall Management Resources
Accessing Wild Blueberry Weather Infromation
As producers move into the fall management period, weather
conditions continue to play an important role in scheduling field operations
and planning herbicide applications. Some fall herbicides have specific
moisture and temperature requirements to achieve effective weed control while
minimizing potential crop injury. Therefore, producers are encouraged to
continue monitoring local field conditions through reliable weather information
networks.
Unfortunately, Perennia's Farm Data Tools platform is
currently undergoing maintenance, and weather station information is
temporarily unavailable through the platform. In the meantime, producers who
regularly rely on Farm Data Tools for local weather information can access
Perennia's Wild Blueberry Weather Station Maps through the Weather page
of the Nova Scotia
Wild Blueberry Blog: https://www.novascotiawildblueberryblog.com/p/weather.html.
The webpage provides access to two weather station maps:
- Wild
Blueberry Weather Station Map: Displays the locations of wild
blueberry weather stations across the province.
- Soil
Temperature Map: Provides access to soil temperature information from
participating weather station sites.
Producers can click on an individual weather station on the
map (Figure 1) and follow the Live Data link to access current weather
information, including soil temperatures (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Westchester weather station (NSW094) and the
Live Data link for accessing soil temperature information.
Figure 2. Soil temperature information from the
Westchester weather station (NSW094).
Kerb Herbicide Application Considerations
Fall herbicide applications require careful consideration of
environmental conditions to achieve effective weed control and maintain crop
safety. Among the herbicides used in wild blueberry production, Kerb (Propyzamide)
is one that requires particular attention to application timing, soil
temperature, and moisture conditions.
According to the product label, "Best results are
obtained when soil temperatures are low but above freezing and when soil
moisture is high."
The following are important considerations when planning
Kerb applications:
-
Soil temperature: Ideally, soil temperatures
should be between 0°C and 10°C, while remaining above freezing.
-
Soil moisture and rainfall: Adequate soil
moisture is important for herbicide performance. Rainfall shortly after
application helps move the herbicide into the soil and toward the root zone,
where it can be absorbed by susceptible weeds.
-
Frozen ground: Do not apply Kerb when the ground
is frozen.
Drought Recovery Program- Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
Please visit this program link to access the program information
and application forms: https://novascotia.ca/programs/drought-recovery-initiative/.
Producers seeking assistance with program eligibility or the
application process can contact their local Nova Scotia Department of
Agriculture (NSDA) Agricultural Representative or Business Development Officer.
For regional contact information, please visit this link: https://novascotia.ca/agri/programs-and-services/regional-services/.
Upcoming Events
1.
Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Conference and Annual
General Meeting, November 26& 27, 2026
Please visit this link for more event details
and registration is required by November 11. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/j8du5b5
A draft agenda is attached below and we
look forward to seeing you in Truro!
