Arkansas blackberries take the stage at 2023 Summer Blackberry Field Tour
June 9, 2023
By Sarah Cato
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Blackberry Summer Field Tour scheduled for 1:00 p.m. June 13
- Tour open to the public, cost is $20 per person
- Registration: bit.ly/42lI9GV
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CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — Despite a cold snap early in the season, there will be plenty of Arkansas blackberries to go around at the 2023 Summer Blackberry Field Tour.
The Arkansas Blackberry Growers Association and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will be co-hosting the Summer Blackberry Field Tour at the Fruit Research Station in Clarksville on June 13, beginning at 1 p.m.
Amanda McWhirt, extension horticulture production specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said the Fruit Research Station is loaded with blackberries and ready for the tour.
“We were a little worried about our blackberries after the cold snap early this spring, but luckily there is plenty to see and taste!” she said.
The early season freeze isn’t the only weather-related challenge Arkansas blackberry growers will face this season. Speakers at the field day will also address current and forecast dry weather.
“We are experiencing and are expecting to experience dry conditions during fruit development,” McWhirt said. “This is something that will impact how we manage irrigation and production throughout the season.”
Attendees will also tour the advanced blackberry selections from the blackberry breeding program and hear talks related to unique blackberry aromas, blackberry promotional materials, insect and weed management, fertility, tipping reminders and new cultivar performance on the rotating cross-arm trellis.
The event is open to the public in an effort to encourage new ABGA members, said association President Matt Wilson.
“These events are a great opportunity for us to showcase what the association provides for growers,” Wilson said. “We love seeing new faces and we’re excited to be back at the Fruit Research Station for another field tour.”
The cost of the tour is $20 per person. Those interested can register at bit.ly/42lI9GV.
The full agenda is as follows:
1 p.m. Registration and blackberry taste test
1:30 p.m. Welcome, Wayne Mackay, horticulture department head, and Jackie Lee, University Fruit Research Station director, both of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
2 p.m. Identifying Unique Blackberry Aromas, Renee Threlfall, professor of food science, and Scott Lafontaine, assistant professor of food chemistry,
2:30 p.m. Blackberry Promotional Material Update, Lizzy Herrera, extension program associate-horticulture
3-5 p.m. Field Tour
Screening 2,4-D Choline for Use in Blackberries and Pre-emergent Herbicide Options, Matt Bertucci, assistant professor of horticulture, Division of Agriculture
Weed I.D. in Blackberry, Hannah Wright Smith, extension weed specialist
Broad Mite and Spotted Wing Drosophila, Aaron Cato, extension horticulture integrated pest management specialist
Tipping Blackberry Reminders, Erika Henderson, program associate-horticulture and Jesus Arredondo-Lopez, program technician-horticulture, Division of Agriculture.
Blackberry Fertility Trial Updates, Amanda Lay-Walters, graduate student-horticulture
Evaluation of New Cultivars on the RCA, Amanda McWhirt, extension horticulture production specialist, and Mataya Duncan, graduate student-horticulture
Tour of Advanced Blackberry Selections, Margaret Worthington, associate professor of fruit breeding, Division of Agriculture.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Darlene Madden at 870-523-7450 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Sarah Cato
scato@uada.edu