August 2001, Vol. 13, No. 16
Message from the Editor:
Monthly Issues of Berry Notes to Resume: This issue of Berry Notes makes
the resumption of monthly issues for the remainder of this year.
Late Summer and Fall Weed Management are key activities at this time
of year. This issue contains information on late season weed management
in several crops.
Grape Harvest is around the corner. See the Grape section for information
on harvest parameters.
Sprayer Tune-up: Mid-season is a good time to tune-up your sprayer. Clean
all screens and replace nozzle tips and cores if worn. Once the sprayer
parts have been cleaned and/or replaced, recalibrate the machine. Be sure
all nozzles are spraying the same amount of material.
Farmer/Grower Grants: The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research
and Education program (SARE) offers funding for farmers to try a new crop,
an innovative marketing or production technique, or a practice that will
be beneficial to your community. In 2001, 61 farmer/grower grants were
awarded and the average grant size was $3,980. Application forms are now
available for funding in 2002. These must be postmarked by December 3rd,
2001. Contact: NE SARE, Hills Building, Burlington VT 05405-0082 or Call
(802) 656-4656 or email nesare@zoo.uvm.edu.
POP Materials Available: The Massachusetts Dept. of Food and Agriculture
is offering a nice array of marketing and point-of-purchase (POP) materials
for your retail facilities. Much of this material, including signage,
price cards, and posterboards, is free! For sale materials include tee-shirts,
totebags, coffee mugs, hats, and barn buddies (look like beanie babies).
If you haven't taken advantage of this yet, contact Rick LeBlanc at 617-626-1759
for ordering information.
Strawberries
Strawberry Fruit Bud Development
Bruce Bordelon, Purdue University
Now is the time to fertilize strawberry fields with 20 to 50 pounds of
nitrogen. Applications around mid-August stimulate flower bud initiation
during the fall months. Rates depend upon amount of nitrogen supplied
at reno-vation and plant vigor. New fields with high vigor may not need
additional nitrogen now, but most older fields should benefit. Irrigation
during this time is also ex-tremely important, especially in areas of
the state that have not received much rainfall. We suggest about 1 inch
per week. (Source: Facts for Fancy Fruit, Vol. 01, No. 11, Aug. 20, 2001)
Fall Herbicide Applications for Strawberries
John Masiunas, University of Illinois
A number of herbicides can be used on strawberries dur-ing late summer
and fall to prevent weed germination, kill emerged weeds, and provide
residue control until the following spring. The key set of weeds you need
to con-trol during this period are fall germinating winter annu-als such
as chick-weed and shepherds purse. You may also need to control wheat,
oats, or rye that come from seed in the straw mulch that you apply for
winter protection.
Devrinol (napropamide) is a preemergence herbicide. It can inhibit rooting
of daughter plants. Thus Devrinol should be applied after early forming
daughter plants have rooted. Late forming (after late August) daughter
plants do not contribute to yield and Devrinol can be ap-plied before
these plants root. Devrinol must be applied before winter annuals and
small grains emerge. Devrinol provides excellent control of small grains
and some win-ter annuals such as chickweed. Devrinol must be moved into
the soil by cultivation or water after application.
Sinbar (terbacil) is primarily a preemergent herbicide but it has some
postemergence activity against small susceptible weeds. Fall applications
of Sinbar should only be applied after the strawberries are completely
dominant. If Sinbar is applied to actively growing straw-berries, injury
can occur. Cultivars differ in tolerance to Sinbar. In general, less vigorous
cultivars have greater injury. Applications are most effective when applied
to the soil and activated by rainfall or irrigation. Sinbar provides excellent
control of many winter annual weeds. Fall applications of both Devrinol
and Sinbar will persist to the following spring.
Poast (sethoxydim) is a postemergent, grass active her-bicide. The grasses
must be actively growing. Thus Poast should be applied in late summer
or early fall before plants become dormant. Also make sure that you scout
your fields to determine which grass weeds are present. Summer annual
grasses, such as foxtails and crabgrass, will be killed by fall frosts,
and do not require Poast ap-plications for control. Poast is more effective
against an-nual than perennial grasses. Poast can be used in the fall
to suppress perennial grasses such as quackgrass; control early emerging
small grains, and kill winter annual grasses such as wild oats and downy
brome. Poast must be applied with a crop oil.
A systemic, postemergence broadleaf herbicide, 2,4-D, can be applied
when strawberries are dormant to control some winter annuals. 2,4-D provides
good control of many mustards and shepherdspurse, but is not very effective
against chickweed. The herbicide should be applied to actively growing
weeds. Be careful of 2,4-D drift causing injury to non-target plants.
Gramoxone Extra (paraquat) can be applied as a directed spray between
strawberry rows, using shields to prevent contact with straw-berry plants.
Gramoxone is a nonselective herbicide, so it will kill or severely injure
strawberries it contacts. Gramoxone is a restricted use pesticide and
is extremely toxic to animals including hu-mans. It provides excellent
control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds. Gramoxone does not extensively
translocate in plants so it does not control perennial weeds. Weeds should
be actively growing when Gramoxone is applied.
In conclusion there are a number of herbicide options that can be used
on strawberries during the fall. Select herbicides that will control problem
winter annuals and small grains. Herbicides such as Devrinol and Sinbar
can provide residue weed control until spring. (Source: Illinois Fruit
and Vegetable News, Volume 3, Number 21, September 4, 1997)
Brambles
Perennial Weed Control
Bruce Bordelon, Purdue University
Late summer and fall is an excellent time to control troublesome perennial
weeds by spot spraying with suit-able herbicides. Perennial weeds tend
to become estab-lished within the rows in fruit plantings because they
are not fully controlled by the normal weed management program. Once established,
these plants can be difficult to eliminate. Glyphosate (e.g. Roundup)
is a particularly good herbicide for controlling perennial weeds in the
fall. As perennial plants begin to slow growth and harden off for winter,
carbohydrates are translocated to the roots for storage. Fall applied
systemic herbicides will be similarly transported to the root system which
leads to excellent control. Fall application works equally well on hard
to control herbaceous perennial weeds such as this-tle, dock, smartweed,
and morning glory, as well as woody perennials such as poison ivy, Virginia
creeper, multiflora rose, mulberry, blackberry and so on. The plants do
not have to be actively growing for good re-sults but should have sufficient
active leaf area to take up the herbicide. Check the manufacturer's product
label for specific recommendations. NOTE: Desirable crop plants are also
translocating carbohydrates to the roots and can be severely injured by
fall applied systemic herbicides. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when spot treating
to avoid any contact with desirable plants. (Source: Facts for Fancy Fruit,
Vol. 01, No. 11, Aug. 20, 2001)
Blueberries
Late Summer Weed Management in Blueberries
Gary C. Pavlis, Rutgers Univ.
A grower asked a very good question this week regard-ing the use of Roundup.
I've mentioned that July and August is an excellent time to eliminate
problem weeds because now is the time when there is movement of plant
substrates down to the roots. That means Roundup will move to the root
and kill weeds more efficiently. The grower asked if the dosage of Roundup
should be changed if mulch or woodchips are used in the blueberry field
and if soil type would have an effect on efficacy or possible damage.
I'm sure this question was asked because an increase in organic matter
due to mulching does effect herbicide ef-ficacy. So does soil type. An
increase in organic matter and/or an increase in soil weight (sandy ->
clay) requires higher rates of pre-emergent herbicides. This is not so
with Roundup because the material is sprayed directly on the weed. I talked
to Monsanto, the maker of Roundup and they agree with the information
above. A 2% solu-tion, i.e. 22/3 oz. of Roundup, 41% a.i./gallon will
kill most problem weeds.
Growers should be aware of problems observed in nu-merous fields concerning
the use of Solicam. This herbi-cide has been used more and more recently
with excel-lent results, however there may be a potential for prob-lems.
I stated in an earlier newsletter that I had seen plant leaves with yellow-white
veins, and stems that were yellow-white. These symptoms are definitely
due to Solicam. Affected plants were usually in the poorest part of a
block. Additionally, it should be noted that the symptoms probably are
drought related because exten-sive irrigation moved the chemical down
into the root zone. This chemical remains in the soil for a longer time
than most other herbicides used in blueberries and thus has the potential
to build up. My feeling at present is to recommend that anyone using Solicam
should consider rotating an alternate herbicide in the coming year. This
is especially true if you saw the symptoms described. Re-member that leaves
with green veins and yellow in-terveinal areas are not due to a herbicide
but most proba-bly iron deficiency due to a high pH.
Grapes
Grape Harvest Parameters
Bruce Bordelon, Purdue University
Grape harvest is a few days behind normal this year. Early varieties
are being harvested in southern this week. Growers should be sampling
their vineyards and analyz-ing fruit composition (sugar, acidity, and
pH) to deter-mine the appropriate harvest date. As harvest nears, sampling
should be done at least twice weekly to track the progress of fruit ripening.
Samples should be representative of the entire vineyard so avoid end
plants and other atypical plants when sam-pling. As fruit ripen, sugar
concentration increases, ti-tratable acidity decreases, and pH increases.
Flavor and color also develop as the ripening process occurs. It is important
to pick grapes at their peak ripeness level be-cause grapes do not continue
to ripen after they are har-vested. The level of ripeness desired at harvest
depends on the variety and style of wine to be made. For light, fruity
style wines, grapes are usually harvested before they are fully ripe.
This is especially true with strong flavored American varieties, such
as Concord and Niag-ara, and some French-American hybrids such as Cayuga
White.
When grapes are harvested before full ripeness sugar may have to be added
to the must before fermentation, but the results are a lighter, fruitier
wine without the overpowering 'foxy' flavor. For heavier, full-bodied
wines, fruit is usually allowed to fully ripen before harvest to develop
full flavor, color, and tannins. If you will be selling to a winery, keep
them updated on fruit composition and let them help make harvest decisions
based on their needs.
Sugar (soluble solids) is the easiest parameter to meas-ure, but is not
the best indicator of optimum fruit ripe-ness for winegrapes. Instead,
a balance of soluble solids, titratable acidity, and juice pH should be
considered. Of the three parameters, juice pH is perhaps the most impor-tant.
High juice pH can be a problem with certain varie-ties especially in warm
growing seasons, and causes many problems for the winemaker. Several wine
quality attributes are adversely affected by high pH including color,
protein and tartrate stability, oxidative rate, metal complexing, ability
to clarify, biological stability, and sensory at-tributes.
Since pH cannot be adjusted in the winery as easily as titratable acidity
or sugar content, it is best to harvest fruit within the desired pH range.
Most winemakers prefer white winegrapes with a juice pH of about 3.1-3.2
with a maximum of 3.3, and red winegrapes with a pH of 3.3-3.4 with a
maximum of 3.5.
During harvest, protect fruit quality by picking early in the day while
the fruit is cool, handling the fruit care-fully to avoid cracked berries,
juice leakage, and poten-tial spoilage, and keeping the fruit cool by
moving con-tainers out of the vineyard quickly and placing them in shade
or cold storage. Minimize the time between har-vest and crush as much
as possible (Source: Facts for Fancy Fruit, Vol. 01, No. 11, August 20,
2001)
General
Stretch Out Your Season With Hoophouses
Astrid Newenhouse Bob Meyer, Marcia Miquelon and Larry Chapman, Univ.
of Wisconsin
Why consider a hoophouse for berries?
If you want to extend your harvest season and improve your work environment,
consider using an unheated, plastic-covered hoophouse for raspberries
and strawber-ries. In addition to increasing your profits by giving you
a longer market window, hoophouse berry production can benefit your health
and increase your work effi-ciency.
Farmers and researchers in several states are growing hoophouse berries.
In Holland, Great Britain, Japan, China and other countries hoophouse
berry production (also called high tunnel production) is popular. Some
farms in Japan and Great Britain are also growing PYO berries in hoophouses.
Season extension.
Hoophouse grown berries will ripen earlier than field grown berries,
allowing you to get a jump on the market and extend the amount of time
you have to make money off your crop. By spreading out your workload over
a longer harvest season, you also reduce your stress and bodily fatigue.
Controlled environment.
In a hoophouse, you don't have to worry about rain splashing fungal spores
up from the soil onto your ber-ries and hastening rot diseases. Using
drip irrigation, you can add water and nutrients with precision. You may
not need to use as many pesticides, which can reduce your own exposure
to these chemicals.
Easier on your body.
You can use raised beds, bags, or bench systems to cre-ate a more convenient
height for your plants. This re-duces the amount of stooping you and your
workers do to harvest berries and to tend plants. In a hoophouse, rain
won't keep pickers away, and you are also protected from wind, cold, and
UV rays.
Is hoophouse berry production cost effective?
The startup costs of hoophouse production can be high. However, you may
get a higher price for your berries if they are early season, off-season,
or organic. You will need to analyze your own situation and compare expected
yields and market price with the cost of production. It's possible to
bend your own pipe framework and make a simple unheated structure cheaply.
How do I get started?
Some references for hoophouses or hoophouse berry production are listed
below. Articles in academic journals should be available through your
state university library system, and you could order them locally through
interlibrary loan. These references are provided as a convenience for
our readers. They are not an endorsement by the University of Wisconsin.
- Winter raspberry production in greenhouses, Marvin Pritts et al, Hort
Technology 1999, 9(1) 12-15. Also at
- www.hort.cornell.edu, or call (607) 255-4568.
- Greenhouse strawberry production during winter months. Fumiomi Takeda,
USDA-ARS, Kearneysville, WV (304) 725-3451. Proc. Mid-Atlantic Fruit
and Vegetable Convention, Hershey, PA, 1999.
- "These New Hampshire strawberries are no bleacher bums"
The Fruit Growers News, Sparta, MI, July 2000, pg 32-33, about William
Lord's work at the Univ. of NH. (616) 887-9008
- www.fruitgrowersnews.com
- "Greenhouse strawberry production reaches new heights" Tim
Carpenter, Greenhouse Management and Production, Sept. 1996 16(9) pp.
38-43.
- "Get on the hoophouse bandwagon!" Growing for Market, Dec.
1999 8(12). Lawrence, KS. (785) 748-8949.
- How-to hoop house construction tips.1999. Noble Foundation pub. NF-HO-99-02,
www.noble.org, (580) 223-5810, free.
- Greenhouses for homeowners and gardeners, June 2000. Natural Resources
Ag Eng. Service bulletin #3137. 200 pgs, $25.(607)255-7654.
- Proceedings of the 3rd Intl. Strawberry Symposium Vol I, II, Acta
Horticulturae 1996 No. 439. Read relevant papers at your state university's
agriculture library.
- Greenhouse strawberry culture in peat bags. Lieten and Baets, Advances
in Strawberry Production, 1991, Vol. 10, 56-57.
- Production systems. Handley, D., 1998. In: Pritts and Handley (eds),
Strawberry production guide. Pg 18-27. NE Reg. Agr. Eng. Serv., Ithaca,
NY. (607) 255-7654.
- Rowcover and high tunnel growing systems in the United States, Otho
Wells, Hort Technology 1996, 6(3) 172-176.
- Strawberries under protection. Dennis Wilson. 1997. Grower Guide No.
6. Grower Books, Kent, Great Britain. 84 pgs, $30. ISBN 1 899372 11
3.
- Grower Magazine. Misc. articles. Published weekly by Nexus Media,
Leicestershire, England. Tel. 01858-438897. Check to see if your state
agriculture library carries this publication.
- ATTRA information packets, Appropriate Technol-ogy Transfer for Rural
Areas, Fayetteville, AK, (800) 346-9410.; free
- Greenhouse supply companies such as Hummert (800-325-3055), CropKing
(800-321-5656) Stuppy (800-877-5025), and International Greenhouse Co
(888-281-9337).
(Source: Univ. of Wisconsin Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits Tipsheets,
http://bse.wisc.edu/hfhp/)
Farming for Profit, Stewardship & Community
Tip #6: Manage Weeds Wisely
Reduce reliance on herbicides by perfecting use of implements, crop rotations
and cover crops
Steel in the Field: A Farmer's Guide to Weed Management Tools
Weed control demands time, labor and expense for every farmer. This 128-page
book shows how today's implements and techniques can control weeds while
reducing or eliminating herbicides.
How to order: $18 to Sustainable Agriculture Publications, Box 10, Hills
Bldg., Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0082
Principles of Sustainable Weed Management
This free publication includes information on how to control weeds without
excessive use of agri-chemicals.
How to order: Free from ATTRA, 800-346-9140; http://www.attra.org
Vegetable Farmers and their Weed Control Machines
A 75-minute video demonstrating the diversity of tools - from sweeps and
rotary hoes to flame weeders and homemade tools - available to vege-table
farmers. Features nine farmers from three New England states.
How to order: $12 to the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable
Agriculture, 590 Main St., Burlington, VT 05405-0059.
Managing Cover Crops Profitably
This 212-page book from the Sustainable Agriculture Network explores how
and why cover crops work and provides all the information needed to build
cover crops into any farming operation. This is the most comprehensive
book ever published on the use of cover crops to sustain cropping sys-tems,
manage weeds and build soil.
How to order: $19 to Sustainable Agriculture Publications, Box 10, Hills
Bldg., Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0082
Crop-Weed Interactions: Integrated Pest Management
This eight-page Extension bulletin from Iowa State University explores
ways to manage weeds from a whole-farm perspective.
How to order: Fifty cents + $3.50 s/h from Midwest Plan Service, 122 Davidson
Hall, ISU, Ames IA 50011-3080. (515) 294-4337. Specify ISU Extension pub
IPM-35
No-Till Vegetables: A Sustainable Way to Increase Profits, Save
Soil and Reduce Pesticides
This video by 15-year no-till veteran Steve Groff covers the basics of
sustainable no-till vegetable production, detailing methods - such as
select-ing the proper cover crop mix or plant residue - to control weeds
and maintain production on his 175-acre Cedar Meadow Farm.
How to order: $21.95 + $3 s/h to Cedar Meadow Farm, 679 Hilldale Rd. ,
Holtwood, PA 17532; (717) 284-5152
Meeting
Monday, September 10, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Allandale Farm, 259 Allandale Rd., Brookline, MA, Contacts: Frank Mangan,
(978) 422-6374
Allandale Farm is one of the oldest farms in the country and one of only
six inside Rte 128, the last inside the Boston city limits. It is located
on the Brookline/Jamaica Plain line and is a part of a larger privately
owned parcel dedicated to land conservation. It is a family-owned and
operated enterprise raising about thirty-five acres of row crops which
are marketed directly through their own roadside market (excess going
to restaurants and a few supermarkets (~5%). The farm is or-ganic, though
not certified. They grow a wide variety of vegetables. The field and retail
staff are hired locally. They also run a school and a summer education
program for small children. Highlights of the meeting will be new Brassica
species for expanding markets, pumpkin and tomato disease management;
trickle irrigation systems; and cut flower operation.
(One pesticide recertification credit is assigned to this meeting.)
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