1

Northwest Berry Foundation

Aurora after rain 8/6/20 by Greta Dupuis

Week 32
August 12, 2020 Jason Myer
Northwest Berry Foundation
WHAT'S INSIDE
Regional Reports
We are finally into the late season of fruit production which oddly feels like
Industry Resources it took forever to get here and at the same time as it just appeared out of
nowhere. Though it is still premature, seeing the majority of harvest in the
Industry News rear-view mirror, I have sensed a tremendous sigh of relief from the growers I
have interacted with (or maybe this is just a side effect of face masks).
Industry Calendar
In the spirit of premature retrospection on the season, my own relief is seeing
Pest & Disease Alerts that the disaster which the circumstances of this season presented as a very
real possibility did not come to pass. That isn't to say all has gone well, but
Pest Management I continue to be encouraged in seeing and hearing stories of the resiliency
and adaptability of everyone in the berry business to meet unpredictable
challenges and grow stronger as a result. I know this has been a running
theme of these SFU editorials lately, so I will leave it at that and let you all give
yourselves a nice pat on the back.

To turn from waxing philosophical to the present reality, we are still seeing
significant and unprecedented SWD pressure. Weather conditions still
Subscribe >> continue to favor this pest. For those of you still with fruit coming on, their
pressure will only continue to build for the remainder of the season. We have
been seeing low levels of larval presence basically everywhere, and at random.
Most growers seem to be able to suppress them enough to keep their quality
and economics in good standing. A lot of new tools in development for SWD,
so this insect better enjoy its glory days right now cause it is sure to have its
butt kicked in the coming years.

Be safe and stay healthy,

Thank you to our sponsors

Washington British Columbia

Small Fruit Update is Washington Red Raspberry Commission B.C. Strawberry Growers Association
produced once a week Washington Blueberry Commission Raspberry Industry Development Council
during the growing B.C. Blueberry Council
season and then Oregon
bimonthly outside the Oregon Raspberry & Blackberry National
growing season. Commission North American Blueberry Council
Oregon Blueberry Commission North American Raspberry &
Oregon Strawberry Commission Blackberry Association
 R EG I O N A L F I E L D R E P O RTS 2

WESTERN OREGON, WILLAMETTE VALLEY Blueberry Fruit

• Blueberries (8/11): We’re closing in on the late season blueberry Development
varieties now with Liberty and Legacy into later picks, Last Call just
getting started last week and Aurora ready to start this week. The
weather is a little on the warm side and we could be into mid-90’s by Willamette Valley, Oregon
the end of this coming week but in general the harvest is moving along
just fine. The SWD situation is not bad at the moment although there
are very low numbers being picked up periodically. With the warm
temps and growers not being able to keep up at times, softness is an Week 31: Aurora
issue in many fields. Photos below are from 8/7/20 by Tom Peerbolt. Left:
Last call after 1st pick & Right: Aurora

8/7/20

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (8/10)

• Blueberries: The hot weather of couple weeks ago has pushed things
along. Considerable colour has been developing in late varieties (Elliot
and Aurora) and I'm sure we will be into picks after mid-month. Liberty
has started picking this past weekend and will continue into this week. 8/2/19
Draper is picked and there probably won't be a large second pick. There
is some Calypso picking but limited acres. There is a lack of fresh
available at this point. Most Bluecrop is too soft to make it. There is still
a very small amount of Duke coming in on 3rd pick. By the end of this
month I don't see a lot of volume available. Late picks will suffer from a
lack of labour and we'll see more machined than in past. This may also
affect later season volumes.

• Raspberries: The last picks of raspberries just wrapped up with

the exception of Wakefield which will pick for a while, yet current
indications for the crop looks to be at or slightly above the 2019 levels.
But it'll be awhile before we know final numbers. Post-harvest clean-ups
will begin for mite and disease control.

BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRASER VALLEY (8/11) 8/3/18

• Blueberries: Rolling through second pick Bluecrop, Duke wrapped up,

third pick Reka starting later today. Looks like Aurora in western Valley
could start in 2 weeks or so. Elliot in some areas perhaps in a week.
Some who are finished cleaning up fields of weeds etc. Weather is good
right now but near the weekend expected to climb into the 30's Celsius.
 I N D U ST RY R E S O U RC E S 3

Join the The Northwest Berry Foundation team!

The Northwest Berry Foundation is looking for an enthusiastic

person to join our team! We are currently looking for a graphic
web designer to fill a contractual position. This position will
design, expand, and maintain a new website for our partner, the
Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research.

Click here for the full job description

and application details

Blueberries
• Blueberry IPM Newsletter (8/7, BC Blueberry Council)

• Register for the online course "Blueberry Physiology, Production Systems & Management"
Led by Dr. Bernadine Strik, Oregon State University. A six-week long course running from
Sept. 5 through Nov. 6.

North America Raspberry and Blackberry Association Updates

• NARBA is considering holding the 2021 conference virtually. Click here to

participate in their survey to give your thought about going virtual.

• Full 2020 Caneberry Pricing and Marketing Survey Report is now available for
NARBA members and those who participated in the survey. Visit the Members
Only page to view the full report.

Podcasts for the Industry

• The Business of Blueberries: A brand new podcast brought to you by the U.S.
Highbush Blueberry Council hosted by Kasey Cronquist and Rod Cook.

• Episode 8: USHBC and NABC: What's the Difference? (8/6)

• PolliNation: A podcast from OSU Extension Service that tells the stories of bold strides
on improving pollinator health. Hosted by Dr. Andony Melathopoulos.

• Episode 148: John Ascher - 10 Oregon Bees (August 2020)

COVID-19 Resources
Identifying risks for COVID-19 exposures in the agriculture workplace (7/28, Fruit Growers News)

Webinar: Navigating COVID-19 during berry harvest and packing ( June 2020, WSU)

Guidance for U-Pick Farms during the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020, ODA)

Handling COVID-19 Guidance for U-Pick Farms (West. Reg. Center to Enhance Food Safety)
 I N D U ST RY N E WS 4

The Weather Cafe® Degree Day

Information
Click here for Rufus
La Lone's longrange Click here for
forecasts for the Dr. Len Coop's
PNW® Northwest Degree Day
Information

Extension/Research: Berry harvest during COVID-

Featured Links 19 requires varied approach in North Carolina
Oppy introduces Haskap berries to Vancouver (8/5, Fruit Grower News)
retailers (8/6, Fresh Fruit Portal)
South America
Study: Blueberry growers boost economy by Argentina wants to regain competitiveness in the
infusing billions of dollars, generating jobs (8/10, blueberry market (8/11, Fresh Plaza)
Fruit Grower News)
“Peru will produce 171 tons next season” (8/10,
Bush berries in good supply (8/7, Agronometrics) Blueberry Consulting)
Same story as last week but with some great charts
inserted. Europe
Serbia: High-tech farm ensures plentiful supply of
Peruvian blueberry imports challenge domestic blueberries (8/10, Fresh Plaza)
growers (8/11, Fresh Plaza)
Labor
Upgrade your Rears airblast sprayer (7/30, Good B.C.: New rules for foreign workers (8/5, Country
Fruit Grower) A commercial kit is available that life in BC)
allows for variable nozzle flow.
National Council of Ag Employers renews plea for
Technology minimum wage relief (8/7, Capital Press)
New field fruit transport system could increase
profits (8/10, Fresh Plaza) Can’t see why this Oregon: Fund created to help ag workers who
wouldn’t work for hand-picked berries. must quarantine (8/4, Capital Press)

Export Markets International Meetings

Chile to take U.S. west coast blueberries (8/5, Good Two key horticultural industry events in Chile
Fruit Grower) moved to April 2021 (8/10, Fresh Fruit Portal)

Genetics/Plant breeding
Decline in public planting breeding programs
could impact food security (8/7, Fruit Grower
News)

State-funded extension/research
Oregon budget cuts expected for farm-related
programs (8/4, Capital Press)

Companies
Cal Giant goes gold with zero waste certification
(8/10, Fresh Plaza)

National Farm News

Mixed news on farm bankruptcies amid
pandemic (8/7, Fruit Grower News)

North America
Weather conditions favorable for SWD spray
applications in Michigan (8/5, Fruit Grower News)
8/6/20 by Greta Dupuis
 I N D U ST RY C A L E N D A R 5

Native pollinator 8/6/20 by Greta Dupuis

TODAY: AUG 12
The IPM Hour presented by the Western IPM Center. 12-1PM. Silvia Rondon, an
extension entomology specialist at OSU, will discuss "Response from an Extension Entomology Irrigated Crop
Faculty to a New Era of Research and Educational Delivery." Walt Mahaffee, a research plant pathologist with
the USDA-ARS, will discuss "Finding Needles in Haystacks: Inoculum Monitoring as a Decision Aid." Click here
for zoom link.

SEPT 9
WA Red Raspberry Commission Board Meeting. 1-5PM. This meeting will be held through
Zoom. If you would like to attend, please contact the commission (henry@red-raspberry.org) and they'll send
you the meeting link.

SEPT 25 - NOV 6
Blueberry Physiology, Production Systems & Management Online Course.
This blueberry course led by Bernadine Strik at OSU has been very popular! Register for this 6-week long
course and further details here.

SEPT 28 - OCT 1
NABC/USHBC Virtual Conference & Expo. 7AM-6PM. This year, the North American
Blueberry Council (NABC) and U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) are expanding their reach by going
virtual, showcasing industry leaders and gathering up the most important people in business, tech, genetics,
innovation and more! Register for free today.

OCT 27-29
Nutrient cycling, soil health, and Food Safety Virtual Conference. Nutrient cycling
and recycling, fate and transport of nutrients across multiple landscapes of agriculture, and food safety related
to water irrigation management will be the focus of the conference. An emphasis will be placed on adoption of
innovative technology and building relationships which will promote recycling of manure nutrients via crops
and forages. View event details here. Register for this event here.

OCT 28
WA Red Raspberry Commission Board Meeting. 1-5PM. This meeting will be held through
Zoom. If you would like to attend, please contact the commission (henry@red-raspberry.org) and they'll send
you the meeting link.

DEC 7-9
Global Berry Congress. This event had been moved to December in response to COVID-19. The
leading annual event for the international soft fruit business. Rotterdam, Netherlands. View program and
registration details here.
 N U T R I E N T M A N AG E M E N T 6
Thanks to Bernadine Strik (OSU) and Lisa Wasko DeVetter (WSU) for supplying all of the following information.

This is the critical time of the year when tissue nutrient sampling and testing needs to take place
(about July 24-August 7).

Recommended Timing & Frequency of Testing

Tissue Sampling Soil Sampling

• Every year at the same time –for blueberries • Always before planting.
and floricane raspberries and blackberries. • For analyzing problem situations.
This is the last week in July through the first • Every few years for maintenance.
week in August.
• For analyzing problem situations—take
samples from both healthy and unhealthy Recommended Protocols for Soil Testing
areas of the field for comparing.
• All crops: Pre-planting soil testing is
critical. Adjusting soil pH & incorporating
Recommended Protocols for Tissue Testing nutrients (like potassium and phosphorus)
that don’t move readily from surface
• Blueberries: Collect the most recent, fully- applications should happen before planting.
expanded leaf with the petiole attached (leaf
stem) only from shoots below where fruit is/ • Strawberries: For annual/short term
was located. crops like strawberries, soil testing is
usually the only method used for adjusting
• Raspberries & Blackberries: Collect the nutrient programs. After renovation is
most recent, fully-expanded leaf with the recommended for multi-year plantings.
petiole attached (leaf stem) only from the
primocanes (about 12 inches from the tip).
Comments for Soil Testing

Comments for Tissue Testing • Soil testing to diagnose problems: Most

useful when combined with in-field
• Cultivars should be sampled separately, as observations, results of annual leaf tissue
should any problem areas in the field. sampling, and a history of a fertility
program and other soil/tissue tests.
• If they are covered with dust, rinse them
briefly and let them air dry; otherwise do • Seasonal timing: Fall or spring is common
not wash. but be mindful of where fertilizers are
placed (i.e., avoid fertilizers) and/or
• All blueberry and floricane fruiting collecting surface organic matter (e.g.,
caneberry cultivars, regardless of ripening sawdust, mulch). It’s very important to be
time, should be sampled in the window of consistent! There can be big differences if
late-July to early-August. you test in the spring in one year and fall in
the another. Don’t test in spring after any
• Leaf nutrient concentrations naturally fertilization.
change throughout the season (from spring
to autumn) so these published standards are • Location of sampling: Between the
NOT applicable if you sample tissue outside dripline and base of the plants & enough to
the late July-early August sampling time. be representative of the entire field. Move
any mulch aside before collecting a soil
sample.

Considerations

• It’s best to pair results of tissue tests with in-field observations when deciding on whether or not
to modify a nutrient management program.
P E ST A N D D I S E A S E A L E RTS , W E E K 32
7

Spotted Wing Drosophila: Continued Pressure

SWD will continue to be the greatest threat to berry crops. Continue to monitor hotspot areas
with frequent fruit sampling and treat fields that may have leftover fruit (i.e. Legacy).

• A quick, 7-step guide for detecting SWD larvae in fruit

• A detailed guide for testing fruit for the presence of SWD larvae
• Emerging Pest: SWD- A berry and stone fruit pest

SWD larvae 9/4/09 SWD larvae in SWD larvae in

by Julie Pond blueberry 9/4/09 raspberry puree 8/11/10

Mummyberry in Blueberries

Continue scouting for mummy berries on fruit clusters. Often times

diseased berries will fall to the ground before healthy berries are harvested.
Plant stage, environmental conditions and history of mummyberry
pressure should be considered when making management decisions. For
management options visit this link.

Birds Mummyberry 7/23/20

by Mike Pinker
Birds are a frequent problem of damaged berries. Be sure to have a bird
management technique in place that is effective for your farm. Visit this
link for a Grower's Guide for Bird Management in Berry Fields.

Scorch Virus in Blueberries

Scorch virus is vectored by aphids. An effective aphid management plan
should be in place to control populations. Control measures are necessary
for reducing population size before reproduction and dispersal begins. Be
sure to continually monitor for this virus closely. Scorch 5/8/07
by Tom Peerbolt
P E ST A N D D I S E A S E A L E RTS , W E E K 32
8
Yellow Rust in Raspberries

Summer is the time when another yellow spore stage (uredinia) starts to appear. This spore
stage appears later in the season as yellow ‘dust’ on the bottom of leaves. This last stage
multiplies quickly and can quickly defoliate canes if left untreated. Evaluate disease incidence
and stage to determine whether (& when) fungicide applications are warranted.

Yellow Rust 5/7/02 Yellow Rust 5/3/18 Yellow Rust 4/15/16

by Tom Peerbolt by Jason Myer by Tom Peerbolt

Silver Leaf in Blueberries

Silver leaf is a fungal disease that affects stone fruit as

well as blueberries. This disease was first confirmed in
2014 on 'Draper' and 'Liberty' blueberries. Symptoms
have been observed in other varieties as well. Throughout
the summer, infected plants will develop silvery leaves
resulting in reduced growth. For management options visit
this link.

Silver leaf 6/15/18

by Jason Myer

Alternaria Fruit Rot

Alternaria can infect 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 by

Caroline Teasdale
 S U M M E R P E ST M A N AG E M E N T 9
All Crops Caneberries
• Sample for & treat as needed for SWD • Scout for rose stem girdler (RSG). If
fruit infestation as soon as fruit begins to fields are known to have RSG pressure
color. or have been recently planted, monitor
fields diligently in the upcoming weeks.
• Scout for virus symptoms and send Management is targeted at the adult
samples for testing as needed. stage to prevent egg-laying.

• Vole management. • Scout for leafrollers. A pest of concern

for export markets and fruit processing.
• Weed management. Be sure to monitor pheromone traps
regularly.
• Fertility management.
Raspberries
Strawberries • Scout for Phytophthora root rot and
• Scout for Lygus bugs and treat as monitor for cane collapse.
needed.
• Scout for twospotted spider mites and
• Can apply phosphite material to yellow mites.
strengthen root system and manage root
rot. • Scout for clay colored weevils in
northern areas.
• Scout for root weevils. Adults of black
vine, rough strawberry, and strawberry • Scout for yellow rust and assess
root weevils are visible in some fields. treatment options.

• Scout for strawberry crown moth in • Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit
southern strawberries. molds.

• Scout for powdery mildew and treat as • Can apply a phosphite material for
needed. stronger root growth and root rot
prevention.
• Scout for twospotted spider mites and
predatory, beneficial mites. Blackberries
• Scout for cane and leaf rust and assess
• Watch for weak growing areas and check treatment options.
rots for root or weevil larvae.
• Scout for purple blotch lesions.
Blueberries
• Monitor for bird activity. Starlings are • Can apply fungicides to prevent fruit
the main concern. molds.

• Scout for blueberry gall midge. Tip Evergreen Blackberries

damage from this midge is due to begin • Scout for blackberry rust.
showing up in southern blueberries.

• Scout for Azalea bark scale.

• Scout for leafroller larvae feeding.

• Scout for weevil notching.

• Be sure to have an aphid management

plan in place in areas where Shock virus
transmission is a concern.

• Monitor and treat for mummyberry as

needed. Infected fruit should be visible
within the next few weeks.
Bird damage 6/7/13 Cane leaf rust 4/5/03
by Jason Myer by Tom Peerbolt
 10

About the
Small Fruit Upate
This is the sole industry publication
gathering grower and producer
news and weekly field reports to
unite, stabilize, and strengthen the
Northwest berry growing region
(Canada and US).
Production is independent of
government and commerical control
and made possible by the following
commission & councils.
Oregon Red Raspberry 9/3/2019 by Heather Fara Click group to learn more!

ABOUT US | SUBSCRIBE | ARCHIVES