Other Fruits > IPM Guidelines: Raspberry

Introduction
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic approach to pest management that considers all factors affecting crop health, including plant nutrition, horticultural practices, and all suitable means of pest suppression. IPM programs are based on information obtained by sampling and monitoring, and this information is used to make management decisions. Pest management tactics may include biological, chemical, mechanical, and cultural methods. An IPM program for a given crop will include some essential elements, but some practices will not be appropriate in all situations: designing a farm-specific IPM program requires flexibility.

The Massachusetts IPM Guidelines are a list of best management practices, developed cooperatively by growers, university faculty and extension specialists, and private IPM consultants. Additional input was solicited from commodity associations and participants in IPM verification programs and IPM courses. Practices have been evaluated for their practicality and assigned points based on their importance to IPM and/or their difficulty. The guidelines for most crops have been tested and adjusted through the USDA Farm Service Agency ICM cost-share program and through the Partners with Nature program. While these guidelines represent the best management options currently available, they will evolve as new IPM technologies are developed.

IPM Guidelines can be used in a number of ways: 1.) As a checklist for farmers to evaluate their on-farm pest management programs and identify areas where management can be improved; 2.) To verify and document that IPM is practiced on the farm; 3.) As an educational tool which describes the scope and complexity of IPM to farmers, government officials, community groups and the general public.

Definitions
The followings terms are used in calculating points in the IPM guidelines:

Category or Grand Total Practice Points
Refers to the sum of all possible practice points described within a category or individual crop guideline. For example, if a grower used every practice in the guideline, all points would apply.

Adjusted Category or Grand Total Practice Points
Refers to the sum of all practice points appropriate for the crop, within a category or guideline. Because some practices may not apply to the site being assessed, the points associated with that practice may be deducted from the Total Practice Points. Such practices are marked with an asterisk (*) within each guideline.

Bonus Points
Refers to points associated with practices which are of potential value to an IPM system, and are worthy of trial, but are experimental or require exceptional effort. Point values associated with these practices do not contribute to the Total Practice Points but, if the practice is completed, the points are added when calculating Grand Total Practice Points. Bonus points are labeled as such within the guidelines.

Raspberry

by Sonia Schloemann

Preplant Practices

1. Land is planted to cover crop(s) for one year prior to establishing raspberry planting.
   Land is not planted with Solanaceous plants (potato, tomato, eggplant, etc.), alfalfa,
   wild brambles, or strawberries within 2 years of establishing raspberries. 5 pts
2. Irrigation is supplied to the plants. 5 pts
   • A water use plan that minimizes disease development, optimizes
     water-use efficiency and minimizes erosion and runoff is used. (In most
     cases, this means the use of a trickle irrigation system.) 2 pts
   • A fertigation system is installed and used for fertilizer delivery. 2 pts
3. Raspberry plantings are made on raised beds to optimize water and air drainage,
   where appropriate. *5 pts
4. Nematode sampling is conducted before establishing raspberries. 2 pts
5. Only virus indexed plants are used. 5 pts
6. Raspberry plants are mulched during the first year of planting only; mulch is
   removed in subsequent years. 5 pts

Category Total 31 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Fields have been evaluated with an appropriate soil test for nutrient status and pH
   for the current year. 10 pts
2. Fertilizer applications are based on soil tests and leaf tissue analysis. 5 pts
3. Pruning is conducted after harvest to remove diseased, and insect-infested wood. 5 pts
4. Spent canes (unless diseased or insect-infested) are allowed to remain in place until
   midwinter as they provide important carbohydrate reserves for the following year's
   crop. Thus, spent canes are not pruned out until mid- to late-winter or early spring. 5 pts
5. Prunings are flail-mowed, chopped, incorporated into the soil or removed from the field. 5 pts

Category Total 30 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Insecticide/fungicide sprayer is calibrated at the start of the season. 5 pts
2. Herbicide sprayer is calibrated at the start of the season. 5 pts
3. Spray records are maintained and organized. 5 pts
4. Pesticide selections are made with the goal of controlling the target pest and of
   preserving natural enemies, when that information is available. 5 pts

Category Total 20 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Disease problems are accurately identified and management strategies tailored to
   actual diseases present in the field in current season. 10 pts
2. Detailed records are kept to document field history of diseases, weather
   information, and management strategies used and the results. Varietal differences
   are noted. 2 pts
3. Disease resistant cultivars are chosen, if appropriate, when planting new sites. *5 pts
4. Rows and trellises are spaced and oriented to achieve optimal airflow and
   circulation to allow for good drying conditions for foliage and reduce the tendency
   for disease development. 5 pts
5. Raspberry plantings are made on raised beds where needed, such as heavy,
   wet soils. *5 pts
6. For cane disease control, no fungicides are applied after bud break. 5 pts
7. Fungicide applications made after bloom are based on wet weather conditions. 5 pts

Category Total 37 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Insect problems are accurately identified and management strategies tailored to
   actual insect pests present in the field in current season. 10 pts
2. Detailed records (including maps, if appropriate) are kept to document field
   history of insect pests, management strategies used and the results. Note
   varietal differences. 2 pts
3. Insecticides are not sprayed when bees are active during bloom. 5 pts
4. Tarnished plant bug nymphs are monitored weekly using flower truss counts
   starting at 10% bloom and continuing until harvest begins. Control measures are
   not taken until the action threshold of either 0.25 nymphs per truss or 10% infested
   trusses is exceeded. 5 pts
5. Twospotted spider mites (TSSM) are monitored weekly until harvest (bimonthly
   after renovation) by systematically examining at least 50 mid-tier leaves and
   determining presence or absence of TSSM on those leaves.
   Control measures are not taken until:
   • 25% of leaves sampled show presence of TSSM but no predator 5 pts
     mites are found. OR
   • 30% of leaves sampled show presence of TSSM and some predators
     mites are found. 5 pts
6. Twospotted spider mites are controlled using releases of predator mites. *5 pts
7. Pesticides used for controlling other insects and diseases are selected to avoid
   those which are toxic to mite predators. 5 pts
8. Scouting records are organized and maintained from year to year. 5 pts

Category Total 42 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. A weed survey is conducted at least once per season with weed problems noted
   on field maps. 5 pts
2. Herbicide rate, selection and spot or strip applications are based on the results of
   the weed survey. 5 pts
3. Herbicides of the same class are not applied in succeeding years in order to avoid
   herbicide resistance development. 2 pts

Category Total 12 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Manager attends one or more state/regional/national berry management workshops
   or conferences. 5 pts
2. Manager is a current member of the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers
   Association. 5 pts
3. Manager has a current year's copy of NE Small Fruit Pest Management Guide. 5 pts

Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Acknowledgment
The author recognizes the importance of the New York IPM Program Elements for Raspberries by J. Kovach in the development of these guidelines.

Selected IPM Articles:
2001 Annual Report
APPLE
IPM Guidelines: Apple
OTHER FRUITS
IPM Guidelines: Highbush Blueberry
IPM Guidelines: Wine Grape
IPM Guidelines: Raspberry
IPM Guidelines: Strawberry