Keeping Quality Forecast Archive

Format: 2024

2010 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

As of April 1, there are 5 points out of a possible 10 that favor keeping quality for the 2010 Massachusetts cranberry crop. The 5 points were awarded for favorable sunshine hours from the previous year (4 points) and 1 point was awarded for favorable sunshine hours in February. The forecast is for GOOD keeping quality. 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 present forecast, fungicide applications and the rate of fungicides applied could be reduced.

As for the holding of late water, because we are currently two weeks ahead of normal plant phenological development, it is too late to start flooding for late water unless the bed was already flooded in the heavy rains of March 29-30. If the bed still has a significant depth of water, the vines should be totally submerged (see page 3). As for flood duration, call Carolyn DeMoranville (x 25) for advice. Check the section on late water in the Chart Book for advice regarding general information on this cultural practice. If you have any questions regarding the forecast, please contact Frank Caruso at x18.

2009 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The Keeping Quality Forecast for June 2009 is for POOR keeping quality on bogs where no steps are taken to control fungal diseases.

How did we calculate the forecast? Only 4 of a possible 16 points were achieved this season - 2 for March sunshine (above threshold), 1 for March precipitation (below threshold) and 1 for April precipitation (below threshold).

What does this mean for your bog? It is critical that you properly manage fungal diseases. You should use full recommended rates and numbers of applications for fruit rot fungicides. However, if you held late water, fungicide inputs may be reduced as outlined in the Chart Book.

As usual, call me if you have specific questions or concerns about a particular bed.

2009 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

The forecast is for FAIR keeping quality. As of April 1, there are 3 points out of a pos-sible 10 that favor keeping quality for the 2009 Massachusetts cranberry crop. The 3 points were awarded for favorable sunshine hours in March (2 points) and 1 point was awarded for lower rainfall amounts in March. 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 present forecast, 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 condition: Was the bed sanded (and there are many of these)? Does the bed show visible winter injury or other stresses (there may be some yellow vine syndrome showing up at this point)? Was fruit rot incidence high in 2008? There should be minimal winter injury to vines because most beds were properly flooded at the periods of coldest temperatures. Check the section on late water in the Chart Book for advice regarding whether to use this cultural practice. If you have any questions, 
please contact me. 

2008 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The Keeping Quality Forecast for June 2008 is for FAIR TO GOOD keeping quality.

We calculated 5 of a possible 16 points to arrive at this forecast. We were awarded 1 point for February sunshine, 2 points for March sunshine, 1 point for April precipitation and 1 point for May precipitation. This is a year that you probably should not reduce your fungicide rates and/or the number of fungicide applications. However, if you have a bed that had late water held this spring, you can reduce your fungicide inputs in that situation.

2008 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

As of April 1, there are 3 points out of a possible 10 that favor keeping quality for the 2008 Massachusetts cranberry crop.  The 3 points were awarded for favorable sunshine hours in February (1 point) and March (2 points).  The forecast is for FAIR keeping quality.  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 present forecast, 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 condition: was the bed sanded, does the bed show visible winter injury or other stresses (we did experience a drought last summer and there is a reasonable amount of yellow vine syndrome showing up at this point) and was fruit rot incidence high in 2007?  There was very little sanding done this winter and there should be minimal winter injury to vines.  Check the section on late water in the Chart Book for advice regarding whether to use this cultural practice.

2007 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The Keeping Quality Forecast for June 2007 is for POOR keeping quality.

We calculated 3 of a possible 16 points to arrive at this forecast.  This is the fewest points we have had since 2002 (when we had one point!).  We were awarded 2 points for March sunshine and 1 point for May precipitation.  This is a year that you should not reduce your fungicide rates and/or the number of fungicide applications.  However, if you have a bed that had late water held this spring, you can reduce your fungicide inputs in that situation.

2006 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The Keeping Quality Forecast for June 2006 is for FAIR keeping quality.

We calculated 4 of a possible 16 points to arrive at this forecast.  This is the first year we have had so few points since 2002 (when we had one point!).  We were awarded 2 points for March sunshine, 1 point for March precipitation, and 1 point for April precipitation.  This is a year that you should not reduce your fungicide rates and/or the number of fungicide applications.  However, if you have a bed that had late water held this spring, you can reduce your fungicide inputs in that situation. 

2006 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

As of April 1, there is only 1 point out of a possible 10 that favors keeping quality in the 2006 Massachusetts cranberry crop.  The lone point was awarded for favorable rainfall in March.  The forecast is for POOR keeping quality.  The last time we had such a low point total was 2002 when we had zero 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 present forecast, fungicide applications and the rate of fungicides applied should not be reduced.  Due to the decent condition of the vines coming out of the winter and the ample quantity of available water, this would be a good year to consider holding late water.

2005 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The Keeping Quality Forecast for June 2005 is for VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT.

We calculated 7 of a possible 16 points to arrive at this forecast. This is the third year in a row that we had this total. We were awarded 2 points for March sunshine, 2 points for March temperature, 1 point for April precipitation and 2 points for May temperature. This was the second coldest May ever recorded at the Cranberry Station. The mean temperature for the month was 50.9 degrees F; the only May that was colder was 1967 when the mean temperature was 49.3 degrees F. This is a good year to reduce your fungicide rates and the number of fungicide applications. However, if you have a bed that has had above average rates of fruit rot during the past two growing seasons, I would proceed with the normal three fungicide application program. As usual, call me if you have any specific questions or concerns about a particular bed.

2005 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

As of April 1, there are 4 points out of a possible 10 that favor keeping quality in the 2005 Massachusetts cranberry crop. Two points were awarded for favorable sunshine hours for the month of March and two points were awarded for a favorable March mean temperature. The forecast is for FAIR TO GOOD keeping quality. 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 present forecast, fungicide applications and the rate of fungicides applied could possibly be reduced except in those beds with a history of above-average fruit rot. Due to the decent condition of the vines coming out of the winter and the ample quantity of available water, this would be a good year to consider holding late water.

2004 Final Keeping Quality Forecast

The Final Keeping Quality Forecast for June 2004 is Very Good to Excellent. We calculated 7 of a possible 16 points to arrive at this forecast. This is identical to the total for 2003 except that 4 of the 7 points last year were in the gray area (previous year’s sunshine). This time we had a ‘no doubt’ 4 points for sunshine in 2003. We also were awarded 1 point for March precipitation, 1 point for April precipitation and 1 point for May precipitation. Dry springs are always good. However, this spring was too warm for any points to be garnered for temperature. This is a good year to reduce your fungicide rates and the number of fungicide applications. However, if you have a bed that has had above average rates of fruit rot during the past two years; I would proceed with the normal three fungicide application program.

2004 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

As of April 1, there are 5 points out of a possible 10 that favor keeping quality in the 2004 Massachusetts cranberry crop. Four points were awarded for favorable sunshine hours for the previous year and one point was awarded for favorable March precipitation. The forecast is for GOOD keeping quality. The final keeping quality forecast (issued after June 1) could be upgraded if we have a cool and dry April (it certainly has not started out being dry!) and May. Based on the present forecast, fungicide applications and the rate of fungicides applied could be reduced except in those beds with a history of above-average fruit rot. Due to the miserable condition of the vines coming out of the winter, this is not a good year to hold late water. 

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