SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA UPDATE: OCTOBER 20, 2020
SPOTTED WING DROSOPHILA UPDATE: OCTOBER 20, 2020
Last Issue for the 2020 Season
David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist; Christina Howard, Produce Safety Professional
Click on photos to enlarge.
We have pulled out all of our remaining spotted wing drosophila (SWD) traps from our monitoring sites. Many thanks to all of the farmers who let us maintain traps in their berry fields. Thanks also to our IPM scouts, Lindsey Ridlon and Kara Rowley, who maintained some of the traps through the summer.
SWD counts were variable around the state this week, but all had populations well over the threshold for maintaining a tight spray schedule for any remaining berries in the field, and we saw another season record of over 9,000 flies in one trap (see table below). A five to seven-day spray interval is recommended for any remaining fruit to prevent infestation of larvae.
Current information on registered pesticides for managing SWD is available in the New England Small Fruit Management Guide. The online version is free and can be viewed here
For more information on identifying spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and updates on populations around the state, visit our SWD blog
Other IPM Web Pages
Michigan State University
David T. Handley
Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist
Highmoor Farm Pest Management Unit
P.O. Box 179 17 Godfrey Drive
Monmouth, ME 04259 Orono, ME 04473
207.933.2100 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.
| Town | Spotted Wing Drosophila weekly trap catch 10/2/20 | Spotted Wing Drosophila weekly trap catch 10/9/20 | Spotted Wing Drosophila weekly trap catch 10/16/20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells | 69 | 42 | 89 |
| Limington | 1808 | 8296 | 9,656 |
| Limerick | 40 | 147 | 50 |
| Bowdoinham | 356 | 1032 | 584 |
| Mechanic Falls | 87 | 1144 | 385 |
| Monmouth | 253 | 490 | 617 |
| Wayne | 262 | 1360 | 236 |
Sign up for Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering two upcoming online Zoom classes on food safety for produce farms. It covers best practices for on-farm produce safety and the requirements of FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule. This is the FDA-approved training required for any farm that is fully covered under FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule. All farms who want to know more about produce safety are welcome to attend regardless of their size or coverage status!
This class is normally offered as a full-day, in-person workshop. Due to the pandemic, it is being offered online as two half-day segments. Attendees must attend both segments to receive credit or course certificates. Registration is $20 and covers the cost of mailing attendees a physical binder of course materials in advance. This class is restricted to Maine farmers.
Training Dates:
November 5 AND November 6, 2020 (Thursday and Friday morning back-to-back.)
Online/Virtual Sessions
Nov 5, Thursday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Nov 6, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Registration closes on October 25
December 11 AND December 18, 2020 (Two consecutive Friday mornings.)
Online/Virtual Sessions
Dec 11, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Dec 18, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Registration closes on November 29, 2020
To register contact Theresa Tilton (email: theresa.tilton@maine.edu or phone: 207.942.7396)
Maine Produce Safety Improvement Grants (MPSIG)
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is pleased to announce the Maine Produce Safety Improvement Grants (MPSIG) opportunity. This grant will help all of Maine’s commercial specialty crop growers (not just MOFGA certified) implement on-farm food safety practices, transition to compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) and meet market demands for on-farm food safety. Eligible producers include growers of fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture) but excluding commodity crops). Check out the Request for Applications (RFA) for more information and to apply. The application deadline is December 15, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.