Strawberry Updates on Neo-P from NC Strawberry Association
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🍓Strawberries: Update on Neo-P
Hello everyone,
As we all probably know, the events of the last week have been very disruptive to our industry. I think everyone expected that we may have some disease pressure throughout the growing season, but no one thought we would see the cancellation of plant orders due to this disease. I have purposely waited to send this email in hope of getting a little better handle on the scope and severity of the event. The NC Strawberry Association board and I have been fielding questions and trying to connect growers who have those questions with the professionals. I have personally spoken with Dr. Bill Cline and others about where they see this issue going and what the association could do to help. Below you will find several different correspondences where our industry specialists have provided information for your consumption. Please review the attached information and please feel free to ask questions or just reach out to talk. I mostly want each grower that reads this to know that I understand their hardships and concerns with the current issues at hand. I also want everyone to know that based on my conversations with so many of you over the last week the issues we are currently facing will likely change our industry. We have the opportunity to face this challenge as a team and that is exactly what I plan to do in working with all of you to find solutions to our industry’s problems. I have one last thought after reading Dr. Mark Hoffmann's email I would like to concur with him that whether or not we’re at the nursery level or propagator or even grower this is a problem that we’re all involved in; let’s work together to create a supply line that provides good clean plants for everyone. I look forward to helping any of our growers that may have been involved.
James (JR) Odom President, NC Strawberry Association Phone: (919) 738-2928 Email: jrodom1426@gmail.com
Strawberries: Update on Neo-P
Below are two recent articles posted that do a good job of explaining the situation and what grower options may be moving forward:
From our NC State University Strawberry Breeding Program & Extension Specialist, Gina Fernandez:
Here is a link to cultivar trials that the NCSU strawberry breeding program has conducted for the last 10 years. We test cultivars at 1-3 locations every year. Chances are we have data on the alternative cultivars you may be considering.
Most importantly: It is very likely that you will receive plants that might be infected with the pathogen. This seems to be an industry wide problem, and it will be difficult to guarantee disease free plants this year.
MOST IMPORTANT: If you haven’t laid plastic yet, please consider not planting strawberries this year or you might consider planting less acreage. Please remember that you might have to use different cultivars (varieties) than you planned.
It is important that you will have to have sufficient spray equipment (high pressure, high volume), sufficient labor to do the spraying, and you need to stick to an aggressive spray schedule to be able to control this disease. Plug plants and Bare-root plants with leaves will be the most susceptible, due to the overhead watering they both need during the establishment phase.
Cut-off plants will be less affected due to no overhead water needed. However, as soon as cut-offs are showing leaves, you will have to begin your spray program.
