Berry Bulletin, July 20, 2018

Strawberries: Renovation is well underway for June bearing strawberries. Malwina harvest is ongoing in southern, central and eastern Ontario. Many growers have mowed the earliest varieties if not all their June bearing strawberries. After mowing.focus on cyclamen mite control. See the steps for applying Agri-mek below. Renovation is also an important time for weed control-  after mowing you can use Devrinol or Sinbar for a pre-emergent weed control, and consider a grass herbicide if necessary. Do not use a grass herbicide within 10-14 days of sinbar.

Day neutral strawberry harvest is starting up again. Keep these berries picked as regularly as possible to manage SWD. Powdery mildew, tarnished plant bugs, potato leafhoppers, and two spotted spider mites are pests to watch for in day neutrals.

Mites: approximately 5 days after mowing(when there is new growth)  apply Agri-mek for mite control.

• Agri-mek is registered for Two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) post-harvest. If you are applying agri-mek for TSSM you will achieve some efficacy on cyclamen mite.
• Apply Agri-mek at 225 mL/ha in 750-1000L water /ha, with a non-ionic surfactant at .1-.5%
• Slow down and get thorough coverage of the plants and crowns.
• Apply Agri-mek under slow-drying conditions to improve uptake into the leaves.
• Do not apply sinbar after applying Agri-mek. Wait 5-7 days after Agir-mek before applying sinbar.
• Avoid spreading cyclamen mites to new fields; work in new fields before moving to old, infested fields.

Blueberries: Blueberry harvest continues, and the crop is looking good in most areas.

Raspberries:  Harvest is ongoing. Fruit size is smaller in areas because of the hot and dry conditions. .

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD):.

• SWD numbers increased slightly this week in southern and south west Ontario. We have seen an increase in the number of sites where SWD was captured again this week, and an increase in the number of SWD in the traps.
• All ripening berries are at risk and growers should be managing for SWD. See below for crop-specific strategies.
• For all berry crops pick fruit early, clean and often. Cool fruit as quickly as possible after harvest.
• Spray every 5-7 days, and re-apply after a rain.
• Don’t spray in temperatures above 27C.
• SWD is more active in the evening and early mornings. Spray from 6-10 am or 6-10 pm if possible.
• Always rotate insecticide groups to reduce the risk of developing insecticide resistance.

Strawberries:

• Do not leave overripe strawberries in the field; SWD populations can build up in this leftover fruit.
• Mow strawberries as soon as possible after harvest to protect later varieties, raspberries and blueberries. Renovate early strawberry varieties before others if you are still harvesting late varieties. Mowing will help fruit dry up and be less attractive to SWD.

Day neutral strawberries:

• Are susceptible to SWD now. Malathion for SWD will also control tarnished plant bug.
• Avoid using Mako as it can lead to spider mite outbreaks. Save Mako for cooler weather.
• Research has shown that Assail has some activity on SWD eggs and larvae, but not adults. Assail can be used now to control leafhoppers in day-neutrals.

Blueberries:

• Blueberries need to be sprayed weekly for SWD at this point if there are SWD in your area. Check our SWD update to see where they have been caught.
• Use insecticides that will control both SWD and Japanese beetles, such as Exirel and Malathion, if you need to control Japanese beetles this season.

Summer Raspberries:

• Growers need to maintain insecticide coverage on their summer raspberries if harvest is ongoing. Numbers are lower than this time last year but we have found SWD in raspberry fields, so management is needed. Pick as often as possible.