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Wild
Blueberry Newsletter |
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May 2008 The notice below provides information on how to purchase a copy of “Farming for Bees: Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms”. If you prefer to download a copy in PDF format, you may do so at http://www.xerces.org/pubs_merch/Farming_for_Bees.htm or by clicking on our fact sheet link http://www.wildblueberries.maine.edu/factsheets.html.
This newly updated booklet outlines ways to protect and enhance habitat for native crop pollinators in the farm landscape. It includes advice on simple changes that can be made in farm management for the benefit of native bees, as well as information on how to enhance or provide important habitat features, such as nest sites and forage. Also included are new case studies and links to plant lists across the country. This publication will be printed in full-color and available at the end of June. Call now to get on the waiting list for your copy. Cost Per Copy (includes shipping and handling): If you are interested in these guidelines, you may also want to download our one-page fact sheets on crop pollination by native bees or learn about our Pollinator Conservation Handbook. To purchase a copy, complete the online Order Form or call the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation at (503) 232-6639. MOFGA is sponsoring an organic blueberry meeting on Thursday, June 5th at 1:30 p.m. at Ben Perrin’s Burke Hill Farm, located at 520 Black Woods Road in Cherryfield. Ben is about 4 miles west of Route 1 on Route 182, about 0.7 miles west of the Sprague Falls Road on the left or south side of the road. From Ellsworth on Route 183, after the Cherryfield town line, Ben is 0.3 miles past the “Welcome to Cherryfield” sign on the right-hand side of the road. Researchers from the Organic Transitions research project and other organic growers will be present to discuss the challenges of growing wild blueberries organically. The meeting will progress to Hugh Lassen (next door) later in the afternoon. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources is accepting proposals for development of environmentally sound water sources. Any commercial Maine farm business is eligible to apply to the program. The program will provide up to 75% of the cost of construction of a new or expanded water source or up to $80,000 per project, whichever is less. “This program has been highly successful”, according to Seth H. Bradstreet III, Commissioner of Agriculture. “To date more than 117 projects have been funded, and over 8,000 acres of crops have been protected from drought, which represents over 14 million dollars of crop value. This program has done wonders to protect farm income and the environment, a win-win for both groups.” Over half of the projects have been for new pond development and slightly less than half for new irrigation wells. Maine blueberry growers are using the funds to help the Atlantic Salmon, by building wells and taking pumps off the streams in Downeast Maine. In Aroostook County and in Central Maine, potato growers are working with the environmental community to build new ponds in order to minimize or eliminate withdrawals from streams during low flows in the summer months. These farmers are helping to protect fish habitat during low flows in summer, while the ponds create water sources to protect the crops from drought in the summer. The program was first established in 2001 under the leadership of the King administration after two disastrous years where over 32 million dollars of blueberry, vegetable, and potato crops were lost to drought. Since then the people of Maine have supported farmers with bonds to continue the program to protect crops and the environment. Currently about $1.5 million dollars is available for projects. Copies of applications, RFP eligibility, and guidelines can be obtained from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, 28 State House Station, Augusta, Maine, 04333, by email John.Harker@maine.gov, or by calling 207-287-7620. An online application can be downloaded from the web at http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/mpd/business/grantsandloans/. Deadline for proposals is 2:00 p.m., June 13th, 2008. Intrepid insecticide may be used to control spanworm, during bloom when bees are present. An Intrepid 2ee label that recommends a rate range for specified pests on bushberries and directions that allow lower spray gallonages on lowbush compared to highbush blueberries is now available. In addition, a PDF use directions update that pulls together both the Section 3 and 2ee labels for lowbush blueberries may be found in our fact sheet section under Insects http://www.wildblueberries.maine.edu/PDF/Intrepid2F.pdf Sincerely,
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Farming for Bees:
Guidelines for Providing 