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Wild
Blueberry Newsletter |
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March 2008 A new herbicide, Mesotrione, has been registered for use in wild blueberries in Maine; it is manufactured by Syngenta under the product name of Callisto®. It is a bio-rational herbicide which is a classification of herbicides comprised of naturally-occurring compounds. Callisto® herbicide owes its origins to the discovery of a natural herbicide secreted by the Callistemon plant. It has low acute toxicity via the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. In lowbush blueberries, Callisto® may only be applied in the non-bearing year. This application may be a broadcast application. Up to 6 oz/a of Callisto® may be applied in a single application, or 3 oz/a followed by 3 oz/a if used in a split application program. No more than two applications per year are allowed and not more than 6 oz/a in total per year. If two applications are made, they must be made no closer than 14 days apart. The use of a Crop Use Concentrate (COC) type adjuvant at 1% v/v is recommended (for post emergence foliar applications). Post emergence applications work best when the weeds are small and may be made as broadcast or spot treatments. Be sure to scout your weeds and get the application on early to get the best results. It is effective on weeds such as sedges and vetch and burnweed and is a good alternative to use in rotation with the existing herbicides, Velpar and Sinbar because it has a different mode of action to kill the weeds. Both Velpar and Sinbar are photosynthetic inhibitors; they disrupt the plant's ability to use the sun to produce food. Mesotrione application causes the inhibition of the enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) in target plants so that in sensitive plants carotenoid biosynthesis is disrupted in the chlorophyll pathway, resulting in a bleaching effect (plants will turn white). You will need both the the Callisto® Federal Label and the Callisto® Herbicide Supplemental Label for cranberry, blueberry and lingonberry, flax, pearl millet. You can obtain these from the dealer who sells you the product, the Board of Pesticides Control (207) 287- 2731 or from me on our website. (Wild Blueberry Fact Sheet page www.wildblueberries.maine.edu/factsheets.html).
Fact Sheet 239 under the table for Chemical Weed Control Methods for Wild Blueberries - Annual and Perennial Weeds - Comments and Limitations should read: Apply in spring after pruning in nonbearing year before blueberries emerge. MAY NOT BE APPLIED IN BEARING YEAR. Use lower rates on poorly drained soils and steep slopes.
Public Relations Blueberries received a big publicity boost with a Dr. Oz special on the Oprah Winfrey Show! On February 5th, Oprah’s “favorite doctor” Mehmet Oz, MD, presented the Ultimate Checklist for Great Aging, which included a segment on antioxidant foods. Dr. Oz singled out blueberries as one of his favorite anti-aging superfoods calling them “brain berries” and “leaders” of the antioxidant pack. The health story built over the years, by the Wild Blueberry Association, continues to thrive driving home the antioxidant message to consumers. The Oprah Winfrey Show is the number one talk show in America with more than 10 million viewers daily. This segment is impressive not only because it drew so many viewers, but because of the endorsement of the blueberry health story from some of the most influential voices in health and wellness…Oprah and Dr. Oz. See the attached link to read more. New Trade Advertising Campaign New creative design to effectively bundle all the Wild Advantages into one compelling selling story has been finalized. The Wild Blueberry “Health Halo” and the Wild Advantages of taste, size, performance and mystique combined into a powerful case New Trade Advertising Campaign, the development of a new trade advertising strategy designed to effectively bundle all the Wild Advantages into one compelling selling story, is underway. The Marketing Committee is reviewing concepts that strengthen our value-added ingredient message for the trade. While health is the key demand-building message, the combination of health with all the Wild Advantages creates an even more compelling case. The Wild Blueberry “Health Halo” and the Wild Advantages of taste, size, performance and mystique combine into a very powerful selling story. New creative will debut in the March issue of Nutraceuticals World. This is their annual Antioxidants review. We hope to have editorial content in the magazine in addition to the advertising as writers have contacted us for information. This will be the first new trade ad since 2006. The “#1 Antioxidant Superfruit”...”Pedestal” ad has been running since early 2006. New creative is in keeping with agreed upon strategy discussed during 2008 planning. Ads will run throughout the year in the following categories: grocery, nutraceuticals, dairy, bakery and packaged goods. Sincerely,
David E.
Yarborough
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