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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The warm weather this past weekend and the last few days will have had buds develop and probably many fields have susceptible buds. I have not had reports on bud development this week, so please check your field. Mummy berry cups are probably in most regions and typically continue for at least 2 weeks after […]
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There are mummy berry (fungus name Monilinia) pinheads, developing cups, and/or active cups being produced plots have been examined in Midcoast and Downeast blueberry fields. In the fields I have reports from, the flower buds are just starting to progress into F2 (T2) stage when they look like a crown. I suggest you wait until […]
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