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Northwest Berry Foundation's

Aphids on Blueberries, 7-5-19. Photo by Tom Peerbolt

WEEK 28 JULY 11, 2019
Spotted Wing Drosophilia R isk A lert
THIS ISSUE
We’re in the middle of another very
Tom's Corner mild weather week and next week
Regional Field Reports appears to be more of the same.
High humidity, high temps in
Industry Calendar the 70’s (22-24C), lots of ripe
Industry News fruit…sounds like perfect spotted
wing Drosophila weather.
Insect/Disease Alerts
Crop Management We’ve picked up larvae in both Duke and Bluecrop
blueberries this past week. Caneberries are at even greater
risk of economic damage and it’s very difficult to clean up a
raspberry or blackberry field once SWD gets started. Don’t
let SWD surprise you. If the weather stays like this their
populations are going to continue to grow exponentially.
As mentioned last week—this isn’t a business-as-usual season.
Unless we get a heat wave, it has the potential to be the worse
we’ve experienced with this pest.
Again, I’d encourage consultants and growers to do some fruit
sampling (or have someone else do it) in fields with ripening
fruit especially those fields that have shown to be higher risk
in the past. Just check out those field areas (or
borders) that are high risk for first infestation,
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NEWSLETTER
consuming. It works for us. A couple of useful
links:
• Sustainable Spotted Wing
NORTHWEST BERRY Drosophila Management Website
FOUNDATION supports
a sustainable NW berry • A Filter Method for Improved Monitoring
industry through research, of Drosophila suzukii Larvae in Fruit (7/1/17,
education, and reducing Journal of Integrated Pest Management)
food waste. Visit our
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 TOM'S CORNER 2

Julie Pond
Northwest Berry Foundation

With Tom under the weather I thought I'd leave you with my own perspective this week.
After driving through the Willamette Valley the last couple days I'm seeing the annual
'go time' portion of the season in full swing. Harvesters of all types in every berry field,
growers who are finishing up the harvest night shift and then going right into the day
shift with coffee in hand, and sprayers going strong trying to keep on top of Spotted
Wing Drosophila pressure. I assume that these general findings are similar for our
friends up north.

We've just added black raspberry to the list of crops that are vulnerable to SWD
pressures. Any field that is not picked on a tight timeline and managed on a very regular
basis is falling short of the larvae-free mark. I've seen blueberry fruit hanging on the
plants for a slightly extended length of time have a halo of puncture marks from SWD
sawing into the fruit. Overlapping generations are already happening at this early point
in the season. Compound that with these weather conditions which are not only keeping
the dust down but setting up the best case scenario for SWD to thrive in. Effective spray
coverage, timely harvesting, decreased spray intervals, and managing SWD pressure in
adjacent post-harvest fields all play a large role in getting through this season. Keep your
saltwater handy, sample the fruit often. Don’t wait for your fruit receiver to tell you
there’s a problem with your fruit.

Hang in t here!

Raspberry harvest, Tom Peerbolt

 REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS 3
WILL A METTE VALLEY, OREGON 7-9-19

Strawberries: Day neutral strawberries are

going through a nice flush a bloom right now
which means fruit has really good potential in
a few weeks. However, some mite flare-ups are
showing up and of course SWD continues to
be a concern. A push of fertilizer is happening
at this point in the season to keep these
plants in good fruiting shape. The peak of
Strawberry Crown Moth flight has happened so
management is happening now.

Blueberries: Hand harvest started a while back.

Looking at trying a row with the machine
maybe Thursday or Friday. The cool weather
has delayed things as fruit doesn't want to shake
off the bushes too well yet and fruit is getting
sweeter. Some machine harvest for fresh did
start in eastern Valley about 4-5 days ago. Cool
wet weather has contributed to some fruit rot
issues that we debt usually have challenges with
at this time of year. Expecting 20-30 mm of
rain in some areas of the valley tomorrow so
hoping not too many negative effects from that.

All the showers are a bit frustrating for SWD

controls applied. Certainly not as bad as in
2016 though when we were 3 weeks early and
harvesting in the rain because that's all mother
nature was giving us at that point. Haven't
heard too much about levels lately but assuming
they must be heading upward with these ideal
conditions for them.
early spring 2019 planted Albion, Julie Pond
NORTHERN WASHINGTON 7-10-19

After last week’s rain, we saw some mold in raspberry fields with dense canopies or those with
longer times between pickings. That will probably happen again with the wet period we’re having
now. Yellow rust is taking off, so it is a good time to protect foliage if you see it in your fields.

I’m seeing mummy berry in organic and low-input fields, no surprise there. However, I’ve also
seen a little in some well-managed fields. Maybe pressure is a bit higher than usual this year. It’s a
good thing to watch for and note now, so you will know which areas to focus sprays on next March
and April.
 REGIONAL FIELD REPORTS 4
FR ASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA 7-9-19 From Eric Gerbrandt, Research Director, BCBC/
RIDC/ BCSGA
Weather in the Fraser Valley has been unseasonably cool with on-again, off-again showers.
Growers and packers are definitely seeing the upswing in SWD pressure. Both relating to these
weather conditions, increasing SWD populations and a more extended ripening period are
stretching the logistics of spray management.

Blueberries: Blueberries: Hand harvest has been interrupted repeatedly by the rain we’ve had on
and off for the last couple of weeks. A lot of lost opportunity with crews unable to get out there
and work. Hand pick of Bluecrop started in at least one field today and the fruit size is spectacular.
Second pick of Duke will be the big push coming into the weekend. However, looks like a lot of
volume will end up machined for process.

Raspberries: Raspberries: Good fruit size in Meeker, a natural response to reduced lateral count.
Definitely some challenges in keeping SWD at bay in this crop as well with many fields coming in
later than normal due to secondary laterals breaking after winter damage to the primaries. Hand
harvest for fresh slowing with labour being drawn to blueberries.

FR ASER VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA 7-5-19

High lights:
· Fruit rot levels have increased this week due to the wet weather. Apply protective
fungicides before the rain to help prevent infection.
· Alternaria was found in some indicator fields this week, the first that is has been
observed this season. This not a disease found everywhere, so only spray for
this disease where it has been found in the past.
Click here for full Blueberry Council IPM Newsletter

Blueberry harvesting, Jason Myer

 BLUEBERRY BUD DEVELOPMENT 5

Willamette Valley, Oregon

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

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

Hand
harvest
WEEK 27, 7-5-19 began
6-28-19

WEEK 27, 7-6-18

WEEK 27, 7-7-17

WEEK 27, 7-8-16

PATRIOT BLUEJAY DR APER DUKE LIBERTY TOP SHELF AUROR A L AST C ALL
 INDUSTRY C ALENDAR 6
JULY 11: WSU MT VERNON FIELD DAY 3- 5:30pm. Go here for more information

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. Go here for the agenda.

JULY 18: M ACHINE HARVEST TRIAL FIELD DAY 1 - 3pm. Honccop Farm. Go here for
information.

AUGUST 7: 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. Go here for the agenda

SEPTEMBER 4: WASHINGTON RED R ASPBERRY COMMISSION MEETING 1pm -

5pm. 204 Hawley St., Lynden, WA.

SEPTEMBER 10: OREGON R ASPBERRY & BLACKBERRY COMMISSION MEETING

10:30am - 2:30pm. Hayden's Lakefront Grill, 8187 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd, Tualatin,
OR 97062

SEPTEMBER 27 - NOVEMBER 10: ONLINE

BLUEBERRY PHYSIOLOGY, PRODUCTION
SYSTEMS & M ANAGEMENT. 6-week course taught
by Bernadine Strik For more information and to
register, go here.

OCTOBER 17: R ASPBERRY & BLUEBERRY

RESEARCH REVIEWS 10:00am - 4:00pm. To be held
at Mt Vernon WSU. For more information contact
Henry Bierlink or Alan Schrieber.
VISIT TH E WE ATH E R C A FE ®
DECEMBER 4-6 SM ALL FRUIT CONFERENCE & Go here for Rufus La Lone's
LYNDEN AG SHOW Go Here for more information uniquely long-range forecasts for
and to register. the PNW.®

DECEMBER 4 WASHINGTON RED R ASPBERRY

COMMISSION ANNUAL MEETING Go Here for
more information.

D EG R E E DAY I N FO R M ATI O N

Go here for Dr. Len Coop's

Degree Day information.

Blueberry harvest, Tom Peerbolt

 INDUSTRY NEWS
H I G H LI G HTS
Positive start for Superfresh Growers’ first
blueberry season (7/8, Fresh Plaza)
Government of Canada supports innovation
in British Columbia’s berry industry (7/5,
Fresh Plaza)
Largest winter bee die-off in the books (7/3,
Growing Produce)
Study: NAFTA 2.0 poses disaster for some
Florida growers (7/8, Capital Press)
Twist upon twist in glyphosate battle: Next
generation safer biopesticides on the way
thanks in part to anti-chemical activists—
who may oppose them (7/8, GLP)
PEST M A N AG E M ENT
Feared pest attacks Midwest berries (6/27,
Growing Produce) SWD…
Bee-based biocontrol (7/1, Good Fruit Grower)
2 minute video.
CO M PA N I ES
California Giant and the wild bee program
(7/3, Fresh Plaza)
M A R K ETI N G
C om mo d it y b oa rd s supp or t fo o d
s e r v ice s e c tor, c he f s (7/5, The Pac ke r)
‘Grab a bunch of bluetiful’ during National
Blueberry Month (7/4, The Produce News)
INSECT & DISEASE PEST ALERTS
Alternaria Fruit Rot. Photo by Caroline Teasdale.
7
EU RO PE
“The key to the growth of the world’s
blueberry production is hydroponics” (7/5,
Fresh Plaza)
BR EED I N G/CU LTIVA RS
United Kingdom: Plants365 signs MSU
blueberry variety licenses (7/4, Hort News)
Spain: Five BerryWorld berries crowned
at the superior taste awards (7/4, Fresh
Plaza)
L A BO R
Oregon minimum wage increases by 50
cents (7/1, Capital Press)
TECH N O LO GY
Introduction to intelligent spraying
systems (7/3, Fruit Grower News)
PESTICI D ES
Austrian parliament votes to ban cancer-
linked weed killer glyphosate (7/5, Fresh
Fruit Portal)
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.
 INSECT & DISEASE PEST ALERTS 8
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 clamshell packs.
YELLOW RUST in raspberries Anthracnose Ripe Rot. Photo by Caroline Teasdale.
• 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.

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. Shock virus, 5/27/19, photo by Jason Myer.

• 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.

POWDERY MILDEW in Southern strawberries.

Dry, warm, humid conditions favor powdery
mildew in strawberries. We’re seeing the disease
beginning to get going in some area fields.

SILVER LEAF DISEASE in blueberries.

This is a recently identified disease. Draper
seems to be particularly susceptible but other Powdery mildew on both leaves and fruit of the strawberry
varieties have also tested positive. cultivar Sweet Sunrise., 2015. Photo by Bernadine C. Strik.
 CROP M A N AGE M ENT: WEEK 28
ALL CROPS
• Sample for & treat as needed for SWD fruit
infestation as soon as fruit begins to color.
• Vole management
• Weed management
• Fertility management
• Water management
• Scout for virus symptoms & send in samples
for testing as needed.
BLUEBERRIES
• Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit molds.
• Can apply insecticides to prevent SWD
infestations.
• 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.
• Treat for Mummyberry as needed. 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 leafroller larvae feeding.
• Aphid control where Shock virus
transmission is an issue.
• Scale blueberries.
• Scout for weevil notching.
• Scout for root rot issues.
BLACKBERRIES
• Scout for Rose Stem Girdler.
• Scout for Purple Blotch lesions.
• Scout for Cane and Leaf Rust and assess
treatment options.
9
• Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit molds.
• Can apply insecticides to prevent SWD
infestations.
• Scout for virus symptoms & send in samples
for testing as needed.
EVERGREEN BLACKBERRIES
• Scout for and treat as needed for blackberry
rust.
RASPBERRIES
• Scout for Phytophthora Root Rot. Look for
cane collapse.
• Scout for Twospotted mites.
• Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit molds.
• Can apply insecticides to prevent SWD
infestations.
• 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.
STRAWBERRIES
• Scout for Lygus Bugs and treat as needed.
• Scout for Root Weevils. Adults of Black Vine,
Rough Strawberry, Strawberry Root Weevils
are now being recovered from some strawberry
fields.
• Can apply insecticides to prevent SWD
infestations.
• Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit molds.
• Scout for Strawberry Crown Moth larvae in
southern strawberries.
• Scout for powdery mildew and treat as
needed.
• Scout for two spotted spider mites and
predatory, beneficial mites.
• Scout for aphids and treat as needed
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