Nova Scotia Wild Blueberry Best Management Practices

Integrated Pest Management Principles are the corner stone of the industry. All growers will monitor fields for pests and use multiple management techniques to keep pest populations low and minimize pesticide applications.

2.2.1 Weed Management

2.2.1.1 Monitoring

Weed populations are regularly monitored and mapped in the spring of the sprout year, fall of the sprout year and prior to harvest.

2.2.1.2 Identification

Weed identification is critical to proper management.  Growers have quick access to available weed id sources. The Wild Blueberry Information Network through Dalhousie University, Agriculture Campus has many weed id factsheets. http://nsac.ca/wildblue/facts/weeds.asp

2.2.1.3 Physical Controls

Growers should physically remove certain weed species when they first appear or just prior to harvest.  Vetch, goatsbeard, braken fern, goldenrod are examples of weeds that are pulled or clipped when densities are low to prevent weed spread and improve harvest efficiency.

2.2.1.4 Cultural Controls (includes Equipment Sanitation and Fertility Optimization)

2.2.1.4.1 Equipment Sanitation

Harvesters, mowers and other equipment should be cleaned of weed seed prior to leaving a weedy field. This is done to prevent the spread of weeds from one field to another.

2.2.1.4.2 Fertilty Optimization

• Growers should adjust fertility applications on weedy fields to reduce weed growth
• Soil pH should be lowered, when possible, to reduce weed viability

2.2.1.5 Biological Controls

Biological organisms that feed on weeds are encouraged. (ie. Chrysolinia beetle for St. John’s Wort)

2.2.1.6 Herbicides and Use

The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries has a very useful Wild Blueberry IPM Weed Management Guide
http://www.gnb.ca/0171/10/017110020-e.pdf

2.2.1.6.1

2.2.1.6.2

2.2.1.6.3

2.2.2 Insect Management

2.2.2.1 Monitoring

Insects are monitored for on a regular basis.

• Spring leaf feeding insects are monitored using sweeping in May and early June (spanworm, flea beetle, sawfly etc.).  This is done in both sprout and crop fields. Leaf damage is also monitored.
• Blueberry maggot fly traps are placed around field edges just prior to fruit ripening.
• Spotted Wing Drosophila traps are placed on field borders in late July

2.2.2.2 Identification and Thresholds

Insect identification is critical to proper management.  Growers have quick access to available insect id sources and current application thresholds. The Wild Blueberry Information Network through Dalhousie University, Agriculture Campus has many insect id factsheets.
http://nsac.ca/wildblue/facts/insects.asp

2.2.2.3 Physical Controls

Growers use spot burning for specific insect challenges like blueberry thrips.

2.2.2.4 Cultural Controls

Burning as a pruning technique or alternative sanitation techniques are used as appropriate to reduce insect populations when they become problematic.

2.2.2.5 Biological Controls

Biological organisms that feed on insect pests are encouraged.

2.2.2.6 Insecticides

2.2.2.6.1

• Border sprays and site specific sprays are used based on monitoring (ie. Blueberry maggot)
• For spring feeding insects treatments are ideally done in the sprout year and applications in crop year are avoided if at all possible to reduce impact on beneficial insects and pollinators.

2.2.2.6.2

2.2.3 Disease Management

2.2.3.1 Monitoring

Plant Pathogens are monitored for on a regular basis.

Monilina – bud stages are monitored and pesticides applications are timed based on blight line information and forecasted weather. The Wild Blueberry Information Network through Dalhousie University, Agriculture Campus has an excellent monilinia factsheet.
Click here for factsheet

Leaf diseases (Septoria and leaf rust)- fields are monitored regularly to see if leaf spot are increasing, this will influence management strategies the following year. Perennia has a link to a Septoria factsheet
Click here for factsheet

2.2.3.2 Identification and Thresholds

Disease identification is critical to proper management.  Growers have quick access to available disease id sources and current application thresholds. The Wild Blueberry Information Network through Dalhousie University, Agriculture Campus has many disease id factsheets. http://nsac.ca/wildblue/facts/disease.asp

2.2.3.3 Physical Controls

Growers use spot burning for specific plant pathogens challenges like Valdensinia. Perennia has a link to a Valdensinia factsheet.
Click here for factsheet

2.2.3.4 Cultural Controls

• Pruning by burning is done when appropriate to reduce increasing disease pressures like (Monilinia, Septoria and Valdensinia)
• Sanitation of field equipment is done before leaving fields to prevent spread of diseases like Valdensinia.
• In field activities are strictly controlled when Valdensinia is present.

2.2.3.5 Biological Controls

Biological organisms that compete with or feed on plant pathogens are encouraged.

2.2.3.6 Fungicides

2.2.3.6.1

2.2.3.6.2

2.2.4 Wildlife Management

All efforts are made to exclude deer, bear and birds from feeding on fruit and stems.

• Exclusion fencing is explored if financially viable
• Noise makers are used where appropriate and allowable according to Nova Scotia Regulations (in development)
• Avoidance by scent on field borders is used for deer, bear and coyotes where possible
• Hunting permits are obtained through the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources http://novascotia.ca/natr/hunt/

Wildlife damage compensation through the provincial government is explored if damage cannot be controlled http://www.gov.ns.ca/agri/ci/reports/NSWildlifeCompPolicy_08.pdf