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IPM Message for Cranberry Growers: Jul 10, 2014

July 10, 2014

If you are concerned about sprays going out in unstable weather pattern, Altacor should have good residual and rainfastness. Please use the traditional cranberry fruitworm timing for Howes, spraying 7-9 days after 50% out-of-bloom. This is still the best management strategy for this variety. Things seem very late this year as some bogs and varieties are just getting to 50% out-of-bloom this week. Brown spanworm moths are flying.

In addition to the scale issue, the Entomology lab reports several instances of a new beetle showing up. It seems to feed on the petals causing the area of bog to appear as a darker patch. It also feeds on the new growth (see photo). The beetle is very small (smaller than cranberry weevil) and yellowish in color. If you see feeding or the beetle, please let the Ent lab know.

weevil feeding damagebeetle on penny

Feeding damage and adult weevil on penny
Photos courtesy of Averill Entomology Lab 

We have seen various kinds of vine dieback, which have been related to low areas, water collections and winter injury; yellow vine syndrome from water stress, shallow root systems, and herbicide use; possible "footprint" disease; and unknown causes. We have Mullica Queens coming in with suspicious upright injury. This injury does not appear to be herbicide related and we are still investigating. 

Now is the good window to use QuinStar for yellow loosestrife control, if you can use the herbicide as per your handler. 

Dodder is starting to show up on some bogs. There are not many options left at this point. If the dodder is attached to weeds that are susceptible to Callisto, you can try a Callisto application. If the dodder is mainly attached to cranberry, Callisto will probably not give you the control you are looking for. If you would like to try the hand-held flame torches for dodder control (they work well but take time to treat), call Katie at x43 to see if ours are available for loan. The open flame torch can be purchased locally (e.g., Home Depot), for about $50. The infrared models are more expensive and must be ordered over the internet. There are pros and cons to each type and we can talk to you about that, if you are interested. 

Ocean Spray fresh fruit export growers cannot apply chlorothalonil (Bravo) after July 15. All other types of delivery to OS can receive chlorothalonil applications up to July 25. Folks delivering to Decas/Clement Pappas cannot use chlorothalonil after July 25. For OS export processed, no Sevin use after August 1 and there is a 40-day PHI for OS domestic processed. For Decas, no use of Sevin after 8/1 and no use of Sevin after July 25 for CP. Always double check with your handler if you have any questions about pesticide use and cut-off dates. QuinStar and Poast have 60-day PHIs, so this may be getting close if you are harvesting early September. 

We will be having a bogside workshop on Wed. July 23rd at the station 10:30-noon and one contact hour will be offered.