Please note the following event on October 22, 2025 has been cancelled. We will discuss topics including field mulching and irrigation during our annual Winter Conference in February, 2026. We look forward to seeing you there! During the 2025 harvest season, wild blueberry growers in Hancock and Washington Counties especially, experienced a flash drought. It […]
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The Hancock County and Washington County Soil & Water Conservation Districts and blueberry farmer Laura Flannery will be presenting the second annual “Better Soil, Better Blueberries” Field Day for wild blueberry growers on October 8th, 2025 in Charlotte, Maine. Dr. Lily Calderwood of UMaine Cooperative Extension will be in attendance sharing research from her program […]
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Black and Blue in the Barrens By Ben Seal, August 17, 2025 (Offrange) In a recent “Offrange” article, author Ben Seals details the mounting economic stressors facing Maine’s wild blueberry growers, from droughts and late frosts impacting yield to market competition from high-bush blueberry competition. University of Maine Extension’s Wild Blueberry Specialist, Dr. Lily Calderwood, weighs […]
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Dr. Lily Calderwood, Wild Blueberry Specialist and Associate Professor of Horticulture with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was recently featured on the podcast “Maine Farmcast”. In this episode, she joins Dr. Glenda Pereira to discuss the history of wild blueberry management in Maine, shares updates on current research from her lab, and offers practical […]
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Wild Blueberry Newsletter June 2025 Hello Everyone, Phenology Update This week is peak green fruit, and as long as we continue getting some rain, they should ripen and fill out nicely. Below you will see this week’s phenology table, which is also available online. Date Visited Locations Pin Head Green Fruit Color Change Fruit Blue Fruit […]
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This event will highlight the cutting edge innovation and practical application of research-based knowledge conducted at the University of Maine on wild blueberry. This work is shaping the future of wild blueberry production in Maine with you and for you. Farmers and interested members of the public are invited to learn, connect, and contribute! In […]
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Burning wild blueberry fields is a traditional practice with deep Indigenous roots and remains a vital tool for organic pest and disease management. Our new fact sheet explains the benefits and risks of burning versus mowing, provides step-by-step guidance on how to safely burn using oil or straw, and outlines important legal requirements and best […]
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Curious how to ensure your boom sprayer is applying the right amount of pesticide every time? Read our new fact sheet on boom sprayer calibration. UMaine Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist Dr. Lily Calderwood and Research Technician Jordan Parks provide a clear, step-by-step guide to calibrating your sprayer using the 1/128th method, ensuring effective pest control, […]
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Wild Blueberry Newsletter Early March 2025 Phenology Report Jordan Parks visited our four overwintering weather stations and reports back that as of February 26th sites from Warren to Whiting were covered in snow. Snow cover insulates this year’s buds protecting them from harsh winter winds. NOAA Climate Outlook The April, May and June weather outlook provided […]
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Wild Blueberry Newsletter April 2025 Have you calibrated your sprayer? Come join us for a refresher or to learn how to calibrate a sprayer for the first time on Thursday, April 17th in Appleton! Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025Time: 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.Location: Appleton Station (Nash Farms), 1193 Peabody Road, Appleton, Maine 04862Cost: FreePesticide Credits: 1 Season Update: We are visiting […]
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