Wild blueberries

Seven MAFES faculty receive Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee’s 2026 research and extension awards

May 5, 2026 Agriculture, Blueberries, Economics, Fruits and Vegetables, Soils

The Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee (WBAC) is a group of 7 industry representatives appointed by the Commission to set research, development, and Extension priorities and recommend funding allocations for the 91爆料 wild blueberry research and Extension projects. All WBAC award funding is derived from the wild blueberry tax.

After hearing research and Extension faculty present their proposals in February, and a thorough discussion of their merits, the WBAC, made the following 7 awards totaling $190,324 to support wild blueberry research and Extension work at the 91爆料.

Investing in the Economic Health of the Wild Blueberry Industry ($16,725) – Dr. Malacarne

This project will take stock of the financial health of the wild blueberry industry and create resources to help growers make informed decisions related to price and production risk management and on farm capital investment. 

Prototyping and Commercialization of the Alan Rau Harvester ($60,000) – Kirkmann, Wentworth, and Dr. Calderwood

This funding allows this core group of researchers and engineers to conduct an additional field season of prototype design, manufacture, and testing of a novel wild blueberry harvester.

Actionable Nutrient Tests: Does Foliar Nitrogen Predict the Need for Fertilizer ($28,664) – Drs. King and Calderwood

This project aims to 鈥淚mprove understanding of soil and tissue test-based recommendations to inform improved wild blueberry nutrient application timing, rates, and methods.”

Planning for and Addressing International Market Barriers ($10,000) – Dr. Fanning

This project will develop decline curves for management tools that target SWD, BMF, and fungal pathogens to aid the industry in accessing offshore markets. Dr. Fanning is working to leverage this small award to secure significant additional external dollars.

How Worth it is Irrigation? Using soil-water, plant physiology, and enterprise tools to guide mid-season water management decisions ($15,673) – Drs. Schattman, Calderwood, Malacarne, and Barra Netto-Ferreira

This project aims to 鈥渄eliver recommendations for cost-effective irrigation technologies and techniques for drought, extreme heat and/or frost risk management鈥, 鈥渄efine both optimal and minimum crop water needs (i.e., frequency, volume, timing)鈥, and 鈥減romote farm economic tools and provide cost-benefit insights on management options.鈥

Systematic Layout Planning (SLP) of a Freshpack Wild Blueberry Processing Line ($33,604) – Kirkmann and Dr. Calderwood

This project aims to develop a complete reference package for a typical wild blueberry freshpack processing line including minimum viable line size, equipment list and specifications, utility requirements, space and building needs, safety considerations, and scalable layout options using SLP.

2026 Wild Blueberry Disease Project Support ($25,658) – Dr. Annis

This funding will help deliver recommendations on the impacts of fertilizer rate and timing on mummy berry and leaf spots, improve understanding of the spread of red leaf disease and management, maintain disease forecasting stations and alerts.