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Northwest Berry Foundation

Draper Blueberries 4/29/18 by Jason Myer

Week 16 TOM PEERBOLT

April 22, 2020
Northwest Berry Foundation

W H AT ' S INSIDE
Spotted Wing Drosophila –first trapping data for 2020
Regional Reports
Industry Resources • The photo on the right comes
from the 2015 season but could
Industry News have been taken this week in the
Willamette Valley.
Industry Calendar
• Most traps this week had very low
Pest Management numbers. However, as this photo
indicates, there were a few with
extremely high counts. These
high-count traps usually fall back
in subsequent weeks to normal
counts. Catch from one SWD trap on blueberry
field border 4/7/15 by Tom Peerbolt

SUBSCRIBE >> • This doesn’t happen every year and appears to indicate a kind of
Spring swarming activity following high winter survival rates.

• Since it arrived in our region back in 2009, management for SWD

has relied on calendar applications of broad-spectrum insecticides.

As we become more familiar with this insect and its behavior as well
as continued development of alternative management methods, I’m
very optimistic that we’ll soon have the tools and knowledge to manage
it in more economically and environmentally sustainable ways. Keep
apprised of SWD management developments.

Have a good week, Click here to view recent

Tom SWD publications

Thank you to our sponsors

Small Fruit Update is Washington British Columbia
produced once a week Washington Red Raspberry Commission B.C. Strawberry Growers Association
during the growing Washington Blueberry Commission Raspberry Industry Development Council
season and then B.C. Blueberry Council
bimonthly outside the Oregon
growing season. Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry National
Commission North American Blueberry Council
Oregon Blueberry Commission North American Raspberry &
Oregon Strawberry Commission Blackberry Association
 R EG I O N A L F I E L D R E P O RTS 2

WESTERN OREGON, WILLAMETTE VALLEY

• Blueberries (4/18): A huge amount of bloom in blueberries opened this week. Hives are mostly
all in. The speed of bloom has pushed along/condensed scheduled fungicide applications. Now
the weather has shifted—some light rain yesterday with cooler temps that looks like it’ll continue
this week. Forecast for about a half inch of rain coming in mid-week. Irrigation concerns/
schedules are uppermost for a lot of growers. We’ve been drying out fast.

• Blackberries (4/18): Blackberries are budding up. I’ve got a couple of open blooms on the
Columbia Star in my Portland garden. This site (suburban Portland) tends to be at least a week
ahead of the fields. There are also a few open blooms showing.

• Blackberries (4/20): We are seeing a couple

open flowers on Obsidian with Metolius not
far behind. Degree Days put us exactly on par
with last year.

• Strawberries (4/18): June bearing strawberries

are closing in on 10% bloom. Which would put
their first picks right around the first week in
June.

• Strawberries (4/20): Marys Peak and Puget

Crimson have trusses emerged and should
start seeing a few blooms perhaps by the end
of the week. Second year hoods are at 10%.
Day Neutrals are well into their first flush of
bloom. Some Powdery Mildew starting to
show up in the older fields.
Hood Bloom Stage, 2nd Year Plant in the
Willamette Valley 4/18/20 by Julie Pond

NORTHERN WASHINGTON, SKAGIT & WHATCOM COUNTIES (4/21) From Lisa Wasko
DeVetter, Associate Professor, Small Fruit Horticulture, WSU NWREC Mount Vernon:

• Blueberries: Not much to report here. I'm limited on getting out to the field due to
homeschooling and the stay-home order, but what I've noticed this week are bees moving into
early-blooming fields in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Some blueberry fields are also being
fertilized. In eastern Washington, many fields of blueberry are in full bloom.

• Raspberries: Not seeing lots of growth on 'Meeker' relative to previous years and a few raspberry
fields planted under plastic mulch in 2019 have more advanced growth relative to unmulched
fields.

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (4/20)

• Blueberries: Some early bloom showing up this past weekend in Dukes on our early, coarser,
sandy soils on Sumas prairie. It looks like in these fields we could move some bees in by end of
this week or next weekend. Northland has considerable bloom occurring as well in Abbotsford. A
continuation of our recent good weather would enhance the move toward bloom in other areas.
But it appears that some wet weather is coming our way late into this week and next weekend
into the following week. We do need some rain though as soil conditions have become quite
dry. Lots of fertilizer down waiting to be washed in. Some irrigation has already begun. Any
pre-bloom insecticidal apps should be on by now as things are bound to change quickly as warm
soils receive some precipitation. Hopefully the coming wet weather is just an early bloom boost
and not a long-lasting situation.
 R EG I O N A L F I E L D R E P O RTS 3

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (4/21)

• Blueberries: A lot of fertilizer has gone down in the last week waiting for the rain we are
supposed to get (and really need) tomorrow. Pre-bloom fungicide and insecticides continuing
to go on depending where you are in the valley. Some bees are going into fields with earlier
blooming varieties or on sandy soils. Crop is looking okay at this point.

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (4/20) From Allyson Mittelstaedt, ES Cropconsult, Surrey,
BC.:

• Blueberry Pest Update: So far, the development has been behind 2019, with most varieties
in the pink-tip stage, however, things are still moving along, and early varieties are starting
to show some opening blooms. Pre-bloom insecticides for aphids, caterpillars and weevils
have been going on and this is likely the last week to do so in the mid and late varieties as
bloom is approaching quickly. Overall low levels of these pests have been seen at this point
but monitoring in individual fields is the best way to estimate pest levels for that field. Due to
the dry spring there have been low levels of bacterial blight and canker seen in fields across
the Fraser Valley, but with the forecasted rain many growers are putting on some protective
fungicides this week. Symptoms of mummyberry primary infections have just started to appear
in fields. Early shock virus symptoms were becoming evident this past week and will continue to
show more clearly as we head into bloom.

• Raspberry and Blackberry Pest Update: Some clay-coloured weevil feeding damage has been
observed in a few fields at varying levels. Where areas of heavy feeding are found, apply any
sprays for weevils in the evenings as this is when they are active. Aim the sprayers to the bottom
third of the canes for higher efficacy. Very low levels of two-spotted spider mites were observed
in a few fields last week, with eggs and predator mites present as well. Root rot-weakened canes
will start being more apparent if the weather stays warm.

• Strawberry Pest Update: June-bearing and Day-neutral fields are actively developing, some
early blooms appearing the day-neutral fields. There are Lygus adults that have been found
within the foliage, but nymphs have yet to be seen. Low levels of spider mites have been found,
but this is a field dependant pest where they could be found at higher levels in fields that have
had issues with them in the past year. Powdery mildew infections haven’t been observed but
the rain coming this weekend will present an ideal warm and humid environment for disease
development.

Caneberry growth on this day in 2016 (4/22/16) by Tom Peerbolt

 B LU E B E R RY B U D D E V E LO PM E N T 4

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Photos are from same fields on close to the same day from each year

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DRAPER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AURORA LAST CALL

Week 15: 4/17/20

Week 15: 4/12/19

Week 15: 4/13/18

Week 15: 4/14/17

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DRAPER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AURORA LAST CALL
 I N D U ST RY R E S O U RC E S 5

Blueberry IPM Newsletter (4/17, BC Blueberries)

2020 International Blueberry MRLs from Bryant Christie INC.

View the full list for major export markets here.

Recent SWD publications from Oregon State Extension. Published in December 2019:

• Monitoring Techniques for SWD

• How Seasons Affect Population Structure, Behavior and Risk on SWD
• Optimizing Chemical Control of SWD
• Noncrop host plants used by SWD
• Biocontrol of SWD
• Cultural Control Strategies to Manage SWD
• Improved Chemical Control Strategies for SWD
• Potential Impacts of Irrigation on Biocontrol of SWD
• Host Range and Characteristics Affecting Fruit Susceptibility to SWD

COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Updates: Its impact on Specialty Agriculture (Live Blog) (Growing Produce)

North American Blueberry Council COVID-19 Updates

California Strawberry Commission Coronavirus News & Resources

Easy guide for U-Pick farmers to manage through COVID-19 (4/6, Growing Produce)

COVID-19 Ag Financial Relief

USDA unveils Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (4/17, The Packer)

What the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program means for farmers (4/20, Growing Produce)

USDA will procure about $100 million per month in fresh fruits. vegetables (4/19, Fruit Grower
News)

American Farmland Trust’s Farmer Relief Fund gets corporate boost (4/17, Fruit Grower News)

Produce rolls with the changes; USDA plans grower payments (4/17, The Packer)

Reaction: $2.7 billion in financial relief for special crops ‘inadequate’ (4/20, Fruit Grower News)

Whatcom Ag Monthly Articles

• Asian Giant Hornet

• 2019 Updates on Machine Harvesting Fresh Market Blueberry Trials

• COVID-19 Information for Farmers

 I N D U ST RY N E WS 6

Highlights
Berries in Charts: Large volumes and COVID-19 Visit
lead to low prices across the board (4/21, Fresh
Fruit Portal) The Weather Cafe®

Washington sets virus-safety standards for Rufus La Lone's uniquely

agriculture (4/17, Capital Press) informative long-range
forecasts for the PNW ®
Our food has never been safer, so why are we so
scared of it? (4/20, GLP)

COVID-19 considerations bring confusion,

uncertainty to Northwest family farms (4/14, OPB)
NORPAC sues farmers who demand crop
payments (4/20, Capital Press)
Some growers plow under fields as fruit, vegetable
demand disappears (4/20, The Packer)
Companies
John Deere producing protective face shields
(4/13, Vegetable Growers News)
Northwest
Northwest growers expect full cherry crop, despite
challenges (4/21, Fresh Plaza)

When family reunions are ‘6 feet of space’ and an Asia

international border! (4/18, KATU) Nice Lynden/ China: Blueberries from Shandong, China now
Abbotsford story. available on the market (4/16, Fresh Plaza)

Go here for COVID-19 Resources Europe

Go here for COVID-19 Ag Financial Relief Articles
Climate
How climate has changed NW farming (4/16,
Capital Press)
U.S. agriculture groups urge federal government
to address water concerns (4/21, Fresh Plaza)
Food banks
Food loss issues magnified during COVID-19 crisis
(4/16, The Packer)
Driscoll’s president: “Up to 15% of produce will
end up in the ditch without funding to donate to
food pantries” (4/15, Fresh Plaza)
Spain: Huelva’s berry campaign characterized by
uncertainty amid COVID-19 (4/20, Fresh Fruit
Plaza)
Breeding/Genetics
New collaboration focuses on developing new
blackberry & raspberry varieties (4/16, Fresh Plaza)
Will CRISPR spawn a new wave of crop biotech
innovation despite regulatory hurdles? (4/17, GLP)
Labor
PMA welcomes flexibility in H-2A guest worker
announcement (4/17, Fresh Fruit Plaza)
Italy to legalize 200,000 migrants in the face of
labor shortages (4/21, Fresh Plaza)

Fresh Market
North America: Quebec steps up plans to grow
berries in winter (4/20, Fresh Plaza)

Strawberries
BC Strawberry Growers Association increases
per-pound levy (4/15, Country Life in BC)

California: “Retail strawberry demand is much

higher than usual right now” (4/17, Fresh Plaza)

24 million pounds of strawberries each week

might get thrown in the trash (4/16, LAist)

Blackberries
Southeast US: Blackberry crop damage spring Rodent Activity 4/16/20 by Greta Dupuis
2020 (4/18, NC State Extension)
 I N D U ST RY C A L E N D A R
APRIL 24 WEBINAR
MSU Webinar Series: Kathy
Wiederholt from North Dakota State
University. 9AM Pacific Time. “Results and
observations of long term berry cultivar trails at
NDSU” Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/27526990
APRIL 24 WEBINAR
OSU Low Tunnel Strawberries
Webinar and Virtual Tour. Webinar:
2-2:30PM. Virtual Tour: 2:30-3PM. View full details
here. Register for the Zoom webinar here. The
live field tour will be held on Instagram and can be
viewed here on a smartphone app only (sorry no
computer access).
APRIL 24 WEBINAR
WSU-OSU Tree Fruit Extension
Webinar with Dr. Manoj Karkee. 3PM.
Title: Artificial Intelligence, Cyber-Physical Systems
and Robotics for Agriculture. Register for this
webinar here.
APRIL 29 ZOOM
Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry
Commission Meeting. 10:30AM. Please
contact the ORBC office for meeting link and/or
dialing instructions.
MAY 1 WEBINAR
MSU Webinar Series: Bernis
Ingvaldson from Honeyberry USA.
9AM Pacific Time. “Harvesting and processing
cold hardy berries. Observations on plant cultivars
and managing a commercial nursery” Join URL:
https://zoom.us/j/354434293
MAY 4
Oregon Blueberry Commission
Meeting. 12PM. Tentatively a zoom meeting,
further details coming soon.
7
MAY 8 WEBINAR
MSU Webinar Series: Dr. Zach Miller
and Dr. Rachel Leisso from MSU.
9AM Pacific Time. “Fresh berry cold storage
trails, research in berry quality measurements,
labor management, and highlights of data
from MSU trails." Join URL: https://zoom.
us/j/460436211
MAY 27-28 WEBINAR
2020 MRL Workshop Webinar.
8:30AM-12:30PM. View Agenda here. Registration
is required and can be accessed here.
JUNE 10
Strawberry Field Day. 1-4PM. OSU
NWREC, Aurora, OR. Agenda TBD.
JUNE 22-24
Global Berry Congress. The leading annual
event for the international soft fruit business.
Rotterdam, Netherlands. View program and
registration details here.
JULY 8
Caneberry Field Day. 1-5PM. OSU NWREC,
Aurora, OR. Agenda TBD.
JULY 22
Blueberry Field Day. 1-5:30PM. OSU
NWREC, Aurora, OR. Agenda TBD.
AUGUST 18-19
North American Strawberry Growers
Association Summer Tour. Portland, OR.
More details coming soon!
To add your event to our calendar here and
online, email info@nwberries.org
 P E ST M A N AG E M E N T, W E E K 16 8

DISEASE ALERTS

MUMMY BERRY RISK IN BLUEBERRIES

Our current weather patterns are favorable infection conditions, with mild temperatures and
long periods of leaf wetness. In fields with a history of mummyberry, now is the time to be in
prevention mode. Keep your management program going as consistently as possible all the
way through the end of bloom. We’re still in the initial infection stage for this disease.

• Mummy berry fungus details from the PNW Pest Management Handbook

YELLOW RUST IN R ASPBERRIES

Yellow rust is now changing spore stages: from black
overwintering spores (teliospores) to yellow/orange colored
‘blisters’ (spermagonia) located on the top surface of leaves. This
is followed closely by the distantly visible orange/yellow spore
stage (aecia). The fourth spore stage (uredinia) appears later in the
season as yellow ‘dust’ on the bottom of leaves. This last stage is
the one that multiplies quickly and can quickly defoliate canes if
left untreated. Evaluate disease incidence and stage to determine Yellow Rust 5/3/18
whether (& when) fungicide applications are warranted. by Jason Myer

How to recognize symptoms of blueberry

shock and scorch by Michigan State University

SCORCH VIRUS IN BLUEBERRIES

Scorch virus is vectored by aphids. An effective aphid

management plan should be in place to control over-wintering
populations. Control measures are necessary for reducing
population size before reproduction and dispersal begins. Scorch 5/8/07
by Tom Peerbolt

SHOCK VIRUS IN SOUTHERN BLUEBERRIES

Symptoms of shock virus should be visible in many fields starting
this week. This disease is vectored by pollinators. There is no
treatment or cure. Infected bushes generally display symptoms
for one year and then return to productivity.

Shock Virus 4/24/14

by Tom Peerbolt
 S P R I N G P EST M A N AG E M E N T 9
ALL CROPS
• Scout and plan for Voles. Vole activity is apparent in many blueberry, caneberry, and
strawberry fields. Management of voles is most effective in the spring before the population
starts growing.

C ANEBERRIES
• Raspberry Crown Borer: If you've had borer problems in the past,
spring is the time to drench for crown borer management in caneberries.
Begin to monitor the base of cane buds and search for any young larvae.
If you notice any swelling or galls forming at the base of the plant this
could be due to larval feeding.

• Strawberry Crown Moth: In Oregon and Southwest Washington, this

borer looks to do as much, if not more, damage in caneberries as the
Raspberry Crown Borer. The treatment is the same as for RCB- a spring
(or fall) insecticide drench.

• Rose Stem Girdler (RSG): This small, metallic beetle is a pest of cane Evidence of Rose Stem
fruit and has been found throughout the Willamette Valley of western Girdler 4/16/18 by Jason Myer
Oregon. Pruning and cane removal can help reduce populations. There
are no insecticides currently labeled for RSG control. The larva feeds all
season on the tissue right under the bark girdling the cane (see photo).

BLACKBERRIES
• Redberry Mite (Evergreen blackberries): Delayed-dormant sprays of lime/sulfur can be
applied as needed in spring after new floricane lateral growth is 2 to 6 inches longs.

• Purple Blotch: Check for cane lesions that are easy to see as the weather warms. Spring a
good time to assess disease level and plan for later treatments.

R ASPBERRIES
• Phytophthora Root Rot: This disease is most sever in fields with heavy, clay soils or low-lying
areas that retain excess moisture. As temperatures continue to rise throughout the spring, be
on the look out for the most common symptom, wilting. Infected plants may develop yellow or
bronze leaves.

SOUTHERN STRAWBERRIES
• Clay Colored Weevils: This early emerging species is usually considered a pest of raspberries
in northern growing areas where it feeds on newly emerging shoots and buds. But in the last few
years, emerged adult Clay Colored Weevils have been recovered from SW Washington southern
strawberry fields and blueberry fields.

• Scout for Strawberry Crown Moth.

BLUEBERRIES
• Treat for Mummyberry as needed.

• Scout for Shock Virus. Symptoms should be visible in many fields

during spring. This disease is vectored by pollinators. Infected bushed
typically display symptoms for one year and then return to productivity.

• Scout for leafroller larvae. Larvae can be found feeding on new

growth. Damage is easily recognized by rolled leaves that are held
together by silken threads. Pheromone traps are an excellent way to
monitor adults and should be place in the field in April or May.

• Scale Insects: Begin scouting for "crawlers". Monitoring when "crawlers"

begin to move is important for target control measures. Scale Insects 7/9/18
by Tom Peerbolt
• Winter Moth: Spring is the time when winter moth larva will start to
hatch and begin feeding on developing buds. Monitor fields for larvae,
silken webbing, and feeding evidence on buds.
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About the
Small Fruit Upate
This is the sole industry publication
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news and weekly field reports to
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Northwest berry growing region
(Canada and US).
Production is independent of
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and made possible by the following
commission & councils.
Oregon Red Raspberry 9/3/2019 by Heather Fara Click group to learn more!

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