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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Join UMaine’s Wild Blueberry Team for a series of free summer events on wild blueberry field management. Highlights include sprayer calibration sessions, discussions on pest and pollinator management, and our annual Field Day at Blueberry Hill Research Farm in Jonesboro. Visit our Upcoming Events Page to view the full schedule and register. For questions, contact […]
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The Calderwood Lab has released a new fact sheet, Considerations for Solar on Wild Blueberry Land in Maine, detailing research on the feasibility of dual-use solar installations (or agrivoltaics) over Maine wild blueberry fields. While wild blueberry plants recovered well after solar installation, excessive shading significantly reduced yield, making dual-use solar unprofitable under standard industry […]
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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 Late March 2025 Wild Blueberry Growers, Processors, and Stakeholders, I’m pleased to share that the 2024 and 2025 UMaine Wild Blueberry Conference Recordings are now available! The Board of Pesticide Control approved an extension to our Special Local Need herbicide label of Express until 2030. Spring is certainly around the corner even if it is still […]
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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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There were still mummy berry cups and pinheads seen in Midcoast and Downeast fields on Thursday May 8th and Friday May 9th. With the cool wet weather over the weekend, I would expect the cups and pinheads were still present. Please take a look at your mummy berry plots to let me know when the […]
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Mummy berry cups are still present in fields and the plants are still susceptible. There have been Monilinia infection conditions across Maine blueberry areas from Lincoln east through to Washington county. Two to three infection periods have occurred from May 4th to May 7th in all fields with reporting weather stations, and I expect the […]
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I suspect there are mummy berry cups across all blueberry areas, unless it is a very late field. The flower buds also seem to be at least 40% F2 or past that in development. The rain during the last two days produced conditions to cause Monilinia infections from Friday May 2nd evening to May 4th […]
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