An advanced school addressing integrated crop management of highbush blueberries

2003 Annual Report for ENE03-079

Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2003: $16,550.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2005
Region: Northeast
State: New Jersey
Project Leader:
James Barry
Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Researc

An advanced school addressing integrated crop management of highbush blueberries

Summary

Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are native to North America, currently grown in more than 30 states in the United States on nearly 40,000 acres. The recent reports on the health benefits of fresh blueberries have tremendously increased consumer interest in blueberries. We are beginning to notice that this new consumer awareness is also translating into more interest in the cultivation of highbush blueberries.

The primary objective of this project is to host a three-day workshop to provide comprehensive, science-based information on Integrated Crop Management of highbush blueberries. The core-clientele for this workshop includes county agricultural agents, university personnel serving in IPM programs, private consultants, and growers. The workshop will include classroom sessions, a laboratory session on diagnosis of major pests, and a field tour to several blueberry farms. Training materials including fact sheets, digital slides, and proceedings of the workshop will be produced for distribution to all workshop attendees.

The classroom session will discuss latest information on site selection, soil requirements, field preparation, cultivar choice, planting, pruning, soil fertility management, water management, harvesting, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, management of insects, diseases, weeds, and wildlife, IPM programs, and marketing. The laboratory sessions will cover the identification of insects, diseases, and weeds. The field tours will highlight production techniques, and showcase latest equipment. An expert panel will answer questions from the attendees. By providing comprehensive training to clientele who serve as advisors to blueberry growers, we will enhance profitability and sustainability of blueberry culture in the Northeast and throughout the U. S. Pre- and post-workshop surveys will measure changes in skills and knowledge level of core-clientele as a result of training received at the workshop.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Of the approximately 100 core clientele who attend the educational program, about half will develop and deliver a high-quality educational program to blueberry growers involving blueberry culture incorporating elements learned at the advanced school.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Milestones: Performance target #1

Milestone 1: Careful scrutiny of personnel involved in advising blueberry growers in the Northeast to identify appropriate personnel for receiving training: We have identified approximately 200 core clientele who may be interested in attending the school. We have sent two mailings detailing all aspects of the blueberry school to these core clientele. This process should identify 100 most appropriate personnel to attend the advanced school.

Milestone 2: Approximately 100 core clientele will attend the advanced school to receive science-based information on all aspects of highbush blueberry culture involving classroom, laboratory, and field sessions: We are beginning to receive registrations for the Blueberry school to be held March 30-April 2, 2004 in Jamesburg, NJ. We are hopeful that the attendance at the blueberry school will meet our expectations.

Milestone 3: About half of the participants will develop and deliver a high-quality educational program to blueberry growers involving blueberry culture incorporating elements learned at the advanced school. This is the performance target of this proposal: Surveys conducted before and after the workshop will provide this information. We will conduct post-school surveys in the second year of the project.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

We have assembled an excellent program entitled "Integrated Crop Management of Highbush Blueberries" to be held in Jamesburg, NJ, March 30-April 2, 2004. We have mailed this program to clienetele including growers, County Agricultural Agents, Extension Specialists, private consultants, agribusinees owners, and IPM staff. Registrations for the workshop are trickling in.