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  • The weekend of March 3rd was cold enough to cause damage in southern highbush. Extension agents have observed damage in Pierce and Ware Counties. During the last few weeks, both southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries have moved through bloom stages rapidly. As we all well know, developing fruit is very susceptible to freeze meaning when…

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  • Early reports suggest that damage to the plants from wind may include toppled plants, broken stems, and loss of leaves. However, rains were heavy and reported to be upwards of 8.5 inches over a 48 hr period in our prime blueberry growing regions of southern Georgia. Many plantings may have been inundated, which increases the…

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  • Post-Harvest Disease Management for the 2017 Blueberry Season Renée Holland and Dr. Phil Brannen Growers have been asking questions regarding what to do about unharvested fruit in the fields and the potential for disease impact on the blueberry crop next year. Concerning mummy berry disease, unharvested fruit will not impact this disease in the next…

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  • Dear Blueberry Growers: ALL pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin, Warrior/Karate, Mustang Max, Baythroid, Asana, Permethrin, etc.) are currently undergoing registration review at EPA. Nine are specifically being evaluated, but serve as surrogates for all 19 active ingredients. The preliminary evaluation shows that all pyrethroids exceed “Levels of Concern” for exposure to aquatic invertebrates. THIS IS MAJOR. If…

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  • Members of the Sustainable SWD Project will present a webinar online on January 25th at 12-1pm eastern time, highlighting information about control of the invasive insect pest, spotted wing Drosophila. The webinar titled “Making the Most of Your Insecticide Toolbox to Manage SWD” will cover research conducted during the first year of this project, and…

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  • I have reports from the southern region of the state which would indicate that leaves are starting to emerge on rabbiteye blueberries.  This is truly an early leaf emergence for rabbiteyes, likely due to the exceptionally warm weather we are now experiencing.  Blooms may not be far behind.  As such, it begs the question as…

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  • Housed on the UGA Extension Publications web site (https://extension.uga.edu/publications/) are three new publications: Home Fruit Orchard Pruning Techniques (C 1087) by Erick Smith, Bob Westerfield, and Dario Chavez is a review of pruning practices for tree, bush, bramble, and vine fruiting plants, including blueberry. Though the title focuses on the homeowner these practices can be…

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  • Ash Sial Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens GA, 30602. The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive and economically important pest of many soft-skinned fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and other. Since its first detection in California in 2008, SWD spread rapidly across the United…

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