Welcome to the first berry bulletin of the 2024 season!

In this bulletin:

• Crop Update
• Irrigation for frost protection
• Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative
• Berry IPM workshops
• CropIPM modules
• Berry Crop Protection Update

Crop Update:

Strawberries: All June-bearing strawberries should have straw off and some are under row cover. Bravo or Echo can be applied now for botrytis control to reduce disease inoculum and help with disease management later in the season. Apply two applications if possible, 10 days apart. Make sure to get these applications on before bloom with the 30-day PHI. Insect activity has been low but watch for mites and aphids, especially under row covers. An insecticide should be applied for overwintering aphids once all aphids are hatched.

Over-wintered day-neutrals are in bloom, and growers are getting ready to plant new fields. Apply 50 kg of nitrogen with phosphorus and potassium or as a side dressing 2-3 weeks after planting.

The irrigation for frost protection of strawberries | ontario.ca factsheet was recently updated. Take a look to review your frost protection options. A reminder of the critical temperatures for strawberries:

The dew point is important to determine when to start irrigation. Forecasted dewpoints are available on WeatherUnderground or Environment Canada has current dewpoints.

Blueberries: Blueberries are at tight cluster. The first fertilizer application should be going on. Older bushes (6 years+) require 36-48 g of actual nitrogen per bush. Applied in a split application 18 g of nitrogen can be applied now, followed by a second application at petal fall and a third early July. Bloom is quickly approaching: Click here for the Blueberry Pollinator Stewardship Guide from Michigan State University to read about protecting your pollinators.   

Canker disease control: An early broad-spectrum fungicide such as Bravo or Echo can help manage phomopsis and anthracnose. These diseases produce spores in overwintering cankers in the spring, which can be rain splashed to new growth. If you have a history of mummy berry control is required from bud burst through early bloom.

Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative

Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative – Plant health funding is still available through this initiative.

• Launched September 19, 2023
• Continuous intake until January 6, 2025
• $7.5 M available – first come, first serve basis
• Reimbursement based
• Delivered by OMAFRA by Rural Programs Branch (previously has been OSCIA)
• Contact the Agriculture Information Contact Centre for more information (1-877-424-1300/ ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca)
• Guidelines are now up on Ontario.ca: find them HERE

Categories include:

• Innovative pest monitoring and management tools (Up to 50K per project)
• Preventing introduction and spread of pests (up to 50K per project)
• Sprayer upgrades for integrated pest management (Up to 5K)
• Learning and Education related to plant health (Up to 5K)

For more information on the initiative and how to apply, check out Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative Guidelines.

IPM workshops:

• Strawberry & Raspberry IPM Workshop: Scout training workshop (free)

May 14, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm. 1283 Blueline rd. Simcoe, On. Click here to register.

CropIPM Modules:

OMAFRA’s updated CropIPM is now available, an integrated pest management resource to assist growers and scouts with identification of crop pests and learn about their biology and management strategies.

Click on your crop of interest from the main page to get started. Each module contains a wealth of information on the insects, diseases, disorders and other pests affecting the crop. Key features include:

• Up-to-date IPM information for key Ontario pests
• A new ‘Identify’ feature to help you identify pests and disorders
• An expanded offering of crop specific information
• Scouting calendars
• Comparisons of often-confused-with pests
• Details on soil diagnostics and herbicide injury

Berry Crop Protection Update

These lists include new products and product changes for the 2024 season. Check out the Crop Protection Hub or the label (PMRA label search) for information on rate, preharvest interval, restricted entry interval, efficacy, and comments.

Label expansions & new products in 2023/2024

New products
Product (PCP#)	Crop	Pests
Insecticides & Miticides
Spiro (34247) IRAC 23 Spirodiclofen	Blueberry	Blueberry bud mite
Danitol (33817) IRAC 3 Fenpropathrin	Raspberry	Raspberry fruitworm
Suffoil-X (33099) NC Mineral Oil	Strawberry	Spider mites (rate change to 10 L/ 1000 L water)
Fungicides
Cevya (33405) FRAC 3     Mefentrifluconazole	Strawberry	Botrytis grey mould (suppression only)
	Blueberry, Haskap, Currants	Botrytis grey mould (suppression only), Mummy berry (suppression only), Septoria leaf spot
Inspire Super (30827) FRAC 3 + 9 Cyprodonil + Difenoconazole	Strawberry	Anthracnose (suppression only), Botrytis
Miravis Prime (33207) FRAC 7+12 Pydiflumetofen + Fludioxonil	Strawberry	Anthracnose
Empire WG (34691) FRAC 7+11       Boscalid + Pyraclostrobin	Blueberry	Botrytis grey mould, anthracnose, phomopsis
	Raspberry, blackberry	Botrytis grey mould
	Currant, gooseberry	Powdery mildew (suppression only), Botrytis grey mould
	Strawberry	Anthracnose, botrytis, common leaf spot, powdery mildew
Flint Extra (34962) FRAC 11   Trifloxystrobin	Strawberry	Powdery mildew
Captan 480 SC (34551) FRAC M Captan	Strawberry	Botrytis grey mould, common leaf spot
	Raspberry, blackberry	Botrytis grey mould, spur blight
	Blueberry	Botrytis grey mould, mummy berry

Recent Re-evaluation Decisions for Berry Growers

Registration cancellations
Product (PCP #)	Crop (Pest)	Decision
Diazinon : Diazinon (11889)	Raspberry (crown borer)	Registration cancelled- use expires December 2023.
Fenbuconazole Indar (27294)	Blueberry (mummy berry)	Fenbuconazole discontinued. Last date of use is December 31, 2025.
Chlorpyrifos Products: Pyrinex (23705) , Sharphos (32768), Warhawk (29984)	Strawberry (cutworm)	Registration is cancelled for use on strawberry.  – last date of use by producers: December 10, 2023.
Dacthal W-75 (8963)	Strawberry (pre-emerge herbicide)	No longer available for sale. – last date of use by producers: December 31, 2023.

Additionally, production and sale of Poast Ultra will be discontinued beyond 2023 for all use patterns. Betamix has also been discontinued.  Growers can still use and purchase both these products while available.