Research Projects
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Installation of artificial bumblebee nest boxes on cranberry farms
2023 to 2025 - Entomology / Pollination
Bumblebees are excellent cranberry pollinators. In order to increase nesting space, artificial bumblebee nest boxes were installed on cranberry farms. The objective of the project is to determine the best type of nest box and the best location to promote the presence of native bumblebees on commercial cranberry farms.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre
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Development of tools facilitating the implementation and success of landscape arrangements promoting biodiversity in cranberry plantations.
2022 to 2025 - Pollination / Cultivation practices
The theme of landscape promoting biodiversity has been the subject of numerous research. Given the unique characteristics of cranberry farms, it is difficult to transfer knowledge for this crop. The objective of this project is to carry out a literature review, and to implement landscape arrangements (test benches) in collaboration with producers. The test benches will serve as a showcase and will allow the creation of a technical sheet with the best practices to adopt to achieve a successful landscape arrangement on a cranberry farm.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, Noémie Gagnon Lupien, Dominic Desjardins
Partner(s): CETAB, BEA
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Development of a premium organic fertilizer based on chicken manure and black soldier fly frass for growing organic cranberries.
2022 to 2023 - Fertilization
Entosystem is a company located in Quebec that rears black soldier flies for animal consumption. One of the by-products of mass insect breeding is frass (a mixture of excrement and insect molts). Frass is a potential fertilizer for cranberries because of its rapid release of nitrogen in the form of ammonium in acidic soils. The objective of the project is to test organic fertilizers based different ratios of chicken manure and black soldier fly frass for growing cranberries.
Researcher(s): Joël Passicousset, Didier Labarre, Christopher Warburton, Claudia Désilets
Partner(s): Biopterre, CRIC, Entosystem, Acti-sol
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Evaluation of yields, fruit quality, hardiness, resistance and resilience of new cranberry cultivars
2022 to 2025 - Cultivation practices
Quebec is the second largest cranberry producing region in the world, after Wisconsin. Despite the importance of cranberry cultivation in the agricultural portrait of Quebec, there is currently no network or structure governing the testing of new cultivars. All the expertise relating to new cultivars is found almost exclusively in the United States. Quebec producers assume the risks associated with planting the first fields of these new varieties on Quebec soil. Nevertheless, the use of genetic improvement at the cultivar level is an important tool in terms of cultural practices in order to reduce the use of pesticides, increase resistance and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses and adapt to climate change. The objective of the project is to evaluate the yields, fruit quality, hardiness, resistance, and resilience of new cranberry cultivars under the climatic conditions and cultural practices of Quebec.
Researcher(s): Pierre Lafontaine, Didier Labarre, François Gervais
Partner(s): CIEL, APCQ, CETAQ
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Biological control of red-headed flea beetle and cranberry fruitworm using entomopathogenic nematodes
2022 to 2025 - Entomology
The cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, and the red-headed flea beetle, Systena frontalis (F.), are two pest species with high damage potential. The cranberry fruitworm can cause up to 45% yield loss. This pest is particularly problematic under organic management since only one phytosanitary product is currently registered to control it. The red-headed flea beetle is a species that is gaining increasing attention due to a recent spike in populations and damage seen in Wisconsin. This situation worries Canada since no bioinsecticides are currently registered and only one synthetic insecticide is registered under conventional management. This project will study the susceptibility of cranberry fruitworm and red-headed flea beetle to different commercial strains and application rates of entomopathogenic nematodes under laboratory and field conditions. The objective is to develop new control methods using entomopathogenic nematodes against the two cranberry pests.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, François Gervais
Partner(s): APCQ, CETAQ
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Inventory of native species and strains of entomopathogenic nematodes near cranberry fields and effectiveness against the cranberry fruitworm
2022 to 2023 - Entomology
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are understudied biological control agents in Quebec. This project aims to draw up an inventory of EPNs species and strains present in natural environments near commercial cranberry farms. Once the EPNs have been identified, trials will be conducted to assess the susceptibility of the cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, a major cranberry pest, to native EPNs.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, François Gervais
Partner(s): APCQ, CETAQ
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Development of an interactive development prediction and automated screening tool for monitoring black-headed fireworm populations
2021 to 2024 - Entomology
The black-headed fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner), is the primary pest in Quebec cranberry. Apart from insecticides, Quebec producers have very few tools for plant protection and population monitoring. Such tools, although very useful in conventional production, are crucial for organic pest management. Choosing the optimal time to apply insecticides increases the effectiveness of treatments and reduces the number of treatments needed. The objectives of the project are to 1) Optimize the existing bioclimatic development model for the cranberry leafroller. 2) Create an interactive tool to model the impact of phytosanitary treatments on the dynamics of local populations and to simulate future interventions to target the optimal periods of intervention. 3) Develop the use of automated traps for monitoring adult black-headed fireworms.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, François Gervais, Daniel Cormier, Julien Saguez
Partner(s): APCQ, CETAQ, IRDA, CEROM
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Best management practice guide in cranberry production
2020 to 2022 - Phytopathology / Cultivation practices / Soil biology / Water management / Fertilization / Weed science / Entomology / Pollination
Cranberry production practices has evolved greatly over the past few decades. Over the past 10 years, areas in production have more than doubled while yields have more than tripled in Quebec. This increase in yields can be explained in particular by the research and development of better production practices. In 1997, a “Technical information bulletin on ecological cranberry production” written by Groupe HBA experts-advisors in collaboration with the Société d’agriculture de Nicolet was published. The Quebec Cranberry Growers association decided to update the content presented in the previous management practice guide from 1997 to incorporate the knowledge acquired over the past 20 years.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, François Gervais, Sébastien Careau, Gabriel Ayotte-Breton, Audrey Lachance, Simon Bonin, Prunelle Thibeault-Bédard
Partner(s): APCQ, CETAQ, Bureau d’écologie appliquée, Fruit d’Or
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Insecticide and bioinsecticide screening against the black-headed fireworm and the cranberry weevil
2020 to 2022 - Entomology
The black-headed fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner), and the cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus Say, are major cranberry pests in Quebec. Due to the high pressure of these pests, phytosanitary interventions are necessary each year to limit their damage. Control treatment options for growers under organic management are, however, very limited. In addition, for good agricultural practices purpose and sustainability of the control approach, it would be important to offer a greater diversity of low-risk phytosanitary products for producers under conventional management. The objective of the project is therefore to evaluate the efficacy of 8 bio-insecticides and reduced-risk insecticides against these major cranberry pests in Quebec.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, François Gervais
Partner(s): APCQ, CETAQ
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Control of black-headed fireworm and cranberry fruitworm by mating disruption
2019 to 2023 - Entomology
The black-headed fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner), and the cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, are two major cranberry pests. In recent years, an increase in the number of phytosanitary treatments used to control these pests has been observed, which highlights the limits of chemical control. Mating disruption is an alternative control method. It has the advantages of being more targeted, of reducing the risks associated with the use of insecticides, of preventing the appearance of resistance and of being easily incorporated into an integrated pest management strategy. The objective of this project is to evaluate the potential of mating disruption to control the black-headed fireworm and the cranberry fruitworm in cranberry fields. The project is testing an innovative pheromone diffuser, developed for the specificities of this crop. The effectiveness in reducing the populations and the damage of the two targeted pests, as well as the duration of the effectiveness of the diffusers are evaluated in the laboratory and in the field.
Researcher(s): Cyrane Pouët, Didier Labarre, Daniel Cormier, Éric Lucas, François Gervais
Partner(s): UQAM, APCQ, IRDA, CETAQ
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Evaluating of the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the efficacy of spring flooding as a means control black-headed fireworm
2019 to 2022 - Entomology
The black-headed fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner), is a major pest in Quebec cranberry that can cause yield losses of up to 95% of the harvest. Chemical control with synthetic insecticides or bioinsecticides is the main control method used by cranberry growers. Organic producers are particularly vulnerable because the insecticides authorized in organic management have variable and limited effectiveness. Flooding cranberry fields in the spring is a means of control that was commonly used to control pests in cranberry fields before the appearance of synthetic insecticides. A 48-hour flood at the end of May is still practiced to control the cranberry weevil. In recent years, significant decreases in black-headed fireworm populations have been observed following flooding. The objective of the project is to evaluate the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the efficacy of spring flooding to develop a physical control strategy against the black-headed fireworm in organic management.
Researcher(s): Jonathan Bernardo-Santos, Didier Labarre, Daniel Cormier, Éric Lucas, François Gervais
Partner(s): UQAM, APCQ, IRDA, CETAQ
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Evaluation of efficacy of HARVANTA® to control major cranberry pests
2019 to 2021 - Entomology
The cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus Say, the blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner), and the cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, are the three principal pests of Quebec cranberry. Today, only one insecticide is registered against the cranberry weevil, namely ACTARA® 25WG (thiamethoxam). Belonging to the neonicotinoid family, its registration was recently reassessed by the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA); at the end of which it was concluded a complete withdrawal of all products containing thiamethoxam as active ingredient (PSRD2018-02). This decision therefore leaves cranberry growers without insecticides to control this major pest. Furthermore, although a few products are registered to control the cranberry leafroller and the cranberry fruitworm, two products are mainly used, namely ALTACOR® (chlorantraniliprole) and INTREPID® 240 (methoxyfenozide). Each year, insecticide treatments are necessary to limit the damage caused by these pests, which gives rise to very short rotations between these two products. The objective of the project is therefore to evaluate the efficacy of HARVANTA® 50SL (cyclaniliprole) to control the cranberry weevil, the blackheaded fireworm and the cranberry fruitworm in order to support a request from the User-Requested Minor Use Profile (URMULE). To do this, efficacy trials under semi-controlled field conditions were carried out in the summers of 2019 and 2020. The results show a significant increase in the mortality of the cranberry weevil (2019 and 2020) and the blackheaded fireworm (2019 only) in plots treated with HARVANTA® 50SL compared to control plots. The use of this insecticide also resulted in a significant reduction in damage associated with weevil and cranberry fruitworm (2019 and 2020). These results suggest adequate efficacy of HARVANTA® 50SL to control at least two main cranberry pests in Quebec.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, Annabelle Firlej, François Gervais
Partner(s): APCQ, IRDA
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Bee confinement as a protective measure against insecticide exposition after a treatment
2019 to 2021 - Entomology / Pollination
The presence of beehives in cranberry bogs during flowering is essential to have an optimal productivity. During this time, insecticide treatments against the cranberry fruitworm and blackheaded fireworm are done, without them, cranberry farmers risk major damages (yield loss ranging from 30 to 60%). The pesticide treatments are systematically done at night, but a previous study identified morning exposure to insecticide residues on wet foliage as a potential cause of pesticide poisoning of bees. The safest method to protect bees would be to confine them temporarily in their hives until pesticides are dry. However, confinement can cause lethal condition of excess of heat or lack of oxygen within the colonies. This project aims at developing an effective and safe confinement method for bees in their hives to protect them against morning exposure to pesticides.
Researcher(s): Madeleine Chagnon, Didier Labarre, Georges Martin, François Gervais
Partner(s): CRSAD, APCQ, CETAQ
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Evaluation of the impacts of a preventive withdrawal of beehives on yields in cranberry fields
2017 to 2019 - Pollination / Entomology
During flowering, cranberries are treated against the cranberry moth, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley and the black-headed fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner) at the risk of losing 30% to 60% of the harvest. For an average yield of 25,000 lbs/acre, this loss can amount to between $1875 and $4875 per acre depending on the current market price. Moreover, in recent years, cases of bee mortality have been reported following phytosanitary interventions carried out at night, both for organic and conventional producers. To deal with this problem, some producers, at the request of their beekeeper, accept that the beehives be removed before any treatment is done on the farm. Hive withdrawal occurs at mid-fruit set when neither flowering nor pollination is complete. The objective of the project was therefore to evaluate the impact on the start and yields of an early withdrawal at mid-fruit set (50% of the fruit set on the plants) of hives rented in cranberry fields.
Researcher(s): Didier Labarre, Madeleine Chagnon, Isabelle Drolet
Partner(s): Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault (CRSAD)
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Spring flooding as a control method against the cranberry weevil
2014 to 2016 - Entomology
For the past years, serious increases in the population of the cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus, have been observed in cranberry fields. This beetle causes damage directly to the main reproductive parts of a plant. There is currently no effective means of control under organic management. In conventional management, only one product is approved to fight against this insect, Actara®25WG. The objective of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of spring bed flooding for 48 hours to control this pest. The project was carried out in Centre-du-Québec in 2014 and 2015.
Researcher(s): Isabelle Drolet, Annabelle Firlej
Partner(s): CETAQ, IRDA
No projects were found matching the selected criteria.