Updated Wild Blueberry Pest Management Guide

Not a whole lot has changed from last year's guide but we have made a few changes.

Click on the link below to see the updated guide for 2017

http://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Wild-Blueberry-Pest-Guide-2017.pdf

WBPANS AGM, Friday and Saturday this week.

WBPANS AGM is this week in Truro @ the Glengarry.  I'm looking forward to speaking everyone again.

Also, I don't think I had forwarded on this link before, but there is a new Blueberry Diseases Guide from AAFC.  Blueberry Diseases Guide  This field guide pulls together much of what we know about the various diseases impacting wild blueberries.  The authors, Dr. Paul Hildebrand, W.E. Renderos and Rick Delbridge include great descriptions of the diseases as well as some exceptional photos. This is well worth checking out.

Leaf rust

Ever wonder what that yellow stuff on your harvester head is?

When you are pick a field late in the season, the leaf rust on your crop field, comes off the plant.  I saw this in a field that was being picked last week.  Yields were still very good, but leaves were starting to drop.

NS Woods Travel Ban Update

Just an update from Janet and Peter at the WBPANS office

"As you are probably aware, the travel ban in Nova Scotia woods has been lifted.  There is no further need to report harvesting activities to WBPANS office.  Thank you for your cooperation.   Good luck during the harvest." 

SWD Update

We are continuing to monitor for SWD as we move through the harvest season.  The Annapolis valley and western Nova Scotia have had positive captures (low levels) in field borders and in hedge rows for the last couple of weeks.

Yesterday, we had our first positive capture in Central NS in a hedgerow.  We found 1 male fly, in one of our traps. The trap is not in a wild blueberry field.  This capture is expected based on what we have seen in previous years.  We expect to see sporadic, low level captures over the next couple of weeks. Historically, we have not seen SWD populations increase rapidly until we get into September, and based on what we are seeing, this is what we are expecting this year, for central and Northern NS.  Growers with later harvest fields should consider monitoring those later fields.

At this point, there is no reason to consider treating any field for SWD.

Restricted access to travel on Forest lands - notice from WBPANS

Important Notice to All Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Producers and Custom Harvest Operators, Please Share This Notice Widely With Producers Who May Not Be On Our Email List.

The Nova Scotia Government, through the Department of Natural Resources, has restricted access to woodlands and backcountry areas due to the current extreme forest fire hazard index, with numerous wildfires currently burning out of control in the province.

With wild blueberry harvesting operations now underway in southwest Nova and expected to begin next week in central areas, DNR has issued a single travel permit to WBPANS for our members to “travel on forest lands for the purpose of commercial harvesting of blueberries and activities associated with management of blueberry production”.

Several conditions apply:

1. Harvest operations must have basic fire suppression equipment on site at all times. Equipment to

include at least one shovel, bucket and a minimum of 5 gallons of water.

2. No fires, including no smoking.

3. The association maintain a list of current harvest operations and locations that can be made available

to DNR if required.

These conditions apply to hand raking  and machine harvesting crews.

To comply with requirement #3, above, the WBPANS office will be keeping a daily log of wild blueberry harvesting operations while the emergency travel restriction order is in force. To help us keep this log up to date, we need you to notify the office of where you are harvesting and update it when you move to a new location. A simple email to peter@nswildblueberries.com  is the best way to do this. For example: “XYZ Wild Blueberries, harvesting until further notice on Base Line Rd, Folly Mountain, west of the Bailey bridge near civic address #____”  The log will not be shared or publicized in any way except on request by DNR as a condition of our permit.

Thank you for your co-operation.

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

Late bloom update

So the weather hasn't been great for pollination and the wetness does increase risk of botrytis. However, I've had several wise growers tell me over the years, "There is no sense worrying about the weather, because there is absolutely nothing you can do about it".

That being said, years like this are exactly why we implement the management strategies we do.

Increased pollination density, in years with less than ideal pollination weather will pay dividends. That being said, if we look back at the days objectively, we still have a significant number of "flying hours" over the last two weeks in most areas.  It might be two hours one day, 4 hours the next and a full day on the third.  We don't need 25 degrees and full sun for bees to pollinate.  I have seen honeybees in the field pollinating this year when it was 14 degrees and misty (not full force of course).

Also, our botrytis protection strategies are really important on years like this.  Most growers have been protecting for botrytis the last couple years and generally botrytis pressure has been low.  This year, the potential for increased pressure is there and those strategies that we have adopted should have a bigger impact.

The weather is looking good for the next week, so late blooming fields should get ideal pollination weather.

Crown Land Lease Reminder and plant development update

Just reminding everyone that the Crown Land Lease RFP is now open and it is a great opportunity to look at these properties to see if it is right for your business. Take a look at this RFP to see if you might be interested.

Crown Land Lease Link

Also, I was in a sprout field in Mt. Thom today. Weeds are definitely starting to move.  Bluegrass, Sheep sorrel and fescue are starting to turn green and new seedlings are just starting to pop through.  Really good idea to check both crop and sprout fields this weekend for weed and plant development.

Obsolete Pesticide Disposal - This week and next

Just a reminder, now is the time to get rid of old and obsolete pesticides from your storage.

http://www.cleanfarms.ca/sites/default/files/6237-CleanFARMS%20Obsolete%20Pesticides%20Poster_NS-WEB2.pdf

Also...

The WBPANS AGM is coming up at the Glengarry in Truro on November 20th and 21st.  Hope to see everyone there.

http://nswildblueberries.com/index.php?option=com_simplecalendar&view=events&id[0]=9&Itemid=112

Crown Land Lease RFP

The Nova Scotia government recently released a request for proposal, for blueberry growers to lease, develop and harvest wild blueberries on several crown land sites in Cumberland County.  If this is something, you think you might be interested in follow the link below to get more details on the sites and the process to submit a proposal.

http://www.novascotia.ca/tenders/tenders/tender-details.aspx?id=60148906

The deadline for the proposal is November 6th.  Contact Mark TeKamp at (902) 424-3488 or mark.tekamp@novascotia.ca if you have any questions.

10th Monilinia Blight Update for Nova Scotia

Monilinia Blight risk is rapidly decreasing across the province.  At most monitoring sites, spore cups have dried up and plant development is moving into early bloom.

The only places where a low to moderate disease risk might still remain would be traditionally very late fields in mainland Nova Scotia and late fields in Cape Breton.

If farmers have applied a control measure on those late fields this week, they should be protected through the end of the Monilinia season.

Sites that are still reporting some active cups are:

South Hampton - 1 nearly Mature cup
Fenwick Hill - 1 pin, 1 nearly mature cup
Westchester (Kennel field) - 3 mature cups

This will be the last Monilinia Update of the season.  I will continue to make periodic crop updates on this blog and on the Blightline through the harvest, including "SWD" monitoring.

9th Monilinia Update for Nova Scotia

With the exception of a few late fields in Cape Breton all fields in Nova Scotia are beyond 40% F2. The western end of the Province is likely past Monilinia risk as flowers there should be opening very soon.

The only field site that is not yet at threshold is Egypt Mt., Cape Breton (16% F2)

We did have an infection period through much of the province last Friday and many areas may have had one today.  If you have sprayed within the last week, you should be protected through these infection periods.

We are still seeing mature cups at many of our monitoring sites, however they are starting to dry up even on later fields.

Airport (Parrsboro): 1 mature, 1 drying up
Diligent river: 1 mature
Woods mtn: 1 drying up
Fenwick: 1 nearly mature
Westchester: 3 mature, 1 almost mature, 1 dried up
Lower cliff lloy:1 dried up
Farmington: 1 pin, 1 dried up.

Disease risk is starting to decrease, but growers should still think about controls, particularly on later fields, if another wet period occurs.  

8th Monilinia Update For Nova Scotia

I decided to make an early post this week, as we are seeing accelerated plant development, cup development and fore-casted wet periods.

Most fields in Nova Scotia are at or beyond the 40-50% F2 stage.  All monitored sites in Cumberland county are now at the susceptible stage as well as most fields in eastern Nova Scotia, including some in Cape Breton.  There will be some fields that are not yet fully developed, but those would be high elevation or sheltered sites.

Risk of infection is still high in Central Nova Scotia and all points east.  We had variable infection periods Tuesday through Wednesday depending upon your location.  It appears we will have another infection period Friday afternoon through Saturday. Control measures should be considered. If you have made an application this week, it should protect the fruit buds, that were open at the time of application, through the weekend.

We are seeing mature and nearly mature apothecial "spore" cups at many of our sites in Cumberland county, this means infection risk is still there:

Woods Mt - 1 nearly mature cup
Diligent river - 1 nearly mature cup
Parrsboro (airport field) - 2 mature cups
Farmington - 1 nearly mature cup
Pigeon Hill - 2 pins, 2 nearly mature cups
Westchester (Kennel field) - 1 mature
Fenwick - 2 pins

Cape Breton:

Foote Cape - 43% F2

7th Monilinia Blight Update for Nova Scotia

For much of the province, there hasn't been a significant wet period since last Wednesday, May 13th. The western end of the province had a significant amount of rain on Sunday, but Central NS and East had no rain to speak of.  The warm and dry conditions have push fruit bud development across the province with disease pressure being quite low.

Many fields in main land Nova Scotia are at or beyond 40-50% F2.  There are exceptions throughout the province where North facing slopes or fields that had high snow loads on them are very slow to develop.  This has resulted in fields that are close together developing at drastically different rates.  Luckily to date much of the province has had very few infection periods.

We are still at risk to Monilinia infection if there is a significant wet period within the next week, and control measures should be considered if a wet period occurs.

If dry conditions persist, disease risk will decrease rapidly over the next week, particularly on early developing fields.

Here is a list of later developing fields in Central NS:

Farmington - 45% F2
Pigeon Hill - 50% F2 (1 pin and 1 mature cup)
Westchester - > 40% F2 (1 nearly mature cup)
Spiddle Hill - 40% F2

Dean - field 1 - 65% F2; field 2 - 8% F2

Cape Breton - 21% F2

With the exception of a couple of slow developing fields, the development in many areas is just slightly behind our reports from last year (approx. 1/2 week). Plant development has caught up rapidly over the last couple of weeks.

With plant development moving along, growers should be considering their sprout year herbicide applications over the next week or so.

6th Monilinia Update for Nova Scotia 2015

We are getting into the heart of blight season for a good chunk of Nova Scotia.  Many fields are at or are approaching 40-50% F2 stage in Central Nova Scotia.  (especially by the end of the weekend).  The exception to this would be higher elevation fields or traditionally late fields.

The weather for Sunday is 10-15 mm of rain.  Given the forecasted temperatures, if this does play out, there will be an infection period.

The entire western end of the province is beyond the 40% F2 stage and growers should be treating fields based on wet periods.  Remember (Topas, Tilt, Jade and Mission) will protect open buds for 7-10 days after application.  These products will also give some back action after infection.  If buds are tight when a product is applied, it will not be protected if it opens up soon after.

Here is the list of reporting sites from today

Fenwick -36% F2 (1 pin)
South Hampton - 30% F2
Neuville Lake - 28% F2
Parrsboro (airport) - 25% F2
Woods Mountain - 24% F2
Diligent river - 13% F2
Glasgow Mt. - 14% F2
Advocate - 15% F2

Springhill - 19% F2
Windham hill - 23% F2
Sutherlands Lake - 16% F2

Swallow road - 44% F2
Bayhead - 65% F2

Most fields around the Debert/Truro area are at or beyond the 40% F2 stage

Dean - 19% F2 

Growers east of Mt. Thom should be actively looking at their fields now. Fields will begin to develop rapidly.

5th Monilinia Update for Nova Scotia

Floral bud development is beginning to move along rapidly. Some areas may have had an infection period from Tuesday through early Wednesday.  I say may have, because not as much rain has fallen as expected and it is cool.  However, if fields are above the 40-50% F2 stage it would probably prudent to apply a control product within the next two days.  Fields that are slower to develop can likely wait to be sprayed until the next wet period which could be next week, as the weather outlook is for warm and dry conditions.

Here is the list of reporting sites from today

Fenwick -21% F2
South Hampton - 20% F2
Oxford - 41% F2
Westchester (kennel field) - 14% F2 - (1 nearly mature cup)
Pigeon Hill (Charles Ripley field) - 7% F2
Parrsboro (airport) - 14% F2
Woods Mountain - 14% F2
Diligent river - 6% F2
Fox Point - 3% F2

Swallow road - 17.5% F2
Bayhead - 17% F2

East Mines - 45% F2
Montrose - 42% F2
Highland Village - 56% F2
Londonderry - 35% F2

Brookfield - 45% F2

Glenmore - 39 % F2
Benvie Hill - 23% F2

Rawdon - >40% F2

Caledonia  - 70% F2 (moving fast)
Victory (Annapolis county) - 55% F2
Sable River - 65% F2

The western end of the province is mostly at or beyond the 40-50% F2 stage.  Fields in this area should be considered susceptible if there is a wet period.

4th Monilinia Blight Update for Nova Scotia 2015

It is with great sadness that I have to report, that our colleague and friend Rick Delbridge passed away early this morning.  Rick was an extremely kind and generous man, an exceptional Agrologist and made a huge impact to the wild blueberry industry throughout his career.

Rick along with Paul Hildebrand were pioneers in blight monitoring for the wild blueberry industry. As many of you know Rick led the Monilinia and Botrytis monitoring programs "blighline" for many years, and was still involved into this spring.

He will be missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

Rick had a great passion for plant pathology and I know he would want to make sure the Monilinia report got out to growers, so here it goes.

Fruit buds are beginning to move across the province, but we have seen great variation in development depending on slope, location and how long the snow has been off the field.

Newville lake -11% F2
Athol - 7 & 9% F2 (two fields)
Windham Hill - 4% F2
Oxford - 23% F2
Westchester - 3% F2
Pigeon Hill (Charles Ripley field) - 7% F2
Canaan Mountain - 20% F2
Parrsboro - 0% F2
Woods Mountain - 0% F2

Swallow road - 5% F2
Spiddle Hill - 10% F2

East Mines - 11% F2
Montrose - 11% F2
Highland Village - 23% F2
Londonderry - 19% F2

Cooks Brook - 40% F2  (1 pin)
Glenmore - 16.5 % F2
Benvie Hill - 24% F2

Rawdon 30% F2

Caledonia (Wednesday) - 18% F2 (moving fast)

There is some possible wet periods approaching at the end of the weekend.  With the projected temperatures, some fields will be beyond 40% F2 by Monday and if there is a significant wet period, a control may be warranted.

Farmers that have fields, in traditionally early areas, should be paying close attention to fruit bud development this weekend.

3rd Blightline update for Nova Scotia in 2015

Despite the good weather, fruit bud development is still slow. The good news is that weather appears to be quite good until the weekend with some forecasted rain over the weekend.  This should help move plants along and further speed up snow melt and dry up some fields.

Bud development for early sites are as follows:

Sable River (Shelburne county) - 20% F2
Glenmore (Halifax County) - 1% F2
Cook's Brook (early field in Halifax County) - 5% F2

Debert Area fields - 0% F2 (most buds have not yet begun to swell)

Most areas have not begun to monitor yet.

To give everyone an idea of where we were at this point last year, most sites in Central NS were reporting F2 bud development, with several sites beyond 40% F2.  All of the western end of NS was beyond the 40-50% F2 stage.

Check back late on Friday afternoon for the next update.

Perimeter Fencing funding through homegrown success

Deadline is May 15th

See page 16 and 17 for details

http://novascotia.ca/agri/documents/programs-brm/HGS-Pgm-Guidelines2015-16.pdf

If deer and bear are a major problem on your blueberry farm this program through the Provincial government might be worth a look.