Strawberry IPM Newsletter No. 5 – June 16, 2017

Strawberry IPM Newsletter No. 5 – June 16, 2017
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STRAWBERRY HARVEST SEASON NEAR IN SOUTHERN MAINE

Are Your Fields Ready for Customers?

Situation:

A few ripe berries can be found in southern Maine this week. Most growers are expecting the start of the harvest season to be about a week late. Pest pressure was again very low this week, and many fields are now beyond the bloom stage when clipper or tarnished plant bug can cause significant injury.  Mites and both foliar and fruit rot diseases still have the potential to become problems, so growers should continue monitoring for symptoms, and protecting late flowering varieties with fungicides if wet weather persists in the coming days. The Strawberry IPM Newsletter will take the next couple of weeks off and return with the annual renovation issue in July.

Strawberry bud weevil or “clipper” is no longer a threat for strawberry fields in southern and mid-state regions, as few flower buds remain for them to infest. No fresh injury or clippers were found in the fields scouted this week. However, you should continue to scout for clipped buds if you still have late varieties that are flowering.

Tarnished plant bug activity continues to be very low. We have seen occasional adult bugs in the fields, but no nymphs were found this week. However, with the warmer, drier weather forecast, and more fields coming into bloom, fields should be scouted regularly and often for both adults and nymphs. The control threshold for nymphs is 4 or more flower clusters infested per 30 sampled.

Two-spotted spider mites were found over the spray threshold (25% infested leaves) in just one southern field this week. While mites have been generally low this spring, it is important to keep scouting for them through the summer to prevent heavy populations from building up and weakening the plants as they set up fruit buds and prepare for the winter.

Sap beetles: Growers should keep an eye out for damage as the berries start to ripen. The 1/8 inch-long, dark brown beetles chew small holes in ripening fruit, similar to slug injury. They may be found in the holes they’ve chewed, but often drop to the ground when disturbed. The best management strategy for sap beetles is good sanitation. Keep the field free of overripe fruit by picking often and thoroughly. Insecticide sprays for this pest can be effective, but should be a last resort during the harvest period. Assail®, Brigade®, Dibrom® and PyGanic® are registered for control of sap beetles with pre-harvest intervals ranging from 12 to 24 hours. Read the product label carefully for this and other application instructions and restrictions.

Birds, especially cedar waxwings, are moving into fields to feed on ripe fruit. Only by keeping a near constant presence in the field and eliminating roosting sites can you reduce the damage. Some chemical repellents containing methyl anthranilate (e.g. Avian Control®), are registered for use on strawberries. Although most scientific studies with these products have not found them to be very effective, some growers have claimed good results. Remember that songbirds are protected by law and should not be killed. However, permits may be issued for killing birds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if they receive a recommendation for such a permit from the Maine Wildlife Services Office (part of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) in Augusta, along with an application from the grower. There is a $50 fee for the application, and it may take over a month for the permit to be processed.  However, the permit is good for one year, so if you have problems this season, you may consider applying for a permit this winter, which would allow you an option to kill birds, if necessary, next season. The Wildlife Damage Office has recommendations for managing birds in crops, and also has some control options available through their office. For more information on permits or bird control contact the office in Augusta at 207.629.5181. The office is located in the Capital West Business Center at 79 Leighton Road in Augusta.

Diseases:  Once the strawberries are beyond the bloom stage, fungicide applications for gray mold can usually be stopped for the season, unless there are a lot of rainy days as the fruit progress toward harvest. Keep an eye out for brown patches or spots developing on the fruit, especially around the calyxes, that could indicate an early gray mold infection.

Powdery mildew: We’re starting to see more fields with early indications of powdery mildew. Look for upward cupping of the leaves and reddish streaking or lesions on the leaf and flower stems. Consider using a fungicide that will control powdery mildew, such as captan + Topsin-M®, or Pristine® if you’re still spraying for gray mold. Those very close to harvest may want to wait until renovation after harvest to initiate a control program.

Annual Pre-Harvest Checklist for Pick-Your-Own

It’s that time again! As harvest approaches make sure that your farm is ready to provide your customers with the best possible picking experience. Take our annual review below to evaluate your customer readiness.

• Your phone message and web/Facebook pages with picking conditions and opening and closing times are regularly updated.

• Signs to the farm are neat and easy to read.

• 

  There is easy access to the fields and plenty of parking.

• Someone is ready to greet customers and offer parking instructions and directions to the field.

• Access to the field is free of hazards.

• Transportation is provided for the elderly and disabled.

• The rules regarding picking are clearly posted.

• Someone is in the field to show customers where to pick and to answer questions.

• There are plenty of picking containers available.

• Clean restroom and hand washing facilities are available.

• Someone is available to help customers carry fruit out of the field.

• The checkouts are fast and efficient.

• Beverages are available.

• Shade and seats are available for customers wanting to rest.

• The help are friendly and knowledgeable.

A friendly, clean, and organized atmosphere will leave a lasting impression on your customers, encouraging them to come back and to recommend your farm to their friends.

REMINDER:

2017-2018 New England Small Fruit Management Guides now available. Copies can be purchased through UMaine Extension at Highmoor Farm. Cost of the guide is $12.00 plus $2.63 postage for a total of $14.63. Please send checks made payable to UMaine Cooperative Extension and mail to: Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, Maine 04259, attention Pam St. Peter. For more information, contact Pam St. Peter at 207.933.2100 or pamela.stpeter@maine.edu.

Sincerely,

David T. Handley
Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist

Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, 52 US Route 202, Monmouth, ME 04259, 207.933.2100

UMaine Extension Diagnostic Research Lab, Pest Management Unit, 17 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME 04473, 1.800.287.0279

Where brand names or company names are used it is for the reader’s information. No endorsement is implied nor is any discrimination intended against other products with similar ingredients. Always consult product labels for rates, application instructions and safety precautions. Users of these products assume all associated risks.

The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.