Berry Disease Snapshot: Mycosphaerella Leaf Spot of Strawberry

By David Strickland and Kerik Cox

Cornell AgriTech

Disease Snapshot: Mycosphaerella Leaf Spot of Strawberry (Bird’s Eye Spot, White Spot)

Causal Pathogen: Mycosphaerella fragariae

When to watch for it: Year round

First line of defense: Plant disease-free nursery stock

Summary:

Infections can occur on fruit (black seed), petioles, stolons, and leaves. Foliar lesions first appear as irregular purple spots on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf. Lesions develop a brown to white center as they mature, with a rusty brown border surrounding the necrotic area of the lesion. Severe infection on a susceptible cultivar will kill the leaf as lesions coalesce over the entire surface. Symptom expression varies by cultivar, temperature, and strain of M. fragariae. M. fragariae can overwinter as lesions on living leaves under snow cover, as conidia from overwintering dense masses of mycelia (sclerotia), and as sexually recombinant ascospores. Conidia from sclerotia are rain-dispersed from dead leaves in the field in the early spring, and ascospores are disseminated by wind. Virtually all parts of the plant are susceptible regardless of age, but lesions are most severe on middle-aged leaves. Severely infected plants are less likely to survive the winter, and those that do will have a reduced number of flowers in the spring.

Resistance reports have varied by state, and resistant cultivars may or may not be an effective means of disease control. Removing dead plant matter before winter will reduce inoculum carry over between seasons.  Fungicide applications are recommended for plantings with susceptible varieties in the early season to eliminate overwintering inoculum.

Berry Disease Snapshot: Blueberry Powdery Mildew

By David Strickland and Kerik Cox
Cornell AgriTech

Disease Snapshot: Blueberry Powdery Mildew

Causal pathogen: Microsphaera vaccinii

When to watch for it: July through season’s end

First line of defense: Use of resistant cultivars

Summary:

The signs of M. vaccinii infection do not typically appear until midsummer, when white fungal growth appears on the upper leaf surface. Leaf reddening may occur as chlorotic spots with reddish borders, and the leaf surface may become puckered. This reddening may be mistaken for symptoms of red ringspot virus (RRSV) infection but can be distinguished by the presence of water-soaked areas on the leaf’s lower surface opposite the chlorotic areas. If left uncontrolled, blueberry powdery mildew may lead to premature defoliation and a long-term reduction in bush productivity.

The planting of resistant cultivars is the best option for management of powdery mildew. Fungicide applications should begin just after petal fall, which targets primary inoculum. If these infections are managed early, an epidemic can be avoided. Suggested products are oils (e.g. stylet oils) or sterol biosynthesis inhibiting fungicides such as propiconazole (on 14-day intervals). Remember that fungicide products containing sulfur should not be applied within a 2-week period of an oil product application due to the potential for phytotoxic effects. Postharvest burning of infected leaf matter has not been shown to decrease the incidence of disease in subsequent years.

Have You Renovated Your Strawberries?

The early strawberry season has ended, and although we might have been a little disappointed with the size—Cornell researchers theorize that this was because of frost and a very dry spring—most of our member farms were satisfied with their crop yields, if not the profusion of SWD that came on strong after a brief delay.

If you grow June-bearing strawberries, crop renovation is an essential, yet often overlooked, task—especially with the population of SWD still. Remember to remove leftover fruit, which can be a breeding ground for the pest, cut back on mowing if the hot temperatures persist, and cover the crowns with ½ inch of soil.

For a step-by-step guide to renovating strawberries, visit the Cornell blog.

Berry Disease Snapshot: Rhizopus Rot of Strawberry (Leak)

Soft, collapsed strawberries that begin to mold can be a sign of rhizopus rot.

By David Strickland and Kerik Cox
Cornell AgriTech

Berry Disease Snapshot: Rhizopus Rot of Strawberry (Leak)

Causal pathogen: Rhizopus stolonifer, R. sexualis

When to watch for it: During the fruit-ripening period

First line of defense: At harvest, rapidly cool harvested fruit below 45°F

Summary:

Primarily a postharvest rot, Rhizopus rot may also occur in the field on ripe fruit. Modern storage and shipping have reduced this disease’s incidence worldwide, but it may readily appear if fruit are not cared for properly. Fruits infected with Rhizopus spp. appear slightly discolored, gradually turning light brown. The fruits rapidly soften and collapse, allowing their juices to leak out. Under humid conditions, white fluffy mycelium with large black sporangia appear. Rhizopus spp. can successfully overwinter on leftover plant material and in soil.

Protective broad-spectrum fungicides can be used to control Rhizopus rot in the field. Rhizopus spp. can only infect wounded fruit, so a vigilant insecticide program to manage fruit-feeding insects is encouraged. At harvest, Rhizopus rot is best controlled by rapidly cooling berries and maintaining storage temperatures below 45°F.

How to Improve U-Pick Berry Operations Based on Customer Satisfaction

By Zoey Yang, MS candidate in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
Cornell University

During the summer of 2019, Cornell researchers conducted a study sponsored by the NYS Berry Growers Association. The study examined customer satisfaction at u-pick berry operations across farms in Upstate New York. This study aims to give some ways to not only improve sales performance for berry farms but also bring better experiences for customers.

U-pick is a direct marketing channel where customers can harvest fruit and vegetables by themselves, often paying a lower price and receiving fresher products. Crops, such as berries, that need intensive labor are well-suited for u-pick operations. Even though customer satisfaction has been studied in several fields, there are a very few studies focusing on the berry industry especially in u-pick operations. The goal of this study was to provide farmers with more marketing insights using customer satisfaction tools.

Participating Farms

Among the six farms participating in the study, two of them were strawberry farms; one, blueberry-only; and three, both strawberry and blueberry. Customer satisfaction surveys were given to u-pick customers among six berry farms from beginning of June to the end of August, as needed given the different harvesting times for strawberries and blueberries. Customers were asked to rate their overall satisfaction and individual satisfaction attributes, using a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. Questions about amount spending, purchase intension, demography, and other variables were also included in survey.

The number of usable surveys was 312. The results are shown in Table 1. Overall customer satisfaction for all farms was very high (4.71), with 225 customers rating the overall satisfaction 5 (excellent), 82 rating it 4 (very good). Only 5 surveys rated it below 4.  Twenty-two percent of customers were first-time customers, and 83.9% and 98.7% of customers responded, yes, they would visit this farm again this year and next year respectively. One hundred percent would recommend the farm to their friends.  Average spending was $26.58.

Analyzing 14 different attributes into meaningful and usable information can be difficult. Therefore, the individual customer satisfaction attributes were analyzed in a way to group them into 3 general satisfaction factors that are described as experience, retailing and convenience. Table 2 shows the individual attributes into each of the factors and average score of each factor.

Researchers then looked at the relationship between these grouped satisfaction factors and the amount that customers spent at the farms. Differences between the farms, berry type, weather and demographic variables were controlled for.

Study Results

From the results, grouped factors experience and convenience are significantly important. One rating point higher in experience and convenience is associated with $3.14 and $ 5.17 more on the customers’ spending respectively. Even though attributes of retailing are significant in customer satisfaction studies such as winery, they are not in this study. One potential reason is because there are not many variations of retailing attributes in the data set. Another one may be related to the nature of u-pick operation. In New York wineries, wine tasting rooms are the major source of wine sales and highly dependent on the services of staffs. However, u-pick operations do not need many staff services. Therefore, retailing attributes may not impact sales of u-pick on berry farms. 

After analyzing each attribute separately, we also find among experience attributes, “Taste of u-pick berries” and “Information upon entry” are significant and positively affect amount spent. One score higher in “Taste of u-pick berries” transfers to $2.68 higher in spending. As for “Information upon entry, the effect is $2.57 higher with respect to amount spent. “Ease of parking” and “Farm location” are significant attributes to convenience and one score higher is associated with $3.67 and $2.81 higher in amount spending respectively. In addition, the control variables, education and male are statistically important to amount spent. Customers visiting in the strawberry season spent $8.87 more than those visiting in blueberry season. Graph 1 shows these results.

Study Recommendations

Given evidence from the analyses, this study suggests that u-pick berry operations should pay attention to the attributes that effect experience and convenience. For example, farm customers usually used Google searches or recommendations from their family and friends when selecting the farm.  Using social networks such as YouTube and Instagram to advertise and provide information will link this information with the significant attributes “Information upon entry” and “Farm location” together. In addition, signs such as directions to the farms should be clear to customers upon arrival. When customers arrive at the U-pick operation, information related to parking, amenities, picking directions and berries should be explained by signs or farm staff. Showing a story or history about the farm could be a bonus to generate a more satisfied customer experience. Meanwhile, maintaining good quality berries is always important. Ensuring a high quality of berry could not only affect the berry price but also the generation of word of mouth advertising. Implication suggestions for berry farms can be adjusted to suit for all types of u-pick operations.

“Smart Marketing” is a marketing newsletter for extension publication in local newsletters and for placement in local media. It reviews elements critical to successful marketing in the food and agricultural industry.  Please cite or acknowledge when using this material.  Past articles are available at:  Smart Marketing.

Guidelines for PYO Farms during the COVID-19 Pandemic

From Cornell University:

U-Pick is a critical direct marketing approach for many of our farms and provides customers with a unique connection to fresh produce grown close to home. In light of what we understand about the spread of COVID-19, new management practices will be needed to protect your farm team and your customers. This document provides recommended practices and communication strategies for U-Pick operations for the 2020 season.

These actions will help protect you and your team as well as reassure customers that you are taking steps to protect them and the produce you grow.

Read the article here. Then download a printable version of Cornell’s “Best Management Practices for U-Pick Farms during the COVID-19 Pandemic” that you can share with your staff.

Looking for information on protecting staff and customers in your farm store? Read these articles from NYS Ag and Markets.

1. Guidance for Cleaning Retail Food Stores (issued in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health)

2. Guidance for Home Delivery 

3. Guidance for Protecting Vulnerable Populations 

Berry Disease Snapshot: Black Root Rot of Strawberry

By David Strickland, Kerik Cox
Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY

Black Root Rot of Strawberry

Causal agent: many soil-borne fungal species, abiotic factors

When to watch for it: During the growing season

First line of defense: Good soil health maintenance practices

Summary:
A disease complex, black root rot does not have one specific cause. It may be caused by injurious environmental conditions such as freezing or waterlogged soils, root-lesion nematodes, and/or various soil-borne fungal pathogens alone or in combination. The disease has been observed on plants grown in soils with a high clay content. The most prevalent symptoms of black root rot are death of feeder rootlets, deterioration of structural roots, and declining plant vigor.

Maintenance of soil health is the best control against black root rot. Soil compaction reduces soil aeration, promoting conditions conducive to disease development. Poor irrigation practices and waterlogged soil does the same. Chemical fumigation of the soil is not recommended as the causal agent may not be fungal.

Western New York Berry Update

Western New York Berry Update

April 3, 2020

By Esther Kibbe

Western New York Berry Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

April 3, 2020

Strawberries

New leaves are starting to push under the straw. With no extended cold in the forecast, research has shown that it is better to remove straw early, if leaves are emerging, rather than basing it on the calendar. Consider getting out there to rake it off soon.

This is also the time to apply preemergent herbicides against annual weeds. Chateau or Devrinol can be used. Aim, Axxe and Gramoxone are options as more weeds emerge, or against winter annuals, but should be applied with a shielded sprayer.

Strawberry leaves emerging from the crown.

Blueberries

Depending on microclimate, buds are just swelling to early green-tip. If you haven’t already, this is the time to go after cane diseases (Phomopsis, Botrytis, Fusicoccum) with a delayed dormant spray of lime sulfur or copper. Several fungicides are also labeled for these, but I would save them unless you are dealing with a severe, recurring level of infection.

As you finish pruning, be sure to cut out any diseased canes and gall wasp galls. Start planning your spring herbicide applications. Blueberries have many herbicide options—the best choice depends on what your weed issues are.

Blueberry buds are between bud-swell and early green tip.

Raspberries

Still looking pretty dormant. Copper, dormant oil or lime sulfur sprays can be applied for cane blights. This is the time to get started on weed control: Devrinol, Surflan, Sinbar for preemergent weeds (annuals), Axxe for post-emergent broadleaves, and Poast or Fusilade for perennial grasses.

Cornell & NYSBGA In-Depth Strawberry Substrate Workshop Sets Growers Up for Success

By Esther Kibbe
Western New York Berry Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Thirty growers and extension professionals spent three days in February learning about growing strawberries in soil-less (substrate) production systems. The workshop was held in Ithaca and funded by the NYSBGA and organized by the association and Cornell extension and professors.

In-depth lectures in the mornings were followed by greenhouse tours and hands-on activities in the afternoons. The workshop was taught by Dennis Wilson of Delphy, a UK- and Netherlands-based agronomy and education company. His many years of experience working with strawberry substrate growers made him confident in his recommendations of types of containers, substrate mixes, irrigation rates, and fertility protocols.

Dennis noted that almost all strawberry production in the UK has moved to substrate systems, but the fruit-quality improvement means that more than 90 percent of strawberries in the stores are grown in the UK, compared to 50 percent 25 years ago. While converting to substrate production isn’t for everyone, growers in Europe find that in addition to better-quality fruit, they are able to increase yields, harvest efficiency, and attract more labor, compared to soil-bases systems.

Cornell’s horticulture professor Neil Mattson and his team put together a great practical portion for the workshop, using plants and systems set up for graduate student Jonathan Allred’s research on strawberries’ light requirements. Workshop participants practiced measuring “drip” and “drain,” electrical conductivity, pH, and moisture levels in the substrate. There were samples of different types of substrate and media to touch and compare and plants and runners for planting demonstrations—and a chance for growers to try it themselves.

About half of the workshop participants had no experience growing crops in substrate, and the rest had experience ranging from one year to thirty years. All reported that they found the content relevant, and most said they would continue or start growing berries in substrate in the future. One participant commented, “This program was excellent and answered many questions I have been asking for years. Really appreciate the handouts and the clear presentation style, and the time and patience spent on questions.” Participant feedback was extremely positive overall, and most are looking forward to future trainings and tours related to substrate production.

New York State Berry Industry Competitive Analysis

This document research group of Dr. Miguel Gómez at Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, in collaboration with the New York State Berry Growers Association, presents this bulleted analysis of the berry industries in New York State, as well as detailed figures supporting the analysis.

Berry Disease Snapshot: Angular Leaf Spot of Strawberry

By David Strickland and Kerik Cox

Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY

Disease: Angular Leaf Spot of Strawberry

Causal pathogen: Xanthomonas fragariae

When to watch for it: Year round

First line of defense: Purchase disease-free stock

Summary:

Angular leaf spot of strawberry has been introduced to major production areas by the importing of infected plant material. The bacterial pathogen, X. fragariae, is very resistant to desiccation and can survive adverse conditions for extended periods in or on dead plant matter both in transit and in the field. The pathogen cannot overwinter freely in soil, which implies that one key cultural control is the removal of old strawberry plant matter before new fields are planted.

Young, vigorous plants are more likely to be infected during the spring when temperatures remain around 68°F during the day and when the leaf wetness is prolonged by rain or sprinkler irrigation. Symptoms begin as water-soaked lesions that enlarge but are delimited by veins, creating characteristic angular spots. During moist periods, viscous bacterial ooze may be visible on the undersides of infected leaves, which dries to a white film. Severe infections will result in the death of the leaf.

Preventing the introduction of X. fragariae on transplants has proven to be more effective than chemical control measures. If absolutely necessary, applications of streptomycin sulfate and oxytetracycline have been shown to be effective protectants in the early season. Applications of copper ammonium carbonate and cupric hydroxide have also been effective protectants in 6 day intervals. However, greater than 7 applications risks the development of severe phytotoxic symptoms. For organic production, the use of hydrogen peroxide at its highest labeled rate is suggested if disease pressure is severe.

A: Bacterial lesions observed on the underside of an infected strawberry leaf. In direct (transmitting) light, the lesions are transparent. Unlike in B: where the lesions are a different shade of green in reflected light, which is a characteristic feature for identification. C: the underside of a severely infected strawberry leaf.

Finalists Announced for Grow-NY $3 Million Global Food and Agriculture Business Competition

Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement have announced the inaugural 18 finalists for Grow-NY, a food innovation and agriculture technology business challenge focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage, and agriculture innovation cluster in Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier.

“The Grow-NY competition has attracted a group of diverse, innovative entrepreneurs who are ready to focus on finding new ways to further transform New York State’s world-renowned food and agricultural industry,” Governor Cuomo said. “Through efforts like Grow-NY, we are continuing to bolster these regional economies and foster statewide growth in this critical industry.”

In all, 199 applicants hailed from North America, Europe, Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and New Zealand, as well as hundreds of inquiries from food and agriculture startups. In the U.S., 23 states were represented, including 112 entries from New York. Females comprised 32 percent of applicants, and among those who indicated an ethnicity, 46 percent were non-white.

The finalists represent the top 10 percent of submissions, as determined by a panel of 30 independent judges comprising the spectrum of food, beverage, and agriculture businesses and academics. Grow-NY will award a total of $3 million in prize money to seven winners. This includes a $1 million top prize, two $500,000 prizes, and four $250,000 prizes.

The 18 finalists are:

• AgVoice, Norcross, Ga. — Enables food and ag workers to use management tools on-the-go

• Capro-X, Ithaca, N.Y. — Upcycles dairy waste into valuable biofuels and bioplastics

• Combplex, Ithaca, N.Y. — Eliminates pests that threaten the health of honeybee hives

• Dropcopter, Syracuse, N.Y. — Leverages drones to pollinate crops and increase crop yield

• Halomine, Ithaca, N.Y. — Creates antimicrobial solutions to ensure food safety

• Independent Barley & Malt, Litchfield, Mich. — Growing new supply chains to provide world-class malt for the craft food and beverage market

• Livestock Water Recycling, Alberta, Canada — Modernizes manure management to improve yield and sustainability.

• Nuravine, New York, N.Y. — Maximizes indoor and greenhouse crop yield via water nutrient solutions

• Paragon Pure, Princeton, N.J. — Creates flavors, colors and nutrients protected within whole grain rice flour

• Perfect Granola, Victor, N.Y. — Crafts locally-sourced granola for NY schools while giving back

• Radical Plastics, Beverly, Mass. —Developed a patented catalyst technology that renders conventional plastics biodegradable

• RealEats America, Geneva, N.Y. — Delivers fresh, healthy meals, while minimizing food waste

• Re-Nuble, Rochester, N.Y. — Transforms food waste into organic nutrients as a sustainable alternative to mineral salts

• Simply Good Jars, Philadelphia, Pa. — Expands access to fresh and healthy foods via high-tech vending machines

• Slate Chocolate Milk, Boston, Mass. — Crafts better chocolate milk in cans, for adults

• Tiliter, Munich, Germany — Identifies products at supermarket checkouts with AI—no bar code needed

• Varcode USA, Naperville, Ill. —Monitors temperature changes of products using high-tech barcodes

• Whole Healthy Food (Healthy Baby), Ithaca, N.Y. — Develops new food ingredients with therapeutic benefits

The finalists will pitch their ideas and business plans at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit on Nov. 12 and 13 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Tickets, sponsor, exhibition and volunteer information is available at https://growny.splashthat.com.

All finalists will receive:

• Dedicated mentorship from a hand-selected business advisor;

• Additional pitch training to hone their live pitches for the judges;

• An expenses-paid, three-day business development trip to the Grow-NY region for up to two finalists per team; and

• Networking introductions, business tours with potential partners, and valuable appointments for finalist team representatives.

Judges will base award decisions on the following five criteria:

• Viability of Commercialization and Business Model – the potential for the entrant to generate revenue and maintain a cost structure that allows for a competitive and sustainable business, demonstrate technological readiness, or innovate to fulfill its value proposition;

• Customer Value – the degree to which the entrant is providing something for which customers are willing to pay, and addressing a substantial market;

• Food and Agriculture Innovation – the extent to which the entrant is pushing what’s considered state-of-the-art in the food and agriculture industries, and contributing to Upstate NY’s status as a global leader in innovation in these markets;

• Regional Job Creation – the potential for creating high-quality jobs in the Grow-NY footprint; and

• Team – the quality and completeness of the team and its readiness to deliver.

Empire State Development is providing funding for the Grow-NY competition through its Upstate Revitalization Initiative, and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement is administering the competition. The winner will be required to make a positive economic impact in the Grow-NY region, which features counties within Central NY, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier of New York State. The winning business will help contribute to job growth, connect with local industry partners and contribute to a thriving economy.

To learn more about the finalists, mentors and judges, and to see full schedule of Grow-NY events, please visit grow-ny.com.

Managing Strawberry Fruit Rots with Biopesticides

A special thank-you to Dr. Kerik Cox for sharing this article in our May newsletter. Because we just didn’t have enough space to run all of his informative graphs, we’re including the remainder here. Refer to your print newsletter to read the text of the article in its entirety.

Figure 3. Mean percent incidence of Botrytis fruit rot at harvest in October 2018 in a day-neutral planting of ‘Albion’ strawberries with application timings using ‘NEWA’ or on a ‘Calendar’ schedule for organic (green) and conventional (orange) fungicide programs. Values represent means and standard errors of six plots. Columns denoted by the same letter for plots under “cover” (low tunnels) or “uncovered” are not significantly different (P < 0.05) according to the LSMEANS procedure in SAS 9.4 with an adjustment for Tukey’s HSD to control for family-wise error.

Figure 4. Mean percent incidence of Botrytis fruit rot at harvest in October 2018 in a day-neutral planting of ‘Albion’ strawberries planted on open plastic (cover) or under low tunnels (no cover) for calendar timings (yellow 7-10 days) and NEWA strawberry fruit rot systems (blue “High” risk). Values represent means and standard errors of six plots. Columns denoted by the same letter capital (plots under tunnels) or lowercase (uncovered plots) are not significantly different (P < 0.05) according to the LSMEANS procedure in SAS 9.4 with an adjustment for Tukey’s HSD to control for family-wise error. 

Cornell Small Fruit Survey Needs Your Input

Are you interested in diversifying your farmers’ market, farm stand, or CSA offerings with specialty fruit crops? Have you ever thought about growing currants, kiwiberries, goji berries, beach plums, or other “unusual” fruits?

Cornell University needs your input to help guide a project that aims to develop growing recommendations and enterprise budgets for unusual fruit crops in New York. Fill out their online survey now through May 31, 2019.

The Opioid Epidemic and Agriculture

The truth about opioids in the United States is sobering: no corner of the country remains untouched by the epidemic. With access to prevention, treatment, and support services sorely lacking in rural areas, these regions are now surpassing cities in rates of death from opioid overdose. Suzanne Flaum, Gleaning Assistant for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County writes, “Recent reports show that those who work in occupations with higher rates of injury (farming, construction, roofing, etc.) where workers are less able to take time off to heal are more likely to medicate acute or chronic pain symptoms with opioids, leading to increased likelihood of addiction.”

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union conducted a study in 2017. They found that 74 percent of farmers and farm workers report having been affected by opioid abuse, either by taking (and developing addictions to) these medications themselves, or by knowing someone who has dealt with an addiction. And only 38 percent of those people believe that local care would be effective, affordable, or covered by their health insurance.

If you, a friend, or family member is struggling with opioid use or addiction, CCE Orange County has collected these resources for finding necessary, life-saving help:

• 24/7 HOPELine, NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS): 1-877-846- 7369

• Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) treatment centers

• Narcotics Anonymous meeting finder

• Nar-Anon meeting finder (support for family or friends of those addicted)

• Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP)

Can a Robot Be the Future of Berry Crop Pollination?

Photo by Yu Gu, West Virginia University

Recognizing both the sobering statistics for colonies of pollinators and the steadily increasing global population, scientists at West Virginia University, in a project funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s National Robotics Initiative, have created a robot called the BrambleBee. Says Dr. Yu Gu, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at WVU, “We are not aiming at replacing bees. We are hoping to use the robotic pollinator in places where bees are not available or not enough.”

This includes high tunnels, where the growing season can be extended, but where pollination is more difficult because light diffusion makes it harder for honeybees to navigate the crops.

So far, the BrambleBee has been tested on blackberry plantings. Like a self-driving car, the BrambleBee is a robot that learns to navigate specific places. Using lidar—a detection system that works similarly to radar, but uses light from a laser instead of radio waves—the robot first creates a 3-D map of a greenhouse. It then passes through the rows again, with the purpose of reaching as many flowers as possible with its mechanical arm. After positioning itself in front of a plant, the BrambleBee takes photos of the plants and flowers and creates an even higher-resolution map.

When it finds a flower that’s ready for pollination, the BrambleBee extends a small 3-D-printed brush with flexible polyurethane bristles—modeled on the scopa, or hairs of the honeybee—to gently loosen the pollen. This transfers the pollen from the anthers to the pistils for pollination. The BrambleBee is thought to be careful enough to work alongside bees, as opposed to miniature pollinating drones, which may injure bees as they hover over and around crops.

Says Dr. Nicole Waterland, Associate Professor of Horticulture at WVU, “A robotic pollinator does not need to rest and could potentially pollinate continually.” Another benefit of the BrambleBee: the ability to work in multiple locations. Neighboring farms could share the cost of a unit and then transfer the robot between them for autonomous pollination.

The BrambleBee is still in the experimental stage, but early results are promising for it and other robotic tools. “We hope this is the beginning of a new era in crop production using robotic systems,” Waterland says. “We would like to utilize this platform as a start to create a robot that could act as a grower’s assistant. We hope the robot could help with monitoring the health status of the plant, e.g., monitoring water status and nutrient needs.”

FY 2019 H-2B Cap Relief Update

The Federation of Employers and Workers of America (FEWA) has shared this important update.

Last month, the Appropriations Committees filed the conference agreement on the FY 19 Labor-HHS and Department of Defense “minibus” appropriations bill, which includes a continuing resolution (CR) to maintain funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal Departments through December 7, 2018.  

What does this mean for H-2B?

The conference report that was filed would continue the Department of Labor (DOL) H-2B provisions that have been included in past funding bills.  No immediate changes to the program.

Cap relief is not included in this “minibus” bill that is expected to be signed into law.

What does this mean for H-2B Cap Relief?

The CR for the DHS though December 7 is important, as it relieves the pressure of a governmental shutdown.

The DHS funding bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee in July would exempt returning workers from the annual H-2B visa cap, along with other adjustments. The Senate Appropriations Committee–passed version of FY 2019 DHS funding bill asks DHS to consider a more equitable annual allocation of the 66,000 visas. 

Congress will not take up an FY 2019 funding bill for DHS after the November 7 elections. THIS WILL BE OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR H-2B CAP RELIEF. 

What can you do?

After this bill is signed into law, House members will be returning to their home districts to begin campaigning for election day. Meet with your representative at home and stress the importance the H-2B program has on your business and the need for immediate cap relief. View H-2B Cap Relief Talking Points.  

After November 7 elections, Congress will return to DC, and within the first week concentrate on electing leadership roles. Once that is complete they will have until December 7 to negotiate the remaining bills to fund the government. THIS WILL BE OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR THE H-2B RETURNING WORKER EXEMPTION. 

FEWA and the H-2B Workforce Coalition continue to urge Congress to include the House cap relief language in a final appropriations bill. FEWA’s Jarrod Sharp and Robin Svec will be in Washington, DC, later this month to further advocate for this language.

In addition to continuing to push for Congress to pass H-2B cap relief we will let you know when Congress votes on this legislation.

Controls for SWD, Summer Beetles, and Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

We’re experience a period of high insect activity this year, with rain, warm days, and cool nights providing an ideal breeding ground for three challenging pests: spotted wing drosophila (SWD), whose numbers began to explode in mid-July, summer beetles (especially Japanese beetles), and brown marmorated stink bug. Senior Extension Associate and entomologist Peter Jentsch of Cornell University’s Hudson Valley Laboratory recommends the following controls.  

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)

Spotted wing drosophila on raspberry. Photo by Hannah Burrack, North Carolina State University, Bugwood.org.

With raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, and sweet and tart cherry all very susceptible to SWD, good management is a must. Follow these general rules:

• Traps are the best method for monitoring the population. Jentsch recommends making traps out of red plastic 16-ounce Solo cups and lids; get the directions here. Hang several traps in each crop.
• Sample fruit for infestation. Choose unripened fruit and look for evidence of egg laying and larval feeding: small holes with tiny white breathing tubes. When the berry is gently squeezed, it may leak juice. Infested berries may also leave a juice stain on their container when picked.
• Apply insecticide treatments from this Cornell-approved chart no more than seven days apart in blueberry, and every three to four days in cherry, raspberry, and blueberry. Reapply after rains. Rotate according to mode of action.
• Chill berries immediately after harvest—at 32 to 33 degrees F—to halt the development of larvae and eggs.

Japanese Beetles and Other Summer Beetles

Japanese beetle. Photo by USDA ARS Photo Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org.

Japanese beetles are considered one of the most devastating pests for 300 species of plant in this region of the country. Multicolored Asian ladybird beetle (MALB), the rose chafer (RC), adult plum curculio (PC) are also prevalent in the Northeast. Prevent them from feeding on foliage with:

• Carbaryl or Sevin, as a liquid XLR Plus, 4F or 80S powder.
• Leverage 2.7SE. According to Jentsch, this “should be reserved for those situations when the pest complex to be treated is appropriately matched to the combination of active ingredients and modes of action contained in the product.”
• Japanese beetle bag traps. These inexpensive traps, which use pheromones and floral scents, are very effective in luring and killing Japanese beetles. However, when placed near crops, they can encourage a large number of insects to move into the crop, causing even more damage. Jentsch warns, “If they are used, place the bags a considerable distance away from your orchard or vineyard so as to reduce the population in your crop. They will fill quickly and need to be emptied frequently.”

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Brown marmorated stink bug. Photo by Kristie Graham, USDA ARS, Bugwood.org.

A year-round pest, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a household nuisance in winter and spring and a serious agricultural pest in summer and fall. It has been observed feeding and reproducing in blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and caneberries. BMSB causes discoloration and sunken areas of green fruits at the feeding site, and softening and necrosis in mature fruits. Control them with:

• Pyramid traps baited with BMSB aggregation pheromone and methyl decatrienoate. Because BMSB prefers to live along the perimeter of a field, place traps is along a forested edge adjacent to your crops.
• Employ border sprays, according to this chart, especially on large fields. Because the insecticides that are most effective on BMSB also kills the insect’s natural enemies, use them only as needed. As the BMSB SCRI CAP Small Fruit Commodity Team cautions, “Management for BMSB in small fruit crops is difficult because the most effective insecticides for BMSB cannot be used during the period when there are repeated harvests of berry fields. Chemical control may be further complicated by the need to conserve insecticides for use against spotted wing drosophila, another disruptive invasive species, during the harvest period in order to observe requirements for maximum applications per season.”

For further reading, visit the Jentsch Lab blog:

Spotted Wing Drosophila

Summer Beetle Management

Using Attract and Kill Stations to Monitor Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

A Dozen Reasons Why the EWG “Dirty Dozen” List Is Not an Ethical Guide for Produce Selection

By Marvin Pritts, horticulture professor, Cornell University

Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out a list of “dirty” fruits and vegetables that consumers are supposed to avoid because they contain pesticide residues. For the third year in a row, strawberries were number one on the list. The list is misleading, having been created without consideration of several important scientific and social/cultural issues, but its popularity with the press forces growers to struggle with educating customers who have bought into the EWG’s misleading messaging.

Here are some talking points to share with customers to explain why the EWG’s “dirty dozen” list shouldn’t be used to guide their produce selection.

1. Data used by the EWG counts the presence/absence of a residue, but does not consider the total amount of residue. This is not a valid method of assessing risk, since the amount of a residue is critical for determining if that residue is toxic.
2. Pesticide residues in plants are miniscule and are not know to have any health effects in mammals, whether the mammal is a baby or a sensitive adult. Nearly all fruits and vegetables have levels far below (often a million times lower) levels known to cause physiological effects in humans. Just because a residue exists does not mean it is toxic at such low levels.
3. Growers who rotate pesticides to reduce the risk of developing pesticide resistance will score more poorly on the EWG scale than growers who use large amounts of a single pesticide to control a pest.
4. Residue data from crops vary greatly depending on where a crop is grown. For example, strawberries grown in the warm, wet climate of Florida receive far more pesticide applications than strawberries grown in the Northeast, yet strawberries are ranked number one for residues, regardless of how and where they are grown. This creates a major disadvantage for local growers.
5. Plants produce natural pesticides so they don’t get eaten by pests. The amount of naturally produced pesticides is estimated to exceed human-applied residues by ten-thousandfold. The amount of synthetic pesticide residue is dwarfed by the amount of naturally occurring pest-deterring chemicals already present in plants.
6. Plants not treated to manage pests often have higher levels of natural pesticides.
7. Human systems have developed mechanisms to detoxify naturally occurring chemicals in the food we eat. These detoxification mechanisms work on both natural and synthetic chemicals, keeping us safe as long as these detoxification mechanisms are not overwhelmed.                    
8. Organically grown food also may contain pesticide residues. Organic growers face the same insect, fungal, and weed pests as conventional growers, so they often will use chemical sprays to manage them. Neither the organic residues nor the synthetic residues have ever been shown to be harmful to humans.
9. The health benefits of eating a strawberry—ranked number one on the “dirty dozen” list—far exceed any detriment from consuming a pesticide residue. For example, strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges by weight and are high in antioxidants and nutrients.
10. The EWG list discourages consumers from eating healthy fruits and vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, grapes, and apples, which also rank high on the list and are known to be extremely good for health.
11. Consumers already eat far fewer fruits and vegetables than are recommended for good health. This is especially true for low-income populations. The EWG list can do harm to low-income groups by discouraging good eating habits.
12. The EWG approach to ranking risk is not supported by any scientific organization, has never undergone peer-review, and has never been published in a scientific journal. Recommendations regarding a person’s ability to reduce pesticide-residue exposure by altering eating habits are not supported by the data

How to Develop an E-mail Program for Your Farm

While it may seem tempting to let go of your e-mail marketing in favor of social media, especially during the busy growing season, there are several compelling reasons why you’ll want to stay on top of your e-mail list, and keep promoting your farm or farm store.

1. Most customers, including 71% of millennials, prefer to hear from businesses they follow through e-mail first. True, you’ll often hear people say they get too many e-mails, but studies have proven time and again that this doesn’t dissuade them from staying on their favorite business’s e-mail list. And with many social media channels—Facebook being the most prominent example—modifying their algorithms to make it harder for a business’s content to be seen in the news feed, you’ll get much more visibility from e-mail.

2. E-mail subscribers are your most loyal customers, and are several times more likely to spread good word of mouth to friends, family, and their community.

3. E-mail is “owned” media, which means you have complete access to your entire e-mail list at all times, and can put out any content you think will inform and entertain your audience. There are best practices for e-mail content, but on the whole, this offers much more freedom for you to tell the stories you want to tell—without being filtered out by a pesky algortithm.

4. E-mail provides the highest return on investment (ROI) of all types of digital marketing—104% compared to social media’s 25% and display advertising’s 13%. If the other three points didn’t convince you that keeping up with your e-mail list is important, this is one super-persuasive case.

E-mail marketing generally takes one of two forms: a promotional e-mail or a newsletter. Promotional e-mails usually highlight a specific product or service and are meant to inspire the customer to take quick action: buy a product, register for an event, or create an account, for example.

E-mail newsletters are informative in nature, and give customers something interesting or entertaining to read, such as gardening or cooking tips, or links to articles about the health benefits of berries. They may link to a product for sale, but their focus is on informing rather than selling.

It’s possible to send both newsletters and promotional e-mails to the same list of subscribers, though you’ll want to determine in advance how many of each you plan to send, to keep the best balance. You can also employ segmenting, or sending certain content to one group of customers.

How to Create a Marketing E-mail

Depending on your list size, the number of times per month you plan to mail, and the amount of bells and whistles you want, there are a variety of e-mail distribution services that fit the bill. Mailchimp and Robly tend to be the most user-friendly, and have a larger selection of attractive drag-and-drop templates that make it easy to design great-looking e-mails. Constant Contact, one of the original e-mail distributors, has a long history of consistency, but is not as intuitive to use and often has a less modern look.

No matter which one you choose, if you have fewer than 200 subscribers, you can start with a free version of the service. It takes only a few minutes to create and account and get started on creating your first e-mail. If you'd like to walk through the process on screen, YouTube has dozens of short videos dedicated to setting up an e-mail in Mailchimp or Robly.

What Should Each E-mail Include?

There are a lot of nuances to e-mail marketing, but in general, each e-mail you send should have:

• Your contact information
• Your logo
• Links to your social media

If you’re sending a newsletter, try including a brief article on a relevant topic, and 2 or 3 additional items you’d like to highlight—these could be products that are currently in stock in your store, a list of upcoming farmers’ market appearances, or a link to something interesting that’s happening in your community.

If you’re sending a promotional e-mail, focus on one item (e.g., strawberries) or one category of items (e.g., small fruits). Instead of simply selling the item itself, however, provide interesting related content that uses your product—for instance, a recipe for a summer cocktail that includes strawberries, or tips on how to freeze your bounty of U-pick strawberries. Don’t forget to mention that the item is in stock, and the hours when customers can buy it.

How Long Should a Marketing E-mail Be?

Considering that you have about 8 seconds to catch a reader’s attention, short and sweet is a good basic rule! Stick to 300 words or less for a featured newsletter article, and 100 words or less for secondary articles. Whenever possible, break up longer passages of text with visual elements such as bulleted or numbered lists, or boldface run-in heads, like the ones at the beginning of this post.  

How Often Should You Send a Marketing E-mail?

Because most of your sales happen during a condensed period of time, it’s best to send e-mails to your customers weekly during the growing season, to keep them updated on what they can buy from you and where they can find you.

You can easily cut back during the slower seasons: consider biweekly mailings during the ramping-up period in spring, when you have just a handful of products in stock, and monthly e-mails during the off season. Yes, you should definitely keep sending e-mails even during the off season! Customers won’t expect you to have products in inventory, but they will appreciate hearing from you on topics like winterizing your home garden, how to incorporate different foods into holiday menus, and what’s going on at your farm—whether that’s a new barn being raised, a picturesque snowfall, or your livestock or pet mascots frolicking outdoors.

It’s okay to make these e-mails shorter; the point isn’t to write New Yorker-length features about farming, but to keep your farm top of mind for customers, and to cultivate the image that you’re a resource for more than just a pint of berries. The attention to serving your customers will pay off with increased customer loyalty and sales.

Sending marketing e-mails or newsletters isn’t as hard as it might seem, and it’s one of the best ways to keep in regular contact with customers and encourage them to spread the word about your farm to friends. Spend a little time up front on planning, and you’ll reap the rewards later.

Got a question about e-mail marketing? If you’re a current member, get in touch with our communications manager, Robin Catalano, at nysbga@gmail.com.