Integrated crop management recommended for blueberries > Experimental program monitored fertility, pests, disease

CHERRYFIELD — The results of an experimental program to monitor the levels of fertility, insect pests and plant-disease fungi in Washington County blueberry fields this year were reported Thursday to the Down East Resource Conservation and Development Council.

The monitoring program, which was called “Integrated Crop Management for Low-Bush Blueberry Growers,” was performed by Geneva Duncan of Aurora under the sponsorship of the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Council members approved a motion by Albert Landers of Ellsworth to publicize the council’s support for the ICM initiative.

The 1990 ICM program involved 23 growers who owned a total of 550 crop-bearing acres in 39 blueberry fields and an additional 463 acres of fallow land in 35 fields. Duncan’s salary and expenses were paid by the growers, each of whom contributed $15 per crop-bearing acre for the 1990 program.

The purchase of equipment for the program was funded by a contribution of $6,200 by the Blueberry Advisory Committee of the University of Maine and a “technology-transfer grant” of $5,000 from the Maine Department of Agriculture. The equipment, which was used by growers according to pest-control recommendations made by Duncan, included three backpack pesticide applicators and a similar mechanism that was tractor-mounted.

The ICM services provided by Duncan were sweep-net sampling for population levels of the spanworm, flea beetle, sawfly and thrips; trapping for the blueberry fruit fly; and monitoring for the presence of mummyberry and blossom blight. The program also included sampling of leaf tissues and soils for fertilizer recommendations.

In her report, Duncan said that ICM meant that “pest and fertility levels are monitored before pesticides and fertilizers are used.”

Duncan summarized her experience during the 1990 blueberry season, as follows:

“The (IMC program) in Washington County was very successful. Hancock and Waldo counties, which also have sizable blueberry acreage, should consider adopting a similar program.

“… the growers all seemed extremely pleased with the educational component of the program … and were highly receptive to any help or information that I was able to provide. All (have) stated that they need and want to learn more.”

According to Duncan, the ICM program provides information growers can use to decide whether their fields need to be sprayed, “based on documented scientific management techniques. The program seems to have renewed the spirit of the `independent farmer’ and has been well-received,” said Duncan.

During her work, Duncan relied on the advice of expert consultants on the staff of the Blueberry Hill Farm Laboratory in Jonesboro, which is operated by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.