Farms.com Home   News

Extension Specialist Cesar Rodriguez-Saona Awarded USDA Grant for Integrated Pest Management of Blueberry

Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, extension specialist in entomology, Department of Entomology, is the principal investigator of a two-year, $199,783 grant from the USDA Crop Protection and Pest Management program for the project, “Improving Management of a Key Insect Pest of Blueberries Through Optimization of Pollination Services,” from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2026.

This grant is part of a $20 million investment by the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) program to address high priority issues related to pests, including insects, nematodes, pathogens, and weeds, and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The program supports projects that will increase food security and respond effectively to other major societal challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health.

Rodriguez-Saona and Rutgers post-doc Beth Ferguson, who is co-principal investigator on the grant-funded project, are investigating an integrated pest and pollinator management strategy for plum curculio, a persistent pest of blueberries in the mid-Atlantic. This pest damages the blueberry fruit through a scar left by feeding damage and from laying eggs, resulting in premature fruit drop from larvae.

Management can be conducted post-bloom, but pesticides cannot be applied while honeybees are present, explained Rodriguez-Saona.

“Because plum curculio adults arrive in blueberries around peak bloom, growers cannot adequately respond to increasing populations. Honeybee hives are currently kept in blueberries until the end of bloom, but whether this contributes significantly to yields is not known. The benefits of removing hives early to increase yields and better manage plum curculio may outweigh any effects on late-season fruit production.”

The overall goal of the funded project is to use plum curculio management as a model for effective creation and implementation of integrated pest and pollinator management strategies in pollinator-dependent crops.

Source : rutgers.edu

Trending Video

Introduction to Crop Scouting

Video: Summer Crop Scouting MN Farm!

Crop scouting is a vital part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), helping identify pests, optimize input use, and protect yields. Scouts act as the grower’s field observers, offering timely insights.

In this webinar, Liz Gartman, UW–Madison Extension regional crops educator, provides an introduction to crop scouting, covering everything from pre-field preparation to in-field tools, resources, and best practices.

Preparation includes understanding field history, gathering tools, and setting communication expectations. In the field, scouts assess plant health, pest presence, and environmental stress using systematic patterns. Accurate documentation and clear reporting are essential. Tools like soil surveys, weather data, and pest calendars support decision-making. Ultimately, crop scouting builds trust, supports sustainability, and ensures informed, timely responses to field conditions.