Wild Blueberry Newsletter March 2023

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

March 2023

Dear Growers, Processors, and Stakeholders,

Equipment for Sale

Don’t forget about the Wild Blueberry Exchange where used equipment is posted. There are winnowers and harvesters for sale now.

UMaine Extension Labor and Compensation Survey

The survey takes approximately 30 minutes. They will be offering the chance to enter a drawing to win a $75 gift card to a farm outfitter (such as Tractor Supply) to all those who reach the end of the survey and elect to provide contact information on a separate form to enter the raffle. To participate, fill out this survey. Please respond to the survey by April 20, 2023.

Those with questions may contact Extension’s Small Business Specialist, Dr. Jason Entsminger at jason.entsminger@maine.edu.

Field Meeting Schedule with Pizza!

Please join us for hands-on, in-person education! From April to July 2023, wild blueberry field meetings will take place across the state covering a variety of topics and offering pesticide credits and pizza to participants. All meetings are free with donations accepted.

Online Registration is required for all of the following Field Meetings.

Hygienic Equipment Design for Small Wild Blueberry Growers

  • Date: April 4, 2023
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. with LUNCH (Sandwiches from Bell the Cat in Belfast)
  • Location: Brodis Blueberries, 87 Jones Hill Rd., Hope, Maine
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 2
  • Guest Expertise: Chris Callahan, Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering, University of Vermont Cooperative Extension

Registration is required and attendance is limited to 24 people.
Online Registration or Call-in Registration: 207.581.3175

Jonesboro Spring IPM Field Meeting

  • Date: April 17, 2023 (Monday)
  • Time: 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. with PIZZA!
  • Location: Blueberry Hill Farm, 1643 Route 1, Jonesboro, Maine
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 2

Topics Covered: Pre and post-emergent herbicide stacking and fine leaf sheep fescue management with Josh Stubbs and Lily Calderwood, flea beetle and span worm monitoring and management with Phil Fanning, and mummy berry disease management with Seanna Annis. Registration is required.

Hope Spring IPM and Fresh Pack Meeting

  • Date: May 3, 2023 (Wednesday)
  • Time: 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. with PIZZA!
  • Location: Brodis Blueberries, 87 Jones Hill Rd., Hope, Maine
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 2

Topics Covered: Weed ID and management with Paul Sweetland and Lily Calderwood, spring insect pests and pollinators with Phil Fanning, diseases with Seanna Annis, and WeCo fresh pack line with Ron Howard.
Registration is required.

Dresden Organic and Value-added Meeting

  • Date: May 12, 2023 (Friday)
  • Time: 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. with KIDS, CRISP & PIZZA!
  • Location: Fields Fields Blueberries, 565 Blinn Hill Rd., Dresden, Maine
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 2

Topics Covered: Field re-habilitation, mulching, drought management, weed, insect, pollinator, and disease management with Lily Calderwood, Phil Fanning, and Seanna Annis, food safety review with Rob Machado, and value-added wild blueberry products with Ashley Fields. Registration is required.

Orland Land Improvement Field Meeting

  • Date: June 1, 2023 (Thursday)
  • Time: 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. with PIZZA!
  • Location: Right onto Morningside Lane at 124 Upper Falls Rd, Orland ME (Park: 44.579741, -68.721168)
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 0

Topics Covered: Land-leveling, de-rocking, mulching, and carbon with Simeon Allen, Chris Phinney, Lily Calderwood, and John Zhang. Registration is required.

Jonesport Fine Leaf Sheep Fescue Management and Rakes! Field Meeting

  • Date: June 5, 2023 (Monday)
  • Time: 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. with PIZZA!
  • Location: Hubbard Rake Company, 1561 Mason Bay Rd., Jonesport, Maine
  • Pesticide Credits: 1

Topics Covered: Fine-leaf sheep fescue management and rake designs with Lily Calderwood, Ike Hubbard, and Courtney Hammond. Registration is required.

Rockport Solar, IPM and Organic with Paul Sweetland and Cary Nash

  • Date: June 7, 2023 (Wednesday)
  • Time: 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. with PIZZA!
  • Location: Rockport, Maine (44°10’12.5″N 69°07’31.1″W)
    The driveway is right across from C and R Merritt Transportation Inc. Drive all the way up the new road/driveway to the parking lot on left.
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 2

Topics Covered: Dual-use solar with Lily Calderwood, managing multiple fields, long-term weed and soil management, equipment used to apply sulfur and herbicides, burning with Cary Nash and Paul Sweetland.
Registration is required.

Blueberry Hill Farm Field Day

  • Date: June 22, 2023 (Thursday)
  • Time: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
  • Location: Blueberry Hill Farm, 1643 Route 1, Jonesboro, Maine
  • Lunch: Summer picnic with meat and vegetarian options.
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted
  • Pesticide Credits: 3

Registration is required.

Blue Hill Fresh Pack Meeting

  • Date: July 13, 2023 (Thursday)
  • Time: 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. with PIZZA!
  • Location: Danner Dew Farm, 1145 Pleasant St., Blue Hill, Maine
  • Cost: Free with donations accepted.
  • Pesticide Credits: 0

Topics covered: Fresh pack operation and innovations with Danner Dewey, fresh pack line, and food safety discussion with Rob Machado and Lily Calderwood. Registration is required.

Need help to register? Please contact Mary Michaud at 207.581.3175.