Maturity Report and Storage Reminders Peaches Peaches ready this week: 2nd picking for Messina and 1st for Autumnstar. Both are good varieties. We are also picking Castleton plums. I am finding much less brown rot now that the weather has turned dry. The quality of peaches after a week in cold storage is also better […]
Read more
David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Christina Howard, Maine New Farmer Project Manager Spotted Wing Drosophila: Fly counts in our vinegar/yeast traps this week were lower in all locations, likely due to cooler night and morning temperatures (see table below). Counts were still […]
Read more
COOL NIGHTS KEEP PEST PRESSURE LOW Fall Armyworm and Corn Earworm Threat Lower in Most Locations This will be the final issue of the Sweet Corn IPM Newsletter for the 2024 season. I would like to thank all of the growers who participated in the program this year, and our IPM scouts, including Leo Anderson […]
Read more
Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Blushingstar, PF23 and Messina Apples McIntosh has developed some sweetness and should be good for immediate sales, if you have not already started selling them. At this stage, they should also be good for long-term storage, although susceptible to storage scald. Storage scald is prevented by fogging […]
Read more
David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Christina Howard, Maine New Farmer Project Manager Spotted Wing Drosophila: Fly counts in our vinegar/yeast traps this week climbed higher in most locations (see table below). Fall raspberries, blackberries and late blueberries are still plentiful and […]
Read more
MODERATE PEST PRESSURE FOR LATE SEASON CORN Fall Armyworm Counts Higher in Most Locations SITUATION Sweet corn season is winding down for most farms. Cool nights and favorable weather patterns continued to keep pest levels at low to moderate levels this week. Corn earworm and fall armyworm are the primary issue for any silking corn […]
Read more
Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Coralstar, Veteran and Glowingstar Apples McIntosh is beginning to taste ready. However, the dark green peel color indicates it’s too early to pick for storage yet. Honeycrisp is showing signs of ripening in some blocks and has acceptable flavor. It is not ready to harvest for storage, […]
Read more
Maturity Report Peaches Peaches we are picking now: Coralstar and PF17 Coralstar is the better of the two varieties we picked this week. We have it in two different orchards where it ripens a week apart, so we will still be picking it next week. Veteran, PF23 and Blushingstar should be ready soon. We also […]
Read more
David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Christina Howard, Maine New Farmer Project Manager Spotted Wing Drosophila: Fly counts in our vinegar/yeast traps this week were lower in nearly all locations (see table below). This is likely a result of cooler temperatures and […]
Read more
CORN PEST PRESSURE LOWER Cool Night Temperatures Reduce Earworm Activity SITUATION Cool nights and favorable weather patterns have reduced pest pressure in most locations this week. Corn earworm numbers were mostly lower but fall armyworm numbers were higher at some sites, posing a risk to all remaining corn in silk. Harvest for the holiday weekend […]
Read more