Progress 07/01/16 to 06/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project can be divided into two segments. The first group includes fruit producers, farm-market growers, and others intersted in fruit production in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4). These groups of individuals primarily live in rural areas with some near the rural-urban interface and some within the urban core. The income level of many of our target audience is average to below average for Americans. Many of them are part time growers with fulltime employment off of the farm or site. A second audience consists of individuals interested in growing fruit for their families on small plots, many in the urban core of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Access to this research is also important for urban growers and home owners who would like to learn how to grow fruit for their own consumption as well as learn how others produce fruit in their area. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?As said, we maintain a blog site to disseminate our research results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our research contributes to the knowledge base of growing perennial fruit crops in USDA hardiness zone 4. Our apple rootstock research is located in one of the coldest growing areas in North America, thus a valuable trial site to understand rootstock resilence for our changing climate. We have reported our results via blog entries as well as through a multi-state project website, NC140.org. Day neutral strawberries have been part of our project for the last decade. Each year, we investigate different production systems to determine whether growers in our climate can produce high quality fruit and market it successfully. Currently we are trialling a production system, growing in elevated troughs, to determine yield and fruit quality compared to in ground raised bed production. We also maintain a blog at fruit.umn.edu to highlight research results for a number of projects including the ones specific to this project.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project can be divided into two segments. The first group includes large-scale fruit producers, farm-market growers, and other intersted in fruit production in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4). These groups of individuals primarily live in rural areas with some near the rural-urban interface. The income level of many of our target audience is average to below average for Americans. Many of them are part time growers with fulltime employment off of the farm. A second audience consists of individuals interested in growing fruit for their families on small plots, many in the urban core of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Access to this research is also important for urban growers and home owners who would like to learn how to grow fruit for their own consumption as well as learn how others produce fruit in their area. Changes/Problems:With travel restrictions and hiring slow-downs, our project scaled back its research using a small crew of people. We hope the 2021 season will allow for more direct interaction with our community of interest. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our group talked to numerous farmers and other interested in the tabletop system. Because of travel restrctions, all communication was done remotely. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are hopeful that travel will be allowed at the beginning of the season so we can interact face to face with our farmer cooperators and audiences interested in growing fruit crops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Locally grown strawberries are a high value crop, and the potential for a longer production season is possible with day-neutral cultivars. Weed control is ranked as a top concern for specialty crop farmers in the northern U.S. During 2019, we conducted a trial to determine if cover crops controlled weeds between rows as effectively as landscape fabric. We planted two strawberry cultivars, 'Albion' and 'Cabrillo', with four between-row treatments at West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), and an observational trial at Twin Cities Berry Company (TCBC). The four between-row treatments included winter canola (Brassica napus 'Torrington'), winter camelina (Camelina sativa 'Joelle'), winter ryegrass (Secale cereale 'Ryman'), and landscape fabric. There were significant differences in yield among between-row treatments. Yield was equivalent between fabric and annual ryegrass. Canola produced significantly lower yield per plant than either fabric or rye. There was no significant interaction with cultivar and between-row treatment, concluding between-row treatments operated similarly across cultivars. 'Cabrillo' had a higher average yield per plant than 'Albion' regardless of between-row treatment. Our farmer-collaborator concluded he will continue using fabric on a commercial scale due to reduced time inputs for weed control compared with cover crops. Our investigated the use of decomposable grit applied via an air blast sprayer as an aditional technique to control weeds. These methods are needed for horticultural crops that are grown organically and consumed directly, such as red raspberry. Abrasive grit emited via high air pressure is a new method for controlling weeds. Grit derived from corn cobs was examined for its efficacy during the year of raspberry establishment for two to three years at three sites (seven site-years) and compared with efficacy of hand-weeding as well as no weed control. Grit was applied once or twice weekly after raspberry transplantation in spring until weed emergence ceased in mid to late July. Grit was effective in controlling broadleaf weeds,averaging 94% control across site-years, but control of grass weeds was poor. Total weed (broadleaf plus grass) control across site-years ranged from 51 to 96% and averaged 78%. Raspberry cane growth was reduced by weeds, and grit-weeding at least partially alleviated these effects. Thus, abrasive grit could allow growers to manage broadleaf weeds effectively without herbicides or soil tillage. Another method for producing day neutral strawberries is using a tabletop system growing the plants in a soilless media. The University of Minnesota (UMN) Department of Horticultural Science and West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) are partnering with two beginning farmers to evaluate an innovative method of producing strawberries in a tabletop system. The outcome of this project is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops though greater capacity of sustainable practices of specialty crop production resulting in increased yield, reduced inputs, increased efficiency, increased economic return, and/or conservation of resources. Achievement of this outcome will be indicated by the number of growers/producers indicating adoption of recommended practices. We anticipate 200 farmers will learn about this project and gain the information needed to adopt the practice on their farms. Of these, 50 farmers will gain first hand knowledge of the system through on-farm tours. To fulfill this goal, we will evaluate a tabletop strawberry system that has been widely adopted in Europe and Canada to determine its feasibility for use in Minnesota.We established trial plantings at WCROC and UMN St. Paul campus, and at two farmer-cooperator sites to test this system in commercial production settings. We evaluated the performance of two day-neutral strawberry cultivars grown in two commercially available bagged soilless substrates. The bags were set on countertop-height grid top tables at all sites and fitted with fertigation systems. We collected and analyzed data on yield, plant health, and soil fertility. Additionally, we assessed the system for pest and disease control. During 2020, we established the four sites but had uneven plant survivial due, in part, to pH of the water. In west central MN, the pH of the water is very high. We spent this summer learning how to manage the pH but did not collect yield data at those sites.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
https://fruit.umn.edu/tabletop-strawberries
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project can be divided into two segments. The first group includes large-scale fruit producers, farm-market growers, and other intersted in fruit production in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4). These groups of individuals primarily live in rural areas with some near the rural-urban interface. The income level of many of our target audience is average to below average for Americans. Many of them are part time growers with fulltime employment off of the farm. A second growing audience consists of individuals interested in growing fruit for their families on small plots, many in the urban core of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Access to this research is also important for urban growers and home owners who would like to learn how to grow friut for their own consumption as well as learn how others produce fruit in their area. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students and faculty attended weekly laboratory meetings to review and discuss data and current literature. Additionally, funding partially through the project budget supported travel to a meeting for graduate students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results are made available via face to face meetings with different grower communities in addition to be written up and shared on the website fruit.umn.edu. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Follow the protocols that we have established.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Weed management, particularly within rows of perennial fruit plants, is challenging. There is a need to develop inexpensive but effective weed control strategies. To sustainably control weeds in perennial fruit plantings, we have begun investigating the use of decomposable grit applied via an air blast sprayer. More techniques to control weeds are needed for horticultural crops that are grown organically and consumed directly, such as red raspberry. Abrasive grit emited via high air pressure is a new method for controlling weeds. Grit derived from corn cobs was examined for its efficacy during the year of raspberry establishment for two to three years at three sites (seven site-years) and compared with efficacy of hand-weeding as well as no weed control. Grit was applied once or twice weekly after raspberry transplantation in spring until weed emergence ceased in mid to late July. Weeds and raspberry growth were assessed in August. Grit was effective in controlling broadleaf weeds, averaging 94% control across site-years, but control of grass weeds was <10%. Total weed (broadleaf plus grass) control across site-years ranged from 51 to 96% and averaged 78%. Raspberry cane growth was affected by weeds, and grit-weeding at least partially alleviated these effects. Thus, abrasive grit allows growers to manage broadleaf weeds effectively without herbicides or soil tillage. However, additional research is needed to determine the correct amounts and times of grit applications, as well as more efficacious types of grit, to control grass weeds. Around 75% of global food crops benefit to some degree from animal pollination, especially many fruit crops. Given emerging threats to the honeybee industry, including colony collapse disorder, the importance of wild insect pollination services in agroecosystems has been the focus of recent research. Pollinator "farmscaping" practices,which provide habitat and floral resources that support wild pollinating insects, are being investigated for horticultural crops. Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa), though self-fertile, appear to produce higher quality fruit when flowers are more thoroughly fertilized by pollinating insects. This research project investigates the potential ofan annual flower strip to enhance pollination services of wild insects in an organic day-neutral strawberry productionsystem. Flowering borage (Borago officinalis) strips were established on one end of three experimental blocks, eachcontaining four, 100 ft rows of day-neutral strawberries. Strawberry yield and pollinator presence were measured in 25 ft plot ranges and were hypothesized to decrease with distance from the flower strip. Average strawberry yield and pollinator abundance appear to decrease but not statistically, farther from the borage strip. Primary strawberry flower visitors were hoverflies (Syrphidae) and native bees (Halictidae, Megachilidae, etc.), suggesting strawberry pollination may rely more on these insects than larger pollinators like honey bees or bumble bees.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hecht, N. 2019. Influence Of Flower Strips On Insect Pollinator Recruitment And Crop Yield In Day-Neutral Strawberry Production. M.S. Thesis University of Minnesota
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project can be divided into two segments. The first group includes commercial fruit producers, nursery-industry growers, farm-market growers, and other intersted in frui production in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4). These groups of individuals primarily live in rural areas with some near the rural-urban interface. The income level of many of our target audience is average to below average for Americans. Many of them are part time growers with full time employment off of the farm. A second growing audience consists of individuals interested in growing fruit for their families on small plots, many in the urban core of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Access to this research is also important for urban growers and home owners who would like to learn how to grow friut for their own consumption as well as learn how others produce fruit in their area. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Annual meetings of researchers working on fruit occur at the American Society for Horticultural Science meetings. Some of this project's research results were presented in August 2018. Weekly laboratory meetings are held to review and discuss data and current literature. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research results are made available via face to fact meetings with different grower communities in addition to be written up and shared on the website fruit.umn.edu. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to investigate different environmentally benign practices for production of perennial fruit crops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Weed management, particularly within rows of perennial fruit plants, is challenging. There is a need to develop inexpensive but effective weed control strategies. To sustainably control weeds in perennial fruit plantings, we have begun investigating the use of decomposable grit applied via an air blast sprayer. The goal is to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of specialty crops through development of and education about sustainable weed control practices. To determine if grit weeding within raspberry rows provides effective in-row weed control, we established comparative research plots. Additionally, we collected data to compare the efficacy of weed control, labor expended, and costs of grit weeding with hand weeded control plots. After one year, grit weeding is more cost effective compared to hand weeding with little difference in plant growth of raspberries. Around 75% of global food crops benefit to some degree from animal pollination, especially many fruit crops. Given emerging threats to the honeybee industry, including colony collapse disorder, the importance of wild insect pollination services in agroecosystems has been the focus of recent research. Pollinator "farmscaping" practices, which provide habitat and floral resources that support wild pollinating insects, are being investigated for horticultural crops. Strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa), though self-fertile, appear to produce higher quality fruit when flowers are more thoroughly fertilized by pollinating insects. This research project investigates the potential of an annual flower strip to enhance pollination services of wild insects in an organic day-neutral strawberry production system. Flowering borage (Borago officinalis) strips were established on one end of three experimental blocks, each containing four, 100 ft rows of day-neutral strawberries. Strawberry yield and pollinator presence were measured in 25 ft plot ranges and were hypothesized to decrease with distance from the flower strip. Average strawberry yield and pollinator abundance appear to decrease but not statistically, farther from the borage strip. Primary strawberry flower visitors were hoverflies (Syrphidae) and native bees (Halictidae, Megachilidae, etc.), suggesting strawberry pollination may rely more on these insects than larger pollinators like honey bees or bumble bees. Biofertilizers are microbial inoculants used as replacements or supplements for the application of chemical fertilizers in agricultural systems. Rather than increase the amount of available nutrients in the soil, biofertilizers are intended to stimulate natural processes that can enhance nutrient uptake and plant growth. This research considered the use of biofertilizers composed of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance organic day-neutral strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) production in the Upper Midwest. To accomplish this objective, we measured yield, plant growth, fruit quality, and mycorrhizal colonization in a two year study of 'Portola' strawberries inoculated with a commercially available mycorrhizal biofertilizer. The two-year field study indicated that inoculation with AMF biofertilizers did not lead to differences in yield, fruit quality, or plant size, nor did it lead to higher fungal colonization of strawberry plant roots. The low response to AMF inoculation was likely due to very high levels of available phosphorus in the field site. Inoculated plants grown in low-phosphorus soils had much more mycorrhizal colonization than non-inoculated plants. Biofertilizers composed of AMF remain an important avenue of study, especially for growers attempting to grow strawberries in marginal soils. More research is needed to specifically focus on AMF biofertilizers in day-neutral production systems before recommendations can be made.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Rubenstein, J. 2018. Effects of Mycorrhizal Inoculation of Day-Neutral Strawberries in an Organic Production System. M.S. University of Minnesota
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
fruit.umn.edu
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project include commercial fruit producers, nursery-industry growers, farm-market growers, and others interested in fruit production in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4). These groups of individuals primarily live in rural areas with some near the rural-urban interface. The income level of many of our target audience is average to below average for Americans. Many of them are part time growers with full time employment off of the farm. A growing audience consists of individuals interested in growing fruit for their families on small plots, many in the urban core of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Access to this research is also for urban growers and homeowners who would like to learn how to grow fruit for their own consumption as well as learn how others produce fruit in their area. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development: One research staff member presented a paper related to the project at the 2017 Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery. Graduate students presented project papers and posters at the 2017 conference of the American Society for Horticultural Science. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated to communities of interest through the project blog and at in-person educational events by faculty, research staff, and graduate student members of the project team. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to investigate integrated systems for strawberry production. Investigate an innovative method of weed control for multiple perennial fruit crops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Investigated integrated systems for strawberry production. Explored and developed interactive educational materials to connect with stakeholders. Contributed to the education of graduate students in the Department of Horticultural Science.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Kostick, S. A., Anderson, N. O., Hoover, E., Tillman, J., & Tepe, E. (2017). Determination of Chemical, Physical and Sensory Characteristics of Apricot Jam from Winter-Hardy Genotypes. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 71(2), 66-81.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Anderson, Neil O., et al. "Cutting Type and Time-of-Year Affect Rooting Ability of Hardy Minnesota Prunus Species." JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 70.3 (2016): 114-123.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Rubinstein, Jared, Emily Hoover, and Julia Kelly. "WG Brierley: Pioneering Pomologist of the Prairie." (2017): 123-130.
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Progress 07/01/16 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project include commercial fruit producers, nursery-industry growers, farm-market growers, and other intersted in frui production in colder climates (USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4). These groups of individuals primarily live in rural areas with some near the rural-urban interface. The income level of many of our target audience is average to below average for Americans. Many of them are part time growers with full time employment off of the farm. A growing audience consists of individuals interested in growing fruit for their families on small plots, manyh in the urban core of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Access to this research is also for urban growers and home owners who would like to learn how to grow friut for their own consumption as well as learn how others produce fruit in their area. Products Type Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The specific objectives of this project with accomplishments are to: Investigate the use of rootstocks in apple production to enhance sustainability, efficiency, productivity, and winter hardiness As one of the northern-most experiment station in the continental US, the research done on perennial crops has applicability across the northern US. We participate as part of the NC140 regional research group to trial new rootstocks for apples to test their winter hardiness, the ability to dwarf tree size, and productiviity. Investigate integrated production systems for strawberry production. Explore and develop tools to connect with stakeholders, and provide an array of interactive educational opportunities. Contribute to the education of graduate students in the Department of Horticultural Science.
Publications
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