2024 Berry Primer Webinar Video Recordings

Thursday, March 28, 2024

                      

Video's from the 2024 Berry Primer

Last week, we had a great lineup of speakers at the 2024 Berry Primer Webinar.  On Monday, I shared the recording on Nematode Survey Results and Management with Perennia’s Matt Peill and Silica and it's Importance in Plant Health and Yield with University of Toledo's Wendy Zellner so make sure to check below for those two videos if you have missed them. 

Today, I finally finished editing two more video's:

AAFC Berry Breeding and Variety Evaluations with AAFC's Beatrice Amyotte:  Click Here

Integrating Biologicals into your Spray Program with Perennia's Dustin MacLean: Click Here

Monday's videos:

Nematode Survey Results and Management with Perennia’s Matt Peill:  Click Here  

Silica and it's importance in Plant Health and Yield with University of Toledo's Wendy Zellner:   Click Here

Introducing Perennia’s Online

Pest Management Guides

April 10th at 12:00

To sign up for a demonstration of this game changing tool please follow the link: 

Click Here 

 

A couple things to keep in mind for your 2024 Strawberry Planting

You’ve done your prep to get your 2024 strawberry field ready, selecting the site, planting the cover crops, dialing in the soil fertility. Now is not the time to rest on your haunches.  Here are a few things to look out for in the spring to keep this planting on track. 

When you receive your strawberry plants open the boxes and inspect the plants. If they warmed during shipping leave them open and place them in the cooler, in a single layer, to quickly get them back down to temperature.  Reseal the bags after a couple of hours and the plants have cooled. The plants are usually packed in a plastic bag within the box. Inside the bag they are usually packed with shredded paper or moss.    This should be damp, if it is starting to dry out add a small amount of water and reseal the bags.  Do not wet or soak your plants until you are ready to plant.   If you notice mold growth at this time, call your nursery right away.  Store the dormant bare root plants as close to -2 c as you can without cooling past -2.7 c.  For shorter periods of up to a week, plants can be held as “warm” as 4 c. 

Before planting should begin make sure to have a well thought out herbicide program mapped out and the product on hand.  This will allow you to make applications in a timely manner when plants are still dormant and at proper timings though the season.

Some growers will soak their plants in a “secret sauce” of water, biologicals and phosphorous before planting.  If nothing else this will re-hydrate the roots before putting them in the soil.   If you are using this technique, consider adding “the sauce” to the bag in the box rather than removing plants from the bag and soaking in a central tank. Putting the plants in a central bath may spread disease from box to box and across varieties.  Alternatively, so that planting is not held up and disease is not spread, biologicals and phosphorous can be added to a drench with a root fungicide after planting.

Planting should take place as soon as the ground is fit, and the soil temperature reaches 10 c. Planting depth is very important. Crowns should be placed so that the middle of the crowns are at the soil line.  Roots should be spread out in a downward direction rather than bent.  This may require deeper tillage than is required for other crops.  Make sure you have enough soil to work with before bringing the transplanter to the field and adjust the shoe depth from there.   

If the weather is dry, it is important that irrigation is provided after planting. This is important for rehydration but also to settle the soil around the roots creating root to soil contact.  Some growers will also roll after planting in order to facilitate the settling of the soil.   I believe this also provides a more uniform surface for herbicide application thus making your herbicides more effective.

As the plant is establishing it may be important to get an Orondis Gold, or Aliette applied for the control of phytophthora crown rot.  Phytophthora spreads rapidly under wet conditions and can take out large sections of rows very quickly.

Losing mother plants at planting can quickly affect the final stand so care should be taken out of the gate.  Keeping these steps in mind will help get the plants off to a good start putting more berries in the basket in the next years.   

 





Berry Protection Guides and Videos from last week's 2024 Berry Primer Webinar

Monday, March 25, 2024

 

Introducing Perennia’s Online

          Pest Management Guides         

   April 10th at 12:00

Perennia has created an online pest guide to streamline your pesticide selection process and help you access information more easily. Join us on April 10th as we show you how to maximize its usefulness to your farm. Some of our 2024 updates include: 

  • A mobile friendly format so you can access it in the field 
  • Filters and searches to quickly find answers to your questions 
  • Sort functions to target categories of interest (REI, PHI, etc) 
  • Faster update times and more resources to help you 

 Join us in April to learn how we can help you optimize your pest control options through this new tool.

To sign up for a demonstration of this game changing tool please follow the link: 

Click Here 


Video's from the 2024 Berry Primer

Last week, we had a great lineup of speakers at the 2024 Berry Primer Webinar.   I will be sending out the recordings in the blog over the next few weeks as I can get them edited. 

Check out what you may have missed or view it again if you were not taking notes quickly enough!

Nematode Survey Results and Management with Perennia’s Matt Peill:  Click Here  

Silica and it's importance in Plant Health and Yield with University of Toledo's Wendy Zellner:   Click Here















New Registrations and Product Label Expansions from the Past Year

Monday, March 11, 2024

Oxidate: received a label expansion for control of Angular Leaf Spot, Botrytis and Powdery Mildew in field strawberries.  Oxidate is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid.  It is important to note that oxidate works more closely to a surface disinfectant and does not give any residual control of diseases.     Therefore, it would be best used as a tank mix partner with a residual fungicide or in a program that allows frequent applications.  The pre harvest interval for oxidate is 0 days and can be applied in conventional and organic spray programs.

 

Inspire Super:   Inspire Super has received a registration through the minor use program.  Inspire Super is a mix of groups 3+9; so taking the 3 from difenoconozole which is in products like Quadris Top and mixing it with cyprodinil which is the 9 in Switch.  The landscape of anthracnose control is very crowded with 3, 9 and 12’s.  It is important to rotate them correctly when they are all co packed together.   I think the guidelines for anthracnose control still apply….start the seasons with group M’s, apply switch at bloom, and then continue through harvest with products with shorter days to harvest.  If you are growing ever-bearing strawberries the principals are the same and you will likely need Inspire Super to get you through the season.  Inspire Super has a 1 days PHI.    Anthracnose is a tricky one, botrytis is easy by comparison.

 

Allegro 500F: Received a label expansion for highbush blueberry for Anthracnose, Botrytis and Mummy Berry. Allegro is a group 29 so makes it a great product to break up some chemical rotations.  Keep in mind that it has a 30 day PHI.  For Botrytis protection applications should begin at early bloom.

 

Spear T: has received registration for control of spotted winged drosophila on highbush blueberry and caneberries.  Spear T is a group 32 which makes it different than other insecticides for SWD control and great for resistance management.  It has a 0 day PHI and short re entry period.   This product should be used with a non ionic surfactant.

 

Magister SC: has received registration for mites on strawberry, raspberry and blueberry.   There is currently a submission for registration before PMRA for cyclamen mite control, but is not expected for this growing season.  Magister is a group 21 making it the same group as only Nexter.   Magister is a contact product and has activity on eggs, nymphs and adults.  Since this is a contact insecticide, coverage with this product is very important.  Magister has a 1 day PHI but a long residual control on mites.  Because Magister has a short PHI, products with longer PHI’s will probably be used for mite control before harvest then Magister can be used during harvest and may last you through harvest with its lengthy residual.  SC formulations can be little a tricky to keep in solution so good agitation is key and probably should be pre dissolved in warm water.  To maximize coverage a non-ionic surfactant should be used. 


2024 Berry Primer March 21st  BErry Primer

Register by following this link: Click Here

To help you prepare for the 2024 berry growing season, Perennia’s Berry Specialist, Sonny Murray, is hosting the upcoming webinar ‘2024 Berry Primer.’ During this session, attendees will hear from six fantastic guest speakers on a variety of topics, including: 

·         Nematodes: Survey and management, Matt Peill 

·         Phytopthora: The Wet Season Disease, Cheryl Trueman  

·         Silica and Berry Nutrition, Wendy Zellner  

·         RCA trellis system for Blackberries, Patrick Byers  

·         Strawberry Disease Pests and Strawberry Insect Pests, Dustin MacLean  

·         Strawberry Varieties, Beatrice Amyott  

·         Weed control, Sonny Murray  

·         Production systems, Sonny Murray  

Strawberry Soil Fertility, Sonny Murray 


Release of the Highbush Blueberry Pruning video

Monday, March 4, 2024

The snow is gone and the sun is out......may as well start pruning those Highbush Blueberries.  Maybe this will be the year we can get it finished before bloom!  To start pruning season off, here is Sonny Murray giving a short Intro to Highbush Blueberry Pruning.  To see the video please follow these links:


Pruning Young Plants   


Pruning Regular Crop



Pruning over Mature Crop 



Horticulture Nova Scotia Research Priority Setting Survey……..Don’t worry it is short!

Help us narrow down and identify new priorities for future research efforts.  Horticulture Nova Scotia collaborates on research projects with many other institutions. These projects aim to assist farmers by improving pest control, exploring different growing systems or changing management practices. This survey will act as a tool to narrow down and identify new priorities for future research efforts. 

To complete the survey either scan the QR code or click on this link: Click here.


 





Have your say into research .......

Thursday, February 8, 2024

.

Have your say into research in your horticulture crops by completing these two surveys. 

 

 

Horticulture Nova Scotia Research Priority Setting Survey……..Don’t worry it is short!

Help us narrow down and identify new priorities for future research efforts.  Horticulture Nova Scotia collaborates on research projects with many other institutions. These projects aim to assist farmers by improving pest control, exploring different growing systems or changing management practices. This survey will act as a tool to narrow down and identify new priorities for future research efforts. 

To complete the survey either scan the QR code or click on this link: Click here.


 




The Canadian Berry Trial Network Survey

The Canadian Berry Trial Network is getting ready for their 2024 variety trials, and AAFC’s, Dr. Beatrice Amyotte was hoping to get some input from Nova Scotia growers. She will plant new trials of strawberry and raspberry this spring. We have a shortlist of varieties to consider in the attached survey link.

The deadline to return the survey to her is February 27, 2024. Please take the time to voice your input so that we can have valuable trial results. 

To find the survey please follow the link by clicking here.


Last Reminder: Grower Minor Use Input

Monday, November 20, 2023

 Minor Use local Berry Workshop Grower Input Requested!

Please save the date for our annual selection of minor use pesticide priorities for Nova Scotia crops. The session for berry crops will take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, November 21 from 1 PM to 2 PM. 

Perennia’s minor use representative, Michelle Cortens, and the provincial minor use coordinator Deney Augustine Joseph will briefly outline the process. Then as a group you will be guided through the different crops to assess the priority pest control needs for insects, weeds/growth regulators, and diseases. If you have potential solutions on your radar (products registered in other crops or for other uses) or have heard of products you might be interested in, please bring those along as well.

Any grower is welcome to attend, so if you are interested please let me know and I will forward the Zoom link.  If you can’t make the meeting, please send me your critical pest issues and any potential solutions for consideration at the meeting.

The selected priorities will then be submitted on behalf of the province and used in ranking the national priorities.

Hope to see you there, Sonny Murray

Smurray@perennia.ca

902-670-4892

Reminders: Minor Use input/Polar Vortex Industry Recovery/Funding Programs

Friday, November 17, 2023

 Minor Use local Berry Workshop Grower Input Requested!

Please save the date for our annual selection of minor use pesticide priorities for Nova Scotia crops. The session for berry crops will take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, November 21 from 1 PM to 2 PM. 

Perennia’s minor use representative, Michelle Cortens, and the provincial minor use coordinator Deney Augustine Joseph will briefly outline the process. Then as a group you will be guided through the different crops to assess the priority pest control needs for insects, weeds/growth regulators, and diseases. If you have potential solutions on your radar (products registered in other crops or for other uses) or have heard of products you might be interested in, please bring those along as well.

Any grower is welcome to attend, so if you are interested please let me know and I will forward the Zoom link.  If you can’t make the meeting, please send me your critical pest issues and any potential solutions for consideration at the meeting.

The selected priorities will then be submitted on behalf of the province and used in ranking the national priorities.

Hope to see you there, Sonny Murray

Smurray@perennia.ca

902-670-4892



Polar Vortex Industry Recovery

To learn more Click Here




Funding Programs:

Food Ventures Program

The Food Ventures Program provides financial support for the acceleration of innovative and safe Nova Scotia local products to market using Perennia’s food safety and product development services. This program is for Nova Scotia registered farms and agri-food and beverage businesses with head offices in Nova Scotia and funded on the federal/provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership program.

Learn more


On-Farm Climate Action Fund Program

The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is an initiative to help farmers improve soil health, protect soil from erosion, and tackle climate change by adopting beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases. The program offers funding to help farmers implement nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing practices. In addition, the OFCAF program supports professional training for farmers, agronomists, and certified crop advisers

Learn more


Fiona Supplementary Disaster Assistance Program

Information coming in November 2023


Climate Adaptation Leadership Program

The Climate Adaption Leadership Program (CALP) is funded through the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change to increase Nova Scotia's understanding of the impacts of climate change and specifically support individual agricultural sectors develop and implement plans that help to build capacity within the Province to increase resilience to those changes.


Contact Allan Thomson at athomson@perennia.ca


Agricultural Production Extension Program

Informally known as ‘farm extension’, this program has been provided by Perennia on behalf of the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture since 2001 at no cost to eligible producers, or cost recovery for some basic costs not covered by the program. Sectors covered include: horticulture, livestock, field crops and soils for both conventional and organic systems. Services covered by the program include: individual farm advice by phone, electronically and in person at the discretion of the specialist; publications and information online and in hard copy; virtual and in-person workshops and field days; and sector development projects. with collaborative partners.

To be eligible for the program, producers must: be a provincially-registered farm operation producing commercially as an income source, or with the desire and commitment to be selling at a commercial level; and show the commitment to learning the hands-on and decision-making skills to successfully manage the day-to-day agronomic needs of their operation with little formal assistance from our specialists (for example, learning how to read soil tests, identify a cow with metabolic disease, and when to harvest a crop).

Under this program, Perennia specialists undertake industry development projects to address industry-wide issues, often with collaborators. When working with partners where Perennia is not an original co-operator or a collaborative in the project scope, in-kind participation by specialists under this program, will be determined on an project-by-project basis.

For more information, please contact one of our offices at:
(902) 678-7722 or (902) 896-0227
or connect with an 
agricultural production specialist


Biosecurity Program

For five years, Perennia offered a biosecurity education program on behalf of the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. Signs for your farm are available to no charge. Visit the Biosecurity Nova Scotia website for more information and to order signs.


Atlantic Technology Transfer Team for Apiculture

The first ever Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture was created in 2016 at Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation as a joint initiative supported by government, provincial beekeeper and wild blueberry associations. The majority of the project is funded under the Pan Atlantic Research and Innovation Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is program cost-shared between the federal and provincial governments with contributions from provincial commodity associations. The ATTTA apiculturists work with a steering committee to focus on building the pollination capacity of honey bees for wild blueberry pollination through five objectives:

  1. Improve honey bee health and nutrition;
  2. Improve disease and pest monitoring and treatment (including IPM strategies);
  3. Improve overwintering success;
  4. Improve biosecurity techniques and
  5. Optimize pollination in lowbush blueberry

For more information, please visit https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

For more information, please contact:

Andrew Byers, PhD
abyers@perennia.ca
(902) 324-1832



NRC-IRAP Contribution Agreement

Perennia has a partnership with the National Research Council (NRC) under its Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) Contribution to Organization program. The program provides funding to successful applicants to have Perennia’s team answer a business or technical question. The ultimate goal is enabling clients to present market-ready products that are revenue generators for the consumer market. In doing so, the Perennia team helps identify and mitigate technical risk factors related to product and process development that can impact the overall product quality and safety, and addresses product reformulations and process issues such as establishing process controls, adapting new process technologies and developing new processes.

For more information, please contact:
(902) 896-8782
innovation@perennia.ca


Farm Weather Station Assistance Program

This program is now closed. If you need assistance for a weather station purchased under this program, please contact us at weatherstations@perennia.ca