Small Fruit Update

News Highlights bull Mexican Berry Production Aneberries forecasts growth in coming campaign (824 Fresh Fruit Portal)bull USHBC Blueberry industry to continue research promotion order (824 Fruit Grower News)bull Sakuma-Union negotiations hit stumbling blocks (815 Fresh Fruit Portal) bull First container of Canadian blueberries arrived in Guangzhou by sea (815 Fresh Plaza)bull BC Blueberry price blues Multiple factors have some farmers struggling (811 Abbotsford News)bull Fruits of labor sunny California is no paradise for farm workers (815 The Guardian)bull Four ag tech funding trends for 2016 (816 AgPro)

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The Weather Cafe Rufus La Lones uniquely informative long-range Pacific Northwest forecasts

SWD rISK fACTORSSee our photo guide for common SWD risk factors

Cold Storage Reports Cold storage trends compiled from the USDA-NASS Monthly Cold Storage Reports by Rufus La Lone

3 SWD RISK FACTORS

4 Regional Crop Reports 5 Industry News

6-9 Pest Management

SponsorsWashington Red Raspberry Commission

Washington Blueberry Commission

Washington Strawberry Commission

Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission

Oregon Blueberry Commission

Oregon Strawberry Commission

BC Strawberry Growers Association

Raspberry Industry Development Council

BC Blueberry Council

North American Blueberry Council

August 24 2016 Week 34

Providing northwest berry growers with the information they need when they need it The Small Fruit Update is sent out weekly during the growing season by The Northwest Berry Foundation and is funded entirely by the Northwest berry growers and industry through their commissions and councils

2

Degree Day Linkssbull WSU Extension- Whatcom county

bull Regional Sites updated by Len Coop OSU-iPPC

bull September 1 mdash Western Washington Small Fruit Field Day ~ 3-530 pm Lynden WA Go here for the details Location Maberry Packing raspberry field at the intersection of Birch Bay-Lynden and Delta Line Roads ParticipantsSponsors WSU USDA amp Walters Ag Research

bull September 15 mdash Oregon Raspberry amp Blackberry Commission Board meeting 10amndash2pm Haydenrsquos Lakefront Grill For more information contact Philip Guumltt (541-758-4043)

bull September 27 mdash Oregon Blueberry Commission Noon Chemeketa Events at Winema Building 48 Room 202 AampB For more information contact Contact Lisa Ostlund

For more meetings amp events see The Northwest Berry Foundations industry calendar

Grower Resourcesbull BC Blueberry iPM Newsletter (819) This is done by ES Cropconsult for the BC Blueberry Council

bull Oregon Fresh Market Strawberry Bulletin Buyer Updates (818) This is done by the Northwest Berry Foundation for the Oregon Strawberry Commision

bull Root inoculum Removal as a Tool to improve Soilborne Disease Management in Red Raspberry (81515 Whatcom Ag Monthly)

Meetings amp Eventss

Editors NoteTom Peerbolt SFU Editor

Main message to all growersmdashkeep the water flowing and check soil moisture levels Some fields getting regular irrigation are still showing stress Might check the soil to make sure the system and schedule are adequate for maintaining soil moisture throughout the root zone

Small Fruit Update SchedulemdashSince we are entering the off season the SFU will be published every other week for awhile

Prime Ark Freedom fresh market blackberry just beginning to ripen Hillsboro OR 8-12-16

3Pest Management

SWD Risk factors

Large overhanging bushes Ripe shaded fruit inside the bushes

Himalayan blackberries in field border Overhead irrigation

Field history of SWD issues More than 7 days since last insecticide application

4

Northern Washington Whatcom County

Regional Crop Reports

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(Wednesday 824) Hot weather hurt much of the late Liberty and Elliott Soft has been the norm for all but those on a very short rotation Second pick is all but finished and third looks to be small Possibly too small to make grade SWD is in many fields and if not on a good program will prevent any fruit going fresh Aphids are making an entrance into the area and should be controlled out of due diligence Now that fruit is all but gone pricing is on a rally Post harvest work started in many places

A note on regional reports These updates are observations from individuals within the region and are not intended as recommendations or endorsements They are included to give an impression of the state of the industry and regional activities

British Columbia fraser valleyBlueberries (Monday 822) Getting toward the end of things here On to third pick of Elliot this week and that should wrap up by early to mid next week Not a huge pick either Volumes are down markedly on this variety this year in general Some Aurora picking in the second pick The fruit from this variety has held up very well in the heat wave we had on 18th- 20th (mid 30s C) There looks to be a decent third pick for Aurora but productive acres are quite limited yet There is an anticipated heat wave coming again by Thursday 25th so this may reduce the potential crop somewhat as well its pretty dry and dusty out there and irrigation is getting a workout Weve had some issues with mites in raspberries the last few weeks that needed addressing as well Looks to be dry for a while yet so i think the irrigation will be ongoing for now

Vintage fresh market raspberry Hillsboro OR 81216 Prime Ark Freedom Hillsboro OR 8-12-16

British Columbia fraser valley

(Monday 822) SWD pressure very highbull Weather The past two weekshave been hot and dry to a fault Everything has accelerated to a fast end of the season irrigation is foremost on everyones mind and even though most crops are done maintenance irrigation is crucial A little glitch with clouds Monday but then back to hot again but not much over 30 C (90 F)bull Blueberries Late varieties only cleanup work underway otherwisebull Raspberries Wersquove got got white shoulders on exposed fruit while we were at high temps otherwise great qualitybull Strawberries Dayneutral fruit quality is excellent but we know theres a lack of flowers coming shortly as temps were too high and they didnrsquot initiate bloom for a while Even night temps were highbull Misc mid season apples now ripe for the picking Fall Olive (not a real olive) now ready for picking cranberries turning colour fast Figs second crop of the year sizing nicely this weather has been golden for them

From Tom Baumann Director of the Pacific Berry Resource Centre amp UFVrsquos Ag Dept Coordinator

4

Northern Washington Whatcom County

Regional Crop Reports

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(Wednesday 824) Hot weather hurt much of the late Liberty and Elliott Soft has been the norm for all but those on a very short rotation Second pick is all but finished and third looks to be small Possibly too small to make grade SWD is in many fields and if not on a good program will prevent any fruit going fresh Aphids are making an entrance into the area and should be controlled out of due diligence Now that fruit is all but gone pricing is on a rally Post harvest work started in many places

A note on regional reports These updates are observations from individuals within the region and are not intended as recommendations or endorsements They are included to give an impression of the state of the industry and regional activities

British Columbia fraser valleyBlueberries (Monday 822) Getting toward the end of things here On to third pick of Elliot this week and that should wrap up by early to mid next week Not a huge pick either Volumes are down markedly on this variety this year in general Some Aurora picking in the second pick The fruit from this variety has held up very well in the heat wave we had on 18th- 20th (mid 30s C) There looks to be a decent third pick for Aurora but productive acres are quite limited yet There is an anticipated heat wave coming again by Thursday 25th so this may reduce the potential crop somewhat as well its pretty dry and dusty out there and irrigation is getting a workout Weve had some issues with mites in raspberries the last few weeks that needed addressing as well Looks to be dry for a while yet so i think the irrigation will be ongoing for now

Vintage fresh market raspberry Hillsboro OR 81216 Prime Ark Freedom Hillsboro OR 8-12-16

British Columbia fraser valley

(Monday 822) SWD pressure very highbull Weather The past two weekshave been hot and dry to a fault Everything has accelerated to a fast end of the season irrigation is foremost on everyones mind and even though most crops are done maintenance irrigation is crucial A little glitch with clouds Monday but then back to hot again but not much over 30 C (90 F)bull Blueberries Late varieties only cleanup work underway otherwisebull Raspberries Wersquove got got white shoulders on exposed fruit while we were at high temps otherwise great qualitybull Strawberries Dayneutral fruit quality is excellent but we know theres a lack of flowers coming shortly as temps were too high and they didnrsquot initiate bloom for a while Even night temps were highbull Misc mid season apples now ripe for the picking Fall Olive (not a real olive) now ready for picking cranberries turning colour fast Figs second crop of the year sizing nicely this weather has been golden for them

From Tom Baumann Director of the Pacific Berry Resource Centre amp UFVrsquos Ag Dept Coordinator

5Industry newsresources news articlesTechnologybull Oregon UAVrsquos take flight at first Ag Drone rodeo (819 Capital Press)Health Researchbull The system for catching dangerous pathogens in Americarsquos food supply is finally working (823 Quartz)Climatebull Washington water supply better than expected (810 Capital Press)bull Move over El Nino La Nina to affect fall weather (85 Growing Produce)PollinatorsNeonicotinoidsbull New Study shows Neonicotinoids pose little practical risk to bees (815 Growing Produce) Excellent comments section on this articlemdashitrsquorsquos a complicated issueTPLaborbull California Overtime bill passes California senate (822 Fresh Fruit Portal)bull Overtime bill could cut Californiarsquos ag economy by $45 billion report claims (819 Fresh Fruit Portal)bull New Jersey Conditions for blueberry pickers under scrutiny at area farms (818 Atlantic City Press)Organicbull Only 23 of people in the US believe they can afford organic (823 PR Newswire)bull Organics see growth wave continue in 2015 (818 The Packer)North Americabull Farm land value dips (816 AgPro)bull Mainersquos wild blueberries headed for big crop despite dry weather (811 ABC News)bull Michigan Bagging a bumper bundle of blueberries (811 Moody on the market)Internationalbull Peru Blueberry will be the third biggest export product in 2017 (823 Fresh Plaza)bull Peru Camposol grows frozen fruit business (812 Fresh Fruit Portal)bull Europe Raspberry market scrambles out of dips (815 Fresh Plaza)bull Australia Aquilini planning mega-sized blueberry farm in Australia (822 Daily Examiner)bull UruguayChina China opens market to Uruguayan blueberries (824 Fresh Plaza)

BERRy RESEARCH BLOGS Strawberries and Caneberries by Mark Bolda UC Davis Berry Extension Agent Reports on issues from California Recent Entry (811) Land stewardship and soilborne pathogens in California strawberry production Team rubusBy Gina Fernandez North Carolina State Small Fruit Specialist Reports on issues in blackberries and raspberries from the Southeast Recent Entry (83) Cane blight at end of season NEWSLETTERS amp BERRy REPORTS WhatCom AG MonthlyProduced by WSU Whatcom County Extension Excellent berry information National Berry ReportDaily fresh market berry reports generated from data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Hosted by the California Strawberry CommissionWeekly Market Report from General Produce

Weekly Chilean Blueberry Committee Crop amp Exports report

USDA Market News (Fruits amp Vegetables)

MAGAzINE WEBSITE COMPILATIONSFruit Grower News blueberries raspberries and blackberriesFresh Plaza fruitThe Packer blueberries blackberries raspberries strawberriesGrowing Produce recent berry articlesFruit Grower News blueberriesraspberries amp blackberriesAndnowyouknowcom blueberriesblackberries raspberriesstrawberriesFresh Fruit Portal blueberriesblackberries raspberriesstrawberries

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Photo by Jason Myer

6Pest Management Information Week 34 spotted wing drosophila management resources

ADDITIONAL bull Noncrop Host Plants of Spotted Wing Drosophila in North America Extension Bulletin published April 2015bull Solid set canopy delivery system (Projectrsquos website) This is a large research project going on with tree fruits but which shares a lot of principals in common with the berry research work on lsquomistigationrsquo systems for delivering applications particularly for spotted wing drosophila management Looks like a very sound approachbull PCM factsheet on SWD risk factorsbull Using sugar in spray tanks to help SWD efficacy (2515 Entomology Today)bull SWD ID Card (UC Extension)

MONITORING BERRIES FOR SWD LARVAE IN THE FIELDWatch our video of the larvae-checking method bull Put a sample of fruit to be tested in a gallon size sealable plastic bagbull Pour in enough salt water solution to allow the fruit to float (solution is 1 cup of salt per gallon of water) Mark bag with field codedate Gently crushbreak open fruitbull For a quick check in the field after a designated period of time (at least 15 minutes) hold the baggie up to light This helps to see the larvae in the solutionbull For a more thorough examination after a designated period of time (at least 15 minutes) pour the fruit and salt solution out into a shallow tray and use a piece of wire mesh screen to hold the fruit down making it easier to separate the larvae from the fruit

GENERALbull Spottedwingorg information from the 5 year SCRi regional project that just concluded Cooperating organizations OSU WSU Agri-Foods Canada UC Davis UC Berkeley Peerbolt Crop Management amp the USDAbull SpottedwingorgSWD external links resourcesbull USpestorg SWD Extension Documents Many of Amy Drevesrsquo generated SWD materials on managing and monitoring SWD

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SWD larva on strawberry photo by Jason Myer

ORegOn anD WaShIngtOn (laSt UPDateD 22414)bull Blueberries SWD pesticide options and informationbull Raspberries and blackberries SWD pesticide options and information bull Strawberries SWD pesticide options and information

NEW RESOURCES bull New SWD webinar video series just released by Oregon State University and Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides o it has five SWD videos Intro to SWD Spring Management Summer Management Fall Management amp Winter Management

Himalayan blackberries in field border 7-18-16 SWD hostmdashget rid of them

BRITISH COLUMBIAbull BC SWD Managementbull SWD information brochure in English bull SWD information brochure in Punjabi

SCOUT FOR AND EVALUATE IF MANAGEMENT ACTION IS NEEDED POWDERy MILDEW STRAWBERRIESDry warm humid conditions favor powdery mildew in strawberries Wersquore seeing the disease beginning to get going in some area fields

TIME TO START SCOUTING FOR yELLOW RUST RASPBERRIES The fourth spore stage (uredinia) is now showing up as yellow lsquodustrsquo on the bottom of leaves This stage is the one that multiplies quickly amp can quickly defoliate canes if left untreated Evaluate disease incidence and stage to determine whether (amp when) fungicide applications are warranted

7Pest Management Information Week 32

SCOUT FOR SILVER LEAF DISEASE BLUEBERRIES This is a recently identified disease Draper seems to be particularly susceptible but other varieties have also tested positive (See above photos)

Silver Leaf disease symptoms in Draper blueberry field Willamette Valley 52216 photos by Tom Peerbolt

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Powdery Mildew Strawberries photos by Tom Peerbolt

Yellow rust stage 1 spermagoia photo by Tom Peerbolt

Yellow rust stage 2 aecia photo by Carolyn Teasdale

Yellow rust stage 3 uredinia photo by Tom Peerbolt

8Pest Management Information Week 34 Pest Management activitiesScout for yellow rust raspberries

Scout for aphids blueberriesbull The action threshold for aphids in blueberries is very low in any area where Scorch virus is a concern bull Aphids spread Scorch Virus and killing the aphids is the most effective way to prevent new infectionsbull in areas where Scorch Virus is not a concern the potential economic damage from aphids is much less and larger popula-tions can be tolerated before management actions are taken bull With Scorch Virus infected bushes do not return to productivity and should be removed ASAP to limit the disease spread

Scout for and evaluate if management action is needed Twospotted mites raspberries

Scout for and determine if management actions are needed Root Weevil adults all crops Black Vine Rough Strawberry Strawberry Root Weevils

Scout for Mummyberry blueberries Mummyberry primer from MSUbull During harvest evaluate the level of mummyberry infections and the areas of the field that are infected bull infected fruit is now easy to distinguish from healthy fruit bull The infected fruit colors earlier shrivels whitens and drops from the bushes easily when disturbed bull The inside of an infected berry will be filled with white fungal myceliumbull Sort out and remove from field as much of the infected fruit as possiblebull Use this yearly mummyberry information to assess and plan next yearrsquos Mummyberry prevention program

Right now is an excellent time to scout for the mummyberry especially if yoursquove got weed mat

9

Additional Ongoing pest informationDiseasesbull Phytophthora Root Rot raspberries bull Shock virus blueberries bull Blackberry Rust (Phragmidium Rust) Evergreen blackberries

InsectsMitesbull Azalea Bark Scale blueberries bull Raspberry Beetle northern raspber-ries bull Root Weevils strawberries and blue-

berries Black Vine Rough Strawberry Strawberry Root Weevils bull Blueberry Gall Midge blueberries bull Mites in raspberries Twospotted

mites and yellow mites bull Strawberry Crown Moth southern

strawberries

Crop WorkAll cropsbull Pay attention to new plantings of all

berries for weeds water insects diseas-es and nutrient deficiencies bull Maintain SWD fruit sampling mon-

itoring and management plan (blue-berries raspberries blackberries strawberries)bull Weed managementbull Post-harvestmdashsoil and leaf test for

evaluation of nutrients 1 OSUs Blueberry Nutrient (and testing) guidelines 2 OSUs Caneberry Nutrient (and testing) guidelinesbull Post harvestmdashcan treat for SWD man-

agement if field is adjacent to vulnera-ble fruit cropbull Scout for Root Weevil adults Black

Vine Rough Strawberry Strawberry Root Weevilsbull Water management

BlueberriesHarvest ongoingbull Bird managementbull Scout for mummyberry infected fruit bull Stay on top of aphid management where scorch virus transmission is an issuebull Scout for leafroller larvae and treat as neededbull Scout for virus symptoms and send in samples for testing as needed (Shock virus Scorch virus)bull Scout for winter mothbruce span-worm larvae bull Scout for scale insectsbull Scout for weevil notching on leaves

and for adult weevilsbull Scout for azalea bark scale in south-ern fieldsbull Scout for blueberry gall midge damagebull Can use pheromone traps to monitor

for leafrollersbull Scout for berry symptoms like green

fruit botrytis hail damage mummyber-ry etc

RaspberriesProcessed harvest finishedbull Scout for cane collapse symptoms amp

determine cause (Phytophthora Root Rot Verticillium crown borers overwa-tering etc)bull Scout for yellow rust and assess

treatment optionsbull Scout for twospotted mites and

yellow mitesbull Scout for virus symptoms and send in

samples for testing as neededbull Scout for cane blight and cane bot-

rytis symptoms bull (North) Scout for raspberry beetle

feeding symptomsbull Scout for aphids and treat as needed

For late season fresh marketbull Scout for weevils and treat as needed

( Black Vine Rough Strawberry Straw-berry Root Weevils)bull (North) Scout for Raspberry Fruit-

worm feeding symptomsbull Scout for virus symptoms and send

in samples for testing as needed (RBDV TRsV)bull Scout for fruit mold and treat as

neededbull Scout for yellow Rust and assess

treatment optionsbull Scout for Two-spotted Mites yellow

mites and treat as needed bull Scout for aphids and treat as neededbull Scout for leafroller larvae

BlackberriesLate season variety harvest ongoingbull Scout for cane collapse symptoms amp

determine cause (Phytophthora Root Rot Verticillium crown borers overwa-tering etc)bull Scout for leafroller larvae and treat

as needed to prevent fruit contaminant problems (orange Tortrix and oblique Banded)bull Can apply fungicides for fruitblos-

som rot bull Scout for virus symptoms and send in

samples for testing as neededbull Scout for cane and leaf rustbull Watch for fruit molds and treat as

neededbull Scout for and treat as needed black-

berry rust in Evergreen blackberriesbull Scout for two spotted spider mites

and treat as needed in susceptible cultivarsbull Can apply horticultural oil for Red-

berry mite management at green fruit stage in susceptible cultivars

StrawberriesProcessed harvest (June bearers) fin-ished throughout region Fresh market harvest ongoingbull Evaluate weak growing areas and

check plants for weevil larvae root rot andor cold damagebull (South) Can scout for Strawberry

Crown Moth Larvae bull Scout for weevil adults and notching

Processed market-June bearersmdashfin-ished harvestingbullWeed Control at strawberry renova-

tion (62612 Michigan State Extension)bull Mow and treat immediately for SCM

SWD if neededbull Mow and renovate 2-4 weeks after

harvest unless pest pressure require mowing and treating soonerbull Apply main fertilizer application as

neededFresh market-still harvestingbull Scout for Lygus Bugsbull Scout for fruit quality symptoms like

mold (Botrytis) cat facing slug dam-age anthracnose etcbull Can apply slug bait as neededbull Scout for Powdery Mildew and treat

as neededbull Scout for Twospotted Spider Mites

and predatory beneficial mitesbull Scout for aphids lady beetles aphid

mummies (parasitized aphids) and other beneficial insects that feed on aphids

Pest Management Information Week 34

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ArchiveS

SFU 30 7-27-16SFU 31 8-03-16SFU 32 8-10-16

Older issues here