Keeping Quality Forecast

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

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2024 Preliminary Keeping Quality Forecast

The forecast is for VERY POOR preliminary keeping quality.

As of April 1, there are “0” points out of a possible “10” towards preliminary keeping quality for the 2024 Massachusetts cranberry crop. The forecast is for VERY POOR keeping quality. Unless the final keeping quality forecast (issued after June 1) improves in June, we do NOT recommend reducing the number and rates of fruit rot fungicide applications. Close attention should be paid where fruit rot has been a major or regular concern. As for the holding of late water, this would be a good year to hold late water. However, 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 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 2023.
  • 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 2023.
  • 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.

 

2023 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 2023 Massachusetts cranberry crop. This score makes the final keeping quality poor.

The final keeping quality score of 4 was based on (i) Sunshine hours in February for the present year were less (133 hours) than 143 hours, which is the 50-year average for the month of February: 1 point. (ii) Total sunshine hours in March for the present year were greater (187 hours) than 179 hours, which is the 50-year average for the month of March (2 points). (iii) The total precipitation for April for the present year is less than the average of East Wareham and Middleboro of 6.70 inches (4.68 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 significantly reduce your fungicide use.
  • 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.

 

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