Wild Blueberry Newsletter, June 2017

Wild Blueberry Newsletter header graphic, text and a photo of blueberries and leaves


June 2017


Wild Blueberry Annual Field Day

The annual summer field day for wild blueberry growers will be held on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Blueberry Hill Farm on Route 1 in Jonesboro. The meeting will begin with an expanded vendor presence at 9:00 a.m. The discussion with blueberry growers, processors, and University and government employees affiliated with the blueberry industry on this year’s wild blueberry crop will begin at 10:00 a.m.  We will have an update on the Wild Blueberry Commission’s Promotional Efforts, and a talk on Wild Blueberry Crop Outlook and Management Strategies.  There will also be presentations on Boosting On-farm Wild Bee Populations and NRCS Programs to Help and the Bee Mapper (the bee prediction software for growers) followed by an interactive demonstration.  In the afternoon, following a BBQ lunch provided by our sponsors, we will have presentations on relevant topics and recent research.

Three recertification credits are available for certified pesticide applicators attending the morning and afternoon sessions. A draft agenda is included.

Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine Newsletter 

Wild Blueberry Summer Field Day & Meeting (DRAFT)

  • Location: Wild Blueberry Research & Extension Facility, Blueberry Hill Farm, Jonesboro, Maine
  • Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
  • Organized by: David E. Yarborough, Blueberry Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

2017 Wild Blueberry Summer Field Day Agenda

  • 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: Trade Show
  • 9:00 a.m.
    • Trade Show Sponsors: to be added
    • Trade Show Vendors: to be added
    • Trade Show Vendors: Butch Hall Land Leveling, USFWS, USDA/NRCS
  • 10:00-10:15 a.m.: Open Crop Discussion (light blue metal building)
  • 10:15-10:30 a.m.: Agricultural Wild Blueberry Heritage Center and Virtual Museum, Marie Emerson, Wescogas Wild Blueberries
  • 10:30-10:45 a.m.: Wild Blueberry Commission’s Promotional Efforts, Trish Kontur, WBBC of ME
  • 10:45-11:00 a.m.: Wild Blueberry Crop Outlook and Management Strategies, David Yarborough, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
  • 11:00-11:45 a.m.: Boosting On-farm Wild Bee Populations and NRCS Programs to Help, Eric Venturini, Xerces /NRCS
  • 11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Release of Bee Mapper (the bee prediction software for growers), Brianne Du Clos, Cyndy Loftin, Sam Hanes, and Frank Drummond, University of Maine
  • 12:45-1:30 p.m.: Interactive Demonstration of Bee Mapper (lab building), Brianne Du Clos
  • 12:00-1:30 p.m.: Cookout
  • 1:30-4:00 p.m.: Research Talks & Field Demonstrations by UMaine presenters unless otherwise stated.Presenters not in order of presentation (begin in the light blue metal building and continue outside to upper field).
    • Recycling Pesticide Containers: The RIGHT Thing to Do!Ron Perkins, Ag Container Recycling Council
    • Rusty Patched Bumblebee ListingMark McCollough, US Fish and Wildlife Service
    • Mummy berry UpdateSeanna Annis
    • Bees and Mummy Berry DiseaseElissa Ballman
    • Molecular Methods to Aid in Forecasting Blueberry Rust, Nghi Nyugen
    • Climate Change Research in Wild BlueberryVenessa Grove
    • Blueberry Tip MidgeJudy Collins
    • Trapping Blueberry Maggot and Spotted Wing Drosophila and Action ThresholdsFrank Drummond
    • Pollinator Demonstration PlantingEric Venturini of Xerces/NRCS
    • 2017 Weed Management Research Plots and Low Input Demonstration PlotDave Yarborough 

Three recertification credits offered for Maine certified pesticide applicators, one for the morning and two for the afternoon.

  •  4:00 p.m.: Trade Show Vendors (Close)

Sincerely,

Dave
David E. Yarborough
Extension Blueberry Specialist


Wild blueberry fact sheets, past newsletters, contacts, resource links, calendar of events, and more can be found on the Cooperative Extension’s Maine Wild Blueberries website.


Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

© 2017

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