Wild Blueberry Newsletter

June 2008

Wild Blueberry Field Day

The annual summer field day for wild blueberry growers will be held on Wednesday, July 23 at Blueberry Hill Farm on Route 1 in Jonesboro.  The meeting will begin 10:30 a.m. with blueberry growers, processors, University and government employees, affiliated with the blueberry industry, discussing this year's wild blueberry crop.  The program for the meeting is listed below. Researchers will be on hand to explain current research projects at Blueberry Hill Farm and with cooperative growers, and will be available to hear your concerns and answer your questions.  There will be two pesticide credits offered to certified pesticide applicators for participating in the program.  I hope to see you there!

2008 Wild Blueberry Summer Field Day Agenda
Blueberry Hill Farm Wild Blueberry Research Facility

Star of New Health Show Produced by Dr. Phil Gives Wild Blueberries the Nod on Health

In an interview with the Wild blueberry Association of North America, respected author, pediatrician, and talk show personality Dr. Jim Sears said eating wild blueberries is one of the most important things people can do for their brains. The little blue fruit has risen in the ranks as a powerful food when it comes to promoting health and nutrition, and is now enjoying a boost from Sears, who credits taste, versatility, and powerful nutritional value for the berry's starring role in the world of nutritional health. To view this press release visit the following link. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/06/prweb1035514.htm

Time for Leaf and Soil Samples
Leaf samples should be taken at the tip-dieback stage of blueberry growth (around the 4^th of July) on pruned fields in order to determine your fertilizer needs for the next crop cycle.  Refer to Wild Blueberry Fact Sheet No. 222, Leaf and Soil Sampling Procedures, for more details.  For a single sample, cut three stems from 30 clones and place them in a paper bag with holes available at your local County Extension office or at Blueberry Hill Farm in Jonesboro.  Keep the samples in a warm dry spot with the top of the bag open to promote drying.  Bring the sample to your county Extension office, Blueberry Hill Farm or mail the sample to the University of Maine Analytical Lab, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5722.  The cost of the analysis is $25 per sample unless you strip the leaves from the stems, and include the leaves in the bag, then it is $20 per sample. Include a check payable to the Maine Soil Testing Service with the sample.

Soil nutrient analysis levels are not used to determine optimum wild blueberry production, leaf samples must be taken for nutrient analysis.  But soil sampling is necessary to determine the soil pH level.  If the pH is too high, greater than 5.0, then reducing it will discourage weed growth and reduce the need for herbicides.  To get the best control of weeds it is necessary to reduce the pH to 4.0.  Recent research has shown that it may be done without injury or loss of blueberry production.

Refer to Wild Blueberry Fact Sheet No. 222, Leaf and Soil Sampling Procedures, for instructions for sampling soil. Place samples in a sturdy container, such as a pint ice cream carton or a University soil sample box available at your local county Extension office or at Blueberry Hill Farm.  Indicate pH only on the container, and include a check for $5 per sample. Either mail to: Soil Testing Service, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5722 or you may also give it to your local county Extension office or Blueberry Hill Farm to be transported to the University of Maine.

The University of Maine Analytical Lab will analyze the samples for available nutrients in the leaves and pH in the soil.  Results will be sent directly to you with the appropriate fertilizer or sulfur recommendations for your field later in the year.

Monitor for Blueberry Fruit Fly
Blueberry fruit fly sticky traps should be placed out in your fields by late June. This trapping method will provide you with a reliable method of determining the number and emergence time of the fruit fly. This should be done in every cropping field, since the timing of emergence and fly populations vary widely among fields because of microclimate and past infection levels. Refer to Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet No. 201, Monitoring for the Blueberry Maggot, for details on this practice and fact sheet No. 209, 2008 Insect Control Guide for Wild Blueberries for control measures.  The Phercon AM baited traps may be obtained at some of the county soil and water conservation offices or may be ordered from Great Lakes IPM or call 1-800-235-0285.

Sincerely,

David E. Yarborough
Extension Blueberry Specialist

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice: If you are a person with a disability and will need any accommodations to participate in this program, please call  David Yarborough at 1-800-897-0757 to discuss your needs. Please contact me at least 5 days prior to this event to assure fullest possible attention to your needs. University of Maine Nondiscrimination Statement: In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veterans' status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Questions and complaints about discrimination in any area of the University should be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens, (207) 581-1226. TDD Number: As with the ADA Notice, this should be included on any printed materials that publicize programs and events. UMCE's TDD number is 1-800-287-8957.

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