July 2004

Pennsylvania Strawberries are featured in the “National View” column of The Strawberry Grower (NC Strawberry Association, July ’04). The information was taken from the Strawberry Crop Profile for Pennsylvania (2000, rev. 2002), plus additional information from Kathy Demchak. Pennsylvania strawberries rank fifth nationally in amount of production and the value of that production, and are fourth in fresh market production/income. Demchak notes, “Pennsylvania had the second highest average price in the nation in 2003, at $1.34/pound, up 3 cents from 2002. . . . Matted row is the production method for 90 – 95% of Pennsylvania’s 1,300 acres of strawberries. A few farms have as many as 30 acres, but there are many farms with only one acre or less. . . . The most commonly grown cultivar is Earliglow. . . . Plantings are normally maintained for three to five years. . . . Weeds are the largest problem Pennsylvania’s growers face . . . A low percentage of PA growers utilize fumigation. Weed control is the reason most commonly given by growers for trying strawberry plasticulture. . . Most of Pennsylvania’s strawberry growers are vegetable growers or tree fruit growers who also grow strawberries.”

Overview of the AGR-Lite Crop Insurance Program is presented in MFVGA Newsletter (Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Growers Assn, July ’04). “AGR-Lite is a revenue policy, rather than one based on acres and yield, as are most of the other crop policies. AGR-Lite is currently in 12 Northeast states and will be in five more states starting in 2005. . . . The policy covers a wide variety of crops and livestock enterprises . . . . including fresh market sweet corn and strawberries. Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite) is a streamlined whole-farm revenue protection package. The plan provides protection against low revenue due to unavoidable natural disasters and market fluctuations that affect income during the insurance year. Most farm-raised crops, animals and animal products are eligible for protection. . . . AGR-Lite can stand alone or be used in conjunction with other Federal crop insurance plans.” Detailed information is available at the USDA Risk Management Agency website by clicking here.

Many techniques available for repelling birds, reports The Fruit Growers News (July ’04). Author Marvin Pritts, Cornell University, summarizes by saying, “plastic netting is highly effective at keeping birds away from fruit plantings, but its application is very labor-intensive and costs are high. . . . a device such as ‘Bird-Gard’ can be effective for reasonable periods of time, particularly when supplemented with visual scare devices . . . Sugar can be an effective repellent as well, particularly in a dry year when bird pressure tends to be greater anyway. A combination of visual and audio scare devices, coupled with taste deterrents, is the most effective approach to reducing bird damage in orchards, vineyards and berry plantings.” Read the complete article at the New York State Ag Extension Service website, http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/fq/winter01-02/FQwinter01-02.pdf.

Is your operation prepared for a hurricane? asks Mid-Atlantic Grower (July ’04) in a column by Jim Johnson, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. “The possibility of a hurricane affecting your operation is one more of the inherent risks of doing business.” The article focuses on “the coastal states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. “A review of information from the National Weather Service for the period 1900 to 2000 indicated that there were few direct hits of hurricanes for the Mid-Atlantic region. . . . There is the possibility of a major hurricane making a direct hit in our area. However, our risk based on historical data is low. The potential of damage from peripheral effects of a hurricane remains. . . . rainfall will probably be the key issue and wind a secondary issue.” Johnson recommends identifying low-lying areas; checking structures for weaknesses; and, conducting safety and first aid training. He also notes last-minute preparations such as filling fuel tanks; filling sprayers with water; charging batteries; securing windows, doors and greenhouse vents as applicable; and cautioning employees to avoid driving into water of unknown depth. Find the article on the Mid-Atlantic Grower website at http://www.americanfarm.com/Grower.html.

Rooting Strawberry ‘Tips’ to Create Plugs for Raised-Bed Plasticulture Production in PA by S. Bogash and K. Demchack, Penn State University, is featured in Country Folks Grower, July ’04. the authors provide eight tips and five additional recommendations. The complete article is available in the HortReport at the Penn State Cooperative Extension, Lancaster County, website.

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