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

March 2020

Wild Blueberry Growers,

  1. There has been a large uptick in purchases of local food, including our healthy Maine wild blueberries. UMaine Extension has created a New Directory for Local Farm Product and Pick-Up Options. Let’s get some wild blueberries on the map.

Many farms across Maine have added alternative ways for customers to obtain farm products to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maine farmers are updating this database in an effort to increase public access to their farm products during this time. You can view the UMaine Extension website and map at this farm product directory webpage.

To have your farm added or to update directory information:

  • Complete the Farm Product and Pick-Up Options Form to have your farm added to the list.
  • To edit a current entry, please contact Rebecca Gray at rebecca.gray@maine.edu or 207.781.6099.
  • Please be sure to add your labor and other business needs to the submission form. This will be used to build a farmer to farmer focused database that will likely be released next week.

  1. Weather Stations and Disease Forecast: App and Website

Mummy berry forecasting season is approaching.  There is a website and smart phone app available to provide up-to-date disease forecast data and information collected by Dr. Annis’ weather stations. It is available as a website: https://app.agrinet.us/ and as an App for a smartphone (Android or iOS).  Please search for “AgriNET” made by Tuctronics in your app store.

LOGIN:  BB   

PASSWORD:  Grower  

Once you are logged in, click on “Map.” Weather stations showing a green band indicates a working station. The icons show you the current conditions for mummy berry and Botrytis risk infection at that weather station. Click on the icons of a particular weather station to go to page with more detailed weather info, growing degree day models, and a link to Export past weather data.

Season updates and more information about the app will be available on the UMaine Wild Blueberry Website under Publications > Disease Blog (see link on map in app). Dr. Annis will still send disease reports as needed via email list, Disease Blog, and on the Blueberry hotline (800-897-0757) under disease option 3. If you wish to be added to the email list, please send her an email at sannis@maine.edu.

We hope everyone stays healthy and positive in this crazy time.

Lily