Dr. Aaron Cato, IPM Specialist, University of Arkansas The Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium is an expansive source for unbiased information and news for small fruit growers and county agents across the Southeast. The consortium’s website features production and IPM guides that are updated yearly by specialists across the region,…
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Dr. Eric T. Stafne, Extension and Research Professor, Mississippi State University I like to watch movies. In fact, I watch part of one every morning while riding my stationary exercise bike. The other day I was watching one and a character said, “What you don’t know about me could fit…
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By Jonathan E. Oliver, Will H. Hemphill, and Phillip M. Brannen, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia Introduction Among the diseases affecting blackberry production in the southeastern U.S., one of the more unusual disease issues is orange cane blotch (OCB). OCB disease of blackberry was first reported in Arkansas…
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Dr. Phil Brannen, Extension Fruit Disease Specialist, Plant Pathology, University of Georgia Many of the fungicides utilized for Botrytis management are no longer efficacious due to resistance development in this fungus. Now is a great time to collect Botrytis samples for fungicide-resistance testing. While the funds last, Botrytis resistance testing…
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Dr. Sara Villani, Extension Specialist (Apple and Ornamental Plant Pathology), North Carolina State University On January 12, 2020 (before large gatherings came to a halt), blackberry stakeholders from states across the Southern U.S. gathered in Savannah GA to develop a Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for Blackberries in the Southern…
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Ashfaq Sial, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga. Since its first detection in 2008, SWD has emerged as a devastating pest of berry and cherry crops throughout the United States. Male SWD have dark spots on the outer margins of their wings. Female SWD have a saw-like ovipositor…
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Dr. Sara Villani, North Carolina State University Get those (sprayer) engines started! If your blackberries have not shown green tissue yet, temperatures in the Southeast during the last week of March likely aided in its emergence. Before even adding a pesticide to your sprayer this spring, one the most important…
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This checklist was originally developed for blackberry growers in North Carolina. You may have to adjust your work activities either earlier or later depending on your location. The winter of 2019-2020 has been exceptionally warm, last week at the SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable meetings Jan. 9-12 in Savannah, the…
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Compiled by John R. Clark, University of Arkansas In the last 20 years or so, I have focused substantially on sweeter berries, and also changes in plant form or architecture in blackberries. ‘Ponca’ is the most recent result of these areas of focus. It will have limited plant supply in…
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Compiled by Gina Fernandez, Small Fruit Specialist, North Carolina State University Plant growth and development Primocanes continue to grow but growth rate is slower Flower buds start to form in leaf axils on summer-fruiting types Carbohydrates and nutrients in canes begin to move into the roots Primocane fruiting types begin…
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