Blueberry Fruit fly and other reminders

I've been getting some reports of large numbers of fruit flies on traps in Cumberland county, with it being more sporadic in central and eastern parts of the province.  Things are behind normal but we should be checking traps now!!

Also, now is the time to be putting leaf rust sprays on your sprout fields, to protect against leaf rust infection and allow your leaves to stay on the plant longer into the fall.

Check the production guide for available control options https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wild-blueberry2019.pdf

(Remember always check with your buyer to see what is allowable for their markets)

It has been a strange year and harvest looks like it might be starting later than normal.  Monitoring for SWD is something to not forget about, as we get closer to harvest.  SWD hasn't been a huge issue in Nova Scotia over the last several years, but one lesson we can learn from the last two years, is to not count on mother nature, we need to keep an eye on what is happening in our fields.  https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/monitoring-for-spotted-wing-drosophila.pdf

End of July Reminders

It looks like many sprout fields are starting to get a little height.  Tip die back has started so we aren't going to get a whole lot more height.  Consideration should be given to keeping the leaves on the plant as long as you can into the fall.  A leaf rust spray applied soon will help do that, and allow for better fruit bud formation.

We are seeing blueberry maggot adults appear in fields.   Controls should be applied if you are catching adults and plan to harvest that field.  Go to the pest management guide for allowable products http://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Wild-Blueberry-Pest-Guide-2018.pdf.

Remember - check with your buyer to see which products are allowable for their markets.

SWD trapping, Blueberry Fruit fly and other annoying pests

For those who didn't make the field day on the weekend, Dr. Deb Moreau gave an update on SWD trap captures in western NS and the Annapolis valley.  She is seeing some captures in hedgerows around many different berry crops and has begun taking berry samples to see if egg laying has begun.

This is quite early for our region and is a bit concerning for wild blueberry.  We should begin trapping for swd in wild blueberry http://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Monitoring-for-Spotted-Wing-Drosophila.pdf (click on link for info)

As of yet we have not seen SWD in Northern NS, where most of the wild blueberry is located.  Wild blueberries are not the preferred host of swd, but they can and will use the fruit.  I will be monitoring in several sites and will update if we get any captures.

In the meantime, controlling for Blueberry Fruit fly should be done soon if you have populations in your fields.  Imidan will work well on fruit fly and low levels of swd, if they are there.

Trapping for Blueberry Fruit Fly and Leaf Rust protection in Sprout fields

All growers should be putting out their fly traps.  I haven't seen any yet, but fully expect to see some this week.  Remember to wait 3-4 days after first capture before making an application, this allows time for more of the adults to emerge.

You can get traps from the WBPANS office.  Some will be available this weekend at the Maritime Wild Blueberry Field Day at Doug Bragg Enterprises in Collingwood. Saturday 9-3.

Refer to pest guide for products available for Blueberry Fruit Fly http://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Wild-Blueberry-Pest-Guide-2017.pdf

Remember check with your buyer to see what is allowable for their markets!

Also we are getting close to Leaf Rust control season in Sprout fields.  Leaf Rust typically starts to blow into fields around the 3rd week of July.  An application in Late July should provide protection for almost 2 weeks.  This will reduce leaf drop in September and October and will allow for better sizing of your fruit buds.

Blueberry Fruit Fly Update

We are starting to see captures above threshold in various areas around central NS.  It looks like fly pressure will be similar to the last couple of years, so it is important for growers to monitor and make applications appropriately.  If you are seeing large numbers of flies on your trap now, it would be prudent to apply a control within 3-4 days. Check with your buyer or processor for appropriate control products for their markets.

Time to monitor for Blueberry Fruit fly

Just wanted to remind everyone, that it is that time of year to get your traps out in the field and begin monitoring for blueberry maggot fly.  The above picture shows the flies on the yellow sticky traps.  We have had very high numbers the last couple of years, so it is important to keep a close eye on the populations in your fields and treat when required.  The WBPANS office in Debert has lots of traps, so contact Janet at 662-3306 if you needs some traps.

The pest control guide is linked below and there are multiple products registered for use to control this pest, but remember check with your processor or buyer to see what is allowable for their markets. Just because a product is registered in Canada, doesn't mean it is allowable in some of our foreign markets. 

Wild Blueberry Pest Management Guide

Here's an older factsheet on monitoring for this pest Blueberry Fruit Fly

Blueberry Maggot and spotted wing

I was in several fields today and saw plenty of blueberry maggot on sticky traps. Of note I did not see them in every field. It is important to get your traps out ASAP.


SWD - This week we did have a confirmed capture of 1 male SWD in the Annapolis valley. This is earlier than expected and earlier than the last couple of years. Out of 45 traps being monitored in the valley, 1 fly in one trap was found.
We may not see flies for another couple weeks in central and northern NS, however, growers should be putting their traps out now.

This does not necessarily mean we will have a bad SWD season, but growers do need to be vigilant with their monitoring as we approach harvest.

I will keep you updated here and on the blight line through harvest.

Berries turning blue, time to monitor

I've been seeing the first blue'ish berries around central NS.  Now is the time to get Blueberry maggot traps into your fields.


Also SWD traps should be placed on field borders beginning this week.


UPDATE:


The PMRA has just revoked the approval of Ripcord for use on Highbush and Lowbush blueberries for SWD control.


As a result we still have Malathion, Delegate and Entrust as products with an emergency registration for control of SWD.  Exirel has a full registration on blueberries for SWD control, but there are some import restrictions in other countries.


Contact your processor or buyer to see what is allowable for their markets.


Here is the updated guide Allowable products for control of SWD

Remember to check blueberry maggot traps

I've been seeing higher than normal blueberry fruit fly captures in early fields this year.  Make sure you get out and check the traps to see if you have captures.  Refer to the (Insect and Disease Management Schedule) to see which products you can apply, if one is warranted.

I saw these flies on a trap today, July 12.

Also remember that the WBPANS field day is July 20th at the Wild Blueberry Research Centre, 168 Dakota Road, Debert.  (9:00am - 3:00pm)

Note: I can't make it this year, but there will be people at the weed ID booth that will be able to ID your weeds.