Keeping Quality Forecast

For more information on the Keeping Quality Forecast, please contact the Plant Physiologist, Dr. Peter Jeranyama at peterj@umass.edu or Cranberry Pathologist, Dr. Leela Uppala at suppala@umass.edu.

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2023 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 2023 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. Growers should determine whether to hold late water based on 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 508-970-7644 or suppala@umass.edu. 

Late Water is Advised:

  • Once in three years for 4 weeks from Mid-April to Mid-May.
  • If your bog looks healthy and not showing any signs of stress.
  • The flower buds are still red and tight.
  • If your bed was properly flooded at the periods of coldest temperatures.
  • If the scale and/or fruit rot incidences were high in 2022.
  • 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 2022.
  • If the buds have broken dormancy.
  • 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.

 

2022 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 2022 Massachusetts cranberry crop. This score makes the final keeping quality poor.

The final keeping quality score of 4 was based on (i) The total of sunshine hours for March for the present year is more than the 50-year average (179 hr) for that month (196 hr): 2 points. (ii) Total precipitation for March for the present year is less than the average of East Wareham and Middleboro mean of 4.39 inches (3.51 inches): 1 point. (iii) The total precipitation for April for the present year is less than the average of East Wareham and Middleboro of 6.70 inches (6.34 inches): 1 point.

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.

Leela Uppala and Peter Jeranyama

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