NIFA grant supports innovative blackberry research in Arkansas
“Consumer demand is increasing for fresh-market blackberries, so this work promotes the ability of U.S. blackberry producers to meet domestic demands long-term” — Ryan Dickson
By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(Originally posted July 20, 2024; Updated Aug. 13, 2024)
Fast facts
- Research on growing blackberries in soilless substrate funded to support long-term sustainability
- Long-cane production offers advantages to traditional methods
- Fresh-market blackberry consumer demand increasing
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(NEWSROOMS: This version replaces the story which was originally posted on July 30, 2024. This version SUBs 'fast facts' bullet and lede to remove reference to ‘indoors.’ Story also has additional source-requested clarifications throughout)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ryan Dickson, an assistant professor of horticulture for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, has been developing research since 2018 on growing blackberries in soilless substrates and recently secured a nearly $750,000 grant to further that work over the next four years.
The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and is part of the Foundational Knowledge of Agricultural Production Systems program within the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
“Consumer demand is increasing for fresh-market blackberries, so this work promotes the ability of U.S. blackberry producers to meet domestic demands long-term,” said Dickson, whose research focus is on greenhouse and controlled environment agriculture.
According to the Packer’s Fresh Trends 2024 survey, 33.2 percent of consumers said they purchased fresh blackberries in the past year, compared with past survey results of 25 percent in 2023, 26 percent in 2022 and 28 percent in 2021.
One of the issues blackberry growers are facing, Dickson said, is declining yield caused by soilborne pathogens which erodes profit margins. Breeding for disease resistance is an option, he noted, but is time-consuming and shouldn’t be relied on solely because it does not solve all the issues farmers are facing.
Dickson’s research aims to evaluate innovative soilless long-cane production techniques designed to increase yields, improve fruit quality and extend the growing season to enhance the profitability and sustainability of blackberry farming.
Making it an integrated research and extension project, Dickson will work with Amanda McWhirt, extension fruit and vegetable horticulture specialist and associate professor for the Division of Agriculture, to evaluate soilless long-cane production techniques. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is the public outreach side of the Division of Agriculture.
Long-cane method
Dickson’s research calls for growing blackberries in soilless substrate containers using the long-cane system. The blackberries are first grown outdoors in containers and trained to form long canes for easier management and high-density production later on.
Dickson has been testing Arkansas-bred floricane varieties that typically need two seasons to produce fruit. The idea, he said, is to essentially trick plants into feeling like they have gone through a wintertime by keeping them in a walk-in cooler. After this artificial winter, the plants are transferred to a warm high tunnel or greenhouse, ready to produce fruit on demand, out of season.
Dickson said the main goals and potential benefits of long-cane blackberry production are increased yields, more consistent fruit quality and out-of-season production.
Moving the blackberry industry forward
The project has three main focus areas:
- Cultivar selection and cultural practices — Researchers will evaluate how different blackberry cultivars and targeted cultural practices influence long-cane yield, fruit quality, and timing.
- Economic analysis — The project will include breakeven and risk analyses for both long-cane and field-based blackberry systems, focusing on key profitability drivers.
- Outreach — Rapid and long-term application of research results will be delivered to regional and national stakeholders.
Experiments will be conducted in high tunnels at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville and the Fruit Research Station in Clarksville. The tunnels will be equipped with automated systems for irrigation and “fertigation,” in which fertilizer salts are dissolved in the applied irrigation water, and plants will be grown in coconut coir substrate. The research will involve collaboration with industry sponsors and the Division of Agriculture's fruit breeding program.
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. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
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 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 and services 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: John Lovett
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(479) 763-5929
jlovett@uada.edu