In this bulletin:
- Crop & pest update
- Spotted wing drosophila
- Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program
Blueberry and day-neutral strawberry harvest continues and summer raspberry harvest is slowing down. June-bearing strawberry renovation is underway.
Strawberries:
Renovation is ongoing- many fields have been mowed and growers continue to apply herbicides and fertilizer, narrow the rows, and apply a miticide if necessary. The goal is to have these fields in good shape by mid-August for flower bud initiation. See last week’s bulletin for details on cyclamen mite control at this point. Dry, hot weather continues. Make sure your new and renovated fields are getting enough water; irrigation will help runners take root. New fields are variable- some fields are looking great and growers are training runners, while other fields are slow to get going.
Day-neutral harvest continues across the province. Yields are variable at this point because of different planting dates and hot, dry weather.
Insects: Spotted wing drosophila is active in all areas we are monitoring. All growers with day-neutrals strawberries, raspberries and blueberries should be managing for SWD. See more details on SWD management below.
New fields: monitor for aphids, leafhoppers and flea beetles. An insecticide for leafhoppers may be necessary. Choose products that will control aphids and leafhoppers, such as Sivanto Prime, Assail, Admire, Cygon or Lagon. If you have not sprayed for aphids in 3-4 weeks it is likely time to apply another insecticide.
Monitor for potato leafhoppers, two-spotted spider mites, and tarnished plant buds in day-neutrals.
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.
Cyclamen mites: Renovation is a good time for cyclamen mite control. If there is a history of cyclamen mites in your field or you can see symptoms in the leaves that are growing back now is a good time to apply a miticide. Rotating between Agri-mek and oil is a good practice for resistance management. If you are not controlling for cyclamen mites after renovation keep an eye on the field in September or early next spring for damage and to time the next spray. Beneficial mites can also be trialed for cyclamen mite control. See last week’s bulletin for more information on agri-mek applications.
Disease: In new fields we are beginning to see powdery mildew, and powdery mildew is present in day-neutral fields; alternate fungicides from different families for powdery mildew control. Although it has been dry a single rain can cause anthracnose outbreaks- growers need to continue to manage for botrytis and anthracnose as well.
Raspberries:
Raspberry harvest is slowing down and will wrap up soon. Fall-bearing raspberries are beginning to bloom and there are green berries in early areas and protected culture. Demand continues to be very good for berries. See the SWD update below- regular SWD sprays are needed from now on depending on your area.
Blueberries:
Blueberry harvest continues and growers are happy with the crop. 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 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.
Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program
Submit your eligible expenses today at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/agrifoodprogram.pdf
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