Wild Blueberry Newsletter February 2022
February 2022
Dear Growers, Processors, and Stakeholders,
NEWA
Maine is now a member of the NEWA weather station and decision support tool system thanks to UMaine Extension. NEWA is a multi-state network of weather stations and pest management tools. It does not yet have wild blueberry-specific tools available but it does have a highbush blueberry maggot fly model and we hope to add some wild blueberry models in the future. You can use the growing degree day calculations and upload your stations if they are Onset or Rainwise (now KestralNet). Go to NEWA knowledge base and choose “Submit Request” in the upper right corner.
PFAS
It does not appear that bio-solid or ash materials containing PFAS forever chemicals were applied to wild blueberry land extensively. Furthermore, the research that has been conducted to date indicates that very little PFAS accumulates in fruit. Working groups have been formed to address the many issues relating to PFAS in Maine agricultural soils so please reach out if you have questions or concerns. Many questions can be answered through UMaine Extension, Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry, and MOFGA resource pages.
Building Websites
Joline Blais teaches a Web Design course at UMaine in Orono where students learn how to design their own online web Portfolio, then in teams, work with small businesses in Maine to help them launch their own websites. Signing up here, Marketing Skills and Building Websites to work with the class will get you a free basic WordPress website customized to your needs, instructions on how to update and expand it, and basic tech support provided by Dr. Blais following the class. Features include mailing lists, event calendars, online stores, contact forms, recipes, local tourism info, and more.
Research Bite
I’m going to start putting one graph from our enormous 222-page annual research report in the newsletter. This month the graph is of soil moisture in 2020 prune fields. The data was averaged from our 10 prune weather stations located from Warren to Whiting. Dr. Zhang has found that wild blueberry thrives with soil moisture of 10% or higher and permanent damage can occur at 5% soil moisture. This dangerous range (5% and below) is outlined in the black box showing that the “Far Downeast” and “Ellsworth” regions experienced more than two months of soil moisture below 5% in 2020. For much more on this study visit the Phenology Report (PDF).
Events and Presentations Available
The UMaine Wild Blueberry Conference continues through March 17 every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Join us!
Presentations from our colleagues in Nova Scotia at Dalhousie University can be found on the WBANS website under Grower Resources.
Helena Grower Meetings
RSVP TO STEVE LONDON ASAP AT 207.538.6250 OR LondonS@helenaagri.com
Two pesticide credits have been requested for each session.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
250 Haskell Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
8:30 a.m. – Registration & Refreshments
9:00 a.m. – Helena AGRIntelligence – Greg Pipczynski
Field Mapping and Water Sampling
9:30 a.m. – Helena – Tom Carter
Gramoxone training, Adjuvants and Product shortage awareness
10:45 a.m. – Bayer – Steve Cumming
Product use, Rates, PPE, REI and Resistance Management
11:45 a.m. – BioSafe – Jeff Kline & Mike DeRubbo
Foliar Bactericide, Fungicide and Water Treatment
Open discussion, preparing for 2022
Lunch
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
8 Addison Rd, Columbia Falls, ME 04623
4:30 p.m. – Registration & Dinner
5:00 p.m. – Helena AGRIntelligence – Greg Pipczynski
Field Mapping and Water Sampling
5:30 p.m. Helena – Tom Carter
Gramoxone training, Adjuvants and Product shortage awareness
6:45 p.m. – Bayer – Steve Cumming
Product use, Rates, PPE, REI, and Resistance Management
7:45 p.m. – BioSafe – Jeff Kline & Mike DeRubbo
Foliar Bactericide, Fungicide and Water Treatment
Open discussion, preparing for 2022 season
Other Online Events Offered of Interest
Feb 15-Mar 15 – Discovering Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Farmers and Ranchers
March 2 – Elements of a Farmland Lease: What Farmers Need to Know
March 3 & 10 – Advanced Beekeeping: Swarming and Swarm Management
March 9 – Employment Law for Maine Farmers: WOOFers, volunteers, and CSA Workers
March 15 – Herbicides: Materials, Timing, and Rates