Weekly Berry Call â May 15, 2012
Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 Participants: Mike Fargione (Hudson Valley NY), Heather Faubert (URI/Kingston, RI), Sonia Schloemann (UMass/Amherst, MA), Marvin Pritts (Finger Lakes region/Ithaca, NY), Cathy Heidenreich (Finger Lakes region/Geneva, NY), Laura McDermott (Eastern NY/Upper Hudson/Lower Adirondack), Molly Shaw (South Central/Southern Tier), Dale Ila Riggs (Stephentown, Eastern NY), Kathy Demchak, (Pennsylvania State University/University Park, PA), Pam Fisher, (OMAFRA/Ontario, Canada), Kevin Schooley, (NASGA/Ontario, Canada), David Handley (U Maine/Monmouth), Mary Conklin (UConn/Storrs, CT), Rich Bonnano, (UMass/Amherst) NY NASS WEATHER, Week ending May 13, 2012 WEATHER: The week started out dry and pleasant with high pressure in control. Low pressure moved along a slow moving cold frontal boundary bringing a widespread soaking rainfall Monday night into Wednesday Total rainfall amounts ranged from half an inch to two and a half inches over much of upstate New York mainly north and west of the mid‐Hudson Valley. An upper level low produced some scattered light rain showers on Thursday. High pressure built in from the Ohio Valley and mid‐Atlantic region with warm and dry weather to close the week. Temperatures finished at normal to slightly above normal for the state. FRUIT: Apples were 81 percent petal fall. Peaches were 97 percent full bloom and 79 percent petal fall. Pears were 97 percent full bloom and 85 percent petal fall. Sweet cherries were 83 percent petal fall. Tart cherries were 94 percent petal fall. In Albany County, freeze assessments to orchards and small fruit continued. In Broome County, fruit producers reported a 25 percent loss on strawberries and raspberries and apple producers reported a 20 percent overall loss in apple blooms. In Suffolk County, vineyard crews were disbudding trunks. Reports from the Field Monmouth, Maine – Cloudy and rainy. Strawberries with RC are from early bloom to post‐bloom. Strawberries without RC just blooming. Raspberries and blackberries have some winter injury; buds just popping out. Blueberries look OK; now in bloom. Pretty quiet in terms of pests, probably due to cooler weather recently. Kingston, Rhode Island – Wet, cool weather this past week; things moving slowly in terms of plant development. Strawberries have been in bloom for 1 month while not much plant growth observed. Blueberries did experience some frost damage – green fruit with brown seeds inside. Apparently there is more injury than was originally anticipated. Storrs, Connecticut – Raspberries with winter damage which appears to be somewhat variety dependent; slow to leaf out. Strawberries frost damaged earlier, now have second flush of blooms. Blueberries ‐ no damage to report. Red currants reported with anthracnose issues; spittlebugs active. College Park, Pennsylvania – Strawberries from late bloom to harvest. Raspberries and blackberries “stuck” in bloom; some winter injury. Blueberries all over the board in terms of phenology varying from early bloom through green fruit. Massachusetts – Not quite as wet here (Amherst) as further east this week. Strawberries with frost damage ranging from not much to a lot depending on location and effectiveness of frost protection. Blueberries are from bloom to green fruit; not much damage there. Raspberries buds are out but blossoms are still tight. Currants and gooseberries look terrific. Hudson Valley, NY – Blueberries at the end of bloom to green fruit. Strawberries with green berries (very few). Raspberries ‐ not much going on. Stephentown, Eastern NY ‐ Strawberries – not as much frost damage as expected; appears it will be a compacted season due to weather causing varieties to all flower at approx. the same time. Frost Saturday morning (5/12); used 2 layers RC and overhead to protect blossoms. Blueberries have lots of blossoms open; more to come. Raspberries not bloom yet; thorny blackberries some freeze damage but blooming; thornless not yet in bloom. Eastern NY/Upper Hudson/Lower Adirondacks. It was a wet week this week with some drying over the weekend; moisture still needed. Frost survival is variable depending on location (microclimate); estimated 20 to 50% loss – quite substantial. Blueberries look quite good; currants and gooseberries look very good. Raspberries experienced some winter issues Western NY/Finger Lakes region/Geneva – not much optimism out there with some strawberry growers; 20 to 50% here also; damage variable across locations/microclimates. Currant and gooseberry crop looks very good; blueberries a few damage reports but overall positive. Some primocane raspberries frosted back to ground but should come on (albeit may fruit later…). Blackberries – some frost damage to foliage but blooms may have escaped in most instances; thorny blackberries flowering.
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Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 Ontario, Canada – DN in harvest; good prices. Probably not going to be a lot of berries available until mid‐June. Clipper and TPB active in strawberries. Clipper also active in raspberries, along with Raspberry fruitworm. Blueberries in bloom. Most cold damage observed in the southwestern region of the province (Pam). Strawberries ‐ Row cover coming off June‐bearers; some clipper activity. A mix of frost and freeze injury on strawberries resulting in stunted plants. Tarnished Plant Bug activity observed in DN strawberries. Raspberries fruit buds extending. Blueberries in bloom, more to come; don’t look to be too damaged (Kevin).
Guest Speaker Discussion: Herbicide Considerations for Berries– Rich Bonanno, UMass Amherst Spring of 2012 has been a challenge for berry growers in the northeast as weather has veered from the mid‐80’s in March to a low of 17 degrees in late April. The temperature fluctuation combined with unusual soil moisture conditions – VERY dry in April and wet in May – made weed control a challenge. Pre‐emergent broadleaf materials (i.e. Chateau for strawberries and Callisto and Velpar for blueberries) should go on before plants break dormancy. Some consultants don’t even recommend Chateau for a spring application at all since it is difficult in strawberries to know when the plants have broken dormancy. Chateau damage can look like mottled discoloration, but eventually will have burn‐ like lesions develop. In most locations there was still sufficient rain during April that residual materials should have been activated. In some of the driest locations some growers did irrigate which would have helped with the herbicide activity. The real problem was that soils warmed early, initiating grass growth before expected, so pre‐emergent products like Devrinol, Surflan and Prowl H2O may not have prevented grass break through. Some growers like to use split applications to extend activity period and to make up a missed application. Be aware that many of the materials have a pre‐harvest limit to when herbicide can be applied, so at this date it will be too late for most strawberry plantings, but still a possibility for some other berry crops. Post‐Emergent grass materials ‐ Select and Poast – have a wider window for applications. These materials should be applied before grasses are 2‐4” high – but the grower should wait one week if the grass is just emerging and then make the application. These products should not be applied on hot humid days. Use this formula to help know when you should NOT spray: temp F + humidity = 150 or greater? That means do not spray. The oils that are used as surfactants can cause foliar burn. If you have a series of these days but really need to apply, do so late in the day; morning applications don’t allow enough time and burning may still result. Post‐Emergent nonselective herbicides (Gramoxone, Firestorm, RoundUp) are often used to burn back emerged weeds. These materials are much more difficult to use after plants break dormancy. The applicator needs to do an excellent job shielding plants from drift to avoid stunting. Also be aware that these burn down products are not translocated. If the growing tip of grass is shielded below the soil, then the weed will survive. Much of this information was shared by Dr. Rich Bonanno, the weed specialist at UMass Extension, during a spring season conference call. Supporting information is from the 2012 Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops. –LGM
Related Herbicide Topics of Discussion Concerns about Chateau or Prowl causing interveinal chlorosis. (reprised) Kathy Demchak sent photos. Other participants have heard of growers concerns re: these herbicides, but reports tend to be more focused on possible loss of vigor and temporary slowing in growth. In this case, the plants were grown on raised bed plasticulture. The grower used a between row application. Most of the injury seemed to be on lower row of raised beds (beds were planted on a slope. 2 varieties, AC Valley Sunset and Mesabi, one on each side of the plasticulture bed with yellowing/chlorosis on leaves; plants really stunted. Could it be RoundUp drift – growers says no RoundUp applied. Could it be Sinbar damage (last fall application) – no, not interveinal chlorosis characteristic of Sinbar. Roots look OK, not shortened, stubby so not Prowl damage; not characteristic of Chateau damage either. Cause remains a mystery. Note: when herbicides are applied over the beds or are banded between the beds herbicide damage may occur when residues are washed off the plastic (by rain) and accumulated in planting holes. Poor Strawberry Emergence (reprised) (D. Riggs) Problems noticed in older plantings that had been cultivated using a Hillside cultivator resulting in raised beds over the years. Could this technique be allowing plants to have increased exposure to the roots which spell trouble for winter survival in open winters? Or could the stress from last years’ rain and now combined with extreme dryness be creating problems for berries?
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Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 New thought: Could it be 2,4‐D damage from possibly premature applications last fall (plants not completely dormant? No, not unless cupping, twisting, some sort of foliar abnormalities are also observed; 2,4‐D would kill the plants eventually (takes out buds?). Could it be a disease? Diagnostic tests from lab all came back negative for root rots. Winter injury still seems mostly likely culprit; plants on raised beds (due to HS cultivator use) were exposed even under floating row cover to 7 nights below 0 F (one night ‐11 F); soil froze down to 12” depth… Venture herbicide (Fluazifop‐P‐butyl and S‐isomer) on Jewel Strawberry: a grass herbicide applied pre‐bloom (5% bloom) could it hurt bloom? Actually the product has a relatively small lb. ai/gal; the remaining materials in it are oils/emulsifiers, plus you add crop oil to it when applying. These latter are the components that induce foliar burn (similar to paraquat drift). The injury is intensified as surfactant/crop oil rate increases. Strawberry leaves lack pubescence/wax, making them more susceptible to this type of damage. Again, during hot humid weather these products are best applied in early evening to avoid foliar burning from oils/adjuvants. Morning applications do not allow sufficient time before heat/humidity has effect as do evening applications. Chateau damage – sometimes observed when too early a fall application is made. This damage is mottling (vs. venal/interveinal chlorosis) and lesions on leaves. Twisting, cupping, other strange leaf growth may be observed. Prowl H20: Applied 2.5 weeks ago as preplant prep; lots of rain fell after application; now 2 weeks later and ready to plant – worried about breakthrough – should they till again before planting? No – will nullify any remaining effect of product as it is designed to work close to the surface. Better to re‐work ground and then re‐apply.
Other Topics of Discussion Black Currant Borer (M. Fargione) – Problem with a borer in ½ an organic black currant planting causing widespread dieback. Borer tentatively identified by P. Jentsch as Black Currant Borer. Signs included tunnels in pith, frass, split skins, pupae. Suggestions for (organic) control? M. Conklin reported L. Los, UCONN Storrs used Isomate GBR (220 dispensers/A) for mating disruption (also monitoring); 1st year less damage; years 2 and 3 5% or less damage. However, per G. Loeb and M. Helms, Isomate GBR is not registered for use in NY. Another suggestion for organic management from G. Loeb, “Maybe PyGanic after they are seeing the adults. They are day flyers and pretty obvious. The larvae would be difficult to get using a BT product since once they get into the cane, they are immune. If you time it right you might get some activity against adults.”; Apart from that, cultural practices i.e. cutting out infested canes as close to the ground as possible in spring when symptoms appear and destroying them before adults emerge. (Fact sheet attached on life cycle). Other Reference(s) 1. Brock, A.M., Collingwood, C.A., and White. J.M. 1964. The currant clearwing moth (Aegeria tipuliformis Cl.) as a pest of blackcurrants. Ann. Appl. Biol., 53 (1964), pp. 243–349. 2. James, D. G. 2002. Confusing (and Controlling) Currant Borers Pheromones Show Success in Prosser Red Currant Fields. Agrichemical and Environmental News, Issue 192, April 2002, 4 pgs. 3. Koltun, N., and Yarchakovskaya, S. 2006. Mass trapping of Synanthedon tipulifornis on black currants and Grapholitha funebrana on plums with pheromone glue traps in Belarus. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. 14:175‐180. 4. Suckling, D.M., Gibb, A.R., Burnip, G.M., Snelling, C., De Ruiter, J., Langford, G., and El‐Sayed, A.M. 2005. Optimization of pheromone lure and trap characteristics for currant clearwing, Synanthedon tipuliformis. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:393. 5. Thomas, Warren. 1985. Currant Clearwing, Synanthedon Tipuliformis (Clerck), Life Cycle; Issues 105‐145 of DSIR information series. New Zealand. Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2 pgs. (Photos that follow courtesy M. Fargione)
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Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012
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Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 Avian Control (methyl anthranilate) – (M. Shaw) Does anyone have experience with this bird management product? Formulation, the company says, is more durable that RejeXit‐it product with same active. Company has done a big advertising mail out to growers across the state (NE?). No one on the call had any experience with this product yet. Strawberry Root Worm –(D. Riggs) Frequently observed in 3‐4 or 4‐5 year old plantings causing significant damage; this year observed in 2 yr. old planting. (P. Fisher) tiny beetle feeding on leaves, blossoms; characteristic shot hole appearance of leaves after feeding. Larval feeding reduces plant vigor. Often migrate in from sod next door. If tunnels are observed in crowns root weevils more likely cause. Slug damage similar on leaves but with slime trails. Raspberries also susceptible to strawberry root worm feeding damage. Slugs – (J. Miller). Anyone using diatomaceous earth on a commercial scale for slug/snail control? Most understood it to be more of a homeowner use than commercial due to cost. Pill Bugs – (D. Riggs) feeding on DN strawberry fruit in HT – what to do? Not recognized as a serious pest problem; occasional pest when soil organic matter becomes depleted; insects then shift to other hosts. Known to feed on raspberry roots, girdle broccoli, feed on sweet potatoes. Sluggo Plus (iron phosphide plus spinosad) worked well in PA (K. Demchak) to control damage on strawberries. (NYS label attached) Phenology Pix (Photos courtesy S. Schloemann, MA)
Black raspberry
Black raspberry
Blackberry
Gooseberry
Red Currant
Strawberry
Summer raspberry
5
1
Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 Ontario, Canada – DN in harvest; good prices. Probably not going to be a lot of berries available until mid‐June. Clipper and TPB active in strawberries. Clipper also active in raspberries, along with Raspberry fruitworm. Blueberries in bloom. Most cold damage observed in the southwestern region of the province (Pam). Strawberries ‐ Row cover coming off June‐bearers; some clipper activity. A mix of frost and freeze injury on strawberries resulting in stunted plants. Tarnished Plant Bug activity observed in DN strawberries. Raspberries fruit buds extending. Blueberries in bloom, more to come; don’t look to be too damaged (Kevin).
Guest Speaker Discussion: Herbicide Considerations for Berries– Rich Bonanno, UMass Amherst Spring of 2012 has been a challenge for berry growers in the northeast as weather has veered from the mid‐80’s in March to a low of 17 degrees in late April. The temperature fluctuation combined with unusual soil moisture conditions – VERY dry in April and wet in May – made weed control a challenge. Pre‐emergent broadleaf materials (i.e. Chateau for strawberries and Callisto and Velpar for blueberries) should go on before plants break dormancy. Some consultants don’t even recommend Chateau for a spring application at all since it is difficult in strawberries to know when the plants have broken dormancy. Chateau damage can look like mottled discoloration, but eventually will have burn‐ like lesions develop. In most locations there was still sufficient rain during April that residual materials should have been activated. In some of the driest locations some growers did irrigate which would have helped with the herbicide activity. The real problem was that soils warmed early, initiating grass growth before expected, so pre‐emergent products like Devrinol, Surflan and Prowl H2O may not have prevented grass break through. Some growers like to use split applications to extend activity period and to make up a missed application. Be aware that many of the materials have a pre‐harvest limit to when herbicide can be applied, so at this date it will be too late for most strawberry plantings, but still a possibility for some other berry crops. Post‐Emergent grass materials ‐ Select and Poast – have a wider window for applications. These materials should be applied before grasses are 2‐4” high – but the grower should wait one week if the grass is just emerging and then make the application. These products should not be applied on hot humid days. Use this formula to help know when you should NOT spray: temp F + humidity = 150 or greater? That means do not spray. The oils that are used as surfactants can cause foliar burn. If you have a series of these days but really need to apply, do so late in the day; morning applications don’t allow enough time and burning may still result. Post‐Emergent nonselective herbicides (Gramoxone, Firestorm, RoundUp) are often used to burn back emerged weeds. These materials are much more difficult to use after plants break dormancy. The applicator needs to do an excellent job shielding plants from drift to avoid stunting. Also be aware that these burn down products are not translocated. If the growing tip of grass is shielded below the soil, then the weed will survive. Much of this information was shared by Dr. Rich Bonanno, the weed specialist at UMass Extension, during a spring season conference call. Supporting information is from the 2012 Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops. –LGM
Related Herbicide Topics of Discussion Concerns about Chateau or Prowl causing interveinal chlorosis. (reprised) Kathy Demchak sent photos. Other participants have heard of growers concerns re: these herbicides, but reports tend to be more focused on possible loss of vigor and temporary slowing in growth. In this case, the plants were grown on raised bed plasticulture. The grower used a between row application. Most of the injury seemed to be on lower row of raised beds (beds were planted on a slope. 2 varieties, AC Valley Sunset and Mesabi, one on each side of the plasticulture bed with yellowing/chlorosis on leaves; plants really stunted. Could it be RoundUp drift – growers says no RoundUp applied. Could it be Sinbar damage (last fall application) – no, not interveinal chlorosis characteristic of Sinbar. Roots look OK, not shortened, stubby so not Prowl damage; not characteristic of Chateau damage either. Cause remains a mystery. Note: when herbicides are applied over the beds or are banded between the beds herbicide damage may occur when residues are washed off the plastic (by rain) and accumulated in planting holes. Poor Strawberry Emergence (reprised) (D. Riggs) Problems noticed in older plantings that had been cultivated using a Hillside cultivator resulting in raised beds over the years. Could this technique be allowing plants to have increased exposure to the roots which spell trouble for winter survival in open winters? Or could the stress from last years’ rain and now combined with extreme dryness be creating problems for berries?
2
Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 New thought: Could it be 2,4‐D damage from possibly premature applications last fall (plants not completely dormant? No, not unless cupping, twisting, some sort of foliar abnormalities are also observed; 2,4‐D would kill the plants eventually (takes out buds?). Could it be a disease? Diagnostic tests from lab all came back negative for root rots. Winter injury still seems mostly likely culprit; plants on raised beds (due to HS cultivator use) were exposed even under floating row cover to 7 nights below 0 F (one night ‐11 F); soil froze down to 12” depth… Venture herbicide (Fluazifop‐P‐butyl and S‐isomer) on Jewel Strawberry: a grass herbicide applied pre‐bloom (5% bloom) could it hurt bloom? Actually the product has a relatively small lb. ai/gal; the remaining materials in it are oils/emulsifiers, plus you add crop oil to it when applying. These latter are the components that induce foliar burn (similar to paraquat drift). The injury is intensified as surfactant/crop oil rate increases. Strawberry leaves lack pubescence/wax, making them more susceptible to this type of damage. Again, during hot humid weather these products are best applied in early evening to avoid foliar burning from oils/adjuvants. Morning applications do not allow sufficient time before heat/humidity has effect as do evening applications. Chateau damage – sometimes observed when too early a fall application is made. This damage is mottling (vs. venal/interveinal chlorosis) and lesions on leaves. Twisting, cupping, other strange leaf growth may be observed. Prowl H20: Applied 2.5 weeks ago as preplant prep; lots of rain fell after application; now 2 weeks later and ready to plant – worried about breakthrough – should they till again before planting? No – will nullify any remaining effect of product as it is designed to work close to the surface. Better to re‐work ground and then re‐apply.
Other Topics of Discussion Black Currant Borer (M. Fargione) – Problem with a borer in ½ an organic black currant planting causing widespread dieback. Borer tentatively identified by P. Jentsch as Black Currant Borer. Signs included tunnels in pith, frass, split skins, pupae. Suggestions for (organic) control? M. Conklin reported L. Los, UCONN Storrs used Isomate GBR (220 dispensers/A) for mating disruption (also monitoring); 1st year less damage; years 2 and 3 5% or less damage. However, per G. Loeb and M. Helms, Isomate GBR is not registered for use in NY. Another suggestion for organic management from G. Loeb, “Maybe PyGanic after they are seeing the adults. They are day flyers and pretty obvious. The larvae would be difficult to get using a BT product since once they get into the cane, they are immune. If you time it right you might get some activity against adults.”; Apart from that, cultural practices i.e. cutting out infested canes as close to the ground as possible in spring when symptoms appear and destroying them before adults emerge. (Fact sheet attached on life cycle). Other Reference(s) 1. Brock, A.M., Collingwood, C.A., and White. J.M. 1964. The currant clearwing moth (Aegeria tipuliformis Cl.) as a pest of blackcurrants. Ann. Appl. Biol., 53 (1964), pp. 243–349. 2. James, D. G. 2002. Confusing (and Controlling) Currant Borers Pheromones Show Success in Prosser Red Currant Fields. Agrichemical and Environmental News, Issue 192, April 2002, 4 pgs. 3. Koltun, N., and Yarchakovskaya, S. 2006. Mass trapping of Synanthedon tipulifornis on black currants and Grapholitha funebrana on plums with pheromone glue traps in Belarus. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. 14:175‐180. 4. Suckling, D.M., Gibb, A.R., Burnip, G.M., Snelling, C., De Ruiter, J., Langford, G., and El‐Sayed, A.M. 2005. Optimization of pheromone lure and trap characteristics for currant clearwing, Synanthedon tipuliformis. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:393. 5. Thomas, Warren. 1985. Currant Clearwing, Synanthedon Tipuliformis (Clerck), Life Cycle; Issues 105‐145 of DSIR information series. New Zealand. Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research. 2 pgs. (Photos that follow courtesy M. Fargione)
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Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012
4
Weekly Berry Call – May 15, 2012 Avian Control (methyl anthranilate) – (M. Shaw) Does anyone have experience with this bird management product? Formulation, the company says, is more durable that RejeXit‐it product with same active. Company has done a big advertising mail out to growers across the state (NE?). No one on the call had any experience with this product yet. Strawberry Root Worm –(D. Riggs) Frequently observed in 3‐4 or 4‐5 year old plantings causing significant damage; this year observed in 2 yr. old planting. (P. Fisher) tiny beetle feeding on leaves, blossoms; characteristic shot hole appearance of leaves after feeding. Larval feeding reduces plant vigor. Often migrate in from sod next door. If tunnels are observed in crowns root weevils more likely cause. Slug damage similar on leaves but with slime trails. Raspberries also susceptible to strawberry root worm feeding damage. Slugs – (J. Miller). Anyone using diatomaceous earth on a commercial scale for slug/snail control? Most understood it to be more of a homeowner use than commercial due to cost. Pill Bugs – (D. Riggs) feeding on DN strawberry fruit in HT – what to do? Not recognized as a serious pest problem; occasional pest when soil organic matter becomes depleted; insects then shift to other hosts. Known to feed on raspberry roots, girdle broccoli, feed on sweet potatoes. Sluggo Plus (iron phosphide plus spinosad) worked well in PA (K. Demchak) to control damage on strawberries. (NYS label attached) Phenology Pix (Photos courtesy S. Schloemann, MA)
Black raspberry
Black raspberry
Blackberry
Gooseberry
Red Currant
Strawberry
Summer raspberry
5
