In The Berry Fields: June 28th, 2022 Sonny Murray with special guest, Talia Plaskett give a update on the berry crop

Thursday, June 30, 2022

 In this issue of In the Berry Field, Talia Plaskett gives us a quick peek at the Long Cane Raspberry Production System, but first Sonny Murray gives a crop update on the developing berry crop. 


The Full video can be viewed by CLICKING HERE

Or you can Jump to the Long Cane Raspberry Project Update by CLICKING HERE


Highbush Blueberry Weed:  Spreading Dogbane

I meant to talk about Spreading Dogbane in the video, but the wind was really whipping, and the audio was terrible.  I'm seeing low levels of Spreading Dogbane in many Highbush Blueberry blocks.   Spreading dogbane is not well controlled by the herbicides usually used in blueberry.  Glyphosate doesn’t even do a great job on this weed.   Lowbush growers commonly battle this weed by spot treating with dicamba (Banvel or Engenia).   Timing of this treatment is the key to it's control.    It should be treated at the bud swell to pre flowering stage which is occurring now in many areas of the province.  

 


 Picture 1: Spreading Dogbane at the Bud/pre bloom stage. 

 

Spreading Dogbane will exude a white milk when the leaf or stem is broken.   Spreading Dogbane is a perennial that can really ramp up in population because it can reproduce by seed and also underground rhizomes.  Because this weed is so competitive, I think it is worth chasing down and controlling even if you have only a few plants in your highbush blueberry blocks.



Compost and Cover Crops Tailgate Meeting and Field Session

July 11th  from 1-3 PM

Soil Mates Farm in Barss Corner (297 Farmington Rd)

Please join Perennia specialists to discuss compost, compost analysis, cover crops, veg and berry production, and wireworm management.

Our team will answer any production questions, so bring pictures, analysis results and samples.  If you have a compost source that you find works well for you please bring a bucket for a compost show and tell!


To register for this event, please click here.

Berry and Vegetable Crop Tailgate Meeting

July 19th from 3-5 PM
Spurr Bros Farms (14145 Hwy #1, Wilmot – Noble property)

Join our Vegetable and Berry specialists to discuss the growing season, timely tips on strawberry renovation, disease identification and control and cover crop planting. 
Our team will be on hand to answer production questions, so bring your pictures, analysis results and samples.


Deadline for OFCAF Deadline is a little over a month away!  


A new funding program will help farmers receive up to $75,000 in funding when adopting and implementing beneficial management practices (BMPs) that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in the areas of: 

·        Improved nitrogen management 

·        Cover cropping, and 

·        Rotational grazing 

 

The On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is part of the Government of Canada's Agricultural Climate Solutions, a multi-stream program to help farmers tackle climate changePerennia Food and Agriculture Inc. is implementing the fund to help farmers adopt these practices in Nova Scotia and in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Training for farmers and agronomists will also be offered over the two-year program, which ends in March 2024. 

 

For more information on the program or to apply please visit the website ofcaf.perennia.ca.  Deadline for the first intake of applications is July 31, 2022.