EARI09-002:
Evaluating current and innovative weed management tools for New Brunswick lowbush blueberry production
Applicant:
Bleuets NB Blueberries
Project Lead:
Gavin Graham
Project Year(s):
2009
-2012
Status:
Complete
Funding Source:
Canada/New Brunswick Growing Forward (Non-Business Risk Management Programs)
Funding Program:
Enabling Agricultural Research and Innovation
Objective:
Examine the use of conventional herbicide chemistries and timings within lowbush blueberry production in addition to innovative herbicide groups and timings to improve weed control and productivity of lowbush blueberry production in New Brunswick.
Deliverables:
Information gained through this research will be widely distributed to the New Brunswick blueberry industry through field days, workshops, meetings, factsheets and project reports. Information will also be used to support User Requested Minor Use Label Expansion (URMULE).
Summary:
The wild blueberry industry is a vibrant and growing industry in New Brunswick. Weed issues, both in established production and new development, continue to be a significant limitation to wild blueberry production. Current industry priorities reflect a need to integrate new innovative weed management strategies within the existing weed control framework based on hexazinone use. This project consisted of multiple, ‘stand-alone’ herbicide research trials designed to evaluate control options for specific weed issues. Thirty-eight separate reports were compiled in response to the project objectives, including over five-hundred individual treatments evaluated. Weeds of interest included fescues, ticklegrass, poverty oatgrass, hawkweed, sheep sorrel, lambkill, rhodora and many other common weeds found within wild blueberry production in New Brunswick. Trials evaluated innovative products, application timings and sequences for the blueberry industry. The information helped to improve the production recommendations for New Brunswick wild blueberry producers and has been incorporated into multiple articles, presentations, fact sheets and the Wild Blueberry IPM Weed Management Guide. Trial data supported regulatory approval for many innovative herbicides and application patterns within wild blueberry, including mesotrione, sethoxydim, flumioxazin, glyphosate and foramsulfuron. In addition, trials evaluated the use of tank mixtures and repeated applications, ensuring sustainable herbicide use and protection against weed resistance. Using the information gained from this project, New Brunswick wild blueberry producers are able to manage weed issues in a more economical and environmentally sensitive manner.
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