1. Berry Crop Update 2018
22 January 2018

2. Quick Season Recap Spotted Wing Drosophila
First detection in 2017 was observed in traps within wild blueberry fields during the week of June 30th
Infestations confirmed in raspberry and highbush blueberry by mid-Aug
Day-neutral strawberry reported infestations
Shift of population spike from late September to mid-Aug
Trapped in areas and crops that they have never been seen before in Nova Scotia
Black root rot & nematodes – strawberry
Botrytis – resistance management
Effects of 2016 drought
Earliest confirmed trapping in NS

3. Perennia 2017-2018 Berry Initiatives
Province-wide Twilight Meetings (annual event)
Spray Field Day – strawberry and caneberry
Chill Hour evaluation of northern nursery plants
Aphid & Virus Program
Industry consultation & priority Setting
Revision of Pest Guides and development of production guides for strawberry, caneberries and highbush blueberries
Developing new entrant basics with ThinkFarm
Timing????

4. Chill Hour evaluation of northern nursery plants
Determine the effect of chill hours (base 8°C at 4’) on plant vigor and yield of northern strawberry nursery plants
3 varieties (Jewel, Mira, Valley Sunset)
5 chill hour digging dates in 2015
Planted 2016
Harvest 16 June – 24 July, 2017

5. Analysis using two factors-Variety & Chill hours (3 varieties: Jewel, Valley Sunset, Mira and 5 chill hour treatments: 400, 600, 800, 1000, spring dug).
Means followed by the same letters are not significantly different at α = 0.05.

6. Virus Testing and Aphid Monitoring Program
Obtained funding for additional monitoring ( )
Large raspberry aphid scouting/ alerts
Bramble virus identification – photo journal
Strawberry aphid monitoring – 24 sites on 20 farms
Strawberry virus testing for newly planted fields
Strawberry virus testing of select fruiting fields
96 fields sampled
10 fields sampled

7. Leaf monitoring results
They change from wingless form to winged form when the population density is high,
Not moving far
Not spreading disease

8. Yellow sticky trap monitoring results
Note the difference in scale.
Sheer volume of aphids can be risk of vector. Possibly not as efficient vectors Our monitoring showed low numbers but there were reports from other monitoring programs that numbers were higher.
We are effectively protecting fields

9. Strawberry Virus Results
Total       SMYEV = 1531 tested and 44 positive = 2.9
SMoV = 185 tested and 8 positive = 4.3

10. Berry Industry Consultation & Prioritisation Workshop 2018-2020
New process this year – on-line survey and in-person consultation
Survey still open!!
Set Minor Use Priorities for 2018
Set industry and research priorities for

11. Berry Industry Consultation & Prioritisation Workshop 2018-2020 Recap
Deb Moreau presentation on Spotted Wing Drosophila
Erika Bent presentation on cranberry and cherry fruitworm
Beatrice Amyotte, Small Fruit Germplasm Development Program presentation
Top Priorities:
Soil & Plant Nutrition
Cultivar development
New production systems (high tunnel; low tunnel, etc.)
Product loss/re-evaluations – repercussions on management
Information on resistance management

12. 2018 Activities Based on Survey Feedback
Highbush Blueberry pruning workshop spring 2018
Spotted wing drosophila management in highbush blueberry (e.g. mass trapping, edge spray)
Botrytis in caneberries (potential spray efficacy trial)
Beginning to explore long cane raspberry and blackberry production
Canadian Trial Berry Network – variety evaluation (contingent on funding)
Black root rot & nematode management demonstration

13. How are we reaching you?