Blueberry
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Written by: Emily Cabrera, UGA IPM Communications CoordinatorExpert Source: Ash Sial, Blueberry Entomologist & UGA IPM Coordinator The University of Georgia has just been awarded a $5.4 million grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to develop long-term sustainable methods for controlling…
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Written By: Ash Sial, Blueberry Entomologist; James Jacobs, Pierce County CEC; and Zack Williams, Bacon County ANR agent Over the past few years whiteflies have emerged as a major threat to several crops in Georgia and other states in the southeastern United States. In blueberries, whitefly populations typically increase after the end of harvest and…
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Written by: Ashfaq Sial, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) control programs should consist of three major components: 1) monitoring and identification, 2) preventative pest management tactics (including exclusion, sanitation, frequent harvest intervals, pruning, mulching, and resistant varieties), and 3) curative pest management tactics such as the judicious use…
Posted in: Blueberry, Chemical control, Cultural control, Exclusion, Insect pests, Monitoring, Organic, Prevention -
Written by: Ash Sial, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Over the past few days, I have received several calls from Extension Agents about prevalence of soft fruit, vertical fruit split, small berry size and some reports of worms in the fruit. Although it is difficult to determine the exact reasons, the unusual…
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While most of the world is dealing with shelter-in-place orders and faltering economies, the plants just keep on growing and the pests just keep on coming. Many of the spring field days have been cancelled or postponed this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but a few research teams have forged ahead in this unprecedented…
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Interested in learning about integrated pest management options for blueberries? Need pesticide credits? Register for the Virtual Extension IPM Blueberry Field Day and join in next Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST). Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1714103849236858380
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Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is the most economically significant insect pest in berry production in the southeast. They survive all year round, in every landscape, and the presence of just one egg, larva, pupa, or fly can render an entire harvest unmarketable. Scout early and manage this pest for a productive year.
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Georgia weather is predictably unpredictable, bitter cold one week and balmy the next. And for that reason, growers are being urged to pay close attention to the weather over the coming months, and be prepared to utilize irrigation for frost protection and potential dry conditions as we move into spring. We are currently in an…
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Although blueberry gall midge has historically been referred to as a rabbiteye problem, recently it has been reported to be a concern in some southern highbush fields. The majority of the highbush infestations were primarily reported in older blocks and those surrounded by rabbiteye blueberries. The southern highbush varieties that infestations have been reported include…