References 



Darrow, G. M. 1966. Vie Strawberry: History, Breeding, Hendrickson, R. 1981. Tlie Berry Book. BaWcnUnc. NY. 

 and Physiology. Holt, Rhincharl, and Winston. NY. 



Wilhelm, S. and J. E. Sagcn. 1974. A History of the 

 Hcdrick, U. P. 1925. Tlie Small Fniits of New York. Rept. Strawberry. Univ. Cal. Berkley, CA. 

 N. Y. Agric. Exp. Sta. J. B. Lyons Co. Albany, NY. 



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THE INITIATION OF A NEW IPM PROGRAM IN 

 STRAWBERRIES IN MASSACHUSETTS: 

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PILOT YEAR 1987 



Sonia Schloemann and Daniel Cooley 



Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts 



Strawberries are the most extensively planted 

 small fruit in Massachusetts. According to current esti- 

 mates by the Massachusetts Department of Food and 

 Agriculture there are approximately 500 acres of strawber- 

 ries grown commercially in the state. The estimated yearly 

 value of the crop is $5,000 per acre for an overall value of 

 approximately $2.5 million. An individual's actual crop 

 value is determined largely by the marketing methods used 

 and the price that he is able to obtain. It is clear, however, 

 that strawberries are a valuable crop and can provide 

 significant returns under the proper conditions. 



Most Massachusetts growers do not produce 

 large acreages of strawberries. The average grower man- 

 ages 3.5 acres, which illustrates the fact that strawberries 

 are often used as a cash crop to augment the income from 

 other fruit or vegetable crops. Strawberries fit in well with 

 these other cropping systems in terms of land require- 

 ments, machinery needed, and timing of harvest. 



Strawberry culture requires significant inputs in 

 production and pest control. The increased awareness of 

 the ecological risks and the rising costs of pesticide appli- 

 cation are putting a strain on Massachusetts growers and 

 are providing incentives for developing new management 

 strategies. Additional incentives include: the development 

 of resistance by pests and pathogens to certain pesticides; 

 the loss of registration of some pesticides because of 

 potential health hazards; and, the risk of exposure by the 

 public to the spray materials used in commercial straw- 

 berry production. This danger is enhanced by the fact that 



most of the berries are sold on a pick-your-own basis, so 

 consumers may be exposed to pesticide residues in the 

 field. 



With this situation as a backdrop, the Strawberry 

 IPM program embarked on its first season with a set of 

 objectives as stated in the Summer, 1987 issue ofFntit Notes 

 (6). To summarize these objectives, we sought to: (1) 

 identify the key pests causing economic injury to straw- 

 berries in Massachusetts; (2) establish consistent and 

 accurate sampling techniques for each key pest; (3) study 

 available management and control methods; (4) deter- 

 mine what the current pest control practices are and the 

 areas for potential change; (5) conduct trials using alter- 

 native fungicide spray recommendationsand evaluate their 

 efficacy; and (6) distribute a regular Strawberry Pest 

 Message. Efforts to address these objectives were made in 

 several ways: (1) surveys were conducted at 4 locations on 

 a weekly basis throughout the season to monitor pest 

 pressures; (2) observations were made at 10 additional 

 locations; (3) sampling methods for all pests were devel- 

 oped and evaluated at these locations; (4) scouting results 

 were reported weekly through harvest and occasionally 

 thereafter; (5) limited-fungicide spray recommendations 

 were made and evaluated; (6) literature searches were 

 conducted to determine the current stale of knowledge on 

 strawberry pest management; and (7) all Massachusetts 

 strawberry growers were surveyed to obtain information 

 on current practices and concerns. The results of these 

 efforts follow. 



