Native pollinator guide for blueberry growersNative Pollinator Guide.
Click on the image. Sponsored by the Oregon Blueberry Commission and Washington Blueberry Commission and developed by Peerbolt Crop Management.

Falconry for bird control in blueberries Raptors for Bird Management Guide.
Click on the image. Sponsored by the Oregon Blueberry Commission and Washington Blueberry Commission and developed by Peerbolt Crop Management.

Page updated July 28, 2010

Degree Days for OR and WA in cooperation with Oregon State University Integrated Plant Protection CenterClick the thermometer for the current degree day information.

 

Weather Cafe Click on the logo to get to Rufus La Lone's Weather Cafe.

 

The evidence of Strawberry Crown Moth has increased lately. Many more adults being caught in pheromone traps. Top picture canes weakened by this pest. Bottom picture is the crown of a Marion cane with frass in the right opening and the left opening where the larvae had been. [Photos by J. Pond]

Northwest berry grower news

Click here for Spotted Wing Drosophila updates and here for SWD resources.

Industry News

Newsletters
• The Source, market updates from The Produce News for 7/26: Click here.
• B.C. Blueberry Council Blueberry IPM Newsletter for 7/23: Click here.
• Michigan State IPM Fruit Newsletter for 7/27: Click here.
• New Jersey Blueberry Bulletin for 7/21: Click here.

National
• (Fresh) Blackberries and raspberries receiving more promotions: Click here (7/22, The Packer)
• Maine’s ‘super fruit’ – blueberries – making strides in the frozen food market: Click here (7/23, Bangor Daily)
• Specialty Crop Producers Provide Feedback on Farm Bill Programs: Click here (7/22, GrowingProduce.com)
• Dole relocates research facility: Click here (7/23, The Produce News)
• ‘Lab on a chip’ E. coli detection: Click here (7/23, Western Farm Press)
• Alliance rebuts pesticide shouts with a whisper: Click here (7/23, The Packer)
• Growers look to industry groups over FDA for GAPs information: Click here (7/26, The Packer)

Spotted Wing Drosophila

• Click here to view regularly up dated information about SWD data collection and monitoring. Click on SWD County Charts to see accumated data by county quadrant.
• Click here for a SWD adult identification guide (PDF file).

Ongoing SWD Management Information
Timely Harvesting. It is important to harvest fruit in a timely fashion to avoid susceptibility to SWD. The Spotted Wing Drosophila appears to prefer ripe fruit.
Field Sanitation. A key to managing SWD is going to be keeping fields as clean of potential fruit hosts as possible. Getting improved fruit handling and cull disposal protocols in place early could mean the difference between a successful season and a train wreck. Remove any intact, over-ripe, and/or culled fruit from areas in and around the fields.
Adjacent habitat & Urban Site Infestations. Some habitat adjacent to berry fields and some urban sites in Western Oregon and Washington have been confirmed to have high SWD trap counts as well as fruit that is heavily infested with SWD larvae. There is a high probability of ‘hotspots’ in both urban areas and unmanaged habitats that can act as a source for a large number of SWD to move into a commercial field when the fruit is at the vulnerable stage.
Pesticide tank mixes. In an effort to manage the risk involved with this new pest, some growers are using combinations of pesticides that they have not used in the past. Before applying an unfamiliar tank mix, be sure to check with your supplier, crop consultant, or other advisor to be sure it won’t cause damage. Some mixes have the potential for unexpected, economically damaging effects.

Entomologists from the USDA-ARS, WSU, OSU have collaborated to produce updated SWD management plans for blueberries & caneberries.
• For the blueberry management plan, Click here.
• For the caneberry management plan, Click here.
• SWD Chemical control considerations: Click here Includes many links and information including pollinator conservation information and alert postings)
• Insecticides registered in Oregon & Washington along with relevant SWD management information for each: Click here (includes relevant MRL issues, PHI’s, REI’s, efficacy, etc.)

SWD Resources

  • Oregon State University: OSU has a central clearinghouse site with a lot of SWD information and the latest research. Click here to sign up for their email updates.
  • Washington State University: WSU is also posting recommendations and ongoing SWD information.
  • University of California: U.C. Berry Extension agent, Mark Bolda has an excellent blog with SWD information, and UC IPM has information and management guidelines at.
  • Potential Economic Impact of a Newly Established Pest: Click here. An excellent article from U. C. researchers and extension agents, Mark Bolda, Rachel Goodhue, and Frank Zalom.
  • Guidelines for making Spotted Wing Drosophila monitoring traps: Click here.
  • British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands: Click here. For the B.C. recommendations and perspectives.