PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA 1 | Page TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Previous Pest Management Strategic Plan .............................................................................................. 5 Development of the New Plan .................................................................................................................... 5 STRAWBERRY MARKET SHARE AND VALUE.................................................................................................... 10 STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................ 13 PEST MANAGEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL STRAWBERRY PLANTINGS ......................................................... 22 LAND PREPARATON THROUGH PLANTING ............................................................................................... 22 Activities Prior to Fumigation................................................................................................................. 22 Soil Fumigation ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Planting ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Work Group Recommendations for Pest Management From Land Preparation through Planting ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 PLANT ESTABLISHMENT (after Planting up to Root Establishment) ....................................................... 26 Work Group Recommendations for Pest Management in California Strawberries During Plant Establishment ........................................................................................................................................... 27 VEGETATIVE GROWTH ................................................................................................................................. 28 Cultural and Worker Activities .............................................................................................................. 28 INSECTS AND MITES ................................................................................................................................. 28 Work Group Recommendations for Insect and Mite Management in California Strawberries During Vegetative Growth .................................................................................................................... 32 WEEDS ........................................................................................................................................................ 33 Work Group Recommendations for Weed Management in California Strawberries During Vegetative Growth ................................................................................................................................. 35 DISEASES.................................................................................................................................................... 35 Work Group Recommendations for Disease Management in California Strawberries During Vegetative Growth ................................................................................................................................. 39 Nematodes .............................................................................................................................................. 40 Work Group Recommendations for Nematode Management in California Strawberries During Vegetative Growth .................................................................................................................... 40 VERTEBRATE PESTS .................................................................................................................................... 40 Work Group Recommendations for Vertebrate Control During Vegetative Growth ................. 40 FRUIT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH HARVEST ................................................................................................ 41 Cultural and Worker Activities .............................................................................................................. 41 INSECTS AND MITES ................................................................................................................................. 41 2 | Page Work Group Recommendations for Insect Management in California Strawberries from Fruit Development through Harvest ............................................................................................................. 45 WEEDS ........................................................................................................................................................ 45 Work Group Recommendations for Weed Management in California Strawberries from Fruit Development through Harvest ............................................................................................................. 46 DISEASES.................................................................................................................................................... 46 Work Group Recommendations for Disease Management in California Strawberries from Fruit Development through Harvest ............................................................................................................. 48 VERTEBRATE PESTS .................................................................................................................................... 49 Work Group Recommendations for Vertebrate Control in California Strawberries from Fruit Development through Harvest ............................................................................................................. 49 POSTHARVEST ............................................................................................................................................... 49 DISEASES.................................................................................................................................................... 49 INSECTS ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 Work Group Recommendations for Postharvest Insect and Disease Management ................. 50 STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY CONCERNS ......................................................................................................... 51 Labor and influence on Pest Managment ......................................................................................... 51 New Products ........................................................................................................................................... 51 Regulatory Restrictions ........................................................................................................................... 52 IR-4 System Project Priorities ................................................................................................................. 54 International Trade/CODEX................................................................................................................... 54 Work Group Recommendations for International Trade/Codex Concerns ................................ 54 Consumer Perception ............................................................................................................................ 54 Worker Protection ................................................................................................................................... 55 Work Group Recommendations for Worker Protection ................................................................... 55 Food Safety .............................................................................................................................................. 55 Work Group Recommendations for Food Safety .............................................................................. 56 Impact of Weather, Drought, and Irrigation....................................................................................... 56 CRITICAL ISSUES FOR THE CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY ............................................................... 58 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 60 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................................................... 64 1. Land Preparation, Cultural Practices, Pest Management Activities and Nursery Planting and Harvesting in California .............................................................................................................................. 64 a. Oxnard Production Region .............................................................................................................. 64 b. Santa Marial Production Region ..................................................................................................... 64 3 | Page c. Watsonville/Salinas Production Region .......................................................................................... 64 2A. Description of Cultural Practices, 2016 ...........................................................................................