Growing Forward: funding for food safety and traceability 
Strawberries
Raspberries
Blueberries 
New OMAFRA specialist 

Growing Forward: Food Safety and Traceability:  The Growing Forward program has recently been announced. The Food Safety and Traceability component of the program provides 75% reimbursement of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $20,000 to:

• implement written food safety programs 
• implement a working traceability system  
• assist in the purchase and installation of equipment that improves food safety or traceability  
• train staff to increase the adoption of food safety and traceability

The Food Safety and Traceability Initiative is now accepting applications from farms and food plants. Funding is available on a first-come first-served basis.  This is an extremely busy time of year for berry growers, but I urge you to look at the opportunities provided to you through this program. 

For more information, see: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/infores/foodsafe/fsinitiative.htm Toll Free: 1-888-479-3931 (1-888-GRWFWD1)
E-mail: FSTI.omafra@ontario.ca

Strawberries:  Strawberries are growing slowly but surely. In matted row production buds have emerged from the crown and king bloom open on early varieties. With the use of row covers or plasticulture, growers have advanced development of this crop to the point where the first berries will be ready in a week or two. However, these growers have been working hard to prevent frost damage to the susceptible buds and bloom. 

More frost is in the forecast. Remember that unopened buds are susceptible to frost damage if temperatures approach -4 to -5¢ª C and bloom, white buds at -2¢ª C and bloom at -1¢ª C.  The exact temperatures that cause injury are hard to define because factors like soil moisture, dew point and crop condition all come into play.  See Irrigation for Frost Protection on the OMAFRA website. 

Row covers should be removed when strawberries are at 5-10% bloom, to facilitate pollination and pest control. Although row covers can provide some frost protection, blossoms which are touching the cover can be damaged by frost or by the abrasion of the cover flapping in the wind.  It is common for the early berries to be misshapen where covers are used. 

Minimal strawberry clipper weevil activity has been reported so far.  This pest is now active in most parts of the province and will damage emerged fruit buds, especially as weather warms up. Check the edges of older fields near woods and bush for blossom holes and clipped buds. Although Furadan is sometimes used to control clipper weevil, remember this is a very toxic insecticide to both the applicator and bees and should never be used after first bloom. Furadan can also cause burning of sepals and leaf tips on varieties like Annapolis, Cavendish and others. Pyrethroid insecticides (ie Ripcord, Matador, Silencer, Up-Cyde) are also toxic to bees but can be used when bees are not active in the field.  These products control clipper weevil and tarnished plant bug. 

Where clipper weevil is not a problem, delay the first insecticide in strawberries until tarnished plant bugs reach threshold levels. The first tarnished plant bug nymphs were detected late this week. Shake blossom clusters into dish or tray and check for small green active plant bug nymphs. Avoid spraying until the threshold is reached (approx 1 nymph on 4 flower clusters). If you spray too early for this pest you will just have to spray again later. 

Other pests may be active in strawberry fields: scouts should monitor new growth for cyclamen mite. Check older leaves close to the soil for two-spotted spider mite and angular leaf spot. See ontario.ca/cropipm for information on these and other strawberry pests. 

Last call for grass herbicides like Venture (30 days to harvest) and Poast (25 days to harvest) in strawberries. These products should not be applied after first bloom.  

Raspberries: Raspberry buds are emerging sporadically, depending on variety. There is a lot of overwintering cane disease on raspberries. This problem will quickly spread to new primocanes and laterals with each rain. Early disease control is very important on raspberries, especially when weather is wet. Plan to apply several fungicides (every 7-10 days before it rains) starting when primocanes are 6¡° high and continuing through the bloom period. Choices include Tanos (anthracnose, spur blight), Captan and Maestro (spur blight). During bloom include at least one broad-spectrum fungicide such as Pristine or Switch for botrytis.   

As raspberry buds develop, check for clipper weevil. The strawberry clipper weevil is also fond of raspberries. 

Blueberries: Early varieties are blooming; there is a good set of buds shaping up to a good crop. Warm heavy rains experienced May 13-14 are ideal for spreading diseases such as mummy berry to new shoot growth. Fungicides for phomopsis twig blight and mummy berry should be a priority at this time. No insecticides are required in blueberries now. Traps for cranberry and cherry fruitworm moths should be installed now. Petal fall insecticides for these pests are based on trap catches.   

The Ontario Highbush Blueberry Growers are planning a meeting Friday May 29, 2009, at Barrie Hill Farms. Guest speaker will be Mark Longstroth, from Michigan State University Extension. The meeting begins with a farm tour at 2 p.m. Please contact Celia Klassen at klassenb@xplornet.com .

Welcome to Kristen Callow who started her new job May 5 as OMAFRA Weed Management Program Lead for Horticulture Crops. Kristen works in the Ridgetown office, and takes over for Leslie Huffman, who has a new position as Apple Specialist.  Kristen.callow@ontario.ca

Pests to watch for this week:

Small holes in bloom are early signs of clipper activity

Tarnished plant bug nymph 

Clipper weevil damage to raspberry bud (lower right)

Shoot blight phase of mummyberry