Blueberries
GK Machine blueberry harvester receives AE50 award
GK Machine’s Berry Transport was just recognized with an AE50 award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). AE50 awards honor the year’s most innovative designs in engineering products or systems for the... more »
New members appointed to US Highbush Blueberry Council
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 13 members and their alternates to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council to serve three-year terms of office beginning Jan. 1, 2017. Newly appointed producer members are: Bill Steed, of... more »
Michigan blueberry producers to vote on research, education program
A referendum to determine whether to establish a Michigan Blueberry Research and Education Program and creating a Michigan Blueberry Commission will be conducted from January 9, 2017 through January 20, 2017 by the Michigan Department... more »
Learning curve steep for controlling spread of SWD
Michigan researchers are on the forefront of work being done to offset the continuing onslaught of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) on commercial blueberries. But the relative newness of the pest – and its complex behaviors... more »
Paul Sandefur to head Fall Creek breeding operations
Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, a global blueberry breeding and nursery stock company, has named Paul Sandefur as manager of its U.S. breeding program. Sandefur will lead the mid- and high-chill blueberry breeding program based... more »
Honeybee activity differs across growing regions in Washington State
Commercial production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is dependent upon rented colonies of honeybees (Apis mellifera) for meeting pollination requirements. Despite the prevalent use of honeybees, growers in Washington State and the greater Pacific... more »
Hearings set for PA 232 Michigan blueberry research program
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will conduct two public hearings regarding the establishment of a Michigan Blueberry Research & Education Program. Petitions from Michigan blueberry producers were submitted to MDARD requesting establishment... more »
True Blue Farms bouncing back from tornado damage
When a series of tornadoes with winds reaching in excess of 130 miles per hour ripped through southern and central Michigan in August, a blueberry operation near the tail end of harvest was caught in... more »