July 23 Berry Bulletin

July 23, 2020

In this bulletin:

• Crop & pest update
• Spotted wing drosophila
• Tissue Sampling
• Rainfastness of Pesticides

Raspberry and blueberry harvest continues. June-bearing harvest is wrapping up with Malwina still being harvested in some areas. Day-neutral strawberries are beginning to be picked.

Berry Bulletin July 23rd

Strawberries:

June-bearing strawberry harvest is slowing down as growers continue to harvest Malwina in the later areas of the province (eastern Ontario). Renovation is ongoing- see the bulletin from July 10^th for more recommendations on renovation. New plantings continue to look variable. Make sure your new plantings are getting enough water. The first summer day-neutral strawberries are being harvested.

Insects:  Spotted wing drosophila is active in all areas we are monitoring.  See more details on SWD management below.

Monitor for potato leafhoppers, two-spotted spider mites, and tarnished plant buds in day-neutrals, and flea beetles, aphids, two-spotted spider mites, and leafhoppers in new June bearing strawberries. Renovation is a good time to control cyclamen mites in June-bearing strawberries.

Tarnished Plant Bug: Day-neutral growers need to monitor for tarnished plant bugs now. Rimon and Beleaf are good options for TPB as they are easy on beneficial insects but they do not provide much, if any, activity on SWD. Malathion for SWD will also control TPB.

Strawberry Aphids: Bearing fields will need an insecticide after mowing and new growth has emerged. Continue to protect your new fields through the summer as well.  In new strawberry plantings choose products that will control aphids and leafhoppers, such as Sivanto Prime, Assail, Admire, Cygon or Lagon.

 Cyclamen mites: Renovation is a good time for cyclamen mite control. If a miticide is needed after renovation:

• After mowing Vegol crop oil can be applied in a high water volume to ensure thorough coverage.
• Agri-mek is registered for Two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) post-harvest. If you are applying agri-mek for TSSM you will achieve some efficacy on cyclamen mite.
• Apply Agri-mek once there is new growth after mowing, which could be approximately 5 days after mowing. Apply Agri-mek at 225 mL/ha in 750-1000L water /ha, with a non-ionic surfactant at .1-.5%. Monitor the water pH.
• Slow down and get thorough coverage of the plants and crowns.
• Apply Agri-mek under slow-drying conditions to improve uptake into the leaves.
• Do not apply sinbar after applying Agri-mek. Wait 5-7 days after Agri-mek before applying sinbar.
• Avoid spreading cyclamen mites to new fields; work in new fields before moving to old, infested fields.
• If applying a miticide in the spring and after again renovation, alternate between Agri-mek and Vegol crop oil for resistance management.

Disease:  Powdery mildew is present in day-neutral fields; growers need to continue to manage for botrytis and anthracnose as well. Anthracnose resistance to group 11s (including Pristine, Cabrio and Quadris Top) has been identified in Ontario. Tank mix these products with a group M for  botrytis control and resistance management. Anthracnose is very weather dependent and needs warm, humid weather and splashing rain for infection to occur Switch (9+12), Diplomat (19), Pristine (7+11), Cabrio (11), Luna Sensation (7+11) & Quadris Top (11+3) are registered for control of anthracnose

Raspberries:  

Raspberry harvest and pick-your-own are underway- PYO demand continues to be strong in raspberries and blueberries. Monitor for two-spotted spider mites, especially in protected culture.  Japanese beetles are also making an appearance in raspberries- Exirel applied for SWD control may also have some activity on Japanese beetles.  See the SWD update below- regular SWD sprays are likely needed from now on depending on your area.

Blueberries:

Blueberry harvest is underway and the crop continues to look good. SWD needs to be managed weekly from this point on depending on your area. Japanese beetles may also need to be controlled in blueberries- Cormoran, Altacor and Exirel are registered for control. Note Cormoran has an 8-day PHI. Exirel will be a good choice as it will control SWD as well.

Spotted wing drosophila:

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) has been identified in all areas where we are monitoring ( Essex, Kent, Elgin, Norfolk, Brant, Niagara, Oxford, Halton, Durham and Northumberland). Growers need to continue managing for SWD where ripe fruit is present, including in day-neutral strawberries, summer-fruiting raspberries, and blueberries.

Do not count on sprays alone:

• Apply an insecticide every 5-7 days.
  • Reapply after ½ inch of rain.
  • Use products from different groups.
  • Spray in the morning (6-10am) or in the evening (6-10 pm) when SWD is active.
  • Do not spray in temperatures above 25C.
  • Pyrethroid insecticides (Mako, Up-Cyde) will not work well in hot weather and will cause an increase in mites. Save these products for later when weather cools off and mite pressure is low.

• Calibrate your sprayer. Slow down & spray every row.
• Keep weeds and vegetation mowed or otherwise controlled in and around the field.
• Control wild hosts (cut below the fruiting zone).
• Keep alleys clean- either remove unmarketable fruit or crush it in the alleys. Destroy unmarketable fruit removed from the field.
• Pick regularly (every other day) and clean!
• Cool fruit as soon as possible after harvest and keep it cool through all stages of marketing (below 2C).

Growers can do a salt water test to evaluate fruit quality. Check out this short video on doing a Salt water test (URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X_F3bHiOSg).

Check the Onfruit.ca blog for full details on counts which will be updated weekly and a list of registered products.

Tissue sampling:

Late July to early August are important times for leaf sampling for a nutrient analysis in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Check out this article for more information on tissue sampling: Summer is the Time for Leaf and Petiole Sampling.

Rainfastness of Pesticides:

Although it has been a dry summer so far, we have had a couple big rain events the last two weekends. Check out these two articles for a refresh on the Rainfastness of Fungicides  and Rainfastness of Insecticides on Fruit Crops 2020: a Reprise to make sure you are applying pesticides at effective times and re-applying when necessary