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| Project Coordinator: Sam
Bellamy Indigo Farms 1590 Hickman Road NW Calabash, NC 28467 Tel: 910-287-6403 Fax: 910-287-5630 |
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| Cooperators Names: | Dr. Gina Fernandez - NCSU Horticulture |
| Cover Crops: | Dr. Nancy Creamer - NCSU Horticulture |
| Weed Specialist: | Dr. David Monks - NCSU Horticulture |
| Insect Specialist: | Dr. Ken Sorensen - NCSU Entomology |
| Area Specialist: | Milton Parker - NCCES/Brunswick County |
| Project Duration:3 years Amount of funds requested: | $9,935.00 |
The problem we want to address is weed control in brambles. On my farm, brambles, require a minimum of six to seven sprays through out the year. This amounts to approximately twelve to fifteen pounds of pesticides applied annually. Research on non-chemical alternatives to weed control in small fruits is minimal. Because blackberries are gaining in popularity and prices for the fruit are increasing, the time is ripe to develop sustainable methods to reduce chemical in-puts and maintain or increase yields. Knowledge gained through these experiments could be applied to other small fruit or vegetable crops.
It is, of course important to be able to lower input costs and increase net profits over the life of the bramble planting. The objective is to effectively manage both weeds and insects and reduce dependency on herbicides and insecticides.
A mow and blow method will also be used to mulch around the brambles. The object here will be to determine the proper mx of cover crops that will achieve the desired results. Suppression of target weed species and insects (cane borer, Japanese beetle and thrips) will be carefully monitored with the use of surveys and traps.
We will take yield date on the middle 100 feet of each row (non-replicated). This will include total yield, marketable yield and cull yield (diseases, insects and all fruit damage).
There will be two rows per treatment (see attachment). These treatments are listed below. A complete weed survey will be conducted to monitor weed pressure and determine the reduction of weeds by the various treatments.
Major weed species will be identified (winter annuals, summer annuals and any perennials). The surveys will be conducted each of the three years.
We plan to use an under cutter bar or mowing on the cover crops at the appropriate stage.
A cover crop of Crimson clover has already been established on the acre plot as of November 1998 in anticipation of this project. The field has been disked, harrowed and limed to the recommendations of the soil report. Six hundred of two blackberry varieties will arrive in February 1999.
The rows will be 300 feet in length and the field is 800 feet in width. The four sections are as follows in detail:
Spring 1999: Plant blackberries. Do weed survey and monitor for insects. Install irrigation. Sow extra seed to assure good stand. Keep in mind that one acre of rye / crimson clover has already been established. Set up weed management program.
Summer 1999: Plant Sudangrass. Make sure all cover crop plots are in good shape. Maintain regular IPM scouting on a weekly basis. Keep records. Trellis the blackberries
Fall 1999: Do weed and insect surveys, monitoring, measure weed pressure and check traps for insects. Have a local tour or a farm meeting. Make any adjustments. Evaluate present year's data. Plant subterranean clover and crimson clover in appropriate plots. Collect all critical data.
Spring 2000: Apply needed herbicides and fertilize. Examine for presence of insects. Evaluate effectiveness of cover crops. Insect and weed pressure.
Summer 2000: Harvest of fruit and collect needed yield data. Weed and insect surveys. Use cut and mow on Sudangrass.
Fall 2000: Do weed and insect surveys. Evaluate and compare with previous year's data. Evaluate to see where problems are. Conduct on farm tour or meeting. Check on establishment of winter cover crop. Progress report. Plant crimson clover and subterranean.
Winter 2000: Evaluate all collected data. Any needed adjustments. Determine degree of control achieved. Are we getting a more healthy soil and plant environment? Order weeder geese and make any needed repairs and adjustments.
Spring 2001: Follow up on all previous data, discuss and evaluate. Evaluate insect and weed surveys. Plans for detailed scouting/IPM.
Summer 2001: Establishment of summer crop. Emphasis on strong cane growth. Monitor traps and do weed and insect surveys. Monitor for all insect and weed pressure. Take soil and nematode samples. Weekly scouting. Summer field day/tour.
Fall/Winter 2001: Completion of project. Detailed summary report. Meetings and sharing of results of project.
We all anticipate sharing this valuable information at the Annual North Carolina Fruit and Vegetable Expo and possibly the North American Bramble Grower's Association.
Two field days will be conducted on the farm by NCSU Research and Extension Personnel. Information will also be shared at regular meetings of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and the Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference in November.
Regular and timely news articles (6-8) will be sent out. Three annual area sustainable agriculture tours will be conducted.
An annual progress report and final summary report will be submitted and shared with legislatures, agri-business firms and leading farm leaders. A researched-based fact sheet will be distributed to interested growers.
A regional educational workshop will be conducted at Indigo Farms to discuss the alternative approaches and results.
The project cooperators and their responsibilities are as follows:
| YEAR 1999 | |
|---|---|
| FUNDS REQUESTED | BUDGET CATEGORY |
| Personnel and Labor | |
| Insect Scouting and Survey | 100 hours @ $7.00 per
hour $700.00 |
| Weed Scouting and Survey | 100 hours @ $7.00 per
hour $700.00 |
| Weed Specialist | 10 hours @ $50.00 per hour $500.00 |
| Insect Specialist | 10 hours @ $50.00 per hour $500.00 |
| TOTAL | $2400.00 |
| Operating and Supplies | |
| Cover Crop Seeds | |
Crimson Clover Subterranean Clover | $30.00 $150.00 $70.00 |
| Insect Traps | $50.00 |
| Data Sheets | $25.00 |
| Rain Gauge | $5.00 |
| Telephone, Fax, Etc. | $30.00 |
| Herbicide | $150.00 |
| Weeder Geese | $40.00 |
| Goose Tractor | $500.00 |
| Poultry Feed and Supplies | $100.00 |
| TOTAL | $1150.00 |
| Travel | |
| Trip to Exchange Ideas on Weeder Geese | 400 @ $.30 per mile $120.00 |
| TOTAL | $120.00 |
| Outreach | |
| Field Day - Signs, Fliers, Letters, Report Handouts | $125.00 |
| TOTAL | $125.00 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Projected | $3795.00 |
| TOTAL | $3795.00 |
| YEAR 2000 | |
|---|---|
| FUNDS REQUESTED | BUDGET CATEGORY |
| Personnel and Labor | |
| Insect Scouting and Survey | 85 hours @ $7.00 per
hour $600.00 |
| Weed Scouting and Survey | 85 hours @ $7.00 per
hour $600.00 |
| Weed Specialist | 10 hours @ $50.00 per hour $500.00 |
| Insect Specialist | 10 hours @ $50.00 per hour $500.00 |
| TOTAL | $2200.00 |
| Operating and Supplies | |
| Cover Crop Seeds | |
Crimson Clover Subterranean Clover | $30.00 $150.00 $70.00 |
| Insect Traps | $50.00 |
| Data Sheets | $25.00 |
| Telephone, Fax, Etc. | $30.00 |
| Herbicide | $150.00 |
| Weeder Geese | $40.00 |
| Poultry Feed and Supplies | $100.00 |
| TOTAL | $645..00 |
| Travel | |
| Trip | $100.00 |
| TOTAL | $100.00 |
| Outreach | |
| Field Day - Signs, Fliers, Letters, Report Handouts | $125.00 |
| CFSA Meeting - slides and presentation | $200.00 |
| Bramble meeting NCVG Conference | $200.00 |
| TOTAL | $525.00 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Projected | $3470.00 |
| TOTAL | $3470.00 |
| YEAR 2001 | |
|---|---|
| FUNDS REQUESTED | BUDGET CATEGORY |
| Personnel and Labor | |
| Insect Scouting and Survey | 50 hours @ $7.00 per
hour $350.00 |
| Weed Scouting and Survey | 50 hours @ $7.00 per
hour $350.00 |
| Weed Specialist | 10 hours @ $50.00 per hour $500.00 |
| Insect Specialist | 10 hours @ $50.00 per hour $500.00 |
| TOTAL | $1700.00 |
| Operating and Supplies | |
| Cover Crop Seeds | |
Crimson Clover Subterranean Clover | $30.00 $150.00 $70.00 |
| Insect Traps | $50.00 |
| Data Sheets | $25.00 |
| Telephone, Fax, Etc. | $30.00 |
| Herbicide | $150.00 |
| Weed Geese | $40.00 |
| Poultry Feed and Supplies | $100.00 |
| TOTAL | $645.00 |
| Travel | |
| Trip | $100.00 |
| TOTAL | $100.00 |
| Outreach | |
| Field Day - Signs, Fliers, Letters, Report Handouts | $125.00 |
| CFSA Meeting - slides and presentation | $200.00 |
| Bramble meeting NCVG Conference | $100.00 |
| TOTAL | $425.00 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Projected | $2670.00 |
| TOTAL | $2670.00 |
PREVIOUS PAGE
Information for this document was provided by Cathy Graham, Area
Specialized Agent, Resource Development
Document created
by Susan Johnson, Cumberland County Center on 8/9/99.
Revised by Roberto Cruz on 2/08/2006
