Freeze Injury On Blueberry Plants

Feb 25, 2015

By dscurry

Where freeze damage has occurred on southern highbush, an immediate application of Pristine at the high rate is recommended. There’s a lot of damaged plants from freeze protection and/or the weather itself. Where cold-damaged blooms/shoots are observed, Botrytis will be a real issue. The optimum temperature for infection of Botrytis is 59-68 F, but the optimum temp for spore germination is actually 68 F and above. That means we will have perfect temperatures for infection within the next day or two. With rain in the forecast it’s perfect conditions for botrytis.

Botryosphaeria fungi is also a concern as it will cause dieback that moves down canes to the crown. There will be an advantage to pruning out dead tissue in late February to mid-March. A fungicide should be applied after pruning. When pruning, review the weather forecast and attempt pruning when 3-4 days of dry weather (no overhead frost protection or irrigation as well) are predicted. This will also help to reduce infections on new pruning cuts, and again, consider use of fungicides after each day of pruning to prevent more infections. Do not push plants with excessive nitrogen this spring, as this might increase the problem with Botryosphaeria.

Below are pictures of Botryosphaeria.

Info provided by Dr. Phil Brannen, Dr. Gerard Krewer, Dr. Bill Cline (NC State), Dr. Dave Lockwood (Univ. of TN) and Danny Stanaland.

Source: uga.edu

Video: Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) knows that strong, modern port infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada’s agriculture. When our ports grow, Ontario grain farmers and Canadian farms grow too—and when we grow, Canada grows.

In this video, we highlight the importance of investing in port infrastructure and how these investments are key to growing Ontario agriculture and supporting global trade. The footage showcases the strength of both Ontario’s farming landscapes and vital port operations, including some key visuals from HOPA Ports, which we are grateful to use in this project.

Ontario’s grain farmers rely on efficient, sustainable ports and seaway systems to move grain to markets around the world. Port investments are crucial to increasing market access, driving economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Canadians.

Why Port Infrastructure Matters:

Investing in Ports = Investing in Farms: Modernized ports support the export of Canadian grain, driving growth in agriculture.

Sustainable Growth: Learn how stronger ports reduce environmental impact while boosting economic stability.

Global Trade Opportunities: Improved port and seaway systems help farmers access new global markets for their grain.

Stronger Communities: Investment in ports means more stable jobs and economic growth for rural communities across Ontario and Canada.

We are proud to support the ongoing investment in port infrastructure and to shine a light on its vital role in feeding the world and securing a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture.

Special thanks to HOPA Ports for providing some of the stunning port footage featured in this video.