CRANBERRY PRODUCTION a Guide for Massachusetts
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CRANBERRY PRODUCTION A Guide for Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Cranberry Station College of Natural Resources and the Environment East Wareham, MA CRANBERRY PRODUCTION: A GUIDE FOR MASSACHUSETTS Editors Hilary A. Sandler and Carolyn J. DeMoranville UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS PUBLICATION CP-08 UMASS-AMHERST COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT UMass Cranberry Station P.O. Box 569 East Wareham, MA 02538 (508) 295-2212 http://www.umass.edu/cranberry December 2008 Contributing Authors Anne Averill, Professor-Small Fruit Entomology University of Massachusetts-Amherst Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences Frank Caruso, Extension Associate Professor-Plant Pathology University of Massachusetts-Amherst Cranberry Station Carolyn DeMoranville, Station Director & Extension Associate Professor- Nutrition and Soils University of Massachusetts-Amherst Cranberry Station Peter Jeranyama, Extension Assistant Professor-Plant Physiology University of Massachusetts-Amherst Cranberry Station Jeffrey LaFleur, Executive Director Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association Kenna McKenzie, Research Scientist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia Linda Rinta, Cranberry Farm Planner Plymouth County Conservation District, Wareham Field Office Hilary Sandler, Extension Educator-Cranberry IPM University of Massachusetts-Amherst Cranberry Station Brian Wick, Director, Regulatory Services Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association Production Cover Design: Hilary Sandler and Martha Sylvia Cover Photograph: Jennifer Friedrich Manuscript Preparation and Design: Hilary Sandler Page Proofing: Deborah Cannon Acknowledgements Special thanks are extended to the following persons for their assistance in providing information, technical review, or technical and clerical support: Dan Barnett (NRCS), Deborah Cannon and Natalie Guerin (Cranberry Station), Jack Heywood (Stearns Irrigation), Martha Sylvia (Cranberry Station), and Steve Ward (chemigation consultant). ii Portions from the previous publication (SP-127) listed below have been updated slightly by the editors, but the initial authors’ names continue to be associated with their original work: Wildlife Utilization by S. Ellsworth and D. Schall of ENSR, Inc. Northborough, MA. Wetlands Functions by G. Hollands, ENSR, Inc., Northborough, MA. A product of the Cranberry Station, College of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and UMass Extension, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Massachusetts Extension offers equal opportunity in programs and employment. Trade names are used for identification; no company endorsement nor product discrimination is intended. The University of Massachusetts makes no warranty or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, concerning the use of these products. iii Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Botany and Basic Farm Features .................................................................................................... 3 Descriptions of Cranberry Bogs in Massachusetts ......................................................................... 7 Properties of Bog Soil ................................................................................................................... 11 Activities on a Cranberry Farm..................................................................................................... 13 Cultural Practices in Cranberry Production: Sanding and Pruning .............................................. 16 Harvesting and Handling Cranberries ........................................................................................... 22 Renovating Cranberry Farms ........................................................................................................ 26 Influence of Weather on Cranberry Production ............................................................................ 29 Water Use in Cranberry Production .............................................................................................. 39 Sprinkler System Design, Use, and Performance ......................................................................... 42 Application of Irrigation Water .................................................................................................... 53 Chemigation .................................................................................................................................. 57 Frost Management ........................................................................................................................ 60 Flood Management ....................................................................................................................... 66 Cranberry Cultivars ....................................................................................................................... 72 Integrated Pest Management ......................................................................................................... 85 Weed Management ....................................................................................................................... 94 Disease Management .................................................................................................................. 100 Insect Management ..................................................................................................................... 107 Nutrient Management ................................................................................................................. 125 Pollination ................................................................................................................................... 141 Sign Posting and Description of Zone II Regulations ................................................................ 149 Pesticide Registration, Licenses, Application, and Storage ........................................................ 151 Breakdown and Movement of Pesticides .................................................................................... 155 Normal Agricultural Practices for Maintenance or Improvement of Cranberry Bogs ............... 159 Conservation Planning for Cranberry Farming........................................................................... 165 Wetlands Functions of Cranberry Beds ...................................................................................... 167 Wildlife Utilization on Commercial Cranberry Wetlands Systems ............................................ 171 Directory of Agencies ................................................................................................................. 173 References ................................................................................................................................... 175 Index ........................................................................................................................................... 188 iv Preface The cranberry industry is important revised, enlarged, and reorganized to reflect economically and aesthetically to the current industry knowledge and to incorporate Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A lthough recent research. cranberry growers currently cultivate ca. 14,000 acres, they own more than 60,000 acres of land The intent of this publication is to provide the in the state. In the most recent survey, the wide range of Massachusetts growers with a cranberry industry accounted for 5,500 jobs and comprehensive, but workable, reference of $2 million in payroll (Cape Cod Cranberry cranberry production practices. I t is our hope Growers' Association, pers. comm.). E arnings that the information contained in this manual from the 2007 harvest were valued at ca. $64.6 will provide each reader with succinct and million for 1.51 million barrels (one barrel =100 relevant information that will guide their daily pounds of fruit) produced from 13,700 acres. decision-making in the field. Growers harvested an average of 109 barrels per acre during the 2007 growing season. The Anyone interested in the details of cranberry Massachusetts industry accounted for 23% of growing will benefit from the information the total domestic production (6.4 million presented in this publication. A n extensive barrels) in 2007. Wisconsin is the largest bibliography of historic and current research producer of cranberries in the United States information is available at the back of the (usually >50%). Massachusetts and Wisconsin publication. For specific management combine to produce over three-fourths of all recommendations, especially for pest control, U.S. cranberries. please consult the Cranberry Chart Book. T he Chart Book is updated yearly and is available as In recent years, potential, new, and experienced printed copies from the Cranberry Station by growers have expressed interest in obtaining request and on the Cranberry Station web site in additional information relating to the modern downloadable PDFs. practices associated with cranberry cultivation and production. In addition, there seemed to be Other interested parties, including conservation a need for a comprehensive resource containing commissioners, agriculture commissioners, an array of technical information and historical public officials, and real estate agents, who may perspectives that have formed the foundation of only be interested in a brief description