By Elina Coneva, Extension Specialist, ACES, Auburn University Blueberries are a high value fruit crop that are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Rabbiteye blueberries are historically an important commercial crop for Alabama, and many farms produce rabbiteye blueberries for sale in the fresh market either exclusively, or as a supplemental crop….
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Dr. Aaron Cato, IPM Specialist, University of Arkansas See below for short descriptions about the most recent episodes of The Southern Fruitcast: Episode 4 – Muscadine and Blackberry Production with Ervin Lineberger Ervin Lineberger, owner of Kildeer Farms in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, joins us for episode 4. Ervin has been farming…
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Douglas G. Pfeiffer, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech When the fruit are in, it is easy to think about putting the sprayer away. But sometimes there are insect issues that can be addressed in post-harvest, fall or winter periods. Let’s take up a few now. Grape In general, it is advisable…
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Rebecca A. Melanson, Extension Plant Pathologist, Mississippi State University, and Aaron Cato, IPM Specialist, University of Arkansas Diagnosis is the first step in pest management. It is first necessary to know the cause of a problem before appropriate management methods can be implemented. Management methods that do not accurately address…
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Wayne E. Mitchem, Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium Coordinator, Tree Fruit Weed Management Extension Associate, (704) 472-4369 Corteva Agriscience has issued a supplemental label for Trellis SC (isoxaben) herbicide use in newly planted and bearing caneberries. Trellis already has approved uses for weed control in blueberry, grape, and a few…
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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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Douglas G. Pfeiffer, Dept. Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24060, dgpfeiff@vt.edu. Since its introduction and spread in the US from 2008-2012, spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), SWD has presented a huge problem for berry growers. SWD is a difficult pest to control. Because of its high fecundity and number…
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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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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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Authors: Amanda McWhirt and Bill Cline A Virtual Blueberry School was conducted in 2019 covering the major aspects of blueberry production in the Southeastern U.S. The school consisted of a series of live grower workshops in May, June and September in Arkansas and a four-part weekly webinar series offered exclusively…
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