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Abstract
Vermont strawberry growers have seen an increase in disease and pest pressure with the ongoing changes in Vermont's climate. Increased precipitation and extreme weather events have created favorable conditions for disease infection in Vermont strawberry crops. As an example, the persistent precipitation and cooler weather in 2023 caused near crop failures for many growers. In addition, several diseases that had been considered of minor importance in the past (i.e. powdery mildew) are more prominent and destructive. Protective structures such as low tunnels can be useful barriers to help minimize the impact of extreme weather events by maintaining a more stable environment and can minimize pest and disease impacts on vegetable and fruit crops. Low tunnels in particular offer a low cost, easy to install, temporary option for growers to protect their crops from abiotic and biotic issues during peak development stages. Growers often use low tunnel systems on early season vegetable crops like leafy greens and onions for weather protection as well as fruit crops like strawberries to minimize frost injury on blossoms and reduce insect and disease pressure. In Vermont, few farmers implement low tunnels in strawberry production. But those that have, report having good yields and high-quality fruit even in 2023. Further investigation of low tunnels as well as other pest management strategies and their potential to increase the resiliency of Vermont's strawberry industry is an objective of this project.
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Date
2026-06