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Northwest Berry Foundation's

WEEK 20 • MAY 15, 2019 Willamette Valley, OR. Photo by Cinzia Ballantyne.

THIS ISSUE
Regional Field Reports
Industry Calendar
Industry News
Insect/Disease Alerts
Crop Management

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS
NEWSLETTER Willamette Valley, OR. Photo by Cinzia Ballantyne.

NORTHWEST BERRY
FOUNDATION supports
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE IBO
a sustainable NW berry
SUMMIT IN RICHMOND: JUNE 24 - 26, 2019.
industry through research,
education, and reducing
food waste. Visit our This will be the first time that this International
website and follow our Summit is hosted in Canada. There is a jam
facebook page to learn packed itinerary including Country Reports, a
more about our latest work. Farm to Table tour of the Fraser valley Blueberry
Industry, a Gala Dinner, Expert Panels and
THE SM ALL FRUIT UPDATE Presentations as well as a Trade Show.
is a weekly update for the Registration is now open and space is limited, so
Northwest berry industry, get your tickets now!
supported entirely by the
region’s growers through
their regional berry
commissions.
 REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS 2
WILL A METTE VALLEY, OREGON 5-12-19
We had about three days into the mid to high 80s (30-31 C). Now back into the mid 70s for
a couple of days and then cooling fast—low 60s the rest of the week with some showers.
Blues are well past full bloom and into green fruit expansion, Blacks are now pushing into
major bloom period so this weather could affect them as well as some of the late blooming
blues. So far, great fruit set from all indications in blues. Better keep up with fungicides
for this coming week with the cool and wet returning.
SWD numbers remain pretty high. Other than that, no major issues to compromise the
crop potential. With the cooler week ahead it’d be good to make sure the Draper blues
have the calcium application protocols to mitigate Draper drop.

WILL A METTE VALLEY, OREGON

5-13-19
Blackberries: Bloom has started
in all the blackberries, I don’t
like giving percentages because
it depends so much on the field
and location but in general, Black
Diamond 10% to 20%, Columbia
Star 5% to 10%, Marion an
occasional bloom. Ideal pollination
conditions, bees are out in force.
Most guys are getting on their
fungicides with the threat of rain
this week, water going in some
fields, dryer than you think. Columbia Star 5/8/19. Willamette Valley. Photo by Bill Dinger.

WILL A METTE VALLEY, OREGON

5-14-19
Our berries are coming along well
with the last bit of heat. The first
year Albion and Cabrillo berries are
just starting to turn color.

SK AGIT VALLEY, WASHINGTON

5-14-19
While some raspberry and
blackberry fields have grown out a Black Diamond, 5/11/19, Willamette Valley. Photo by Bill Dinger.
lot in the last couple of weeks, there
is still a lot of damage out there.
On the brighter side, mowed-off
fields are showing some impressive
primocane growth. Blueberries
have been blessed with outstanding
pollination weather over the past
week of bloom. Many blueberry
fields in Skagit or Whatcom are at
or just past full bloom. It is easy to
see well-developed mummyberry
strikes in affected blueberry fields
now; if you see any, time to keep
blooms well-protected. 5/14/19, Willamette Valley. Photo by Amanda Zorn.
 REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS 3

Willamette Valley, OR. Photo by Cinzia Ballantyne.

FR ASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA 5-10-19

Go here for the BC Blueberry Commission's
weekly IPM Newsletter.
Highlights from the newsletter: "Mummyberry
primary infections continue to be seen. If these
infections are found in a field, apply a spray, as
once the fields have entered green berry, there
are no longer any management options.
Winged aphids are now being found, and
levels are increasing. As soon as bees have been
removed from fields, apply an aphicide. This is
especially important in fields with a history of
scorch virus."

FR ASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA 5-14-19

A bit of wet weather this week is needed really,
as things are really drying up out there. It
doesn't look like an unmangeable period
of rain though. We're well past peak Duke
bloom in the eastern area of the valley with
considerable fruit sizing developing. Western
areas of the Fraser valley still are approaching
full bloom at 75-80%. It's been a pretty good
pollination period so far.
Raspberry development slowed down a bit
with the 3-4 really hot days we had at the end
of last week. This coming cooler damp weather
is well suited to their development. But overall
the Meeker, Wakefield crop is really no where
near compensating now for damage done in
February. Early bloom has begun on the Rudi
variety. Rudis' look best of all cultivars having
survived well after the February freeze. Willamette Valley, OR. Photo by Cinzia Ballantyne.
 BLUEBERRY BUD DEVELOPMENT 4

Willamette Valley, Oregon

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

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DR APER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AUROR A L AST C ALL

WEEK 19, 5-10-19

WEEK 19, 5-11-18

WEEK 19, 5-12-17

WEEK 19 5-13-16

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DUKE DR APER TOP SHELF LIBERTY AUROR A L AST C ALL
 INDUSTRY C ALENDAR 5
M AY 16, 2019: FOOD SAFETY WORKSHOP IN
EVERSON, WA 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm at NW Berry Co-
op. Who should attend? 1) Growers who are interested in what
a FDA FSMA inspection will look like when WSDA sets foot on
your property. The do's and don'ts of a government inspection.
2) Hands-on refresher course in machine harvester sanitation.
3) Get your GAP questions answered. 4) Those growers
who need a 4 hours food safety class to meet 3rd party audit
standard. Contact Joan Yoder, NWBC, with questions.
360-318-8900. Go here for registration.
VISIT TH E WE ATH E R C A FE ®
M AY 16 2019: BC BERRY FIELD DAY 12 PM - 3 PM Go here for Rufus La Lone's
at JDriediger Farms, 7361 240th Street, Langley. Theme: uniquely long-range forecasts
Current best practices an prospective future methods for for the PNW.®
controlling Spotted Wing Drosophia in berry fields. 1.75 hours
total pesticide credits. Go here to register.

JUNE 12, 2019: OSU STR AWBERRY FIELD DAY

1:00 PM- 4:00 PM at North Willamette Research and
Extension Center, 15210 NE Miley Road, Aurora, Oregon.
For more information contact 503-678-1264 x110

JUNE 24 - 26: INTERNATIONAL BLUEBERRY

ORGANISATION SUMMIT “Join us in beautifulRichmond,
bc, canada for the 2019 ibo summit. Through continuous
research and innovation, we are setting standards and D EG R E E DAY I N FO R M ATI O N
winning fans among consumers and industry alike. From Go here for Dr. Len Coop's
food safety to sustainable practices, ours is an industry Degree Day information.
that is building strength on strength." Go here for more
information and registration.

JULY 17: OSU BLUEBERRY FIELD DAY 1pm - 3pm.

North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15210
NE Miley Road, Aurora, Oregon. For more information
contact 503-678-1264 x110

JULY 17: OSU CANEBERRY FIELD DAY 1pm - 3pm.

North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15210
NE Miley Road, Aurora, Oregon. For more information
contact 503-678-1264 x110

SEPTEMBER 4: WASHINGTON RED R ASPBERRY

COMMISSION MEETING 1pm - 5pm. 204 Hawley St.,
Lynden, WA.

SEE THE FULL INDUSTRY C ALENDAR ON WWW.

NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG/C ALENDAR
Photo by Cinzia Ballantyne.
 INDUSTRY NEWS
H I G H LI G HTS
U.S. growers expect strong blueberry
season (5/9, The Packer)
Berry experts warn against overzealous
health claims (5/8, Capital Press)
Trade war escalation to raise input costs
for U.S. farmers, says PMA rep (5/10, Fresh
Fruit Portal)
Innovation the way forward for Mexico
and Florida berry industries (5/13, Fresh
Plaza) The Driscoll’s view of the North
American Trade Pact.
Mexican Trade pact will damage Georgia
fruit and vegetable growers, study predicts
(5/8, Southeast Farm Press) Georgia fruit
growers view of the North American Trade
Pact.
Blueberry industry to elect state council
members for USHBC (5/13, Fruit Growers
News)
I NTER N ATI O N A L
Blueberries: “Branch in Serbia as operating
base for the Balkans” (5/13, Fresh Plaza)
TH E WEST
California strawberry volume builds (5/9,
The Packer)
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N O RTH A M ER IC A
U.S.: Good quality berries on the way (5/9,
The Packer)
America’s farmworkers are aging, not
being replaced (5/8, UPI)
Georgia: Blueberry growers adapt to
weather issues (5/10, The Packer)
PESTICI D ES
Glyphosate: Bayer hit with $2 billion
verdict in third Roundup trial (5/13, Fresh
Fruit Portal)
Chlorpyriphos:
California EPA to cancel chlorpyrifos
registrations (5/9, Fruit Growers News)
Farm groups blast planned chlorpyrifos
ban (5/9, Western Farm Press)
Oregon: Critics warn chlorpyrifos ban
would set dangerous precedent (5/10,
Capital Press)
CLI M ATE/WATER
Forecast: Water supplies across Oregon
mixed (5/10, Capital Press)
O RGA N IC
Why the ‘chemical free’ organic industry
has a ‘pesticide problem’ (5/10, GLP)
 INSECT & DISEASE PEST ALERTS 7
MUMMYBERRY: Plants at risk should have a protective fungicide on the susceptible tissue at this
time to minimize infections.
Factors that increase risk of infections:
• If we have periods when plant tissue is continually wet for the 12 hours or more required for
infection.
• If our temperatures are near the optimal range for infections to take place (50-57°F / 10-14°C).
• Mummyberry primer from MSU
• Secondary infection symptoms are now showing up in regional fields.

ROSE STEM GIRDLER (AGRILUS CUPRESCENS) in Caneberries

The basic facts:
• This is a beetle that inserts its eggs into blackberry and raspberry primocanes in the spring.
• The larva feeds all season on the tissue right under the bark girdling the cane.
• In the fall, it pupates and overwinters inside the cane.
• It emerges as an adult in the spring (probably April & May) and continues the cycle by
inserting eggs into the new primocanes.
Management issues:
• There are two basic strategies: 1) Spray insecticides to kill the adults. The problem with this is
we’ve got bees in the field at the time. 2) Cut out the infected canes and remove from the field.
The problem with this is logistics & cost.
• This pest can also be masked if pruning crews just cut out the infected canes and the grower
isn’t aware of why his/her field is weakening while the pest population builds each year.

ALTERNARIA FRUIT ROT As blueberry

bloom starts to finish, it's time to
consider whether you need to prevent
Alternaria and Anthracnose problems
from showing up in the fruit. Alternaria
can infect the fruit beginning at the
end of bloom and throughout the fruit
development stage, up until harvest.
Infections remain latent until the
fruit ripens. Infected fruits exhibit a
shriveling or caving-in of the side of the
berry and become watery in storage.

Alternaria Fruit Rot. Photo by Caroline Teasdale.

ANTHRACNOSE RIPE ROT If you've had
problems with Anthracnose, prevention
of a reoccurrence begins at petal fall.
Symptoms: First, blighting of shoot
tips; then, a few flowers turn brown or
black. Leaf spots, when they occur, are
large or small and roughly circular. As
infected berries ripen, the flower end
may soften and pucker. Under warm
and rainy conditions, salmon-colored
spore masses form on infected berries.
After harvest, spore masses form rapidly
on infected fruit when in cellophane-
covered baskets or in plastic clamshell Anthracnose Ripe Rot. Photo by Caroline Teasdale.
packs.
 INSECT & DISEASE PEST ALERTS 8

YELLOW RUST in raspberries

• Yellow rust is now changing spore stages from black overwintering spores (teliospores) to
yellow/orange colored ‘blisters’ (spermagonia) on the top surface of leaves.
• This is followed closely by a very visible, almost day-glow 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 & can quickly defoliate canes if left
untreated.
• Evaluate disease incidence and stage to determine whether (& when) fungicide applications are
warranted.

Stages of Yellow Rust (from left) spermagonia, aecia, uredinia: (Middle photo by Carolyn Teasdale, others by Tom
Peerbolt)

SCORCH VIRUS in blueberries.

Vector (aphid) management (From an April,
2011 B.C. Pest Alert): “Blueberry scorch virus is
transmitted by aphids. An effective aphid control
program should be used by all growers. Fields
should be treated before bloom with a registered
aphicide to control the over-wintering aphids before
they reproduce and disperse.”

SHOCK VIRUS in southern blueberries.

• Symptoms 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, 4/24/18, photo by Jason Myer.

 CROP M A N AGE M ENT, WEEK 20
BLUEBERRIES
Blueberry Gall Midge, southern
blueberries. Tip damage from this midge
is due to begin showing up in southern
blueberries. Damage is usually deemed
to not be economic except in specific
situations like new vigorous fields where
gall midge can occasionally cause too
much stunting of new growth.
Azalea Bark Scale. This scale's telltale
bright white egg sacs on the lower branches
of infested plants are becoming more
apparent in some southern blueberry
fields.
Bring in bees around 10% bloom.
Apply fungicides for mold prevention
from 10% bloom until the end of bloom.
Treat for Mummyberry as needed. (See
Alert above) You can scout for sprouting
mummyberries on the ground, but
they can be very difficult to find. Base
your treatment decisions on plant stage,
environmental conditions and the past
mummyberry history of the field and
surrounding fields.
Scout for Pseudomonas (Bacterial Canker)
Water-soaked lesions usually appear in
February in some fields that then develop
into reddish brown to black cankers. See
Northwest Berry Foundation Research
Update on bacterial blight first posted on
1/3/13.
Scout for leafroller larvae feeding.
Scout for Shock virus symptoms in
southern area fields.
Winter Moth/ Bruce Span Worm:
Scouting for winter moth larvae should
start as soon as the buds start swelling.
We’ve had reports in previous years of
problems beginning this early but it’s
usually in a couple of weeks. More of an
ongoing issue in the northern growing
regions but also an occasional, locally
severe problem in some Oregon and SW
Washington fields.
Scale Insects: A dormant oil or Esteem
(pyriproxyfen) can be used while
blueberries are dormant.
Scout for weevil notching.
Scout for root rot issues.
9
R ASPBERRIES
Burn back primocane as needed
(northern areas) Scout for Clay Colored
Weevil feeding and treat as needed.
Scout for virus symptoms & send in
samples for testing as needed.
Can apply a phosphite material for
stronger root growth and root rot
prevention.
Scout for Yellow Rust and assess treatment
options
Scout for Twospotted mites and Yellow
mites
BLACKBERRIES
Purple Blotch (blackberries): Check for
cane lesions that are easy to see as the
weather warms but the foliage has not yet
emerged. It’s a good time to assess disease
level.
Scout for Rose Stem Girdler 'galls' on
floricanes
Scout for virus symptoms and send in
samples for testing as needed
Can apply a phosphite material for
stronger root growth and root rot
prevention
Scout for Cane and Leaf rust and assess
treatment options
STR AWBERRIES
Can apply phosphite material to
strengthen root systems and manage root
ro.
Watch for weak growing areas and check
for weevil larvae, root rot, and cold
damage.
Scout for root weevils and black vine
weevils.
Apply fungicides for mold prevention
from 10% bloom until the end of bloom.
Scout for Strawberry Crown Moth in
southern fields. Plants weakened by SCM
can be spotted. Infested platns will have a
weakened crown and will often break off
with a pull on the top growth. .
 10
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