Click here for current degree day information. Click here to get to Rufus La Lone's Weather Cafe.

Regional Updates

• B.C. Blueberry Council IPM newsletter for August 21: Click here.
• Michigan Blueberry IPM Newsletter for August 19: Click here.(Last one of the year)
• Michigan State Fruit Crop Alert for August 19: Click here.

Position Opening

Technician Position Available in the University of Arkansas fruit breeding program: Click here for the details. At least a BS with some experience is needed. This would be working with Dr. John Clark, one of the top blackberry breeders in the world with the opportunity to pursue an advanced degree.

Industry News

Fertilizer costs likely to continue to rise: Click here for this 8/23 Green Bay Press Gazette article with comments from Ford West, the president of the Fertilizer Institute.

More strawberries, more anti-oxidant absorption: Click here for this 8/21 ARS press release.

Industry Websites

Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission: Take a look at the commission's great new site. Click here.

Washington Red Raspberry Commission: Under the news heading, go to ‘Events and Meetings’. There are a lot of very interesting power point presentations from the International Raspberry Organization conference just held in Poland about raspberry production around the world. Or to go directly to the presentations, Click here.

Oregon Blueberry Farms has an new and improved site. Click here.

AgWeatherNet--useful tools for Washington Berry growersand field reps. AgWeatherNet is a network of weather stations throughout the state.

• Click here. Registration is free. Reports on crop water use (including blueberries, raspberries and strawberries), rainfall, growing degree days, etc.
• Easy to use, especially if you use the "my favorites" feature.
• You can set up reports you frequently use for ready access with one click.
• Even better, you can have AgWeatherNet email the information to your computer or PDA every day, week or month.

Tissue analysis & soil testing

Post harvest is the best time to do most soil and leaf testing for nutrient management planning.

• Blueberries: Tissue testing and pH monitoring are most critical. Complete soil tests don't correlate as well with plant needs as tissue tests. Click Here to view OSU's Blueberry Nutrient (and testing) Guidelines.
• Caneberries: While annual soil testing has been the industry norm, Oregon State's recently updated nutritional guide recommends annual leaf testing with soil tests done just every few years. Click Here to view OSU's Caneberry Nutrient (and testing) Guidelines.

Evapotranspiration Information

As we get into the post bloom period with the fruit sizing and warmer weather, water availability becomes a critical factor in berry production. Plant water needs are at their peak and water stress during this period can greatly effect fruit size and quality. Evapotranspiration rates are the best indicator we have for measuring water loss/water needs.

• For an explanation of evapotranspiration Click here.
• For the blueberry crop coefficient chart Click here.
• For the strawberry crop coefficient chart Click here.
• For the raspberry and blackberry coefficient chart Click here.

Diagnostic Labs (Don't guess, get it tested…)

• WSU Plant and Insect diagnostic lab's website: Click here.
• OSU Plant Clinic's website and information: Click here.
• List of public and private analytical labs and consultants serving Agriculture in the PNW: Click here.

Gap Information Sites

Oregon Department of Ag: Information page with upcoming seminars and further links.

National GAP Information Center: This is a great place for information and resources.

Primus Labs: This is a leading private certifying company.

University of California Food Safety Website: Self audits and much other good information.

 

Peerbolt Crop Management Changes Click here for our updated staff information/photos page.

Northwest Integrated Pest Management

This Site has been created by Peerbolt Crop Management (Tom & Anna Peerbolt) to provide the northwest small fruit industry with a convenient place to access needed information on integrated pest management (IPM). It will also serve as an informational base for industry resources and events. The flexibility of being web based allo1ws us to provide timely weather and pest alerts as well as update the constantly changing control options available to growers. The advantage (and disadvantage) of this project is that it relies on interaction and a flow of information to keep it alive and working. Please, let us know if there are links that don't work or if there is information we should update or add that you'd find useful.

Our Sources

Much of our chemical pest control label information comes from Joe DeFrancesco, a pesticide specialist at Oregon State University. Joe runs the IR-4 project there as well as coordinating Pest Management Strategic Plans for many Oregon crops. He also provides growers with much needed information on the ever changing control options. His activities on behalf of the northwest small fruit industry are critical as a link between regulatory agencies, control manufacturers and growers.

Our insect and disease information relies on many sources besides our own knowledge and experience. The primary ones are the Caneberry PMSP, Blueberry PMSP, Strawberry Crop Profile, Oregon State University Online Plant Disease Manual and PNW Insect Control Manual. Thanks to Jay Pschiedt and Joe DeFrancesco for doing such a great job. Other major sources are:Whatcom County Raspberry IPM Manual, Washington State University, Hortsense, the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, University of California IPM Manual, and Cornell University. Other sources throughout the U.S. are also sited and linked.

Photos

We have cited the photographer or source of all the photos on this site, noting the few unknown to us. Many of the pictures on this site are our own or come from Oregon State University. However, to provide photos that best help identify a pest or diagnose a problem, we have depended on many sources. If you have photos that you would be willing to share, please let us know.

Promise and Disclaimer

We will keep the information accurate and up-to-date to the best of our abilities. However, we can't issue any guarantees on this information since we are relying on many sources and changes can happen quickly. If you're in doubt, check with your local sources of information--extension, other growers, industry fieldmen, or private consultants.

Copyright/Permission

Any photos by T. Peerbolt or A. Peerbolt can be copied and used as long as we are cited as the source. If you feel that we have used your information or photos inappropriately, please contact us.