Speakers. Many Thanks to. Special Thanks to

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2 Speakers Dr. Gerald Brust, IPM Specialist, University of Maryland Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Delaware David Myers, University of MD Extension Specialist, Anne Arundel County George Butch Langenfelder, Maryland Food Bank Mike Newell, University of Maryland Wye Research and Education Center Dr. Fumiomi Takeda, USDA, Appalachian Fruit Research Station Many Thanks to Maryland State Horticultural Society Northeast SARE University of Maryland Extension University of Maryland Agriculture Experiment Station For their financial support Special Thanks to Rachel Bozarth Raymond Harrison Danny Poet Barbara South without whose help this project could not have been done, and Debby Dant for designing and preparing this booklet. *Original cover photo of WREC berries, 2010 harvest, courtesy of Danny Poet* The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University's policies, programs and activities are in conformance with pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, and disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Personnel/Human Relations, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD

3 Table of Contents Plot Map...1 Report on USDA-UMD Strawberry Research... 2 USDA High Tunnel Westend... 3 USDA High Tunnel - Eastend... 4 High Tunnel Fumigation Trial... 5 High Tunnel Fumigation Trial Plot Map... 6 Using a Plant-Based Bio-Fumigant for Weed Control... 7 Biofumigation Plot... 9 FRC Effects on Two Planting Dates of Chandler Strawberry Wye Planting Date FRC/IPM Plots Second Year Strawberry Yields Using Bare-rooted Eastern-Bred Varieties Strawberry Disease Control Resistance Management Strategies for Strobilurin Fungicides Activity Groups and Effectiveness of Fungicides for Disease Control Fumigant Options & Law Update Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings Tarnished Plant Bug Management MD Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Grant Maryland Food Bank 2010 Fact Sheet Strawberry Production Resources on the Internet Notes Page Mention of trade names and products is for information only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of, or discrimination against, similar products not mentioned.

4 GENERAL MAP OF STRAWBERRY AREA Fallow Tomato High Tunnel Bio-fumigation FRC- s berry Plant range Date s berry range UMD R s berry High Tunnel O range A USDA s berry D High range Tunnel Fallow GATE -1-

5 Report on USDA-UMD Strawberry Research at Wye REC Fumiomi Takeda, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV Regional production of strawberries will enable growers to harvest fruit at higher maturity stage and reduce the time between harvest and consumption to assure higher quality fruit. In the mid-atlantic coast region, new management strategies and strawberry cultivars are needed to increase off-season fruit production which would open niches for alternative and value-added products that small farms can provide. The need to develop alternative strawberry production systems is driven by: 1) high labor inputs and production costs associated with cultivation, 2) higher profit potential for nichemarket driven fruit production, and 3) the loss of registered pesticides. The physiological state of plug transplants and nursery conditions in which transplants are produced affect whether flower induction and inflorescence differentiation occur during the propagation phase or shortly after field establishment. We have identified several facultative short-day type cultivars (e.g. Strawberry Festival, Sweet Charlie, Carmine, Camarosa, and Chandler ) that can be manipulated to flower or remain vegetative in fall. The objective of the plasticulture high tunnel project was to improve the understanding of mechanisms that control flowering in strawberries and enhance fall fruiting in short-day type cultivars. This research focused on the effect of altered light environment during transplant production phase. In addition, seedlings produced from the following crossings: Carmine x Chandler, Carmine x Bish, Bish x Carmine, Bish x Chandler, Chandler x Carmine, and Chandler x Bish, were evaluated for fall flowering capacity in high tunnels. During the meeting, I will summarize the 2009 fall and 2010 spring harvest data and comment on a new strawberry cultivar Florida Radiance. -2-

6 Westend High Tunnel 2009/10 USDA High Tunnel Westend Plant Number Plot Row Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4 Block 5 Block 1 Festival Sw Charlie Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Festival Festival Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Festival July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs July 2 plugs Aug 1 plug Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Aug 1 plant Sept 1 plant Block 1 Block 2 KB 2 KB 8 Radiance " pot 4" pot 13 plugs/ control 13 plugs/ control 4" pot 4" pot Seascape collar 50 cell tray 50 cell tray 50 cell tray 50 cell tray collar Pearl Block 3 Block 4 KB 11 KB 20 KB 10 4" pot 4" pot 13 plugs/ control 4" pot 4" pot 13 plugs/ control Seascape collar 50 cell tray 50 cell tray collar 50 cell tray 50 cell tray Blue Block 5 Block 5 Radiance KB 13 KB 29 4 MD control 13 plugs/ 4" pot 4" pot Sw Charlie Festival Festival Sw Charlie Seascape 50 cell tray 50 cell tray collar Aug 1 plug Aug 1 plug July 2 plugs July 2 plugs Red Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant shade

7 Eastend High Tunnel 2009/10 USDA High Tunnel Eastend 1 2 Block Block 2 Block Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Festival Seascape July 2 plugs July 2 plugs Aug 1 plug July 2 plugs July 2 plugs Aug 1 plug Aug 1 plug Aug 1 plug July 2 plugs July 2 plugs Aug 1 plug Pearl Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant shade KB 20 KB 13 KB 10 Block 1 Block 2 WV -4- KB 29 KB 11 Seascape Festival Festival Festival Festival Festival Seascape Festival Seascape Ambient GH Blue shade Pearl Shade Red Shade Red Shade Pearl Shade Ambient GH Blue shade Red Radiance Block 3 Block 4 KB 2 KB 8 Festival Seascape Festival Festival Seascape Festival Festival Festival Seascape Blue shade Ambient GH Pearl Shade Red Shade Ambient GH Red Shade Blue shade Pearl Shade Blue Radiance Block 5 Block 4 Festival Festival Seascape Festival Sw Charlie Festival Sw Charlie Festival Seascape Red Shade Pearl Shade Red Blue shade Aug 1 plug Aug 1 plug July 2 plugs July 2 plugs Pearl shade Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant Sept 1 plant shade

8 High Tunnel Fumigation Trial Purpose: Michael Newell Wye Research and Education Center To compare the chemical fumigant Basamid and a plant based bio-fumigant Rapeseed in a high tunnel application with and without compost and Soilgard. Justification: High Tunnels can be difficult to relocate. Continuous plantings of the same crop in high tunnels year after year can present additional challenges. The introduction of soil-borne diseases into the tunnel leave the grower with few options other than relocating the tunnel or using a fumigant to eradicate the diseases. Methods: Fall 2008 The 30x50 high tunnel was divided in half. The north side received the chemical fumigant Basamid (425 lbs/a). The south side was planted with Dwarf Essex rapeseed on August 19 (10 lbs/a). The rapeseed was mowed, roto-tilled and a clear plastic tarp was applied on October 1st. The tarp was removed on November 11 th. Fall 2009 The high tunnel was roto-tilled, pre-bed treatments of compost (11 ton/a)was applied. Beds were shaped with drip tape and black plastic was applied. Sweet Charlie plug plants (started July 1) were planted on September 3 rd. Treatments of Soilgard 12G a microbial fungicide (2.5 lbs/100 gallon water) were applied on September 3 rd and 21 st. Spring 2010 Harvest began on April 9 th. Data is still being analyzed. -5-

9 2009/10 WyeREC High Tunnel Fumigation Trial rep 1 rep 2 rep3 rep 1 rep 2 rep DOOR TRT # 1 ROOTGARD 2 LB/100 GALLON 2 COMPOST 11 TON/A "= 40 LB AVAILABLE N 3 ROOTGARD + COMPOST "@20% MINERALIZATION 4 NO ROOTGARD, NO COMPOST ROWS 1,2,3,5,6,7 =Sweet Charlie ROWS 4 = Strawberry Festival RG = ROOTGARD -6-

10 USING A PLANT-BASED BIO-FUMIGANT FOR WEED CONTROL IN THE STRAWBERRY ANNUAL PLASTICULTURE SYSTEM. Michael J. Newell Wye Research and Education Center Background: The phase-out of some chemical based soil fumigants, increased regulations and the movement towards less chemical inputs in our food production systems has increased research into alternative methods of pest control. Soil solarization has proved effective in some parts of the world. However in the eastern US we do not get enough sustained sunlight to be considered reliable. Various plant based bio-fumigants have had some success in reducing certain nematodes, fungi and weed seed species populations. The recent introduction of VIF (virtually impermeable film) row plastic for use with new chemical fumigants is another tool we can use to evaluate the use of plant based bio-fumigates. Combinations of soil solarization, bio-fumigation and VIF plastic have not been fully tested. For any system to be adapted by grower s, it has to work and it has to have practical applications. Objective: To utilize soil solarization in conjunction with the plant based bio-fumigant Rapeseed (Brasicca napus) for weed control in the context of the annual strawberry plasticulture system using VIF plastic. Methods: Plots were pre-plant fertilized with ammonium nitrate at 150lbs/a. Rapeseed Dwarf Essex was drilled (10 lb/a) on May 12, A foliar application of at 10 lb /a was applied on June 19. Rapeseed biomass samples were taken on July 2, Plots were manipulated on July 6, This manipulation included application of at 370 lbs/a (for the succeeding strawberry crop), flail mowing, roto-tilling, bed shaping and laying the drip tape and plastic mulch treatments. All of these operations were completed in one hour. Planting holes were punched on August 12 for fumigant venting and strawberry plants were set on September 4 and September 29. Plots were randomized with four replications and twenty plants per plot. Treatments were VIF or standard low density poly plastic (LDPE). Post plastic application of drip irrigation to saturation or no irrigation. Early planted strawberry

11 plants or late planted. Control plots received no plant based bio-fumigant, but all other treatments. Preliminary results: Accumulated dry biomass from Rapeseed planted May 12 until July 2 was 2110 lbs /acre. No strawberry plant mortality or visibly phyto-toxic effects from the biofumigant were observed for either planting date. Weeds emerging from the planting holes (first planting date only) were collected on November 11 and dried for biomass weights. Treatment Weed dry biomass per 20 planting holes grams Bio-fumigant + LDPE irrigation Bio-fumigant + LDPE 68.9 Bio-fumigant+VIF +irrigation 29.5 Bio-fumigant +VIF 34.9 VIF+irrigation 10.8 VIF 4.6 LDPE+irrigation 16.9 LDPE 5.9 Spring data collection will include weed biomass from all planting holes and yields. -8-

12 <<High BIOFUMIGATION PLOT WyeREC 2009/10 row>>> LP - LDPE EP + VIF EP - LDPE LP + VIF EP - VIF MM <<tunnel EP - LDPE LP + VIF LP - LDPE EP + VIF LP - VIF MM LP - VIF EP + LDPE EP - VIF LP + LDPE LP - LDPE EP + LDPE EP - VIF LP + LDPE LP - VIF EP + LDPE EP - LDPE LP + LDPE EP + LDPE EP - VIF LP + LDPE EP - VIF LP + LDPE LP - VIF LP + LDPE LP - VIF EP + LDPE LP - VIF EP + LDPE EP - VIF EP + VIF LP - LDPE EP + VIF EP - LDPE LP + VIF LP - LDPE LP + VIF EP - LDPE LP + VIF LP - LDPE EP + VIF EP - LDPE LP LATE PLANT EP EARLY PLANT ROW 1 &6 BARE SOIL, NO RAPESEED VIF PLASTIC TYPE LDPE PLASTIC TYPE #'S = PLOT NUMBER "+" IRRIGATED "-" NOT IRRIGATED -9-

13 Floating Row Cover (FRC) Effects on Two Planting Dates of Chandler Strawberry Michael Newell Wye Research and Education Center Purpose: Using the annual plasticulture method of growing strawberries in the mid-atlantic and points north and west can be frustrating for growers. Plant availability and fall temperatures can have a major impact on plant productivity. Many plant nurseries receive strawberry tips for plug production from Canada. Poor growing conditions in Canada can lead to smaller plug plants from the nurseries that grow the plugs. In addition, cooler growing conditions in the fall can also lead to a smaller plant size for spring harvest. The use a light-weight floating row cover in the fall can be used to promote fall growth. This small demonstration plot will illustrate if indeed we were able to promote a larger plant with the use of a FRC. Methods: 30 day Chandler plug plants grown in southern New Jersey were planted on September 4 th and September 29 th. A 1oz FRC was deployed on October 12 th on ½ on the plot. The FRC was removed on November 30 th. Standard fertility and pest control practices were used for establishment and maintenance. Over-wintering FRC was applied on December 1 st on all plots. FRC was removed on March 1 st Collected data: First harvest was April 24 th. Data is still being collected. -10-

14 WYE PLANTING DATE/FRC/IPM PLOTS 2009/10 GATE Row 4 Row 3 Row 2 Row 1 Plant Plant Plants Fall Plug Date Source per Plot FRC Date CH CH CH CH 8-Sep NJ 18 NO 3-Aug CH CH CH CH 29-Sep NJ 18 NO 1-Sep SC SF FR SC 8-Sep USDA 5 NO 30-Jul FR SC SF SF 8-Sep USDA 5 NO 30-Jul SF FR SC FR 8-Sep USDA 5 NO 30-Jul CH CH CH CH 8-Sep NJ 18 YES 3-Aug CH CH CH CH 29-Sep NJ 18 YES 1-Sep SC SF FR SC 29-Sep USDA 5 YES 30-Jul FR SC SF SF 29-Sep USDA 5 YES 30-Jul SF FR SC FR 29-Sep USDA 5 YES 30-Jul CH CH CH CH 8-Sep NJ 20 YES 3-Aug CH CH CH CH 29-Sep NJ 10 YES 1-Sep Key CH Chandler NJ New Jersey SC Sweet Charlie IPM Integrated Pest Management FR Florida Radiance FRC Floating Row Covers SF Strawberry Festival

15 Second Year Strawberry Yields, Using Bare-rooted Eastern-bred Varieties in the Annual Plasticulture System. Michael J. Newell University of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station Wye Research and Education Center Queenstown MD Background: Historically, in the mid-atlantic region, strawberry varieties grown using the annual plasticulture system has relied on varieties developed in California or Florida for their growing conditions. Through ongoing research conducted in various mid-atlantic regions and cooperating plant nurseries, many growers have found success utilizing this system with the premier California variety Chandler. Many more varieties from California and Florida have been trialed at our research station and others, but none have been as reliable as Chandler. Many varieties developed in the East were bred for use with the perennial matted-row cultural system. Many of these varieties are developed with the intention of allowing the daughter plants or runners to fill in the rows to increase the number of plant crowns per acre. This is different than varieties developed for the annual plasticulture system. Plants developed for this system rely of the production of branch or side crowns to increase the number of crowns per acre. In fact in the annual system, runner production can be a liability. Interest in utilizing eastern-bred varieties in the annual production system has been gaining. There are many more varieties with unique flavors and characteristics that may have a place for growers who direct market or have U-pick operations. Generally the negatives of using these eastern-bred varieties have been low yields and excessive runner production because bare-rooted dormant material needs to be planted earlier than more accepted varieties for the annual system. Objective: Methods: The objective of this year s trial was to evaluate yields in the second year. The initial planting was established on July17, 2007 utilizing the same pre-plant protocol that would be used in the traditional annual plasticulture system described in previous proceedings. The main differences are the plant material used (dormant barerooted plants as opposed to 30 day plug plants), and planting date ( July instead of September). -12-

16 Renovation methods after first years harvest: The intent of the renovation is slow down any further plant growth during the summer months and re-invigorate the plant for fall growth. If no renovation is done, the plants would be too big with too many branch crowns leading to an over production of flowers resulting in small fruit size. After first years harvest is complete, mow off the leaves. Irrigate sparingly to keep plants alive. Monitor and treat for insect and leaf diseases. In September, about the same time we would normally plant the annual plasticulture system, thin the crowns of each plant so that two or three crowns remain. At this time also fertigate with the same rates that we would use as at pre-bedding, and irrigate at full levels and continue to monitor and treat for insect and diseases. Apply floating row covers for over-winter protection as needed and manage crop as if it was the annual system. Results: For comparison I have include data for both years. I also present data from Chandler plug plants planted in the normal annual plasticulture system. Table 1. Per plant yield and average fruit size Variety (grams/plant) Fruit size (g) (grams/plant) Fruit size (g) Allstar Bish Chandler (plugs) Daraselect Eros Jewel KRS Ovation Seascape

17 Table 2. Length of harvest season and dates of first and last pick Variety 2008 # Days 2009 # Days Allstar May 9 June 6 29 May 18 June 7 20 Bish May 9 June 2 25 May 14 June 1 19 Chandler Plugs May 9 June 6 29 May 14 June 4 22 Daraselect May 9 June 6 29 May 14 June 4 22 Eros May 9 June 6 29 May 22 June Jewel May 9 June 6 29 May 18 June 7 20 KRS-10 May 23 June 19 May 26 June Ovation May 20 June 22 May 22 June Seascape May 9 June 2 25 May 14 June 1 19 Table 3. Runner counts per plant Variety Fall 2007 Fall 2008 Allstar Bish Chandler Plugs Daraselect Eros Jewel KRS Ovation Seascape

18 Discussion: Second year yields were very good with all varieties in this test (Table 1). However fruit size did decrease from the first year s harvest, but may be considered satisfactory for some applications. Flavor was considered acceptable in year one, but was outstanding the second year with exceptional aromatic qualities. This may had more to do with a slightly later more compressed harvest season in the second year (Table 2). Fruit firmness is still a concern with these varieties and should still only be recommended for direct sales. KRS-10, now named Ac Valley Sunset, maintained good fruit size the second year and should be considered for a late season addition. Runner management (Table 3) can still be a concern as an additional labor activity. Overall, if the additional labor involved in this type of system such as hand setting of plants, runner removal and crown thinning and if the market is available, this system may be beneficial for some growers. -15-

19 Strawberry Disease Control Bob Mulrooney Extension Plant Pathologist University of Delaware It won t be long before strawberry growers will need to deal with several important diseases. Here are the latest recommendations from the 2010 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations. Anthracnose Fruit Rot Strawberry anthracnose can be extremely destructive during warm, wet weather, causing significant fruit rot. Symptoms of anthracnose include blackish-brown circular spots on maturing green fruit and soft, sunken (flat) circular lesions on ripe fruit. On ripe fruit, lesions can expand rapidly and are often covered with a pinkish-orange spore mass. Spores are spread from infected to healthy fruit with splashing water. Control of anthracnose always begins with a 7 to 10-day preventative spray program no later than 10% bloom and/or prior to disease development. For control apply the following combinations: First Application Captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A plus Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid, ) at 18.5 to 23.0 oz 38WG/A Second Application Captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A plus Abound (azoxystrobin, 11) at 6.0 to 15.5 fl. oz 2.08SC/A or Cabrio (pyraclostrobin, 11) at 12.0 to 14.0 oz 20EG/A Third Application Captevate (captan + fenhexamid, M3 + 17) at 3.5 to 5.25 lb 68WDG/A For subsequent applications, alternate: Captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A plus Abound (azoxystrobin, 11) at 6.0 to 15.5 fl oz 2.08SC/A Cabrio (pyraclostrobin, 11) at 12.0 to 14.0 oz 20EG/ A plus captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A Captevate (captan + fenhexamid, M3 + 17) at 3.5 to 5.25 lb 68WDG/A To help manage fungicide resistance development, do not make more than 2 consecutive applications of either: Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid, ), Cabrio (pyraclostrobin, 11) or Abound/Quadris (azoxystrobin, 11) before switching to another fungicide chemistry. -16-

20 Botrytis (Gray Mold) and Blossom Blight Botrytis gray mold and blossom blight can cause serious losses in strawberry plantings in high tunnels and the field if not controlled properly. Development is favored by moderate temperatures (59 to 77 F) with prolonged periods of high relative humidity and surface wetness. Control of gray mold begins with preventative fungicide applications. Apply at 5 to 10 percent bloom and every 10 days until harvest. During periods of excessive moisture, spray intervals of 5 to 7 days may be necessary. Rotate fungicide chemistries to aid fungicide resistance management. First Application Captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A plus Topsin M (thiophanate-methyl, 1) at 1.0 lb 70WP/A or Switch (cyprodinil, 9) at 11.0 to 14.0 oz. 62.5WG/A Second Application Elevate (fenhexamid, 17 See restrictions) at 1.1 to 1.5 lb 50WDG/A or Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid, ) at 18.5 to 23.0 oz. 38WG/A Third Application Captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A plus Topsin M (thiophanate-methyl, 1) at 1.0 lb 70WP or Switch (cyprodinil, 9) at 11.0 to 14.0 oz. 62.5WG/A For subsequent applications, alternate: Captan (M3) at 4.0 lb 50WP/A Captevate (captan + fenhexamid, M3 + 17) at 3.5 to 5.25 lb 68WDG/A Switch (cyprodinil, 9) at 11.0 to 14.0 oz. 62.5WG/A Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid, 11 +7) at 18.5 to 23.0 oz 38 WG/A Thiram (M3) at 4.0 to 5.0 lb 65WSB/A -17-

21 Resistance Management Strategies for Strobilurin Fungicides (FRAC Code 11) Andy Wyenandt Assistant Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology Rutgers University The strobilurin, or QoI, fungicides (FRAC code 11) are extremely useful in controlling a broad spectrum of common vegetable pathogens. You may know some of strobilurins as azoxystrobin (Quadris), pyraclostrobin (Cabrio), or Pristine (pyraclostrobin + boscalid, ). All strobilurin fungicides inhibit fungal respiration by binding to the cytochrome b complex III at the Q0 site in mitochondrial respiration. Simply said, the fungicide works by inhibiting the fungi s ability to undergo normal respiration. The strobilurin chemistries have a very specific target site, or modeof-action (MOA). Although highly effective, fungicide chemistries like those in FRAC code 11, with a very specific MOA, are susceptible to fungicide resistance development by some fungi. For us, knowing the specifics on the technical jargon isn t so important, its understanding what is at stake. So, if you read or hear someone speak about G143A resistance development to the strobilurin fungicides (where resistance is known in cucurbit powdery mildew and downy mildew, for example), you know what they are talking about and how important it is. So much so, if cucurbit powdery mildew develops resistance to one strobilurin fungicide it may develop what is known as cross resistance and become resistant to all other chemistries in FRAC code 11 even if only one chemistry has been used! How do we avoid the chances for fungicide resistance like this to develop? It s simple, don t let the fungus figure out what it is being sprayed with and do this by rotating different fungicide chemistries (i.e. FRAC codes). Proper fungicides rotations are necessary when fungicides with specific MOAs are used in fungicide programs for controlling important diseases. That s why it is important to follow a fungicides label precisely and be certain that some fungicide chemistries aren t overused. All strobilurin fungicides should be tank mixed with a protectant fungicide, when possible. Remember tankmixing high-risk fungicides (i.e. FRAC code 11) with low-risk, protectant fungicides (FRAC codes M1-M9) helps reduce (and/or delay) the chances for fungicide resistance development. Never tank mix strobilurins together and never apply any strobilurin fungicide (either the same chemistry or different chemistry) in consecutive applications if stated by the label. Remember, azoxystrobin acts against the fungus the same way as pyraclostrobin does and so on. Even though you are spraying two different fungicides, each has the similar MOA and is acting against the fungus in the same exact way. -18-

22 Table Activity groups and effectiveness of fungicides for strawberry disease control. Not all fungicides listed below are labeled for all the diseases listed. This table is intended to provide information on effectiveness for diseases that appear on the label, plus additional diseases that may be controlled from application. See Table 6.16 for labeled uses. Leaf Blight Leaf Spot Leaf Scorch Spot Mildew Gray Mold Fruit Rot Leather Rot Fungicide Activity Group a Phomopsis Angular Leaf Powdery Anthracnose Abound 11 + b Aliette Cabrio Captan M Captevate 17+M Copper M Elevate Orbit, Tilt Phostrol Pristine Procure Quintec Rally Ridomil Gold Rovral Scala Syllit M Switch Thiram M Topsin-M a. Chemistry of fungicides by activity groups: 1 = benzimidazoles and thiophanates; 2 = dicarboximides; 3 = demethylation inhibitors (includes triazoles); 4 = acylalanines; 7 = carboxamides; 9 = anilinopyrimidines; 11 = strobilurins; 12 = phenylpyrroles; 13 = quinolines; 17 = hydroxyanilides; 33 = unknown (phosphonates); M = chemical groups with multisite activity. Fungicides with two activity groups listed contain active ingredients from two activity groups. b. 0 = not effective; + = slight effectiveness; ++ = moderate effectiveness; +++ = very effective; = insufficient data This table is modified from Table 6, Fungicide Effectiveness for Strawberry Disease Control, in the 2009 Midwest Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide.

23 Fumigant Update R. David Myers Senior Agent, Agriculture University of Maryland Extension Methyl Bromide Status In 1992 Methyl Bromide was added to the Montreal Protocol: An International treaty that regulates Ozone Depleting Substances. In the U.S. Methyl Bromide phase out began in 1998 based upon 1991 baseline use rates. Production of Methyl Bromide, except for exempt uses, has been prohibited since Currently, approved exempted use rates of Methyl Bromide are at 26% of the 1991 baseline.

24 In 2009 EPA rendered a final decision on the Methyl Bromide 2006 Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED). Methyl Bromide 2006 RED required phased in label changes include: 1) Fumigation Management Plans; 2) Applicator Education; 3) Buffer Zones; and 4)Neighbor Notification Current Labeled Fumigant Buffer Zone Requirements Buffer Zone determination for MIDAS 50:50 (50% Iodomethane & 50% Chloropicrin) label excerpt:

25 Current Labeled Fumigant Raised Bed Application Rate Raised Bed Application Rate determination for MIDAS 50:50 (50% Iodomethane & 50% Chloropicrin) label excerpt:

26 Current Fumigant Price Examples Price estimate for a Raised Bed Application of Methyl Bromide 50:50 (14.1 lbs/gal 50% Methyl Bromide & 50% Chloropicrin) at $5.98/lb: 350 lb/a Use Rate: Row Spacing 60 X Bed Width 30 =.50 Rate Modifier Actual Use: (350 lb/a) (.50) = 175 $5.98 = $1,047/A Price estimate for a Raised Bed Application of Telone C-35 (11.2 lbs/gal 63% Dichloropropene & 35% Chloropicrin) at $2.75/lb: 400 lb/a Use Rate: Row Spacing 60 X Bed Width 30 =.50 Rate Modifier Actual Use: (400 lb/a) (.50) = 200 $2.75 = $550/A

27 Fumigant Options Product Disease Nematodes Weeds Soil Injected Methyl Bromide (MB 100%) yes yes yes yes no BRO-MEAN C-50 (MB 50% + CP 50%) yes yes yes yes no TELONE II (DP 97.5%) yes yes no yes no TELONE C-17 (DP 81% + CP 16.5%) yes yes no yes no TELONE C-35 (DP 63.4% %) yes yes maybe yes no TELONE EC (DP 93.6%) yes yes no yes yes IN-LINE (TELONE DP 60.8% + CP 33.3 %) yes yes no yes yes VAPAM HL (MS 42%) yes yes yes yes yes K-PAM HL (MK 54%) yes yes yes yes yes MIDAS 98:2 (IM 97.9%+ CP 1.9%) yes yes yes yes no MIDAS 50:50 (IM 49.9%+ CP 49.8%) yes yes yes yes no MIDAS 33:67 (IM 32.9%+ CP 66.7%) yes yes yes yes no MIDAS 25:75 (IM 25%+ CP 74.6%) yes yes yes yes no MIDAS EC Bronze (IM 49.9%+ CP 44.8%) yes yes yes yes yes MIDAS EC Gold (IM 32.9%+ CP 61.7%) yes yes yes yes yes Chemigation

28 Excerpted from The Strawberry Grower, May 2009, Vol. 15, No. 4 Methyl Bromide 2009 Critical Use Exemption The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of releasing its final rule authorizing uses of methyl bromide that qualify for the 2009 critical use exemption and the amount of methyl bromide that may be produced, imported, or supplied from existing inventory for those uses in The reduction in MB use is regulated by EPA under the authority of the Clean Air Act as part of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Methyl bromide consumption (and production) was phased out on January 1, 2005, except for critical use exemptions, which must be requested and authorized annually, and quarantine and preshipment exemptions. Authorized critical uses for strawberry producers in our region are: Moderate to severe yellow or purple nutsedge infestation Moderate to severe nematode infestation Moderate to severe black root and crown rot A need for methyl bromide for research purposes Florida strawberry production has several additional critical uses, included Carolina geranium or cut-leaf evening primrose infestation while California production adds local township limits prohibiting 1,3- dichloropropene (Telone) and time to transition to an alternative. Each of these areas submitted separate CUE applications. EPA s calculations and rationale are complex, but the final rule allocates a total of 4,194,908 kg 16.4% of the original baseline amount, with 1,919,193 kg from existing stocks. After accounting for the additional reductions for unsold critical use methyl bromide from previous years, EPA is allowing 2,275,715 kg of new production and import for critical uses in It is not permitting stockpiling of methyl bromide produced or imported after January 1, 2005 under the critical use exemption, so existing stocks will continue to decrease. EPA noted that in setting CUE allocations for 2009, it considered transition to alternatives (notably methyl iodide/midas) by some users and also the reduced availability of Telone this year. How will all this affect Strawberry growers? According to Victor Lilley, NCSA board member and president of Reddick Fumigants, the main thing that will affect both price and availability for strawberry growers is not the CUE itself but how many spring users of methyl bromide like tomato growers change over to alternatives. If a lot of them do, there will be more product available in the fall, and he is seeing signs that a number of large producers are changing over. This spring, the cost of methyl bromide went up to $5.40/lb, says Victor. This increases the cost per acre by $ For large tomato grower with several hundred acres, that is significant. For a small strawberry grower like me I have two acres who may want the security that methyl bromide offers, that increase is not as important. This fall, we can expect to see more growers planting under VIF plastic, which reduces the amount of methyl bromide needed, and trying alternatives such as MIDAS and PicChlor 60, which is a combination of chloropicrin and Telone and is a lower-cost alternative to methyl bromide. It works fine if nutgrass is not an issue, notes Victor. This is just a combination of products that have been around for 50 years. It s got good disease and nematode control, but not a lot of weed control.

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31 Alternative Chemistries in Annual Production Systems In strawberry, alternative fumigant research was conducted by ARS in conjunction with University of California-Davis scientists to assess the relative efficacy of MB (MB) +chloropicrin, iodomethane (IM) +chloropicrin, propargyl bromide, 1,3- dichloropropene (1,3-D) + chloropicrin, and chloropicrin for control of Phytophthora cactorum (10). Propargyl bromide was more effective than all other alternative fumigants and usually eradicated test inoculum of the pathogen. Furthermore, it was determined that >300 lbs/a rates of the 1,3-D-chloropicrin products or chloropicrin alone are required to get close to the efficacy of MB+chloropicrin. The California strawberry industry currently uses MB alternatives on more than 30% of its acreage, and assessments of IM+chloropicrin have contributed to registration efforts for the fumigant. Of sixty-five unregistered compounds evaluated for herbicidal and fungicidal activity in laboratory and greenhouse assays, six were identified with broad-spectrum, biocidal effects and two were field tested on multiple crops to confirm their activity. The combination of 2-bromoethanol and chloropicrin applied through drip irrigation lines was found to be as effective as MB for control of broad-leaf weeds, rootknot nematode and Pythium root rot in the cut flower Celosia argentea. Two patent applications have been filed on six of the novel compounds and a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (13) was negotiated and entered into by ARS and Ajay North America, LLC. At this point these chemicals are not registered and are therefore, not available for use as alternatives. Propargyl bromide has been determined to be efficacious against most pests including nematodes, diseases, and weeds at rates above 100 pounds per acre, which is about 1/3 the current MB rate, and generally resulted in good plant growth and yield, although some phytotoxicity was noted in two trials. This information was generated by a multiagency (ARS and university) and multi-state (California and Florida) effort that was carried out by studies on tomato, strawberry, carrot, fruit trees, grape vines, and ornamentals by 14 scientists from 6 locations with USDA funding. These coordinated studies indicate that propargyl bromide can be an efficacious replacement for MB. Although a private company expressed strong interest in registering propargyl bromide at the time these tests were being conducted, there is currently no private sector interest in pursuing registration of this material. ARS scientists identified deficiencies in uniformity of distribution of water through drip irrigation systems, which would impact fumigant dispersion when such an application technology is employed. In California strawberry production systems, distribution uniformity varied from 45% to 93% and averaged 81%, resulting in the need for additional water (or drip applied fumigant) to achieve the target amount on the drier areas of the field (36). This work identified problems related to improper plot design, equipment, and management attributes contributing to the problem of limited fumigant distribution. Similarly, in Florida, chemical distributions of MITC released by drip-tube application of metam-sodium, and1,3-d chloropicrin (Telone-Inline ) in the soil in driptube applied beds were variable (4-8). Differential cross-bed soil compaction of the sandy Florida soil during the bed-forming process might have contributed to this problem, but the cause has not been determined.

32 Virtually impermeable film can effectively reduce fumigant emissions in field applications. There have been uncertainties on whether low permeable tarps such as virtually impermeable film (VIF) can reduce fumigant emissions in large field applications. ARS scientists in Parlier, California, demonstrated that VIF can significantly reduce fumigant emissions when fumigant was drip applied to raised-beds in large strawberry fields. In studies in Gainesville, Florida, ARS scientists showed that VIF consistently decreased emissions to the atmosphere of all of the fumigants that were tested [methyl bromide, 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, methyl isothiosyanate (from metam sodium)] in raised bed plasticulture conditions. One study showed that use of VIF film could reduce the amount of fumigant required to achieve equal effectiveness compared with use of standard polyethylene films. VIF provides a technology for reducing emissions and offers a feasible method on emission control from fumigation for highvalued crops. Iodomethane as a short-term methyl bromide alternative for the Florida floriculture industry. ARS scientists in Fort Pierce, Florida, in collaboration with the University of Florida researchers, evaluated the use of soil solarization and fumigants including iodomethane (Midas iodomethane:chloropicrin, 50:50, 200 lb/acre) under metalized films as an alternative to methyl bromide for soil fumigation. Four field trials were performed under both commercial and experimental field conditions at three locations in Florida. Pest pressure varied according to location and ranged from high nematode and weed pressure, to low nematode, but high weed pressure. Cut-flower crops evaluated were Celosia (Celosia argentea) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus). Results show that Midas applied under metalized film provided weed control comparable to high rates of methyl bromide (98:2 400 lb/acre) under high density polyethylene film, and lower rates of methyl bromide (98:2 200 lb/acre) under metalized film. Low rates of methyl bromide (67:33 mbr:chloropicrin 200 lb/acre) under metalized film did not provide good weed control. Soil solarization provided better control of white clover (Trifolium repens) than any fumigant tested.

33 Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings Many local farms are composed of multi-small fruit combinations producing for fresh market blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and grapes. Aggressive fruit spray programs are required to achieve high quality fruit. These multi-small fruit plantings create many spray management challenges for the achievement of good pest control in accordance to label guidelines. Therefore, the following multi-small fruit spray program for the control of major small fruit pests and diseases may offer some assistance: Labeled as noted in 2010 for All Small Fruit Strawberries, Brambles: Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Grapes. FUNGICIDES: [FRAC] *RATE NOTES Lime Sulfur [M2] 10.0 gals Dormant Fall Sanitizer JMS Stylet Oil [NC] 1.0 gal Apply Temp F Kocide DF [M1] 2.0 lbs Other Fixed Coppers Captan 50W [M4] 2.0 lbs General Protectant Ziram 76DF [M3] 5.0 lbs General Protectant (Except for Strawberry use Thiram ) Sulfur 95W [M2] 3.0 lbs General Protectant (Grape variety sensitivity) Rally 40W [3] 4.0 ozs Powdery Mildew & Black Rot (Except for blueberry use Tilt ) Pristine [7/11] 14.5 ozs Fruit Rots, Fruit Spots, Powdery & Downy Mildew & Cane Blight Elevate 50 WG [17] 1.5 lbs Botrytis & Powdery Mildew Switch 62.5 WG [9/12] 11.0 ozs Anthracnose, Mummy Berry, Phomopsis, Sour Rot & Botrytis Phostrol [33] 4.0 pts Downy Mildew & Red Stele INSECTICIDES: [IRAC] *RATE NOTES Provado Admire [4A] 4.0 ozs Grubs, Aphids, Hoppers & or Actara [4A] Curculio Brigade [3] 1.0 pts Clipper Beetle, Plant Bug, Mites (Except blueberry) Root Weevil, Malathion [1B] 2.0pts Scale, Fruit Moths & Whitefly Sevin 50W [1A] 4.0 lbs Japanese Beetles, Hornets & Sap Beetles *Rate for gal Acre Concentrate Spray **Be sure to follow all labels closely for PHI and REI! Multi-Small Fruit Spray Calendar* March 5 - April 10 - April 15 - April 25 - May 5 - May 15 - June 1 - Spring Dormant Spray JMS Stylet Oil 1.0 gal (Scales & Mites) Early Strawberry Bloom Captan 50W 2.0 lbs Thiram 75WDG 5.0 lbs (Strawberry Only) Strawberry Bloom/ Blueberry Early Bloom Captan 50W 2.0 lbs Ziram 76DF 5.0 lbs (Except Strawberry) Brigade 1.0 pts ((Clipper Beetle, 0-3-day PHI) Strawberry Full bloom/blueberry Mid-Bloom/ Grape Bud Break Captan 50W 2.0 lbs Pristine 14.5 ozs Brigade 1.0 pts (Clipper Beetle, 0-3-day PHI) Strawberry 1 st Cover & Early Harvest Spray/ Blueberry Full Bloom/Grape & Bramble Shoot Growth Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Elevate 1.5 lbs (0-day PHI) Provado 4.5 ozs (Curculio & Aphids; 7-Day PHI) Strawberry 2 nd Cover & Harvest Spray/ Blueberry 1 st Cover/Grape Bloom Spray/Bramble Cane Development Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Switch 11.0 ozs (0-day PHI) Malathion 2.0 pts (Curculio, Scale & Fruit Moths; 0-3-day PHI) Strawberry 3 rd Cover & Harvest Spray/Blueberry 2 nd cover/grape 1 st Cover/Bramble Bloom Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Pristine 14.5 ozs (0-day PHI) Malathion 2.0 pts(curculio, Scale & Fruit Moths; 0-3-day PHI) June 15 - July 1- July 15 - August 1- August 15 - September 1 - October 30 November 25 Strawberry 4 th Cover & Harvest Spray/Blueberry 3 rd Cover & Early Harvest/ Bramble 1 st Cover/ Grape 2 nd Cover Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Elevate 1.5 lbs (0-day PHI) Sevin 50W 4.0 lbs (sap beetle, 3-Day PHI) Strawberry Renovation/Blueberry 4 th Cover & Harvest/ Bramble 2 nd Cover & Early Harvest/ Grape 3 rd Cover Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Pristine 14.5 ozs (0-day PHI) Rally 40 W 4.0 ozs (Except Blueberry, 0-day PHI)) Brigade 1.0 pts (0-3-day PHI) Strawberry Post Harvest/ Blueberry 5 th Cover & Harvest/ Bramble 3 rd Cover & Harvest/ Grape 3 rd Cover & Veraison Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Switch 11.0 ozs (0-day PHI) Sulfur 95W 3.0 lbs (0-day PHI) or Kocide DF 2.0 lbs (0-day PHI) Malathion 2.0 pts (0-3-day PHI) Strawberry Post Harvest/ Blueberry 6 th Cover & Harvest/ Bramble 4th Cover & Harvest/ Grape 4 th Cover & Early Harvest Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Pristine 14.5 ozs (0-day PHI) Sevin 50W 4.0 lbs (Japanese Beetle, 3-Day PHI) Strawberry, Blueberry & Bramble Post Harvest/ Grape 5 th Cover & Harvest Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Elevate 1.5 lbs (0-day PHI) Phostrol 4.0 pts (0-day PHI) Sevin 50W 4.0 lbs (Hornets 3-Day PHI for All Fruit) Strawberry Post Harvest/ Grape 6 th Cover & Harvest Captan 50W 2.0 lbs (0-3 Day PHI & 4-Day REI) Phostrol 4.0 pts (0-day PHI) Sevin 50W 4.0 lbs (Hornets 3-Day PHI for All Fruit) Fall Dormant Lime Sulfur 10.0 gals Kocide DF 2.0 lbs (0-day PHI) HERBICIDES: [HRAC] *RATE NOTES Gramoxone [22] 1.0 qts Burndown, Directed Spray Roundup [9] 1.0 qts Burndown, Shielded & Directed Spray Devrinol 50 DF [15] 4.0 lbs Spring/Summer 35-day PHI Princep 4L [5] 1.0 qts Spring Dormant, Avoid High ph Soils (Except strawberry) Solicam [12] 2.5 lbs Spring/Fall Dormant, 1-yr Established (Except strawberry) Aim [14] or Shark [14] 2.0 ozs Directed Spray to Weeds, 3-day PHI Surflan [3] 2.0 qts Spring/ Summer, Once per Year (Except strawberry) Poast [1] 1.5 pts Summer Grasses, Variable PHI Sinbar [5] 4.0 ozs Fall Dormant, 1-yr Established *Lowest Use Rate Recommended Initially Organic Approach Substitutions: Conventional Product Organic Certified Product Captan Surround & Sulfur Rally Kaligreen (Powdery Mildew Eradicant) Listed Insecticides Neem or Pyganic or Entrust or Dipel Gramoxone or Roundup Scythe * Important Note: The calendar spray dates given are an average estimate for Anne Arundel and Prince George s County small fruit production, and may vary by location in Southern Maryland. Be sure to adjust your spray schedule application dates accordingly. The above recommendations very closely reflect the current spray program utilized at the University of Maryland Research and Education Center, Upper Marlboro Facility for its research fruit plots. Remember to always Read the Label. R. David Myers Extension Agent, Agriculture

34 Tarnished plant bug management Gerald Brust, IPM Vegetable Specialist, UME Tarnished plant bug (TPB) (Lygus bug) adults are about ¼ inch long, oval, flattened, yellow to greenish brown, and have dark markings on their wings. The immature forms Tarnished plant bug adult are pale green. There are 3-5 generations of this pest each year. Adults become active in early spring and lay their bow-shaped eggs into stems, and leaf midribs. Egg hatch takes place about a week later, and the green-yellow nymphs develop through 5 instars, Tarnished plant bug nymph reaching the adult stage in approximately 30 days. The feeding by Tarnished plant bugs is one of the causes of irregularly-shaped, catfaced strawberries. The insects damage fruit by puncturing and then sucking the contents of individual seeds; which stops development of the berry in the area surrounding the feeding site. Tan-brown seeds that are large and hollow are an indication of TPB damage. If you see deformed fruit in the field, you should inspect the fruit to see if the damage is due to tarnished plant bug or frost. Frost often kills or deforms the king berries, leaving the secondary berries with little or no damage. Tarnished plant bugs usually cause Tarnished plant bug damage make a distinction between frost and tarnished plant bug damage you should examine the entire cluster. With frost damage, healthy and damaged fruit are on the same cluster. With tarnished plant bug damage, the entire cluster is usually damaged. Tarnished plant bugs usually damage the tip of the berry first, giving the berry the characteristic seedy end. Most of the time customers will not notice minor tarnished plant bug damage. With frost damage, any side of the berry can be deformed. If the sides of the fruit are damaged, and the tip is not seedy, you have frost damage. Quite often, with little damage to the king berry, while destroying secondary blooms. When trying to Frost damage frost damage, you will see a suture mark between the normal and deformed sides of the berry.

35 Field scouting involves shaking several (10-15) selected flower clusters sampled from across a field over a piece of white cardboard to dislodge nymphs. If one nymph per cluster is found treatment is recommended. Chemical control: Brigade, Thionex, Danitol, or a combination of Brigade and Rimon (Brigade will control the adults while Rimon will disrupt the cuticle formation of the larvae) will reduce TPB damage. Cultural control: Control weeds along roadways, ditches, and field borders to help prevent spring buildup of TPBs. Overwintered TPBs lay eggs in weeds in February and March that hatch in late March or early April. Weed control should be done in April while TPBs are still nymphs. Once adults are present on weeds or crimson clover, they will migrate into strawberries when the weeds/clover are removed. To avoid adult migration in spring, mow or disc under cover crops, especially legumes, before they flower and while TPBs are still in the nymphal stages. Biological control: There are several predators that feed on the immature stages of TPB. These include bigeyed bugs, damsel bugs, minute pirate bugs and several species of spiders. These natural enemies will help reduce overall TPB populations.

36 Maryland Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Grant Willie Lantz and Michael Newell Garrett County Extension and Wye Research Center Developing the Capacity to 365 Service Maryland Grocery Marketing Chains with a Berry Line Exclusively Produced in Maryland. We propose developing growing systems, investigating both methods and varieties, to allow Maryland growers to enter the grocery chain market at premium prices as locally grown produce. This will require producing strawberries, blueberries and raspberries as many days as possible to allow a 365 (day) delivery throughout the year. As this fruit is perishable we need to produce fruit offseason in unheated tunnels and heated greenhouses. We have varieties that will fit the proposed systems based on observations in Spain, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Chile. Therefore, we will use these funds to develop trial plantings which can take advantage of the relatively warm winters and cool spring and autumn temperatures on the Eastern Shore and the cool mountain summers of Garrett County. These plantings will also serve as demonstration plots for growers to make decisions on whether to get involved and will allow innovation to mature the management methods to reduce costs particularly in the area of energy savings, where we already have ongoing USDA funded research. Project Purpose Entry into the high end Grocery Store Chains requires producers supply a high quality product line (usually 3-4 berry crops) throughout the year = 365 Supply. In most states, the lack of proper climate prevents this from being feasible. In low elevation Maryland (particularly the eastern shore), we have had a spring strawberry industry for years, are surrounded by blueberry producing states and were the leader in black raspberry production for a good part of the early 20 th century. The hot summers of these low elevation sites are unsuitable for quality fruit production (small-soft-non-aromatic fruit) and Maryland was unable to compete with California, where their cool coastal climates allow production for a good portion of the year. Mountain Maryland (Garrett Co) does offer cool summer temperatures and thanks to the success of several SARE grants, we have begun to develop a small industry of summer-produced raspberries and strawberries. Growers in Garrett County have inquired about supplying high end grocery chains, but have been told preferential pricing would require produce from less than 200 miles away from Baltimore being available 365. Using our varied climates and tunnels, Maryland growers can now produce raspberry fruit for about 250 days per year, strawberries for 210 days and blueberries for 120 days. Several technical hurtles need to be overcome to produce fruit 365. Each of these hurtles has solutions; however, the adaptability of these solutions to our growers, and their economic feasibility has not been fully explored. One of the major obstacles is most varieties of berry plants require chilling during the winter to produce fruit in the following year. In the last couple of decades, however, the movement of much of the industry to areas which receive minimal chilling (Spain, Mexico) has resulted in the release of varieties with little winter chilling

37 requirement. Low chill blueberry, blackberry and strawberry varieties now exist which produce crops during the winter. Low chill raspberries exist, including some bred by a Maryland based company and participant in this grant: Five Aces Breeding LLC of Oakland, Garrett County. To date, no work has been done using these newer raspberry and blueberry varieties to assess winter production on the eastern shore. Work with tunnel production of strawberries has been conducted by Michael Newell of the Wye REC, a coauthor of this proposal. Spring production on the Eastern Shore and summer raspberry and strawberry production in Garrett County are lucrative and those industries stand on their own in limited seasons as local farmer s market producers. Since we can only store blueberries, and that for a couple of months, clearly then, if the goal is to see more Maryland-grown berries at the local grocery chain we must: 1. pay the local grower a premium price 2. provide the grocer with the given produce each day of the year. 3. cooperate with other areas of Maryland producing regions to take advantage of their climates to supply each day of the year. 4. reduce the cost of overwinter tunnel management using several energy cost reduction methods. This proposal is designed to investigate the growing systems and newer, special purpose small fruit varieties, which will allow us to produce berry fruit throughout the year in Maryland. The plantings will be designed to provide potential growers with an honest assessment of the potential income based on yield, quality, and season data as well as costs, labor requirements and system pitfalls and innovative tricks of the trade. The duration of the proposal will provide an opportunity for nurseries to adjust their products to suit the production schemes or, as in Garrett County, it will provide opportunities for new nurseries to meet special requirements. To fill in the gaps in our knowledge, specifically to determine if the newer systems and varieties can be adapted from other berry growing regions around the world, we will conduct several tests in a rigorous fashion, which will produce results suitable for statistical and unbiased analysis. The technical objectives of this proposal will involve determining which varieties are high yielding, easy to harvest and low cost to produce with shippable and storable fruit with that local grown flavor. Potential Impact We are at a midpoint in our development systems to provide growers with commercial level entry to our grocery supply chain as local produce. We envision these demonstration plots, and the data they generate, to be used to provide existing and new growers with production alternatives. Our work establishing a day neutral strawberry industry in Garrett County has resulted in 25 new family farm growers and two new nurseries. We see that number only increasing with new blueberry and raspberry growers. We believe a similar number of new participants would be involved on the eastern shore. As fruit operations already exist there, it may not be necessary to develop new fruit farms, but this may offer off season use of their facilities. We envision in the near future 20 farms participating in year round fruit production with an average of 1-2 acres of fruit, averaging 10,000 lbs per acre of raspberry and blueberries

38 and twice that of strawberries, producing a total of approximately 100 tons of fruit with a retail value of 4 million dollars. Table of Goals and Measurable Outcomes Goal Measureable Outcome Raspberries 1. Produce raspberries in high tunnels during the - determine the feasible dates that fruit can winter months using low chill and high chill be produced during the winter months varieties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. - determine the potential winter yield and fruit quality - determine the cost of production for winter production 2. Produce raspberries in the late fall/early - determine the variety adaption to pruning winter on the eastern shore. methods to delay cropping 3. Produce early summer fruit in Garrett County - determine varieties that will overwinter from high chill overwintered varieties. With economically acceptable yields, fruit size - determine the cost of overwinter spring varieties in Garrett County. Strawberries: 1. Produce strawberries in high tunnels during - determine the feasible dates that fruit can the winter months using Festival and Low be produced during the winter months. Chill varieties on the Eastern Shore of - determine the potential winter yield and Maryland. fruit quality. - determine the cost of production for winter production. 2. Produce late spring strawberries in Garrett - determine overwintering success of County from High Chill varieties in high available varieties. tunnels - determine the fruit production, yield, and fruit quality of overwintered varieties. - determine the economically viability of overwintered varieties of late spring strawberry production 3. Produce high quality and consistent summer - determine the yield, fruit quality, yield and Strawberry production using day neutral and cost of production of producing day Varieties and rain cover style hightunnels neutral strawberries in a high tunnel. in Garrett County. 4. Produce late fall/early winter strawberries from - determine the feasible dates of fruit late summer planted varieties production, fruit size and yield from available varieties.

39 Blueberries: 1. Produce blueberries during the winter in - determine feasible dates fruit can be high tunnels on the Eastern Shore using low produced during the winter months. chill blueberry varieties. - determine winter yield, fruit quality and production cost. 2. Produce late summer/early fall blueberries in - determine feasible dates fruit can be Garrett County using High Chill Varieties produced in the late fall and early summer - determine the fruit quality and yield of late Season production.

40 Mission: To lead the movement and nurture the belief that together we can improve the lives of Marylanders by ending hunger Fact Sheet Who We Are and What We Do The Maryland Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation s food bank network. The Maryland Food Bank serves all of Maryland except Prince George s and Montgomery counties, which are served by a sister food bank. We operate an 87,000-square-foot warehouse in Baltimore and a 12,500-square-foot facility in Salisbury. We solicit food donations from manufacturers, growers, retailers, wholesalers and individuals. Food is distributed to the hungry through our network of more than 800 soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other community food providers across the state. In FY 2009, we distributed 18.6 million pounds of food - a 27 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. We have seen an increase in demand for our service between percent, many of whom were considered middle class before the economic recession took hold. Who Benefits From Our Work The faces of hunger will surprise you. While the homeless continue to be the most visible, many who need food assistance now are families, the elderly, and the working poor. Low-wage jobs and increased cost of living mean that many of our neighbors must decide between feeding their families or paying rent, utility or medical bills. 455,601 Marylanders are currently living at or below the federal poverty level; 346,876 of those Marylanders live in our service area. 31 percent of those living in poverty are children. The fastest growing segment of those in need work full-time. 53,823 seniors and 134,890 children are living below the federal poverty level in Maryland, with 103,461children and 42,275 senior citizens in our service area.

41 Our Programs SNAP Outreach. SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) are under-utilized among senior citizens. The Maryland Food Bank conducts outreach to seniors in Baltimore City to inform them of the federal benefits they are eligible for but may not be receiving and take them stepby-step through the process of applying for SNAP benefits. Pantry on the Go Programs. Pantry on the Go delivers bulk loads of food, both fresh and non-perishable, to mostly rural areas of the state where access to food assistance is more difficult. Second Helping. The Maryland Food Bank works with Baltimore area restaurants, caterers, and institutions to gather prepared foods. Ready-to-eat meals are collected five days a week and distributed directly to soup kitchens and food pantries at no cost. Kids Cafe. The Maryland Food Bank provides snacks and meals to after-school programs that serve low-income children. These programs give children consistent access to healthy food in a safe, familiar setting. Backpack Program. Children eligible for free or reduced school lunches are provided with backpacks filled with food on Fridays to take home and share with family over the weekend. School Pantry. Parents of low-income students are engaged in volunteering at their children s schools and are offered access to school-operated food pantries. Summer Food Service. This important initiative addresses child hunger in the summer when children no longer receive school breakfasts and lunches. Nutrition Education. Maryland Food Bank partners with USDA and the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension to conduct nutrition education and food safety classes and demonstrations to help low-income families stretch their food dollars and improve their diets. Community Kitchen (coming soon!) Donated food will be prepared, quick-frozen and packaged for distribution to our network of food providers. The program will be managed by a professional chef and trainees, who will be educated in nutrition and proper food handling, so they can find jobs in the food service field later. Get Involved Make a Financial Gift. One dollar can provide more than three pounds worth of food! Volunteer. Call the Maryland Food Bank to set up a time to work in our warehouse. Bring a team from your office, neighborhood, or professional association. Advocate. Spread the word about hunger in Maryland and how we can come together to end it. Donate. Give online at mdfoodbank.org, mail a check to the address below, or call ext. 221 to pay by credit card or set up a an electronic funds transfer process. ` To Volunteer: Call ext. 232 to schedule a session. To Advocate: Call ext. 215 to learn about our public policy initiatives. Maryland Food Bank 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road Baltimore, MD (P): (F):