MSU plans blueberry sessions, field demos

The 2024 Blueberry Kick Off meeting/ Field Demonstration event is scheduled for March 6 in Fennville, Michigan.

The event is designed to deliver information on research and extension projects conducted in 2023 in support of Michigan’s blueberry Industry, according to a news release.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, the MSUE Small Fruit Team and the Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) are hosting the event, which will be at the MSU Trevor Nichols Research Center (TNRC) conference room and at the TNRC experimental blueberry field.

The event, which is scheduled for the morning, is divided into Indoor and outdoor activities.

The indoor session includes:

• Introduction: Cheyenne Sloan, blueberry and small fruit educator
• Industry Update: Michigan Blueberry Commission and the Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee
• Managing early insect pests: Rufus Isaacs, MSU Small Fruit Entomology
• Mummy berry and stem blights management: Timothy Miles, MSU Small Fruit Plant Pathology
• Horticulture program update: Josh Vanderweide, MSU Small Fruit Horticulture
• Frost protection: Carlos Garcia, IPM small fruit educator

In the outdoor session, a pruning demonstration at the TNRC Blueberry Experimental field will be hosted by VanderWeide and Garcia.

The objective of the session is to demonstrate different approaches to pruning blueberry bushes depending on the age of the plant and the blueberry variety. This session will take place depending on the weather conditions. Because the blueberry field is at the end of the experimental farm, transportation from the conference room to the blueberry fields will be provided.

Growers attending this event will receive credits for the renewal of their Michigan Pesticide Applicator License.

The event is no charge, but online registration is required.

Register online here.