Hi, everyone
This production season is a very challenging year for the wild
blueberry industry. Due to many significant weather events, Nova Scotia’s wild
blueberry yield was down (Est. 38 million lbs, about a 33% reduction from last
year) in 2023 and on top of that, we are seeing low farm gate prices.
A low farm gate price impacts the farm's financial situation
in the current season and brings up challenges for future seasons’ management. Many
of you already started thinking about next season’s management input, but are unsure
what the blueberry market and price might look like next year, which can be stressful
and challenging.
In this post, I want to share some information to help with your
planning and your personal wellness.
Yes, farming is full of uncertainties and challenges, but there
are hopes. After mowing your fields, a new production cycle will start, that’s hope;
When you start to see new sprouts in the spring, that’s hope; When you observe bees
working hard around blueberry blooms, that’s hope. There will be good years
ahead of us, let’s keep our hopes up!
Supporting the Mental Health of Nova Scotia Farmers
We Talk, We Grow. https://wetalkwegrow.ca/.
I hope you take care of your wellbeing and if you need
support to get through this challenging time, there is a good resource developed
by Farm Safety Nova Scotia. Please go to their website, and find the information
or contacts for your needs.
Two Useful Wild Blueberry Factsheets
In 2017, Perennia published two factsheets related to managing
wild blueberry fields when farm gate prices are low.
Managing Good Wild Blueberry Fields when Farm Gate Prices
are Low: this factsheet focuses on how to manage good wild blueberry fields. https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/managing-good-wild-blueberry-fields-when-field-prices-are-low.pdf.
Integrating Rest Periods into a Wild Blueberry Production
Cycle: many of you might want to rest fields or cut inputs. This factsheet
introduces some great points and things to consider while resting fields,
especially on weed management. https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/integrating-resting-wbb-fields.pdf.
Resting fields doesn’t mean you should forget about the weed management program
as by the time you want to bring those fields back to production, the recovery
cost could be high. A minimum weed management input is recommended if you want
to continue production in the near future.
A minimum weed management input can be mowing, cutting
above-canoy weeds and repeated cutting throughout the growing season, spot
treatment (spreading dogbane, goldenrods etc.) and selecting low-price herbicides
for major weeds (sheep sorrels, hair fescues, goldenrods, annual grasses etc.).
This 2022 herbicide price table can be found under the wild
blueberry management tool, and you will also find other chemical and fertilizer
prices. I strongly recommend you use this tool and plan your input based on
your comfort level.
Management Tool: Go to: https://nswildblueberries.com/.,
Click on Grower Resources, then click on “Management Tool”. The Excel sheet
will be downloaded automatically.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you need to get a
second opinion on your input planning.
Thank you!
Hugh Lyu, Wild Blueberry Specialist, Perennia
902-890-0472.