Blueberry/Blackberry Pruning and Production Meeting

Homeowner, farmer, or anyone considering starting production- all are welcome! March 2, 2017

Pruning demonstration 1 pm - 3 pm at Blueberry Thrill Farm. 6938 Eaglesfield Road, Gibsonville, NC 27249

production meeting and dinner From 6 PM—8 PM Guilford Cooperative Extension 3309 Burlington Road in Greensboro.

Do you have blueberry or blackberry plants in your yard? Would you like to learn how to get more fruit off of those bushes? Are you considering going in to production of blueberries or blackberries? Join us for an informative and educational afternoon pruning demonstration and evening production meeting.

Guest speakers Dr. Bill Cline and Dr. Gina Fernandez will discuss the proper techniques for planting, cultivation and pruning.

Questions? Contact Guilford Agriculture Agent John Ivey at 336-641-2416 or [email protected]

$10 fee to cover the cost of dinner. Checks must be made payable to Guilford County.

Preregistration is required by contacting Deb Fuller at [email protected] or Kathryn Holmes at [email protected].

North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Bill Cline - Bill Cline has an appointment that is 50 percent research and 50 percent Extension. He works specifically with blueberries and muscadine grapes focusing on disease issues these small fruits face. With production of both crops concentrated in the eastern part of North Carolina, Bill’s office is located at the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Castle Hayne. A member of the Department of Plant Pathology, his research interests include integrated pest management, cultural practices and disease resistance screening of blueberry. Since 1995, Bill has served as the blue- berry extension horticulturist for N.C. State, supporting Cooperative Extension agents statewide. He organizes the state’s annual blueberry meeting and conducts regional workshops on blueberry site selection, planting, growing, pruning and all other aspects of blueberry production.

Cline also maintains the N.C. Blueberry Journal, a blog where he posts information about the latest disease concerns, cultivars, propagation and guidelines for timely blueberry maintenance, such as pruning or fertilizing.

Gina Fernandez - Dr. Fernandez has a 70% Extension and 30% research appointment. Her respon- sibilities are to conduct relevant extension and research activities on small fruits in North Carolina. She has statewide Extension responsibilities in blackberries and raspberries (aka brambles or cane- berries). Dr. Fernandez is also responsible for teaching the Small Fruit Production class HS 422 every other year. Two years after she was granted tenure, the direction of her research and exten- sion program changed significantly as she took over the leadership of the Rubus (raspberry and blackberry) breeding program. She saw it as an opportunity to form a team to help grow the black- berry and raspberry industries. One of her students started calling their efforts “Team Rubus” and that term has become a theme of the brambles extension and research program."

Blueberry Thrill Farm - Owners Rick & Nan Langhorne began their “pick your own” Gibsonville farm in 1982. Originally starting with blackberries and blueberries, they experimented with a wide variety of vegetables as well. After some trial and error and lessons learned, they decided to focus on the blueberries and blackberries they have successfully grown for years, along with apples, peaches and flowers. Thanks to Rick and Nan for hosting this pruning demonstration.