Field Day Coming Up!

Just a reminder the Maritime Wild Blueberry Field Day is coming up on Thursday, July 12th at Sargent's Receiving station in Parrsboro. (1480 Smith Hollow Rd. Parrsboro)  9:00 - 4:00 pm.

Also a reminder about Blueberry Maggot!!

Given the last few weeks it can be easy to forget about a few things.  We are starting to creep up on blueberry maggot season.  There is still a lot of ground that is going to be picked this year.  Putting out yellow sticky traps to monitor for the emerging adults is going to be important.  You can can get traps at the WBPANS office in Debert (902-662-3306)

We are a little behind last year, from a heat standpoint, but given the forecast it is likely we will catch-up over the next week or so.

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.

Emergency Registrations for Spotted Wing Drosophila Approved

The PMRA has approved 5 products for emergency use on Spotted Wing Drosophila.

These registrations are on several crops for the 2013 season (including Wild Blueberry)

Ripcord
Malathion
Delegate
Entrust (organic allowable product)
Pyganic (organic allowable product)

These products are approved for use on Bushberry crops (including wild blueberry and highbush blueberry), caneberry (including raspberry), stone fruits, grapes and strawberry.

Click on the link below, it highlights the product rates, re-entry intervals (REIs), use patterns and pre-harvest intervals (PHIs) for each product in each crop.

Emergency Registrations for SWD

For Wild Blueberry it is important to talk with your processor to see which products work for their markets.

Click below for the SWD monitoring factsheet.

SWD Monitoring Factsheet

I will be doing some monitoring in wild blueberry fields starting in July and will be posting any captures on this blog.

Monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila "SWD" in wild blueberry

SWD is a new invasive soft fruit pest that could affect wild blueberries this year. The key for controlling this pest, is to determine when it begins to enter a field and target controls around that first capture.  Monitoring is very important. "SWD" won't be in a blueberry field at any significant levels until the field begins to ripen.  It does not over winter in the field and it is attracted to ripening fruit (any ripening fruit).

Here is a homemade trap that you can build.

There are a lot of unknowns with this new pest, but we have a decent idea on how to trap for it. You can place the traps in the fields around mid July.

Here is a new factsheet that shows you how to monitor for this pest. (click on the link)

http://www.perennia.ca/Fact%20Sheets/IPM/General/SWD%20factsheet_May2013.pdf

Also Click the link below to go to the OMAFRA SWD website. This site has tons of information on this pest.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/swd-management.htm

The PMRA is currently reviewing Emergency Insecticide Registrations for control of SWD in all soft fruit for 2013 in Canada.  Their decisions are expected to come soon.  I will pass around a management guide when the insecticides are approved for usage.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Peter Burgess
Horticulture Specialist, Perennia
(902) 896-0277

10th Wild Blueberry Blight-line update

The Wild Blueberry Blight-line is brought to you by WBPANS, Perennia and Delbridge Disease Management.

The 10^th update for Tuesday May 14^th is as follows:

We had multiple infection periods through most of the province from last Thursday through Monday. 

All monitored sites in Nova Scotia are well beyond the 40% F2 stage.  As well, most monitored sites in the province are showing cups that have dried up or are in the process of drying up.  This means disease risk is rapidly decreasing but there is still some disease risk, particularly in later developing fields. The disease risk has passed in the western end of the province.

Many growers made an application last Wednesday or Thursday.  If those fields had a high proportion of fruit buds open at the time of application, those fields should still be protected until this Friday at least.

If the first application was made last week, and fruit buds were only at 40% open, a second application should be considered.

Later developing fields (ie. Guysborough County and Cape Breton) should consider an application if they have not already done so.  This application would cover the infection period that occurred on Sunday evening.

Note: Sprout fields are starting to pop through.  It is also a good time to begin checking for leaf feeding insects (ie. spanworm and fleabeetle) . 

Numbers for Cape Breton

Keppoch – 48% F2

Foote Cape – 84.4% F2

The Next update will be Friday May 17^th, in the late afternoon.

Caterpillars, Flies and No Rain

We had reports late last week of Tussock moth and other caterpillars defoliating plants in various fields. It would be a good time to look at your fields and make sure you don't have any strange things going on.

Refer to this link for control options, if you have a problem

Insect and Disease Management Schedule

Also remember to look at your maggot fly traps and treat for them if you get trap captures.

On a final note, I was in several fields, in different parts of the province last week and over-all, fields are still doing ok despite the low rain fall. 

Here's hoping we get a little bit of rain this week though.

Reminder, the field day is this Saturday in Debert!

Spanworm and Fleabeetle?

Over the last couple of days I heard several reports of some insect activity in sprout fields.  This presents itself as areas that appear to be delayed in emerging.  Sections of a field will have this appearance while around it there are emerged plants.

Take a walk through your sprout fields to see if you are seeing any of these symptoms.  Also look for notching on leaves around these areas and try and sweep to see if flea beetle larvae or spanworm are present.

I have attached a link to our insect and disease management schedule to see what products are available if you do need to treat.
http://www.agrapoint.ca/Pest%20Management%20Guides/Fruits/2012/Wild%20Blueberry%20Insect%20and%20Disease%202012.pdf


Be very cautious about treating any crop field during bloom, as insecticides at this time can severely reduce pollination.  As always check with your broker or processor to see what products are allowable for their markets.

First Ripe Fruit - putting out traps.

I was out in some fields yesterday and saw some good fruit set. A little bit surprising given the pollination weather we had. Healthy native pollinator populations appeared to help.

I also saw ripe fruit. This means fruit fly traps need to go out ASAP!

Given the weather we have had, fields that have a history of this pest should be monitored closely.

A reminder traps can be purchased at the WBPANS office in Debert.