Keeping Quality Forecast

For more information on the Keeping Quality Forecast, please contact the Plant Physiologist, Dr. Peter Jeranyama at (508) 295-2212, extension 29.

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2021 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The final forecast is POOR keeping quality.

We obtained 4 points out of a possible 16 to arrive at this keeping quality forecast for the 2021 Massachusetts cranberry crop. This score makes the final keeping quality poor.

The final keeping quality score of 4 was based on (i) the favorable sunshine hours for February (110 hr.) which were less than the 50-year average for that month (143 hr.), (ii) the sunshine hours in March of 252 hr. which are greater than the long-term average of 179 hr., and (iii) the total precipitation for April 2021 which was less than the average of East Wareham and Middleboro precipitation of 6.70 inches. However, the average temperature for April and May for Middleboro were both above the required values to gain additional points. 

Implications
  • This suggests that the fruit rot incidence could be high unless timely and effective disease management strategies are employed.
  • Fruit quality will be sacrificed if you reduce your fungicide use drastically.
  • Be conservative…

 If the beds are cultivated for fresh fruit.

 If the beds were not managed or sprayed with fungicides last year.

 if the beds had significantly higher fruit rot in the previous year.

Additional Notes
  • Follow ALL-label instructions, including application interval, recommended rates, water holding time and pre-harvest interval.
  • Alternate fungicides with different modes of action. Use FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee) codes on the labels to determine the mode of action. Fungicides from the same FRAC codes have similar modes of action. 
  • Above normal sunshine hours during June, July, and August (especially July) have been associated with good or better quality than predicted.

Peter Jeranyama and Leela Uppala                                                                                   

 

2021 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

The forecast is for FAIR preliminary keeping quality. As of April 1, there are 3 points out of a possible 10 that favor keeping quality for the 2021 Massachusetts cranberry crop. The 3 points were awarded for sunshine hours in February which was less than 143 hours (1 point) and favorable sunshine hours in March which were greater than 179 hours (2 points). The final keeping quality forecast (issued after June 1) could be upgraded if we have a cool and dry April and May. Based on the preliminary forecast, fruit rot fungicide applications and the rate of fungicides applied should not be reduced. As for the holding of late water, there are no definitive indicators pro or con. Some growers have indicated that vines are showing stress, this could be partly due to the prolonged drought of 2020 or winter injury among other possibilities. Growers should determine whether to hold late water based on specific bed conditions. Please check the table below and the section on late water in the Chart Book for advice regarding the implementation of this cultural practice. If you have any questions, please contact Leela Uppala at suppala@umass.edu or 508-295-2212 x18. 

Late Water is Advised:

  • Once in three years for 4 weeks from Mid-April to Mid-May.
  • If the scale and/or fruit rot incidences were high in 2020.
  • If your bog looks healthy and not showing any signs of stress.
  • If your bed was properly flooded at the periods of coldest temperatures.
  • If you have access to good quality water supplies.

Late Water is Not Advised:

  • If you held late water in the past two years.
  • If your bog produced a heavy crop in 2020.
  • If the bed was sanded the previous year.
  • If the bog is stressed and shows signs of winter injury.
  • If your bog is severely out of grade.

 

Peter Jeranyama and Leela Uppala

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