Blueberries Resources
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SB 48-05
Home Orchard
This section of the Home & Garden Edition covers pest control in home orchards, including apples, peaches, bunch grapes, muscadines, strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits. Beginning in 2022, the Home & Garden Edition has been updated biennially. When purchasing a product based on a first-year recommendation of the Handbook, check the current product label before purchase to be sure it is still labeled for the use for which you are buying it. For pesticide products you have on hand from earlier purchases, you are allowed to use them until they are depleted without penalty under the law. Always follow label instructions before use. Contact the product’s manufacturer for the most up-to-date label.
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To be more competitive, Georgia blueberry producers have to increase their yields to match or better the average U.S. values. This increase can occur through an improvement of the agricultural practices and a better mastery of blueberry cultivation. This publication contains information to help Southern Highbush blueberry growers in Georgia maximize their profits.
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AP 130-4-10
2026 Fruits and Tree Nuts Outlook
The key points for 2026 are: Blueberries will continue to lead the Georgia fruits and tree nuts industry in 2026 and subsequent years; it will be challenging for the Georgia pecan industry to regain its leadership position in the fruits and nuts category, but the industry will remain strong in 2026; consumer and grower price indexes will remain strong in 2026.
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The southeastern blueberry bee is an economically valuable pollinator in commercial blueberry production in Georgia. Researchers see a need for conservation of this species, and this resource provides detailed information on its identification, biology, nesting habitat, and floral hosts. It also incorporates research data from recent study in commercial blueberry system in south Georgia.
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Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot, caused by the fungus Exobasidium maculosum, is an emerging disease affecting both southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries. In addition to direct yield loss due to fruit drop, lesions on remaining fruit compromise the aesthetic qualities of the fruit as well as the taste, rendering them unmarketable. This circular provides the most current knowledge of this important pathogen/disease of blueberry and its management.
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Blueberry gall midge, a small fly native to North America, has emerged as one of the serious pests of blueberries in Georgia. Severe gall midge infestations can cause up to 80% crop loss without proper intervention. Bud sampling to monitor for larvae is the only way to confirm its presence. Insecticide sprays need to be timed to target adult midges before they have a chance to lay eggs.
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This publication provides current (2025) Southeast-specific information on approved National Organic Program (NOP) disease and pest management options for blueberry production and addresses the issues most commonly encountered under the unique growing conditions of the Southeast U.S. This publication is not intended to provide all details on organic blueberry production, although it does include the production methods that reduce the impact of plant disease and pest issues.
Emphasis in an organic system should be on cultural practices that reduce disease and pest pressure rather than pesticide applications. NOP-approved pesticides are usually less efficacious than conventional products. The pesticide label is the law and supersedes any information on pesticide use contained in this guide. Because environmental conditions and grower application methods vary widely, suggested use does not imply that the performance of the pesticide will always conform to the pest control standards indicated by experimental data. This publication is a product of the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium.
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The 2026 edition of this publication covers integrated pest management information for blueberry producers in the Southeastern U.S. Recommendations are based on information from the manufacturer’s label and performance data from research and Extension field tests. This publication is intended for use only as a guide. Specific rates and application methods are on the pesticide label, and these are subject to change at any time. This publication is a product of the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium.
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A grower survey was carried out in January 2023 during the annual blueberry update event held in Alma, Georgia. Survey responses were collected from 26 growers from eight Georgia counties. The results indicated the cultivar preference of south Georgia growers and major production constraints of blueberry production in southeast Georgia.
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