Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Fruits: berries (blueberries)

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: biological control, biorational pesticides, chemical control, monitoring/scouting, pesticide application timing, pesticide resistance management, pesticides, prevention, sanitation, Agronomical and IPM practices under the PAMS framework (Prevention, Avoidance, Monitoring, and Suppression)

• Crop Production: plant breeding and genetics, varieties and cultivars

We propose identifying current pest management strategies and critical needs for Northern Highbush Blueberry Production in Oregon and Washington by updating the 2011 Pest Management Strategic Plan (IPMSP) for Oregon and Washington Blueberries. This work will be accomplished by collaborating with university and extension specialists, as well as key
stakeholders, including producers, commodity group representatives, pest control advisors, and other technical experts. The most recent IPMSP for blueberries was first published by Oregon State University in 2004 and last revised in 2011 (DeFrancesco & Murray, 2011). As suggested by Murray and Jepson (2019), an update of an IPMSP should be conducted every three to five years to record current critical needs in research, education, and regulations. Hence, our team will gather information regarding major pests, including insects, weeds, and plant diseases, as well as other limiting factors, using a crop-stage evaluation of key pests and control methods. Additionally, the IPMSP will be created with consideration for regional boundaries, enabling us to provide location-specific information. In addition to outlining management practices for the blueberry industry, the updated version of the IPMSP will frame the research and educational gaps that require attention to ensure proper resource allocation towards future initiatives related to IPM implementation practices (Murray & Jepson, 2019). The execution of an IPMSP for blueberries in Oregon and Washington will solidify the dissemination of information on sustainable practices to decrease dependence on chemical pesticides while offering insights into IPM practices within a regulatory context.
The Oregon IPM Center will lead the process. To date, the center has led the development of IPMSPs for over 15 commodities, including brassicas, onions, hazelnuts, sweet cherries, cranberries, pears, potatoes, grass seeds, mint, and others in the Pacific Northwest (https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/oipmc/resources/resource-database).

1. Update the current IPMSP for blueberries: In collaboration with Oregon and Washington State faculty and extension specialists, we will connect with key members of the Oregon and Washington Blueberry Industry. All will have equal time to provide feedback, assisted by a professional facilitator. After the process is completed, the final document will be published through OSU Extension and the National IPM Database.

2. Outreach: The resulting IPMSP will be posted on our Oregon IPM Center website, and content will be shared at relevant blueberry conferences.